Hasta La Gadget!

There are definitely a lot of Xbox 360 gamers out there who haven’t sprung for a Xbox Live Gold membership, and Microsoft knows it. To get more gamers to try out the service, Microsoft is hosting a free weekend of Xbox Love Gold, meaning that gamers will have a full weekend of access to the $59.99/year membership at no cost.

The free weekend runs from November 29 (yesterday) through Sunday, December 2, so if you’re any kind of dedicated Xbox 360 gamer, you’ve probably already been fragging with your friends sometime in the last 24 hours or so, but for those who are just hearing about this, no worries, since you still have today and the rest of the weekend to take advantage of the free offer.

It’s also essential to note that the offer is only applicable in a select number of countries. Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States are the only countries who can take advantage of the free weekend (sorry, Europe!).

All Xbox 360 owners in these countries, regardless of their current subscription, will have access to all of the Xbox Live’s features, including online multiplayer gaming, Internet Explorer, Netflix, Hulu Plus, ESPN, Video Kinect, and tons of other entertainment apps that you can download and use at your leisure this weekend.

Xbox Live Gold is free this weekend is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Bloomberg is reporting that Microsoft’s eagerly awaited new Xbox console will arrive in time for next year’s holidays. More »

It’s pretty obvious that Microsoft and Sony have started work on their next generation gaming consoles, but Microsoft might have more than just the next Xbox up its sleeve. According to a new report from The Verge, Microsoft is planning to launch a set-top box of its own at some point next year. By making such a device and launching some kind of Xbox TV service alongside its next-gen console, it could potentially allow Microsoft to get its products in more living rooms than ever before, so it’s pretty easy to see the appeal of such a strategy.

This set-top box would obviously be a media streaming device meant to challenge the likes of Apple TV and Roku, but Microsoft is also developing this box with gaming in mind. You won’t be able to play full blown console games on it of course, but The Verge’s sources say that Microsoft is looking to have casual games on its box. Perhaps we’ll see the company launch something like Xbox Live made specifically for this device?

The box will also be running Windows 8, and will make use of a chipset that allows it to boot up and a resume from sleep quickly. Given the fact that Microsoft has been trying to turn the Xbox 360 into a media hub rather than a simple games console, the jump to a set-top box isn’t that hard to make. Things get even more interesting, though, when we hear the claim that Microsoft may also be planning to introduce a phone that’s capable of full Xbox Live functionality. Here’s what Microsoft said when questioned about this rumor:

Xbox 360 has found new ways to extend the console lifecycle by introducing controller-free experiences with Kinect and re-inventing the console with a new dashboard and new entertainment content partnerships. We are always thinking about what is next for our platform and how to continue to defy the lifecycle convention.

That isn’t the typical “we don’t comment on rumors or speculation” we’re used to hearing, so Microsoft may indeed be planning something along these lines. We should find out if it is soon enough, as the sources claim that Microsoft will reveal its set-top box next year, releasing it before the holiday season. Would you pick up an Xbox-branded set-top box, or will you be going all out and picking up Microsoft’s next-gen console?

Microsoft reportedly plotting set-top box alongside next-gen Xbox is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 gaming console has given the company a good foothold in the living room, but the company apparently isn’t content with that and wants to increase traction with a new lower-cost device, the Verge reports. According to “multiple sources,” the blog says Microsoft will offer a streamlined media device that provides access to TV and entertainment services, as well as casual gaming software titles.

This device would be one-half of a strategy that also includes next-generation Xbox hardware, the report claims, to be launched in 2013. The set-top box will reportedly be based on a stripped-down version of Windows 8, and will likely offer the type of casual titles available on Mobile and Surface RT devices, as compared to the core gaming titles available through Xbox 360. Specific hardware details weren’t made available to the Verge, but reports claim it’ll be an instant-on gadget, which is in keeping with competitive devices from Apple, Roku, Boxee and others.

The gadget is also said to be part of a larger strategy that would see Microsoft unify core elements of the Xbox experience across platforms, ensuring it can run the same experience on phones, a modestly priced set-top box, full-fledged gaming consoles and also potentially licensed TVs from OEM partners. The company did not reveal timeline specifics beyond the general target of a 2013 release.

A streamlined version of Microsoft’s Xbox would bring it to audiences who aren’t interested in gaming, likely at a much lower price than the Xbox 360. That would help it build its overall device ecosystem, which the company is trying to unify with similar software experiences and cross-platform service integration with Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8. It’s definitely in keeping with what Redmond seems to want to accomplish. We’ve heard whispers that the next-gen full Xbox console will be arriving sometime in 2013, so the timeline is right if this is indeed designed to be part of that launch as reported.

After too long spent with just adequate ESPN content on Xbox Live, users can now get the full deal with the WatchESPN app. The app provides coverage of all ESPN channels, as well as a variety of other offerings, including highlights and replays. This comes after it was originally announced this past summer.

Users can now watch ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, ESPNU, Buzzer Beater, and Goal Line. Features include split screen, my sports, mini guide, control via Kinect, interactive ESPN BottomLine, and reminders. Content can be watched in high-definition, including highlights and replays, while the entire system can be controlled with voice and motion.

The Split Screen feature allows users to watch two games at once, or to split the content up, such as a game in one window and highlights in another. Both screens can be controlled independent of each other, such as pausing one screen while you dedicate your attention to the other. The controlling can be done via Kinect, allowing you to go hands-free.

Next up is the Mini Guide, which gives users sports content previews and quick access at the bottom of the screen, making it easy to toggle between games. Breaking news is delivered via BottomLine, which includes live alerts. Reminders are also tossed into the mix, allowing users to tag games and set up reminders.

[via Gizmodo]

Xbox Live users get WatchESPN app is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.