Hasta La Gadget!

Microsoft just bought R2 Studios, a company that Apple and Google were both after, to help the Xbox continue its assault on living rooms across the world. R2 Studios, which was founded by Blake Krikorian (the guy who also made the Slingbox), apparently “works on” technology related to distributing and displaying digital media on televisions. More »

It’s not even CES 2013 yet and Microsoft is already counting the days until E3 2013 in June. Granted, the company backed out of CES indefinitely, but we’re still taking one thing at a time at this point. Xbox Live head Larry Hyrb (a.k.a. Major Nelson) posted up a countdown to E3 2013 on his blog along with the phrase, “And it’s on…”

This could really only mean one thing: Microsoft may be unveiling the next Xbox at E3 2013. Obviously, we’re not 100% sure, but given how Nintendo is leading the way with next-generation consoles with the release of the Wii U, we can assume that other companies will follow suit. W’ve already been hearing rumors about new gaming consoles, and with the Xbox 360 approaching 90 years old in gaming years, we’re bound to see a new console this year.

In any case, it looks like Microsoft is ramping up for a major launch of some kind, and we doubt that these signs have any other explanation other than a next-generation console. We’ve heard that the next Xbox will arrive just in time for Christmas next year, so an E3 announcement earlier in the year definitely wouldn’t be crazy.

The window between the announcement and the public release would certainly give time for uber gaming fans to work their butts off over the summer in order to save up the cash for a fancy new Xbox console, one that may be designed to be a lot more than just a gaming console, but an all-out entertainment machine like today’s Xbox.

Xbox 720 strongly suggested in E3 countdown post is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you can believe it, it’s been over 11 years since the original Xbox game console launched. It’s difficult to imagine a time when Microsoft didn’t have one of the top gaming consoles on the market, but prior to 2001, it was all Sony, Sega and Nintendo. Now, if you’ve got a whole lot of cash kicking around, you can own a piece of gaming  history, with this amazing collection of goodies from the original Xbox launch in November 2001.

Having been employed at Microsoft from 1997 to 2006 as part of the Xbox launch team, Howard Philips (who also worked at Nintendo during its heyday) has decided to sell off his Xbox launch collection over on eBay.

The collection includes one of the translucent green Xbox Launch Team consoles and a pair of matching green controllers. Just 60 of these were ever made, so they’re very rare. In addition, there’s an awesome, possibly one-of-a-kind sculpture of the original “X” prototype console, made out of machined and polished metal with a light-up Xbox logo. It measures about 18″x18″x18″ and weighs in at a whopping 25 pounds – which, when you think about it – doesn’t sound much heavier than the production Xbox console.

There’s also some cool internal Microsoft collectibles in the auction, including a commemorative launch plaque, and the first ever official Xbox Certification Submission Disc – the orinal master disc of NHL Hitz – the very first Xbox game to go into certification, back in July 2001.

If you’re lucky (or rich) enough to purchase this collection, you’ll also get a full set of Xbox collectors cards from E3 2001, an original, unused Xbox Live Subscription card from the launch of the service, an original Xbox trade show badge, baseball cap and windbreaker, as well as a bunch of other Xbox stickers, buttons, pens and a notebook from the launch in 2001.

So what’s the price for all of this console history? Well, the starting bid for the auction is set at $5000(USD), and so far there aren’t any bids. The auction ends at 12:39pm PST on January 2, 2013, so there’s not much time left either.

If you’ve got a love for gaming, and really deep pockets, you can check out the entire auction here.

[via GameSniped]

Microsoft is making a big push to bring more content to Xbox, and some of the more recognizable names in entertainment have responded by building apps for the console, bringing their services into your living room. Two weeks ago, ESPN arrived on Xbox with WatchESPN, allowing anyone who has a cable subscription with Time Warner, Bright House, Verizon FiOS, XFINITY (Comcast) or Midcontinent to access ESPN and all of its properties on their Xboxes.

Microsoft is further adding to its catalog today, with a handful of new apps from Rhapsody, Blip.TV, IGN, LOVEFiLM, RTL XL and TOU.TV set to rollout.

Rhapsody first announced its availability to Xbox 360 users yesterday afternoon, bringing its on-demand music service to Xbox LIVE. The company tells us that the new app comes with a UI designed specifically for the platform, which takes advantage of HD displays and integrates voice commands and gestures for Kinect. The app is available now on Xbox LIVE and is free for current Rhapsody members and Xbox LIVE Gold subscribers.

Similar to the company’s apps for LG, Panasonic and Samsung smart TVs, the new Xbox app allows users to quickly find and play their favorite music from Rhapsody’s catalog of 1-million-plus songs. Radio play, popular albums, new releases and playlists are also featured prominently, along with featured editorial stations picked by Rhapsody’s staffers. The app is initially launching for U.S. subscribers and will roll out worldwide in the coming months.

Blip.TV also launches on Xbox today for U.S. subscribers, allowing users to discover, watch and share original web series from up-and-coming and professional content producers. Blip works with production companies (and is probably best known for its work with those in the gaming world) to bring comedies, sports, arts and dramatic series to users through its content and distribution network. The new app has a familiar layout to users of Blip’s web interface, offering an experience and dashboard that’s similar to its Windows 8 UI. It’s simple and straightforward, focusing on smooth playback, and enables users to login directly or via Facebook authentication.

IGN’s new app is now available to subscribers in Canada, and brings the company’s original video content, reviews, live streams and shows like Pro League, Daily Fix and Strategize to Xbox LIVE. Users can watch reviews, previews, news and demos of popular games and easily navigate directly to those games for download. IGN’s app also integrates with Kinect so that you can play, rewind and pause that content with voice and gestural commands.

LOVEFiLM, the international Netflix competitor, is today updating its Xbox app for users in the U.K. and launching it in Germany, meaning subscribers can now watch thousands of films streamed directly to their Xboxes. Subscribers who pay LOVEFiLM’s $7 fee can check out movies instantly and get access to what the company claims is the U.K.’s “largest selection of DVDs and Xbox games.” For those already using the service, the new Xbox packages comes as part of the subscription, meaning it’s free.

As part of its (internationally aware) content rollout, RTL XL will also be launching its programs on the Xbox, beginning in the Netherlands, and TOU.TV (the French-language entertainment service) will be launching in Canada to give users access to 2,000 hours of free video content (serial dramas, documentaries, soap operas and web series, etc.) from the French-speaking world.

Now that both Netflix and LOVEFiLM are on Xbox 360, it will be interesting to see if Rhapsody’s arrival will encourage Spotify to push onto the Xbox platform. Rhapsody is an old hand in the on-demand, streaming music world (after all, it acquired Napster) and has been quietly moving out across platforms. While Spotify has become one of the most popular music-streaming services out there over the last year, it’s been lagging behind a bit in this regard. And no doubt there are more than a few Xbox users who are eager to get access to Spotify in their living room.

More on the announcement here.

Online music service Rhapsody has announced that its service is now available on Xbox LIVE. For the Xbox 360 version, Rhapsody has redesigned its app to match the Xbox user interface and that includes support for voice commands and gestures for Kinect users. Finally, Xbox LIVE gold subscribers will have a free access to Rhapsody for Xbox 360.

If you are not familiar with it, Rhapsody is an online music service that brings millions of songs and radio channels via streaming over the web. Typically, subscribers pay a flat fee and can listen to all the available music. Downloads to local devices are possible, and purchases are available too.

If you have a nice sound setup hooked up to the Xbox 360, you may want to check this, and if you already subscribe to Xbox LIVE gold, there’s really no reason not to.

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