Microsoft took another loss to its Xbox divsion Friday after its Director of Xbox Live Policy and Enforcement, Stephen Toulouse, resigned from the company. Often known as Stepto, he planned to finish his term at the company on February 15. He stressed that the exit was amicable and a matter of looking for a life change, with no other companies in mind.
An escaped internal video for Nokia staff intercepted on Thursday has shown that Windows Phone 8 should be a massive leap, most of all in hardware. The PocketNow view of the clip, which was hosted by senior Windows Phone VP Joe Belfiore, revealed that the update nicknamed Apollo will add multi-core processor support and catch up to Android and iOS. It should also address a longstanding gripe about the lack of easily removable microSD card storage and bring in four new screen resolutions, greatly improving the diversity of phones
Apple has recruited an important executive from Microsoft's Xbox division, Robin Burrowes, reports say. Until this week, Burrowes was in control of Xbox Live marketing for the EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa) region. At Apple, he will be responsible for marketing the App Store for iTunes Europe. Other highlights on his resume include work on Microsoft's MSN, and time with music and movie retailer HMV.
Despite rumors to the contrary, Microsoft will not release the next-generation Xbox 360 in 2012, according to Cedric Delmas, Microsoft France marketing director. In an interview translated by Eurogamer, he said nothing will be revealed for a new Xbox at this year's E3 show in June. Other claims have pointed to an E3 2013 reveal instead.
The third-generation Xbox could mark a symbolic switch in storage but also a step back for game ownership. Kotaku understood from a rumor source that it would keep an optical drive but jump to Blu-ray, allowing it to hold larger games and play offline HD movies. For Microsoft, it would be the footnote to the HD disc debate of the mid-2000s, where the company officially backed HD DVD but was forced to drop plans after Toshiba axed the format and eventually supported Blu-ray.
A culmination of rumors may have given the first clearer picture of the next-generation Xbox's hardware. A tip to IGN has the system using graphics hardware roughly equivalent to AMD's Radeon HD 6670. Although strictly a mid-range graphics chip on the desktop, it would allegedly be about six times faster than the Xbox 360's 2005-era video.
(Update on PC decline reasons) Microsoft on Thursday revealed record results that masked underlying problems with its core Windows business. It generated $20.5 billion in revenue in the fall, a five percent increase from the same season a year earlier. Most of the increases came from its server business and the Xbox-related Entertainment & Devices group, each of which grew their own revenue by 11 percent and 15 percent.
Microsoft's live UFC app for the Xbox that launched in December suffered a number of hiccups when trying to stream UFC 141 on December 30, BitMob's Dan Hsu reported. Microsoft sent out 30,000 promotional passes for Xbox Live members to try out the app, which likely led to the technical issues many suffered with the app not loading. Other issues included resetting, crashing, moving to an earlier point in the fight with no ability to fast forward to live broadcasting, buffering, stutteringl and switching between standard, high or very low resolutions.
Researchers at Eurécom in France and the Italian Institute of Technology's Center for Human Space Robotics have demonstrated a system that utilizes Microsoft's Xbox 360 Kinect accessory to weigh astronauts in microgravity environments. The sensor is used to make a 3D model of an astronaut's body, enabling a computer program to extrapolate mass based on volume estimates.
Sony is being sued for the new clause in its PlayStation Network end-user license agreement that protects it from just such things, Geek reported on Tuesday. The addition was made in September and prompted games developer EA and software giant Microsoft to make similar changes. Under the terms, PSN gamers must agree not to sue Sony if their accounts are hacked in the future or if anything else goes wrong.
Microsoft bucked expectations Wednesday by releasing an official My Xbox Live app for iOS (free, App Store). The app lets iPad, iPhone, and iPod users handle most of what they can do outside of gameplay and the Game Marketplace. It touts messaging, managing the friends list, comparing profiles and achievements, and customizing the avatar, as well as newer features like game Beacons.
A rumor Monday claimed to have details of the next-generation Kinect. The Xbox peripheral would overcome the inherent limits of the current system and could detect facial expressions, Eurogamer was told. It would be accurate enough to detect emotional expressions and even to read lips, possibly letting it tell who was speaking a command.
A second console celebrated its tenth year alongside the Xbox Friday as the Nintendo GameCube marked its anniversary. The system was launched in North America on November 18, 2001, just a few days after the Microsoft Xbox. Unlike Sony's PS2 or Xbox, it had a rocky history and led some to wonder if Nintendo had lost relevance.
Microsoft kicked off the tenth anniversary of the Xbox with a celebration page and bonuses. Everyone gets access to a free avatar prop for Xbox Live that provides a gift box that opens to reveal fireworks. Some downloadable games will also be on sale as part of the anniversary.
Nintendo's Wii U might get a much-requested support for two of its signature tablet controllers. A developer executive claimed to Develop that there were clues in the code that it was being readied to support the special, very high speed wireless controllers. The console designer looked like it was "on the cusp" of solving the problems that had led it to at first limit the Wii U to one of the special gamepads.
Xbox.com is in the process of replacing the "My Xbox" section of the site with a new tab called "Social," which will not only enable new services and options, but will also give players their first look at an important part of the upcoming Xbox 360 dashboard update: tiles and other visual elements borrowed from "Metro," the name for the overall visual style of Windows 8. In addition, users can now use "Beacons" to mark games they want to play with others, according to a blog post on xbox.com.
Microsoft's decision to kill the Courier tablet came after a meeting with former CEO Bill Gates himself, according to a new leak on Tuesday. Not willing to decide on his own whether Microsoft should embrace the book-like Courier or a more conventional tablet, current CEO Steve Ballmer turned to a presentation with Gates judging a presentation by Courier architect J Allard, then Entertainment & Devices head Robbie Bach, and a pair of project engineers, CNET heard. Gates reportedly had a virtual "allergic reaction" when Allard revealed that the Courier's emphasis on drawing, note-taking, and other content plans meant it wouldn't have native e-mail or otherwise tap directly into the Office or Windows ecosystems.
Frozenbyte has announced that its upcoming game, Trine 2, can now be pre-ordered through Steam. Trine 2 is a side-scrolling platforming game that places players in the role of one of three heroes. Customers who pre-purchase the game will gain access to the Trine 2 Beta, which features the first two levels, as well as full multiplayer support. The company has also announced that it plans to release all versions, including Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and Steam versions on Mac and Windows, simultaneously in December.
Microsoft has said will soon be bringing its Zune Music Pass service and enhanced Kinect voice control to its Australian gamers. Zune will be available starting November 16. The Kinect voice menu is expected to be fully functional by mid-December.
Microsoft has submitted to the USPTO a patent claim that uses the Kinect camera for an Xbox 360 to estimate an individual's age. Using this information, the Xbox can then implement appropriate parental controls based on who's in the room viewing. Microsoft claims that using the technology, any on-screen content can be replaced instantly with more by age appropriate content when a person in a lower age group enters the Kinect's field of view.
The Nyko Zoom accessory for the Xbox Kinect add-on is now shipping. Introduced at E3, the lens basically reduces the distance gamers need to stand away from the Kinect. At the E3 show, a demonstration of the gadget in action didn't reveal any glitches or shortcomings.
Microsoft is preparing to offer a preview program for the upcoming Xbox interface, which was revealed in recent leaks. The beta preview, which was confirmed by Xbox Live director of programming Larry Hyrb, will enable a select group of users to take an early look at the revamped dashboard. The program is expected to be similar to the dashboard preview that was offered last year.
A leaked video allegedly shows the redesigned Xbox dashboard that Microsoft has continued to develop. The YouTube video presents a number of screenshots, pointing to the revamped layout that mimics certain elements, such as the tile layout, from the user interface style that first appeared in Windows Phone 7 and continued onto Windows 8.
The former president of Microsoft's entertainment and devices decision who was also key in creating the Xbox franchise, Robbie Bach, is now a board member at Sonos. John MacFarlane, the founder and CEO of Sonos, who makes Internet radio receivers and related hardware, personally asked Bach to join his company, wrote the WSJ. Bach is a long-time user of Sonos products and says part of their appeal is their ease of use.
A new paper (pdf) from Microsoft Research has given developers a fresh look at how the Kinect motion-sensing peripheral works. It focuses specifically on the human body tracking component. The algorithm runs on the Xbox console and the Kinect drivers, which is what is provided to games developers.
The Avatar Kinect is now available as a free download from the Kinect Fun Labs section on Xbox Live Marketplace, which is two days earlier than originally expected. The app lets users with the Xbox 360 games console and the Kinect add-on control their avatars over the motion-sensing add-on, including facial expressions and body movements. Users have the ability to produce their own avatar TV shows, much like a podcast, and to chat between friends online.
During a conference at the Research Faculty Summit 2011, Craig Mundie, the chief research and strategy officer from Microsoft Research Connections, confirmed that the Avatar Kinect is indeed coming out in the next few days. While he didn't specify a date, Mundie did say it "will be coming very, very soon," so the rumored July 27 date is certainly believable. He then went on to say "in the few days that remain" and confirmed that it will go live worldwide.
AMD's integrated system vendor relationship head Neal Robison hinted in the August issue of Official Xbox Magazine that the next Xbox was getting closer and would be a huge visual leap over the Xbox 360. He claimed the future console would produce graphics on the level of the movie Avatar. The remarks stopped short of confirming plans, but they virtually guaranteed that AMD's graphics were returning for the new game system.
At the E3 conference in June, Nykos demonstrated the Zoom for Kinect. The Zoom is a clip on device that allows players to stand closer to the console, effectively reducing the amount of space needed to play games. Nykos has finally settled on a ship date and now expects it in stores August 23.
Microsoft is planning a subscription video service that would go beyond the live Xbox TV it promised during its E3 keynote, insiders uncovered Friday. The service mentioned to The Daily would be badged as a Zune service much like the existing pay-per-title store and compete with one of Microsoft's frequent partners, Netflix. The service would "most likely" not be locked to the Xbox and would show up on Windows Phone 7 and Windows PCs.
Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry made a contentious claim Friday that Apple's back-to-school promo was showing signs of being much more effective than Microsoft's. Despite Microsoft giving away free Xboxes with PCs, research in an investment note from GER showed that 80 percent of incoming students were buying Macs, not Windows systems. Trends were up for online-only colleges and universities, while returning students later into their studies were very interested in getting iPads, Chowdry said in AppleInsider's copy of the note, which didn't mention the size of the study sample.
Less than one year since launching as a distinct platform, Microsoft has announced that it will merge its Games for Windows Marketplace into Xbox.com. After the transition, users will still be able to purchase digital copies of the games on demand as they do now, though it will be through the Xbox franchise portal. While Microsoft has not announced the rationale behind the decision, the move could help to bolster user interest both platforms.
Microsoft gave further clues that the Zune HD is phasing out with the departure of Zune Originals. A notice on the page now says custom orders for the Zune HD have stopped as of the evening of July 1. Any orders placed before 8PM Eastern that day will be honored, but those that slipped through after the cutoff may need to get in touch with Microsoft.
Microsoft is looking to shake up its marketing strategy with the launch of Windows 8, a new hire's position has uncovered. It has just recently hired Disney's former brand strategy director Jay Victor to serve in the same role at its project. While he hasn't outlined his plans, Victor's job listing has him developing the marketing and positioning for all the major brands, including Windows, Bing, Office, and the Xbox.
Microsoft may not give the Nintendo Wii U much breathing room as a new rumor has a new Xbox arriving next year. The new system will reportedly be unveiled next June at E3 2012. Little has been mentioned to BGR in the scoop other than that the very earliest work had started in 2006, just a year after the Xbox 360 was on shelves.
Developers may soon be able to take advantage of a new tool designed to port Xbox and Windows games to a variety of other popular platforms, including iOS, Android and web browsers.The utility, labeled ExEn, works with Microsoft's XNA software development kit, which is utilized by developers to create games for Xbox Live and Windows.
As part of a series of previews, Microsoft on Thursday gave a closer look at the Games Hub in Windows Phone 7 Mango. The revamp brings some of the features that had previously been locked away in the Extras app and now has 3D, moving avatars that react, including in side-by-side achievement comparisons. The Collection view is now optimized for quickly finding a game over icon size and pushes recently played games to the top.
Former SCEA head Phil Harrison predicted in a recent interview that Apple could dictate gaming within a decade. Asked where he saw Apple in ten years, the PlayStation pioneer told Edge there was a "pretty good chance" iOS could "be the games industry." Its sales rates were very rapid, and Apple wasn't tied down by a need to please game retailers that have threatened retaliation should companies like Nintendo and Sony drop physical game sales.
Microsoft might give the Wii U little room to breathe if a rumor Tuesday is accurate. An unnamed executive Crysis developer Crytek expected Microsoft to unveil a third-generation Xbox within the next 12 months, possibly opening the door to a showing at E3 2012 next June. The game developer's UK division, formerly known as Free Radical, was said by VideoGamer to be building TimeSplitters 4 to take advantage of the new hardware.
During the course of today's WWDC 2011 keynote, Apple executives elaborated on a number of business milestones the company has achieved. The Mac App Store, for instance, is now claimed to be main channel for buying computer software, ahead of Best Buy, Walmart and Office Depot. The ranking does not reflect the actual popularity of Mac software versus Windows titles, the latter of which are often bought directly from publishers and developers, or through services like Steam.
We're in person at Microsoft's E3 2011 keynote. The company is expected to show headlining games, such as Halo 4 and Kinect Star Wars, but might also have surprises in store such as an Xbox Live Diamond TV subscription service. Check in after the story break at 12:30PM Eastern, 9:30AM Pacific for regular updates from the Galen Center in Los Angeles.
Microsoft is reportedly preparing to focus its Xbox marketing efforts on broader entertainment features, rather than maintaining gaming as a central theme. In a blog post, Microsoft's corporate vice president of corporate communications, Frank Shaw, suggests the Xbox endeavors have transformed from dedicated gaming hardware to an entertainment platform, with 40 percent of all Xbox use now "non-game."
Dissent around Microsoft's leadership became more public Wednesday with a speech from Greenlight Capital manager David Einhorn. The hedge fund operator told those at the Ira Sohn Investment Research Conference Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer had to "give someone else a chance" at the top spot. He considered the early Microsoft executive the "biggest overhang" on Microsoft's stock because he was mired in traditional behavior.
Just like Sony's PlayStation Store, the Xbox Live Marketplace has gone down, albeit for a short period and unspecified and likely unrelated reason. The Xbox support team informed users over Twitter that the service is back up. During the outage, users were unable to browse Indie games from the Xbox 360 console or Xbox.com.
Microsoft was dealt a symbolic hit Tuesday after new word that one of its most unconventional device designers, Otto Berkes, has left the company. The veteran of the ultramobile PC (UMPC) and Xbox teams resigned this afternoon. His final destination wasn't known, but he told the Seattle Times he was leaving for a firm "outside the Seattle area."
New tips Thursday afternoon have pointed to and confirmed Microsoft shutting down its once-hopeful Pioneer Studios. Its creative workshop, best known for the ill-fated Courier tablet, has closed down its exotic office in Seattle and seen most staff either folded into existing groups or have left elsewhere. Microsoft didn't directly confirm the end to the studio with CNET but did say it was no longer occupying its custom-designed space.
Microsoft's $8.5 billion purchase of Skype may have been the result of it being fooled into paying more. Multiple tips claimed Tuesday that Google was bidding but had stopped at $4 billion, less than half what Microsoft paid. TechCrunch was told that Facebook had never been in competition and, while not intentional, ended up convincing Microsoft it had to bid more to stay in the running.
A Microsoft store worker has been charged with first-degree theft by his former employer, Seattle PI reported earlier this week. Ulugbek Shodmonov allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of software before reselling it. The police documents related to the case maintain that the 31-year-old spent nearly all of his annual allowance at Microsoft's Redmond store by August. Employees receive deep discounts at the store.
Both Microsoft and Sony may be holding off on releasing genuinely new game consoles for another three years. Industry contacts claimed Wednesday that, if cycles allowed, neither the next PlayStation nor its Xbox equivalent would be ready until 2014. The two companies were giving signs to each other that they were delaying their lineups to "milk the current [hardware]" and cover earlier gaps, Kotaku was told.
Perhaps the coolest mod involving Microsoft's Xbox Kinect has been developed by a number of students. A quadrocopter carries the peripheral and is capable of fully autonomous flight, with all calculations done in real time and onboard the vehicle. The project was led by MIT students Albert Huang, Abraham Bachrach, Garrett Hemann, and Nicholas Roy, the University of Washington's Peter Henry, Mike Krainin, and Dieter Fox, as well as Xiaofeng Ren from Intel Labs in Seattle.
