11/20, 12:45pm
AbingtonIP launhces class action MS lawsuit
Texas-based law firm AbingtonIP has launched a class-action lawsuit against Microsoft for its large-scale ban of Xbox 360 users from the Xbox Live online gaming community who have illegally modified their consoles. The firm acknowledges that modification of the consoles is against the terms of use for Xbox Live, but argues that the timing of the bans generated Xbox Live revenues, thanks to the release of popular online titles such as Halo 3: ODST and the more recent Modern Warfare 2.
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11/26, 12:40pm
Samsung BD & Netflix HD
Streaming of high-definition Netflix movies should soon be added to a pair of Samsung Blu-ray players, the latter company has announced. The feature will be delivered in the form of a firmware update for the two Blu-ray drives, the BD-P2500 and BD-P2550, as of the first week of December. The players were enabled for streaming standard-definition Netflix content in late October.
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11/18, 9:35pm
New Xbox Experience
Microsoft is set to launch its New Xbox Experience, beginning Wednesday. The update pushes beyond the standard-definition video stream and into the realm of the next-generation Netflix HD. Users will initially have access to 300 movie and TV show titles, with more to be added in the future. Although a Netflix subscription and Xbox Live Gold member ship are both required for the HD content, the system diverges from competitors by allowing unlimited streaming instead of charging for each viewing.
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10/13, 11:50pm
MS adds X360 incentives
Microsoft is enticing Xbox 360 Core and Arcade system owners to acquire a high-capacity 512MB memory module or 20GB hard drive, offering an upgrade path for interested users. The program is designed to prepare lower-end Xbox 360 owners for the upcoming user interface update, coming November 19th. Core systems can be eligible for either a free 512MB memory module, or a $20 20GB hard drive, while Arcade owners can pay $30 for the 20GB hard drive, with three months of Xbox Live Gold.
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08/20, 4:00pm
MS on iPhone/Xbox apps
Microsoft plans to halt the sale of any unauthorized Xbox Live software at the App Store, one developer claims. 1337pwn says that its Xbox Live Friends Application -- which lets people see what others are playing on their Xboxes of Xbox 360s -- was recently challenged by Microsoft, which is responsible for all facets of Xbox gaming. 1337pwn comments, though, that Microsoft appears only to be concerned about people turning a profit on its technology, as it has given permission for XLFA to be distributed for free.
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05/28, 1:20pm
Amazon VOD and Kindle
Amazon is about to launch an on-demand video service, the company's chief Jeff Bezos said today at the Wall Street Journal's D Conference. Expanding on the company's existing Unbox download feature, the retailer will launch a paid streaming service "in the next few weeks," according to the executive. No details beyond this early news are available, though the move would directly compete with a similar option from Netflix, whose Watch Instantly feature is largely web-based and requires a regular Netflix subscription of $9 or more.
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