Hasta La Gadget!

If you’d given up hope of using your 360 to watch AT&T U-Verse after over three years of waiting, we wouldn’t think any less of you; but for those still holding on to the dream of one less set-top box under the TV, this latest tip says the wait is all but over. As you can see from the internal memo above, a so-called Wired Release will roll out to AT&T U-Verse customers next Sunday, and it’ll bring the long awaited feature with it (though you’ll have to wait until November 7th for that particular aspect). This means AT&T U-verse customer’s Xbox 360 will have a Dashboard app, and when launched, it’ll let it function exactly like any other U-verse set-top. The only major catch is that it can’t be the only set-top — you’ll need at least one DVR at another TV in the house to enjoy one of the four HD streams that could be funneled into your home. But hey, at least it’s on the way, right?

Update: A second anonymous tipster has chimed in with some interesting slides — looks like your Xbox will need a hard drive!

[Thanks, Anonymous]

AT&T U-verse customers can use Xbox 360 as a set-top box starting November 7th originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 19:28:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are you a Mac? Or are you a PC? Are you an iPhone guy or a soldier in the Android Army? If you feel strongly about any of these questions, chances are, you’re a fanboy. More »

Shortly before Kinect hits store shelves on November 4th, Microsoft plans on rolling out the Fall Update to Xbox Live — even sooner for those who signed up for the preview program. That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise, really: even without the numerous leaks, the fall update is a longstanding tradition for the almost five-year-old console, and the company devoted a large chunk of its E3 2010 presentation to talk about the biggest additions. That includes Netflix search (finally!), Zune music, and an entertainment hub for a certain worldwide sports broadcaster… ESPN. We’ve had a chance to spend some time at home with the Fall Update, follow us after the break for our full impressions!

Update: As both Joystiq and a number of tipsters have alerted us, Microsoft has pulled the large, wooden lever in its dark underground lair that allows for the Fall Update to trickle out and assimilate itself into the consoles of those smart enough to sign up for the preview program. If you receive a prompt upon signing in, rejoice! If not, well, have patience!

P.S. – Looking for more? Our BFFs at Joystiq have compiled a series of exhaustive videos chronicling the Fall Update. Check it out!

Continue reading Xbox Live Fall 2010 Dashboard Update preview: ESPN, Netflix search, Kinect, and more! (Update)

Xbox Live Fall 2010 Dashboard Update preview: ESPN, Netflix search, Kinect, and more! (Update) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ah, “premium” video-on-demand. Media controllers have been fighting the inevitable forever, but now it seems they’re finally coming around to the future — letting users watch silver screen gems (or duds, for what it’s worth) in their home shortly after release in the theater. Before you bust out the golf claps for these dudes and dudettes, you should know that they’re planning to ding you for around $30 for the privilege, so it’s only remotely of interest if you happen to have a family of eight. According to a new Bloomberg report, Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., and Walt Disney Co. are all in talks with major cable systems to “offer films for as much as $30 per showing soon after they run in theaters.” Disney’s also thinking of streaming its content to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, with Warner expected to begin testing an offering later this year that lets consumers watch new(ish) release material for “$20 to $30 per viewing.” Of course, we guess it can’t hurt to throw the option out there and see exactly who is desperate enough, but we’re guessing this won’t exactly be the demise of the cinema. Or Redbox.

Sony, Warner and Disney mulling $30 at-home viewing option, we laugh and wait for the $100 option originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Sep 2010 11:17:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft Game Studios manager Kudo Tsunoda is usually known for his controversial choice of eyeware, but now it’s what he’s saying rather than wearing that is mixing things up. Kudo is so confident of his baby, the Kinect, that he thinks it will be the hot property this holiday season. He said this in an interview with Gamasutra:

The preorders have been really strong. As far as what we’re looking at for Holiday, this is going to be stuff that’ll blow away any of the sales you’ve seen with iPad… The Xbox 360 is already selling better than the Wii and Sony right now. Kinect’s really just going to boost that to a whole new level.

For what it’s worth we haven’t been blown away by any of the launch titles for the thing, so we’re not quite so confident of its impending breakout success. However, the Wii has certainly shown that people are willing to make frivolous gaming hardware purchases even when the software isn’t there to back it up. We’ll soon see if that mentality extends to pricey accessories, too.

Kinect sales will ‘Blow away’ those of the iPad — at least that’s what Microsoft’s Kudo Tsunoda thinks originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 19:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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