Oct 12

Microsoft opens up latest Xbox Live dashboard preview program

Posted in: Microsoft, preview, Today's Chili, xbox, xbox 360, xbox live, Xbox360, XboxLive

Microsoft is prepping another update to the Xbox 360 dashboard and, as usual, that means some folks will be able to get an early peek courtesy of the company’s preview program. While there’s still no date set for a roll-out, those interested in participating this time around can now put their name in for consideration in the program, which is said to be a more automated process than before. As for the dashboard update itself, it boasts a new design for “integrated Kinect and controller navigation,” new “Beacons” for playing online with friends, deeper Facebook integration, and cloud storage for your saved games and Xbox Live profile. According to Microsoft’s Major Nelson, “other features and entertainment partner apps” may also become available during the program period. Hit the source link below for the complete details.

Microsoft opens up latest Xbox Live dashboard preview program originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 12

320GB HDD available this month for Xbox 360, $130 ups your storage game

Posted in: Microsoft, Today's Chili, xbox, xbox 360, Xbox360
Since its introduction, Microsoft’s second generation Xbox 360 has had nary a stand-alone HDD option aside from the company’s proprietary 250GB drive, priced at a spendy $130 — this despite those occasional limited edition consoles packing a massive 320GBs of space. That’s soon to change, however, as Major Nelson’s announced a new 320GB HDD for the 360, set to be available this month. Possibly in an attempt to sweeten the deal, this platter maintains the 250GB’s $130 cost of adoption, and comes pre-loaded with Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (sadly though, no Lego love for Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Slovakia or Japan, where the game won’t be available). Notably, rather than dropping the 250GB drive’s price, it’s now curiously absent from the Xbox website (and we won’t hold our breath waiting for it to pop up again either). Nothing like a good ol’ fashioned pricing premium for official Xbox storage, right?

320GB HDD available this month for Xbox 360, $130 ups your storage game originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:44:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 10

Microsoft reportedly preparing Silverlight-like app framework ahead of Xbox Live update

Posted in: app, application, content, hdpostcross, kinect, Microsoft, rumor, Today's Chili, verizon, video, xbox, xbox 360, xbox live, Xbox360, XboxLive

Earlier this month, Microsoft announced a new slate of Xbox Live partnerships with Verizon, Comcast, and a host of other content providers. Now, the company has unveiled new details about the code upon which these new apps will run. Sources close to the situation tell GigaOM that the new framework, code-named “Lakeview,” will be based on Silverlight, but will also bring a few new features from Xbox Kinect, including voice recognition and gesture-based controls. More intriguing, perhaps, are insider claims that Microsoft’s new content partners stream video using Apple’s HTTP Live Streaming, rather than Redmond’s Smooth Streaming. GigaOM‘s sources went on to say that Microsoft has been introducing major changes to the platform over the past few weeks, in the hopes of having it ready for third-party developers once the Xbox Live update rolls out. Spokespersons for Xbox and Silverlight said they have “nothing to announce” about the new framework, though GigaOM reports that Redmond is aiming to release the update on Black Friday.

Microsoft reportedly preparing Silverlight-like app framework ahead of Xbox Live update originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 07

Do You Know the Capabilities of Your Next Gen Game Console?

Posted in: gaming, playstation, Today's Chili, xbox 360

This article was written on August 09, 2007 by CyberNet.

Next generation consoles like the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 are packed with new features and capabilities that set them apart and place them in the “Next Gen” category, yet a recent study indicates that a good chunk of these console owners really don’t know everything their system can do. If you don’t know what your system is capable of, you’re certainly not going to be able to take full advantage of your purchase.

The study, conducted by NPD Group, gives us some insight about what these console owners know about their system.

Playstation xbox 360

High Definition Graphics

  • 50% of Playstation 3 gamers knew their system had high-definition graphics
  • 30% of Xbox 360 gamers knew that their console had high definition functionality

Blu Ray/ HD DVD

We all know about the war between HD DVD and Blu Ray. Sony has hoped that they’d be able to assemble a large base of Blu Ray users because of the Playstation 3 which would help them conquer HD DVD, however, only 40% of Playstation 3 owners knew that their system even had a Blu-Ray player in it! Even worse, those that knew really aren’t using the Blu-Ray player to begin with.  Only half of them had played a Blu-Ray movie within the last 10 times that they turned their system on.

Gamers want games!

From the study, it was found that the one thing people are most overwhelmingly interested in is games. Not the Blu-Ray player, or even the high definition graphics. Ars Technica says it best when they say, “with constantly shifting hardware configurations, falling prices, and the HD DVD/Blu-Ray fight still going strong, Microsoft and Sony may be sending the message that they’re too complicated for the average gamer, while Nintendo’s game-first attitude and strikingly lower price point may be exactly what the majority of console buyers want.”

Is there any wonder then why the Wii is so successful? It’s affordable, and while they don’t have the graphics that the other two do, they’ve got some great games that are sure to be a good time for anyone who plays them. It sounds to me like Microsoft and Sony need to make an extra effort to educate consumers on all of the extra capabilities their system has to offer, particularly Sony who’s gotten off on a rough start.

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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Oct 07

Halo 3 Ending Leaked

Posted in: gaming, Today's Chili, xbox 360

This article was written on September 18, 2007 by CyberNet.

Not that this should be a surprise, but the ending of Halo 3 has been leaked to the Internet. With the game set to launch in just a week on September 25th, the video of the ending appears to be legitimate – although it hasn’t been confirmed. If you have interest in ruining the game for yourself, I’ve included the link below. Just do everybody else a favor and don’t spoil it for all the Halo fans planning to wait until they actually play the game to find out how it ends (please don’t post any spoilers in the comments either).

*****WARNING, SPOILER VIDEO*****

LINK TO VIDEO

*****WARNING, SPOILER VIDEO*****

Hopefully those that want to wait until they play the game won’t have to hibernate for a week in fear of hearing how it ends. I’ve never understood how anybody gets enjoyment out of spoiling it for others, but it happens.

In other Halo 3 news, here’s an image of what the Halo 3 Edition of Xbox 360 looks like. It launched yesterday just in time for the release of the game!

xbox 360 halo 3 edition

It’ll cost you $400 bucks, and DOES NOT come with Halo 3 (the game). As one CrunchGear commenter pointed out, this is a great deal for HDTV owners. This special edition has the HDMI output, but is $100 cheaper than the Xbox 360 Elite version you’d have to buy if you wanted it otherwise. If you were planning on buying an Xbox 360 any ways, this might be a good option.

Sources: Joystik, CrunchGear

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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Oct 07

Comcast promises Xfinity VOD streaming on more devices, new Xcalibur guide in 2012

Posted in: cable, dvr, hdpostmini, ps3, streaming, Today's Chili, wii, xbox 360, Xbox360

Don’t expect Comcast to stop its Xfinity VOD streaming to the living room rollout with just the Xbox 360 this Christmas, as executive Sam Schwartz promised during a CTAM panel that it plans to develop apps for the PS3, Wii, Roku and other connected TV platforms. Multichannel News reports it doesn’t plan to roll out streaming to as many platforms as Netflix, so we’ll have to wait and see where this initial venture into IPTV stops. Think big cable is scared of over the top services? Maybe not yet, since Comcast claims Netflix subscribers tend to be the most voracious users of its VOD. Also in Comcast’s future is its completely revamped Xcalibur guide software with internet and social media tie-ins (check out our early sneak peek here), which Schwartz reiterated would be available nationwide at some point next year.

Comcast promises Xfinity VOD streaming on more devices, new Xcalibur guide in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 11:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 05

Soon, Xbox Companion will let you control your console from Windows Phone

Posted in: app, hdpostcross, kinect, mango, Microsoft, mobilepostcross, remote control, RemoteControl, Today's Chili, windows phone, windows phone 7, WindowsPhone, WindowsPhone7, Wp7, xbox, xbox 360, xbox live, Xbox360, XboxLive
We just reported that Microsoft is partnering with Verizon and Comcast (among others) to continue expanding the reaches of its Xbox 360 entertainment suite, but would it be complete without adding compatibility to its mobile empire as well? The Windows Phone Team says nay; it spoke up this morning about an upcoming app called Xbox Companion, which will access the Xbox Live Marketplace and also act as a remote, allowing you to navigate your console or control video playback directly from your handset. You can call it laziness or convenience — or both — but either way, it’s still going to be a clever new addition to the Marketplace. The app’s currently in beta and will be available as a free download “soon.” For a peek, check out the video below at around the one-minute mark.

Continue reading Soon, Xbox Companion will let you control your console from Windows Phone

Soon, Xbox Companion will let you control your console from Windows Phone originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Oct 05

Microsoft reveals new TV providers including Verizon and Comcast coming to Xbox 360 (video)

Posted in: breaking news, hdpostcross, Microsoft, Today's Chili, TV, video, xbox, xbox 360, Xbox360

Just as the rumors indicated, Microsoft is bringing video from a number of providers beyond the ones it initially announced to the Xbox 360 in its fall update, including big guns like Verizon and Comcast. While Verizon is promising “a selection” of its live TV channels on the Xbox 360 as expected, Comcast is only bringing its Xfinity TV video on-demand offerings (no AnyPlay powered live TV — yet) to subscribers when it launches “in the coming months.” Other notable providers include Lovefilm (UK, Germany), BBC TV (UK), HBO Go, and Syfy. As promised during E3, the services integrated with Xbox will offer support for search across all available video, as well as support for Kinect voice and gesture controls. The universal search is looking good since it pulls together various services into one UI (as we discussed on our podcast yesterday), but the reality is content providers and geographical limits on what services you can pick from are still throwing up walls between users and content. Check after the break for PR detailing what you’ll be able to access and where, as well as a video intro to all the tasty new TV services.

Gallery: Xbox 360 TV integration

Continue reading Microsoft reveals new TV providers including Verizon and Comcast coming to Xbox 360 (video)

Microsoft reveals new TV providers including Verizon and Comcast coming to Xbox 360 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Major Nelson  |  sourceMicrosoft Technet, Verizon, Comcast, MS PR  | Email this | Comments

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Oct 03

Big Xbox 360 Update Coming (Yep, DivX)

Posted in: gaming, Today's Chili, videos, xbox 360

This article was written on November 30, 2007 by CyberNet.

Xbox 360 Beach

On December 4th at 2:00AM PST Xbox 360 owners (with an Xbox LIVE subscription) will be able to get some awesome new features at no additional cost! At the top of the feature list is MPEG-4 Part 2 video support, which means that most of your DivX and Xvid files will now be play on the system! This was expected, however, because of the DivX/PS3 compatibility that was announced earlier this month.

Another one of the cool features in the list is access to Xbox Originals, which are classic Xbox games that will be available for download at $15 each. The selection will be rather limited at first, but it is expected to grow as more of the game publishers jump on board.

Here’s the full list of features coming on December 4th, and a video demo of the new Dashboard:

  • New video features – The convenience of full-screen movie previews and enhanced video codec support further expand the options when it comes to the Xbox 360 entertainment experience.
  • Xbox Originals – You can download-to-own full original Xbox games that were previously only available at retail. The digital shelves will always be stocked with classic titles, such as “Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex” “Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge,” “Halo,” “Fable,” “Fuzion Frenzy,” “Psychonauts,” and more as the catalogue grows over time, at 1200 Microsoft Points ($15) per game.
  • Xbox LIVE Arcade Hits – On Xbox LIVE Arcade, the Arcade Hits program kicks off where some of the best selling Xbox LIVE Arcade games will become available at permanently reduced prices, making it easier than ever for everyone to build a library of downloadable games! The first games to become Arcade Hits will be “Bankshot Billiards 2” and “Lumines LIVE,” which will be available for 800 Microsoft Points each, and “Marble Blast Ultra,” “Small Arms” and “Zuma Deluxe,” which will be available for 400 Microsoft Points each. With free trial downloads for every game and over 100 games to choose from, Xbox LIVE Arcade offers something for every member of the family.
  • Inside Xbox – A new direct feed brings current news straight from Xbox.com into the Xbox LIVE Dashboard.
  • Enhanced online profile – Members interested in sharing a few more details about themselves will have the option to. 
  • Expanded Friends List access – Members will be able to see the Friends Lists of other Xbox LIVE members, boosting their social networking experience on the service.
  • Enhanced Parental Controls – Parents can set the amount of time their Xbox 360 can be used on a per-day or per-week basis by their children or other members of the household.

Gamerscore Blog [via Joystiq]

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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Oct 03

Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard update video leaks, tours Metro in silence

Posted in: gaming, Microsoft, Software, Today's Chili, video, video games, VideoGames, xbox, xbox 360, xbox live, Xbox360, XboxLive, zune




Last month, we sat down with Microsoft for a quick look at the Xbox’s upcoming Dashboard update — it was sleek, searchable, and extremely camera shy. A quick trip to Europe seems to have cured it of its bashful ways, however, and the budding update can now be seen in a slightly blurry piece of French cinema. This leaked video shows a Dashboard with a smidge more polish than the demo we saw in September, and silently plods on without so much as a bleep or bloop. Our mute host briefly peeks at the Xbox Live Marketplace, casually glances at the Bing search page and scrolls leisurely through the new Dash’s very Metro menu. The whole shebang is en français, of course, and the update’s snappy voice-control gimmick is sadly absent. Sure, there’s not a lot of depth here, but if you want a glimpse of what’s coming when the update drops later this Fall, it’s definitely worth a look.

[Thanks, John]

Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard update video leaks, tours Metro in silence originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 02:58:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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