Microsoft Keynote Speech Tonight on Facebook!

Microsoft is streaming its CES 2011 keynote speech on Facebook.

TechRadar reports that Microsoft will stream its traditional CES opening keynote speech not by way of a dedicated CES 2011 website located on Microsoft’s domain, but rather on its Facebook page of all places. The kicker is that interested viewers will need to "like" the company in order to watch Steve Ballmer spill the latest secrets Wednesday evening.

To watch the keynote speech, viewers will need to head to the Official Microsoft Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Microsoft and agree to "like" the company. Once that's done, viewers will have a virtual front seat to Ballmer's performance tonight (January 5) at 6:30 PM PST / 9:30 PM EST.

Although the Microsoft CEO will reportedly talk about his latest victories with Internet Explorer 9, Kinect for Xbox 360 and Windows Phone 7, he's also expected to offer a sneak peak at the upcoming Windows 8 OS and a supposed "stripped-down" version of Windows for tablets, set-top boxes and Internet TVs.

Previously it was speculated that the latter "stripped" OS would simply be a modular Windows 8 with many unneeded components-- those required for desktops and notebooks-- already removed. However as reported yesterday, the "lite" OS will be a version of its embedded device software overlaid with the Windows Media Center interface. This OS will also have remote-control and media streaming capabilities.

As always, everything's pure speculation and word-of-mouth until Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer takes the stage and reveals all tonight.