Microsoft launches iPad-happy website for wimmin

Ladies night, oh what a site

Microsoft launched a website for women yesterday based on Adobe’s Flash technology, and it renders particularly well on Apple’s iPad.

The site's homepage animation does not currently run on Microsoft’s own Silverlight software, which is the vendor’s rival to Flash.

The Register has asked Microsoft when it plans to slot Silverlight into “Glo”. We’ll update this story when we get a response.

As for the latest MSN site, Microsoft has cobbled together a “lifestyle” portal for women in conjunction with brand partners Hachette Filipacchi Media US and BermanBraun.

According to the accompanying blurb, Glo hits all the right clichéd female notes on style, beauty, living and relationships.

Microsoft described it as “a unique escape for women on the web”, presumably because there’s so much porn and chatter about computers available online for all those sex-starved men out there.

Sadly, as far as we could tell, the company is yet to entice punters through the Glo door with offers of free drinks all night for the ladies, while men have to pay before entering the girly domain.

But Microsoft insists that Glo is “in-the-know” and provides “inspiration and practical ways” for women to “attain their best life”.

Unsurprisingly the site pulls in content from other parts of Microsoft’s online estate, including Bing and MSN.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is wooing advertisers to sign up to Glo with the following declaration.

"Glo transports women from the everyday to their best day, through smart, engaging content about style, beauty, home and relationships. Glo is there when women escape to 'me time,' delivering fun and inspiration with a smart inclusive voice, wrapped in a beautiful, sophisticated package."

All of which suggests that Microsoft has gone a bit Mel Gibson. But we're not talking Mad Max or Lethal Weapon, this is more like watching a re-run of What Women Want. ®