Microsoft's restarted music plans will see them escape the platform and feature limits of the Zune Music Marketplace, according to new leaks. Tipsters for The Verge had the service, codenamed Woodstock, being available not just to Windows, Windows Phone, and Xbox users, but Android and iOS as well. It would also be playable on the web, although without needing a plugin.
The Skype team is looking to bolster its ranks by posting a job listing which references the Xbox gaming console. Based in its London office, the position tells little about exactly how the video, voice, and text chat service will integrate into the platform hasn't been revealed. The Software Development Engineer will contribute to the development of experiences on Xbox, the listing reads.
In an attempt to get some more users hooked on its premium Xbox Live subscription service, Microsoft will offer it for free for five days, commencing on Thursday, April 19, and running until Monday, April 23. Partners like Hulu Plus, Netflix, and EPIX will also open their doors for free during the same time period. Depending on where users are, however, they will get various amounts of free app access during those five days.
The next-generation Xbox console, which may or may not be called the Xbox 720, may be powered by a 16-core CPU, SlashGear reported on Friday. That CPU may be branded as IBM Power PC, and be paired with one or two GPUs that has comparable processing power to AMD's Radeon HD 7000. That power will be needed to run next-generation games and the Kinect successor, which is said to be able to read lips and fingertips as well as track multiple players and thus require at least four cores.
GameStop has settled a class-action lawsuit concerning advertised downloadable content not being included in used games being resold. Under the settlement terms, the game retailer must warn potential buyers from California online and in-store that certain content may require an additional purchase.
Sony's PlayStation Orbis may have had some of its specifications firmed up through an unusually detailed rumor. The next-generation combo is now believed by IGN to be using one of AMD's current higher-end processors, the quad-core 2.9GHz A8-3850, with the as yet unannounced Radeon HD 7670. While the graphics would be considered low-end by modern standards, the A8's integrated Radeon HD 6550D video might be used in an asynchronous pairing to offload some tasks.
A currently uncertain but unusually detailed rumor Monday has Microsoft's next-generation Xbox making aggressive decisions on hardware. Multiple tips to VG24/7 supported AMD's hints of movie-quality 3D graphics with claims there would be two Radeon HD 7000 graphics cores. Rather than simply pair them up to form a single virtual card, as with AMD's usual CrossFire, it would have each core rendering separate objects in the same scene.
The BBC has finally brought its iPlayer streaming video player to the Xbox 360 for UK residents. The app enables users to access many of the latest BBC television content, along with the company's radio stations and select programs from other broadcasters.
Microsoft has rejected rumors that have suggested the company may unveil its next-generation Xbox later this year at E3. In a statement provided to Bloomberg, Microsoft spokesman David Dennis claimed that the company will not be focusing on hardware at the gaming conference this year.
Microsoft is, once again, seeking to fill a job position for a Software Development Engineer for the next Xbox. The ad was pulled, most likely because it makes a reference to a "next generation console." It does seek a software engineer to develop content for the console, and the job is based at Microsoft's Redmond, Washington headquarters.
Epic Games is concerned that Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony might let Apple take over in gaming by being too conservative with their hardware, the developer's VP Mark Rein said in a discussion this week at the Game Developer Conference. The Bulletstorm and Gears of War creator told CVG his company was "constantly pushing" hardware designers to make high-end systems to give a clear incentive to pick their systems over what Apple makes. Rein liked Apple, but he didn't want TV gaming to disappear by eroding the gap in experiences.
Microsoft is internally referring to the third-generation Xbox console as Durango, Kotaku claimed to have learned from multiple sources near the project. If true, this means any future news and rumors will center around this name, though the finalized name on the console and packaging will differ and isn't yet known. Durango is the name of one of Mexico's 31 states, which follows the theme started by Natal, Microsoft's codename for Kinect and a city in Brazil.
Microsoft took another loss to its Xbox divsion Friday after its Director of Xbox Live Policy and Enforcement, Stephen Toulouse, resigned from the company. Often known as Stepto, he planned to finish his term at the company on February 15. He stressed that the exit was amicable and a matter of looking for a life change, with no other companies in mind.
An escaped internal video for Nokia staff intercepted on Thursday has shown that Windows Phone 8 should be a massive leap, most of all in hardware. The PocketNow view of the clip, which was hosted by senior Windows Phone VP Joe Belfiore, revealed that the update nicknamed Apollo will add multi-core processor support and catch up to Android and iOS. It should also address a longstanding gripe about the lack of easily removable microSD card storage and bring in four new screen resolutions, greatly improving the diversity of phones
Apple has recruited an important executive from Microsoft's Xbox division, Robin Burrowes, reports say. Until this week, Burrowes was in control of Xbox Live marketing for the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) region. At Apple, he will be responsible for marketing the App Store for iTunes Europe. Other highlights on his resume include work on Microsoft's MSN, and time with music and movie retailer HMV.
Despite rumors to the contrary, Microsoft will not release the next-generation Xbox 360 in 2012, according to Cedric Delmas, Microsoft France marketing director. In an interview translated by Eurogamer, he said nothing will be revealed for a new Xbox at this year's E3 show in June. Other claims have pointed to an E3 2013 reveal instead.
The third-generation Xbox could mark a symbolic switch in storage but also a step back for game ownership. Kotaku understood from a rumor source that it would keep an optical drive but jump to Blu-ray, allowing it to hold larger games and play offline HD movies. For Microsoft, it would be the footnote to the HD disc debate of the mid-2000s, where the company officially backed HD DVD but was forced to drop plans after Toshiba axed the format and eventually supported Blu-ray.
A culmination of rumors may have given the first clearer picture of the next-generation Xbox's hardware. A tip to IGN has the system using graphics hardware roughly equivalent to AMD's Radeon HD 6670. Although strictly a mid-range graphics chip on the desktop, it would allegedly be about six times faster than the Xbox 360's 2005-era video.
(Update on PC decline reasons) Microsoft on Thursday revealed record results that masked underlying problems with its core Windows business. It generated $20.5 billion in revenue in the fall, a five percent increase from the same season a year earlier. Most of the increases came from its server business and the Xbox-related Entertainment & Devices group, each of which grew their own revenue by 11 percent and 15 percent.
Microsoft's live UFC app for the Xbox that launched in December suffered a number of hiccups when trying to stream UFC 141 on December 30, BitMob's Dan Hsu reported. Microsoft sent out 30,000 promotional passes for Xbox Live members to try out the app, which likely led to the technical issues many suffered with the app not loading. Other issues included resetting, crashing, moving to an earlier point in the fight with no ability to fast forward to live broadcasting, buffering, stutteringl and switching between standard, high or very low resolutions.
Researchers at Eurécom in France and the Italian Institute of Technology's Center for Human Space Robotics have demonstrated a system that utilizes Microsoft's Xbox 360 Kinect accessory to weigh astronauts in microgravity environments. The sensor is used to make a 3D model of an astronaut's body, enabling a computer program to extrapolate mass based on volume estimates.
Sony is being sued for the new clause in its PlayStation Network end-user license agreement that protects it from just such things, Geek reported on Tuesday. The addition was made in September and prompted games developer EA and software giant Microsoft to make similar changes. Under the terms, PSN gamers must agree not to sue Sony if their accounts are hacked in the future or if anything else goes wrong.
Microsoft bucked expectations Wednesday by releasing an official My Xbox Live app for iOS (free, App Store). The app lets iPad, iPhone, and iPod users handle most of what they can do outside of gameplay and the Game Marketplace. It touts messaging, managing the friends list, comparing profiles and achievements, and customizing the avatar, as well as newer features like game Beacons.
A rumor Monday claimed to have details of the next-generation Kinect. The Xbox peripheral would overcome the inherent limits of the current system and could detect facial expressions, Eurogamer was told. It would be accurate enough to detect emotional expressions and even to read lips, possibly letting it tell who was speaking a command.
A second console celebrated its tenth year alongside the Xbox Friday as the Nintendo GameCube marked its anniversary. The system was launched in North America on November 18, 2001, just a few days after the Microsoft Xbox. Unlike Sony's PS2 or Xbox, it had a rocky history and led some to wonder if Nintendo had lost relevance.
Microsoft kicked off the tenth anniversary of the Xbox with a celebration page and bonuses. Everyone gets access to a free avatar prop for Xbox Live that provides a gift box that opens to reveal fireworks. Some downloadable games will also be on sale as part of the anniversary.
Nintendo's Wii U might get a much-requested support for two of its signature tablet controllers. A developer executive claimed to Develop that there were clues in the code that it was being readied to support the special, very high speed wireless controllers. The console designer looked like it was "on the cusp" of solving the problems that had led it to at first limit the Wii U to one of the special gamepads.
Xbox.com is in the process of replacing the "My Xbox" section of the site with a new tab called "Social," which will not only enable new services and options, but will also give players their first look at an important part of the upcoming Xbox 360 dashboard update: tiles and other visual elements borrowed from "Metro," the name for the overall visual style of Windows 8. In addition, users can now use "Beacons" to mark games they want to play with others, according to a blog post on xbox.com.
Microsoft's decision to kill the Courier tablet came after a meeting with former CEO Bill Gates himself, according to a new leak on Tuesday. Not willing to decide on his own whether Microsoft should embrace the book-like Courier or a more conventional tablet, current CEO Steve Ballmer turned to a presentation with Gates judging a presentation by Courier architect J Allard, then Entertainment & Devices head Robbie Bach, and a pair of project engineers, CNET heard. Gates reportedly had a virtual "allergic reaction" when Allard revealed that the Courier's emphasis on drawing, note-taking, and other content plans meant it wouldn't have native e-mail or otherwise tap directly into the Office or Windows ecosystems.
Frozenbyte has announced that its upcoming game, Trine 2, can now be pre-ordered through Steam. Trine 2 is a side-scrolling platforming game that places players in the role of one of three heroes. Customers who pre-purchase the game will gain access to the Trine 2 Beta, which features the first two levels, as well as full multiplayer support. The company has also announced that it plans to release all versions, including Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and Steam versions on Mac and Windows, simultaneously in December.
Microsoft has said will soon be bringing its Zune Music Pass service and enhanced Kinect voice control to its Australian gamers. Zune will be available starting November 16. The Kinect voice menu is expected to be fully functional by mid-December.
Microsoft has submitted to the USPTO a patent claim that uses the Kinect camera for an Xbox 360 to estimate an individual's age. Using this information, the Xbox can then implement appropriate parental controls based on who's in the room viewing. Microsoft claims that using the technology, any on-screen content can be replaced instantly with more by age appropriate content when a person in a lower age group enters the Kinect's field of view.
The Nyko Zoom accessory for the Xbox Kinect add-on is now shipping. Introduced at E3, the lens basically reduces the distance gamers need to stand away from the Kinect. At the E3 show, a demonstration of the gadget in action didn't reveal any glitches or shortcomings.
Microsoft is preparing to offer a preview program for the upcoming Xbox interface, which was revealed in recent leaks. The beta preview, which was confirmed by Xbox Live director of programming Larry Hyrb, will enable a select group of users to take an early look at the revamped dashboard. The program is expected to be similar to the dashboard preview that was offered last year.
A leaked video allegedly shows the redesigned Xbox dashboard that Microsoft has continued to develop. The YouTube video presents a number of screenshots, pointing to the revamped layout that mimics certain elements, such as the tile layout, from the user interface style that first appeared in Windows Phone 7 and continued onto Windows 8.
The former president of Microsoft's entertainment and devices decision who was also key in creating the Xbox franchise, Robbie Bach, is now a board member at Sonos. John MacFarlane, the founder and CEO of Sonos, who makes Internet radio receivers and related hardware, personally asked Bach to join his company, wrote the WSJ. Bach is a long-time user of Sonos products and says part of their appeal is their ease of use.
A new paper (pdf) from Microsoft Research has given developers a fresh look at how the Kinect motion-sensing peripheral works. It focuses specifically on the human body tracking component. The algorithm runs on the Xbox console and the Kinect drivers, which is what is provided to games developers.
The Avatar Kinect is now available as a free download from the Kinect Fun Labs section on Xbox Live Marketplace, which is two days earlier than originally expected. The app lets users with the Xbox 360 games console and the Kinect add-on control their avatars over the motion-sensing add-on, including facial expressions and body movements. Users have the ability to produce their own avatar TV shows, much like a podcast, and to chat between friends online.
During a conference at the Research Faculty Summit 2011, Craig Mundie, the chief research and strategy officer from Microsoft Research Connections, confirmed that the Avatar Kinect is indeed coming out in the next few days. While he didn't specify a date, Mundie did say it "will be coming very, very soon," so the rumored July 27 date is certainly believable. He then went on to say "in the few days that remain" and confirmed that it will go live worldwide.
AMD's integrated system vendor relationship head Neal Robison hinted in the August issue of Official Xbox Magazine that the next Xbox was getting closer and would be a huge visual leap over the Xbox 360. He claimed the future console would produce graphics on the level of the movie Avatar. The remarks stopped short of confirming plans, but they virtually guaranteed that AMD's graphics were returning for the new game system.
At the E3 conference in June, Nykos demonstrated the Zoom for Kinect. The Zoom is a clip on device that allows players to stand closer to the console, effectively reducing the amount of space needed to play games. Nykos has finally settled on a ship date and now expects it in stores August 23.
Microsoft is planning a subscription video service that would go beyond the live Xbox TV it promised during its E3 keynote, insiders uncovered Friday. The service mentioned to The Daily would be badged as a Zune service much like the existing pay-per-title store and compete with one of Microsoft's frequent partners, Netflix. The service would "most likely" not be locked to the Xbox and would show up on Windows Phone 7 and Windows PCs.
Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry made a contentious claim Friday that Apple's back-to-school promo was showing signs of being much more effective than Microsoft's. Despite Microsoft giving away free Xboxes with PCs, research in an investment note from GER showed that 80 percent of incoming students were buying Macs, not Windows systems. Trends were up for online-only colleges and universities, while returning students later into their studies were very interested in getting iPads, Chowdry said in AppleInsider's copy of the note, which didn't mention the size of the study sample.
Less than one year since launching as a distinct platform, Microsoft has announced that it will merge its Games for Windows Marketplace into Xbox.com. After the transition, users will still be able to purchase digital copies of the games on demand as they do now, though it will be through the Xbox franchise portal. While Microsoft has not announced the rationale behind the decision, the move could help to bolster user interest both platforms.
Microsoft gave further clues that the Zune HD is phasing out with the departure of Zune Originals. A notice on the page now says custom orders for the Zune HD have stopped as of the evening of July 1. Any orders placed before 8PM Eastern that day will be honored, but those that slipped through after the cutoff may need to get in touch with Microsoft.
Microsoft is looking to shake up its marketing strategy with the launch of Windows 8, a new hire's position has uncovered. It has just recently hired Disney's former brand strategy director Jay Victor to serve in the same role at its project. While he hasn't outlined his plans, Victor's job listing has him developing the marketing and positioning for all the major brands, including Windows, Bing, Office, and the Xbox.
Microsoft may not give the Nintendo Wii U much breathing room as a new rumor has a new Xbox arriving next year. The new system will reportedly be unveiled next June at E3 2012. Little has been mentioned to BGR in the scoop other than that the very earliest work had started in 2006, just a year after the Xbox 360 was on shelves.
Developers may soon be able to take advantage of a new tool designed to port Xbox and Windows games to a variety of other popular platforms, including iOS, Android and web browsers.The utility, labeled ExEn, works with Microsoft's XNA software development kit, which is utilized by developers to create games for Xbox Live and Windows.
As part of a series of previews, Microsoft on Thursday gave a closer look at the Games Hub in Windows Phone 7 Mango. The revamp brings some of the features that had previously been locked away in the Extras app and now has 3D, moving avatars that react, including in side-by-side achievement comparisons. The Collection view is now optimized for quickly finding a game over icon size and pushes recently played games to the top.
Former SCEA head Phil Harrison predicted in a recent interview that Apple could dictate gaming within a decade. Asked where he saw Apple in ten years, the PlayStation pioneer told Edge there was a "pretty good chance" iOS could "be the games industry." Its sales rates were very rapid, and Apple wasn't tied down by a need to please game retailers that have threatened retaliation should companies like Nintendo and Sony drop physical game sales.
