Generally, I love a lot of the products that Microsoft make.  But, once their marketing teams get involved, I usually end up running for the hills to prevent myself from strangling each and every one of them with their own entrails.

Take this promotional video for the cloud features of Windows Phone 7 as a prime example of the kind of stuff that makes my blood boil in frustration.

"Hasn’t Microsoft figured out that it’s target audience, particularly for this phone, is the ADD-addled audience that’s simultaneously on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and the XBox? They need to step up their game if they want to capture anyone’s attention for more than a fraction of a second."

What does Microsoft give us? An inane piece of music  that sounds like it was ripped from the “victory” scene of a really bad 80′s B movie.

When is Microsoft’s marketing department ever going to figure out that you are supposed to engage your audience rather than bore them and make them reach for a set of earplugs?

The one upside to all of this, is the brief glimpse in the video of Windows Live Phone Portal (screenshot above and at 0:49 in the video). Which, along with all of the other great cloud features of Windows Phone 7′, will allow you to track your phone from your PC once you’re logged in. That’s one neat little feature which as part of My Phone (we talked about this on Daily Brief #14), is shipping for free with Windows Phone 7 but a similar service with Apple will set you back $99.

[Cross-posted at Winextra. Hat tip to i Started Something.]