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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.

Permalink | source Windows Phone Blog | Email this | Comments

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.

Permalink IGN | source ivazquez71 (YouTube) | Email this | Comments

Sep 29

Microsoft reportedly adding video from Comcast, Verizon, HBO Go and others to Xbox Live

Posted in: hdpostcross, Microsoft, streaming, Today's Chili, verizon, xbox 360, xbox live, Xbox360, XboxLive

Microsoft announced new integration with live TV as a part of the Xbox 360’s fall update during E3 earlier this year, but didn’t name any US pay-TV partners at the time. Now, anonymous rumors recently posted on Digiday suggested the folks at Redmond were looking to work with Verizon and Comcast, followed by Bloomberg hearing similar talk from its own “people with knowledge of the situation.” Today’s rumors finger Verizon (which showed off live TV on a variety of devices at CES), Comcast, HBO, Crackle, Bravo, Syfy and UK service Lovefilm as likely partners. Missing from the list is AT&T’s U-verse, which already offers an Xbox 360 tie-in and distributes its IPTV on the Mediaroom platform, just like some of the international partners previously announced. If these services launch it will be interesting to see how the integration works and if it’s VOD like the existing Xfinity TV and Flex View mobile apps, or if providers cross the IPTV bridge with in-home devices like the Televation / AnyPlay box.

Microsoft reportedly adding video from Comcast, Verizon, HBO Go and others to Xbox Live originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Sep 2011 13:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Joystiq, Technically Philly | source Bloomberg | Email this | Comments

Sep 15

Microsoft shows off Xbox Live on Windows 8 (video)

Posted in: gaming, Microsoft, Today's Chili, video, Windows, windows 8, Windows8, xbox, xbox 360, xbox live, Xbox360, XboxLive

Yeah, we knew it was possible, but knowing and seeing are two very, very different animals. Just before closing the doors at Build 2011, Microsoft’s Avi Ben-Menahem took the time to briefly showcase what would be possible with Xbox Live and Windows 8. It’s obviously in a very early state, but already we’re seeing signs of cross-platform multiplayer game support, and an (unsurprisingly) Metro-style universe supplanting the existing Games for Windows Live. We get the feeling that Microsoft’s thinking this one through; rather than just shoehorning a gaming element in, things like “cloud saves” and dedicated Music / Video panes will be around to enjoy. Moreover, participation in the Xbox Live development program will purportedly be free, and if Ben-Menahem has his way, this will bring “everything you know and love on Xbox 360 and Xbox Live to Windows.” Bold. Peek the pair of videos just after the break.

Continue reading Microsoft shows off Xbox Live on Windows 8 (video)

Microsoft shows off Xbox Live on Windows 8 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink This is my next | source GeekWire, WinRumors | Email this | Comments

Sep 13

Xbox Live functionality confirmed for Windows 8

Posted in: Games, gaming, Microsoft, minipost, Today's Chili, Windows, windows 8, Windows8, xbox, xbox live, XboxLive

Microsoft today re-confirmed that it will be bringing Xbox Live functionality to PCs — a move that will come courtesy of the newly showcased Windows 8. The integration — titled, simply enough, Xbox Live on Windows — will bring the service’s gaming, music, movie and TV content to Win 8 devices. The software giant promises to shed more light on the move later in the week, with a Build 2011 session for app developers interested in harnessing the service’s features.

Xbox Live functionality confirmed for Windows 8 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source Major Nelson, Channel9 | Email this | Comments

Sep 09

Xbox Live Fall 2011 Dashboard update preview: Bing search, voice control, and a Metro overhaul

Posted in: gaming, hdpostcross, impressions, kinect, Microsoft, preview, Today's Chili, video games, VideoGames, windows phone, WindowsPhone, xbox, xbox 360, xbox live, Xbox360, XboxLive, zune

Autumn is fast approaching — and you know what that means: it’s round about time for an Xbox Dashboard update. Sure, we got a peek of Microsoft’s upcoming harvest back at E3, but the good folks from Redmond invited us to take a closer look at what they’re calling the “most significant update to the Dashboard since NXE.” Senior project Manager Terry Ferrell was on-site to walk us through an early engineering beta and show us how an updated Metro UI, Bing search and deeper Kinect integration is going to change the way folks manage their entertainment content.

Continue reading Xbox Live Fall 2011 Dashboard update preview: Bing search, voice control, and a Metro overhaul

Filed under: HDTV

Xbox Live Fall 2011 Dashboard update preview: Bing search, voice control, and a Metro overhaul originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aug 15

Xbox 360 to go forever matte as glossy is discontinued, fingerprints look for a new home

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

Say it ain’t so! Within the next few weeks Microsoft will be phasing out its 250GB Xbox 360’s glossy finish in favor of the murdered-out matte currently found on its 4GB models. Major Nelson recently took to his blog announcing the news amid apparent speculation that the pricier variant would actually be offered in both flavors. If you’re a fan of shiny things — and a lover of fingerprints — Major says you’ll still have time to pick one up as stock is shuffled, and also noted there’ll probably be glossy limited editions in the future. Rest in peace dear glossy friend, our microfiber cloths won’t know what to do with them themselves.

Continue reading Xbox 360 to go forever matte as glossy is discontinued, fingerprints look for a new home

Xbox 360 to go forever matte as glossy is discontinued, fingerprints look for a new home originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 14:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Cnet | source Major Nelson | Email this | Comments

Jul 28

25 percent of Netflix users stream on the Wii, think composite cables are just fine

Posted in: hulu, Microsoft, Movies, netflix, nintendo wii, NintendoWii, playstation 3, Playstation3, ps3, sony, streaming, Today's Chili, TV, watch instantly, WatchInstantly, wii, xbox, xbox 360, xbox live, Xbox360, XboxLive

We all know that streaming Hoarders and other guilty pleasures via the interwebs has taken off over the past few years. No news there. However, what may be surprising is that, despite the ability to stream in HD to a number of other devices (including your computer), a quarter of all Netflix subscribers view Swamp People by way of the Wii. That’s right, 1080p doesn’t matter for these folks, who prefer to live the simple life… and by that we mean life in standard def. Most viewers prefer to watch instantly via PC for both Netflix and Hulu, with a whopping 89 percent of Plus customers taking this route to catch up on The Daily Show. With those looking to ditch the red envelope and, you know, with Mad Men now available, Wii viewers are sure to increase as a new console is just around the corner. Because nothing says 1960s drama like 480p, right?

25 percent of Netflix users stream on the Wii, think composite cables are just fine originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 06:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | source Nielsen | Email this | Comments

Jul 25

Avatar Kinect hits Xbox Live, your own virtual talk show starts today

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

Microsoft has been touting Avatar Kinect, since CES way back in January, and you can now finally it try out for yourself. The Kinect Fun Labs Gadget is available as a free download for all Xbox Live Gold members starting today, and even non-paying Live members can try it out during a limited trial that runs until September 8th. So just what is it? Partly a tech demo showing off things like new facial expression capabilities, but mostly another way for you to hangout with a few friends online — up to seven in this case, in your choice of 24 virtual environments. Those looking to try something else a little different with Kinect will also be able to download the Kinect Sparkler 3D finger painting application this Thursday, although it’ll cost you 240 Microsoft Points.

Continue reading Avatar Kinect hits Xbox Live, your own virtual talk show starts today

Avatar Kinect hits Xbox Live, your own virtual talk show starts today originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jul 19

Turtle Beach unveils limited edition Modern Warfare 3 headsets, Simon Riley would’ve approved

Posted in: bluetooth, earphones, game, headset, Today's Chili, Wireless, xbox live, XboxLive

Listen up, soldier. Engadget HQ was dismayed when lieutenant Simon “Ghost” Riley — along with his skull balaclava and mondo communications headset — saw an arguably unjust demise in Modern Warfare 2. That being said, if he could play the upcoming installment we’d bet it’d be with one of the four limited edition offerings from Turtle Beach and Activision. The headsets all sport the same night vision-esque design, but offer varying specialties. On the front line is the $300 Ear Force Delta; based on the XP500 programmable virtual 7.1 headset, it adds a custom travel-case and MW3 specific sound presets. Next up is the $150 Ear Force Bravo, a variant of the PX3, which offers the same presets as the former in wireless stereo. Following close in formation is the $130 Ear Force Charlie, a take on the PC oriented Z6A; it delivers discrete 5.1 with a grand total of eight drivers. Rounding out the reserves is the $100 Ear Force Foxtrot; a PX21 universal stereo headset that’s also just received a fresh coat of battle paint.

All of the gear will be available in October along with “bonus content,” which gives you time to set aside extra funds for the game’s November 8th release. You’ll find photo-based intel below and more details in the PR past the break. At ease, soldier.

Gallery: Turtle Beach Modern Warfare 3 gaming headsets