Hasta La Gadget!

While the world waits to find out the facts about Microsoft’s next videogame console, new rumors have popped up suggesting what its plans to go all-in on the Xbox-as-media center concept entail. According to The Verge, multiple unnamed sources suggest the plan is to include an HDMI passthrough and guide overlay, similar to the method used by Google TV. There’s no word on any possible IR blaster (or IR GamePad, Wii U-style) integration, but thanks to Microsoft’s partnerships with cable TV providers, it’s trying to provide integration that goes a “step further” than what we’ve seen so far. That includes Kinect control, with next generation hardware that can recognize when viewers have turned their heads away and pause video automatically, with additional features rolling out after launch. There’s no confirmation of controversial always-on requirements for gaming, but it will apparently need to be logged on for streaming (of course) and controlling incoming TV signals.

A collection of rumors posted on Kotaku includes references to an “XTV”, and a LinkedIn post that connects tagging of video to the project, similar to Shazam or IntoNow’s features. Also dug up on various job profiles are mentions of a “cloud-driven, voice-optimized experience” and the next generation of SmartGlass.

Microsoft had great success with an evolving media approach to its console business with the Xbox 360 — apps and original content are in, with Mediaroom and Media Center pushed to the side — and even if these rumors are true, we wouldn’t be surprised if what exists in a few years ends up changing just as much. Still, given the (lack of) response to Google’s overlays and gesture control integrated by Samsung, LG and others, it will be interesting to see if a similar approach attached to an Xbox finds different results.

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft

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Source: The Verge, Kotaku

Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox may sacrifice backward-compatibility for 360 games in favor of easier cross-platform development for Xbox and Windows PC games, sources claim, following Sony in jumping to AMD chips. The unofficially titled “Xbox 720” will ditch IBM Power PC processors for AMD’s x86-based chips, Bloomberg reports, bringing greater hardware parity to Xbox and PC, and allowing game developers to more easily release titles for both platforms. However, those upgrading from an existing Xbox 360 to the new console may be less impressed.

That’s because, without some clever emulation, an x86-based console would not be able to run games designed for the older, Power PC-based versions. Any catalog of existing Xbox 360 titles would not, therefore, run on the new hardware.

Microsoft could work around that limitation by cooking up an emulator that, in effect, creates a virtual Xbox 360 within which to play older titles. However, it could also choose to chase new game sales completely, or alternatively offer some sort of cloud-based game access for older titles. Previous leaks have already suggested that the new Xbox will be designed to be permanently connected to the internet.

Sony has already paved the way for a jump to AMD silicon, confirming earlier this year that the PlayStation 4 will use a custom SoC from the processor firm. That chip will pair eight 64-bit Jaguar cores with AMD Radeon graphics, among other things, while older titles – the game discs for which will be no longer compatible with the console – will be delivered from the Gaikai cloud-gaming service.

The Xbox 720 almost certainly won’t use the same SoC, but a similar arrangement of Jaguar cores is likely. AMD is particularly eager to pick up design wins from gaming heavyweights, such as Sony and Microsoft, because it offers a way out of the ever-shrinking profit margins in desktop and notebook PCs; the company’s willingness to compete on price apparently left NVIDIA out of the loop, with the chip rival saying that it was unwilling to work for the sort of budget Sony had in mind for the PS4.

For Microsoft, a common system architecture between Xbox and PC would make cross-platform gaming far more straightforward, and allow it to better leverage its footprint in both categories. For game developers, there would be less investment – in terms of both time and money – required to release titles for each platform, something Microsoft supposedly hopes will court coders back to Xbox and away from more “casual” platforms or upstarts like OUYA.

Exactly when we might see the new “Durango” Xbox is unclear at this stage. Microsoft was tipped to be readying a reveal sometime this month, but is said to have squashed that timeline in favor of an event later in Q2. That could be at E3 2013 in June, or at a standalone event on May 21, other sources claim.

Xbox 720 AMD heart tipped as backward-compatibility cut is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

It looks like Intel’s planning on bringing its Next Unit of Computing (NUC) mini-computer upmarket, if a leaked roadmap from ComputerBase.de is to be believed. The documents look highly tentative, but if they come to fruition then Intel will start offering new NUCs (code-named “Skull Canyon” and “Horse Canyon”) with Intel Core i7-3537U and Core i5-3427U processors along with its current Core i3 model during the first half of the year. New motherboards would be used that alter the slot configurations substantially: the Thunderbolt connector would be dropped in favor of USB 3.0 — three on the i7 model, one on the i5 — with DisplayPort 1.1a added to each along with HDMI 1.4a connectors. There’s no pricing yet, but we found that you’d need to nearly double the price of the original NUC to create a working computer, so bear that in mind when you’re looking at the leaked slides after the break.

[Image credit: ComputerBase.de]

Filed under: Desktops, Intel

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Via: FanlessTech

Source: ComputerBase.de

Korea’s ETNews doesn’t have a flawless track record with Samsung leaks, but it’s hoping to revive its reputation with this latest sliver of gossip. It’s suggesting that the company is going after those people who think the Galaxy Note is a bit on the weeny side by releasing the 6.3-inch Galaxy Mega. The device, which is codenamed “Project Möbius,” is likely to come with a dual-core Exynos chip, 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel shooter up front. On the other hand, SamMobile has thrown out a bucket-load of specs to say that we could see a 5.8-inch Mega with a low-res 960 x 540 display, a 1.4GHz Exynos CPU and 1.5GB of RAM. We get the sense that neither device is coming with bleeding-edge specs and will instead slot into the mid-range tiers of the company’s product lineup — assuming they exist at all. Either way, at least we’ve managed to get through a whole post without using the word “phablet”… damnit!

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung

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Via: Unwired View

Source: ET News, SamMobile

It is no secret that Disney and News Corp. have been looking into selling video-streaming service Hulu, with sources having dropped information over the past weeks about what is happening behind the scenes. Word had it the two companies were, at one point, looking at buying out the other to take control of the service, and then sources said they were entertaining potential buyers. Now individuals who are said to be familiar with the happenings have stated that News Corps.’ former president has placed a bid.

Peter Chernin was one of the individuals responsible for the early days of Hulu, and now it seems, if the sources are correct, that he has returned with a bid for the service. Chernin left Hulu back in 2009 to start The Chernin Group, which has holdings in a number of companies, including the popular online music streaming service Pandora.

His bid is said to be approximately $500 million, but neither his people, Disney, or News Corp. would comment on the rumor. Word has it that Disney and News Corp. have reached out to multiple potential buyers, but the two sources who provided this information do not know if any other bids have been placed for Hulu. All of this comes as methods for monetizing the service and taking it in a solid direction have been pondered.

Per past sources, News Corp. was leaning towards a model for Hulu that involved subscriptions as the primary way of monetizing the service, using something like the currently-implemented Hulu Plus service. Disney had different ideas, however, leaning more towards an advertisement-based model that would depend on advertisements, something the service also utilizes. For a long while, the two companies were unsure of whether they would sell the service, but if the sources are correct, it would seem they are close to making a decision.

[via Reuters]

Former News Corp. president reportedly places $500 million bid for Hulu is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.