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Microsoft announced their plans to fill in some of the key gaps from the initial Windows Phone 7 release with two updates due out this year.
The more interesting of the updates is the second one–a major release–is due later this year. In his keynote address at MWC 2011 today, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer confirmed Multitasking, in depth Twitter integration, SkyDrive, Internet Explorer 9 and XBox 360 Kinect support, all coming to Windows Phone 7 this year.
An earlier update, now due out by March, brings the long-awaited copy and paste features to the operating system as well as some performance tweaks and support for CDMA networks. While early 2011 may not be early enough for [...]
Continue reading: Microsoft Unveils Upgrade Plans For Windows Phone 7
As everyone expected, the Xbox Kinect has been a huge success. And of course as with any new gadget, especially with the all the potential of the Kinect, we’re seeing tons of users coming out with all types of cool innovations. The peripheral has even been used to help in surgery and help you with your work-out routine. Microsoft wasn’t too happy with the idea of people hacking their new system at first but now they seem to be quite keen on the idea, probably from all the free media coverage they’re seeing. And now Microsoft is supporting the idea, so much so that they hinted at releasing official drivers and software developer’s kit [...]
Continue reading: Microsoft Rumored To Bring Kinect Drivers And SDK To Windows
Microsoft is bringing back a feature it had previously taken out and though it’s a small change it’s expected to have a big effect. In this dashboard update we’re seeing the return of the “Boot-to-Disc” option which is making a come back for one reason, to stop pirating on the Xbox 360. And from the reaction of forum members it looks as though Microsoft is having success so far.
“Anti-Piracy 2.5 update” is what the update has officially become known as. With this update Xbox 360 owners who have flashed the firmware will no longer be able to load bootleg titles on to the console. And if you want to play on Xbox LIVE [...]
Continue reading: Newest Xbox 360 Updates Plans To Stop Piracy
The Dreamcast is back!….sort of. I’ve waited years to say that phrase, (minus the “sort of”) and today I get to spread the news that our beloved console is coming back via Xbox 360. That’s right ladies and gentlemen, on February 22nd 2011 a Dreamcast Collection package is going to be released for the 360. The package will include: Sonic Adventure, Crazy Taxi, Sega Bass Fishing and Space Channel 5: Part 2. All of the titles will have enhanced graphics as well as leader-boards online just like all of the other Xbox LIVE games, which means its finally time to bust out those old school skills that you learned on the greatest console of all time. Now [...]
Continue reading: Dreamcast Makes A Comeback Via Xbox LIVE
Microsoft has been doing rather well in sales of its Xbox 360 console, so strong that supply is running low. Director of Programming Larry Hryb (aka Major Nelson) has come out and said that demand is high that Microsoft has literally “run out” of the consoles. With stock also being extremely tight in January and February, Major Nelson was quick to point out “that if they didn’t get first place in console sales from the NPD group with their results today, it would be due to strong sales, and not the opposite”.
According to what NPD is reporting, Microsoft Xbox 360 was the only console to see year-over-year growth through December at 42%. This [...]
Continue reading: NPD Reports Show December As Best Selling Month For Xbox 360
Just as the excitement of the Kinect begins to fizzle out, Microsoft brings even more innovation to the world of gaming with Avatar Kinect. What this new technology brings to the Kinect will give the Xbox 360′s motion-tracking array the ability to track not just the movements of the body and limbs, but now the facial expressions of the user all the way down to the finer tics of the smile. Starting off, the technology will only be coming to the social chatting of Avatar Kinect. It will be used, Microsoft spokesman David Dennis tells Kotaku, to record the movements of a person’s upper body and face and convert it into nearly real-time avatar movements and emotions.”Kinect [...]
Continue reading: New Avatar Kinect From Microsoft Expands Game Possibilities
The CES 2011- International Consumer Electronics Show will kick off today, commencing with the keynote address from Steve Ballmer, CEO Microsoft. His keynote like always will be streamed LIVE from Las Vegas on January 5th, 2010 at 6.30 pm PDT.
According to a report from WinRumors, a sneak peak of Windows 8 may also be teased at the event. Recent reports also state that Microsoft may announce Windows TV – a set-top box in answer to the Apple TV and Google TV, along with a massive update for Windows Phone 7 introducing copy-and-paste functionality, CDMA-based Windows Phone devices, and Avatar Kinect feature for Xbox 360.
Those of you who [...]
Continue reading: Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer To Show Off Windows 8 At CES 2011 Keynote
A Windows-based STB is rumored to be in the works from Microsoft with plans on taking on Google TV and Apple TV. According to the Seattle Times, the Microsoft box will be a stripped-down, focused version of the company’s existing Windows 7 embedded OS and will retail for about $200 later this year.
Although details regarding the hardware are scarce right now, rumor has it the Windows TV STBs are going to have a Windows Media Center UI and a streamlined TV program guide that pulls together online and broadcast content simultaneously. Presumably there will also be media streaming and remote-control support while using the home network for streaming content to and from other PCs.
It’s been [...]
Continue reading: Microsoft CEO Expected To Announce Windows TV At CES 2011 Keynote
With the successful release of the Kinect it would be fair to say that there’s been an increase of activity and odd movement or gestures going on in living rooms around the world. You wouldn’t think that the odd movements used to control the Kinects’ games wouldn’t have much meaning to anyone not playing the game other than a source hilariousness, but that’s not the case for usability expert Jakob Nielsen. Nielsen has been looking at how much the required movements vary from game to game even though they accomplish the same result. Nielsen has come to the conclusion that while there’s no doubt the Kinect is “fun to play” it’s very inconsistent, full of awkward dialogs [...]
Continue reading: Several Issues Found In Kinect UI During Usability Breakdown
If you are one of the many Gears of Wars fans out there, then you might find this opportunity at getting into the Gears of War 3 beta Early Access exciting. It was recently announced that if you purchase the “Epic Edition” of the game Bulletstorm for the Xbox 360, you will gain early access to the Gears of War 3 beta.
The game comes out on February 22 of 2011 while the beta of Gears of War 3 is schedule for “sometime” next year. The BulletStorm Epic Edition game will cost $60 (the same as the regular edition) and will be on the Xbox 360 only. You can check out the full press release below:
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Continue reading: Gears of War 3 Beta Included In Bulletstorm Epic Edition
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