Microsoft upgrades Xbox Live with 40 entertainment services, live TV, and Kinect voice control
Xbox Live isn’t just an online gaming service anymore. Microsoft is announcing today that the new version of its Xbox Live user interface will help transform entertainment on the television. The upgrade goes live on Tuesday.
Calling it the future of TV, Microsoft is unveiling a new user interface for the Xbox 360′s dashboard; it is also unveiling dozens of new options for watching movies and TV on the console. Microsoft has also improved the … Continue Reading
Microsoft kills the Zune HD (for real this time)
Microsoft has quietly confirmed that it will no longer be producing its Zune HD MP3 player and that Windows Phone devices will be the future of its media strategy.
The news was revealed by a support article on Microsoft’s Zune help pages, WinRumors reports.
While far from an official announcement, it follows Microsoft’s removal of Zune HD references from its website earlier this week (which have since been restored). It’s clear that the Zune hardware … Continue Reading
Microsoft drops Zune Music Pass to $9.99, brings Zune to Canada
Microsoft announced on Thursday that its Zune Music Pass will offer a more competitive $9.99 plan for all-you-can-stream music starting Oct 3. The company also said it will being offering Zune services in Canada the same day.
The streaming music service landscape is increasingly competitive with companies such as Spotify, MOG and Rdio battling for the hearts and ears of music fans. But Zune is at least interesting because it’s targeting Microsoft users specifically, offering … Continue Reading
The shutdown of Microsoft's Pioneer Studios is an example of failed innovation
Three years ago, Microsoft opened its Pioneer Studios skunkworks operation to create cool new consumer technology experiences. The group was headed by J Allard, the executive who co-led the development of the Xbox and Xbox 360 game consoles. Now the company has shut down the division.
The shutdown says a lot about Microsoft’s failed attempts to match Apple’s prowess in design innovation. While Apple teams led by Jonathan Ive have designed marvels such as the … Continue Reading
So long Zune, thanks for all the tunes
After trying (and failing) time and again to take on Apple’s iPod, Microsoft is finally killing off its Zune media player, a source tells Bloomberg’s Dina Bass.
As a Zune fan who is well aware of how much Microsoft struggled in the media player arena, the news doesn’t exactly come as a shock — but it remains disappointing.
Microsoft started off slow with the ugly first-generation Zune, but with its sleeker second-generation model, I thought … Continue Reading
Windows Phone 7: Mac sync coming this year, will support removable storage (sort of)
Microsoft announced that it will release a tool later this year to let Mac users sync “select content”, Engadget reports. In other news, we finally have some idea of how the platform will handle external storage, thanks to technology reporter Paul Thurrott.
While I don’t think Microsoft’s announcement means that we’ll see a full Zune client on Macs this year, it’s a clear sign that the company isn’t willing to ignore Mac users this time … Continue Reading
Microsoft launches Windows Phone 7, hitting the US on Nov. 8
Microsoft finally launched its new mobile platform, Windows Phone 7, at a press conference in New York today. CEO Steve Ballmer hit the stage to give us a glimpse at the OS and the platform’s launch phones.
Windows Phone 7 will launch on October 21 in Europe and Asia, and the first U.S. handset will be on sale November 8. The platform will find itself in 30 countries, and across 60 cellphone carriers, by the … Continue Reading
Xbox Live gets its makeover in advance of Kinect launch
Microsoft has reinvigorated Xbox Live, the online game service launched in 2002, just about every fall. Today, it previewed to some users its latest update to the Xbox Live Dashboard in advance of new features such as the launch of its Kinect motion control system.
The fall update will be rolled out to 25 million-plus Xbox Live users just before Kinect goes on sale on Nov. 4. I’ve had a chance to check it out … Continue Reading
Microsoft's Xbox division posts $172M loss even as slim models start selling
Microsoft‘s Xbox business has been smooth sailing of late, and the lowered cost of production has enabled the company to introduce its new slim model recently. That said, in the most recent quarter ended June 30, the Entertainment and Devices Division (EDD), which houses Xbox, PC consumer and Zune, saw its operating loss increase 22 percent year-over-year to $172 million. Sales, however, jumped 27 percent to $1.6 billion.
It’s worth noting that on a 12-month … Continue Reading
Is Microsoft's one-time star J Allard leaving the company?
Microsoft‘s Xbox business has been smooth sailing of late, and the lowered cost of production has enabled the company to introduce its new slim model recently. That said, in the most recent quarter ended June 30, the Entertainment and Devices Division (EDD), which houses Xbox, PC consumer and Zune, saw its operating loss increase 22 percent year-over-year to $172 million. Sales, however, jumped 27 percent to $1.6 billion.
It’s worth noting that on a 12-month … Continue Reading
Microsoft's Ballmer laughs at iPhone
Microsoft‘s Xbox business has been smooth sailing of late, and the lowered cost of production has enabled the company to introduce its new slim model recently. That said, in the most recent quarter ended June 30, the Entertainment and Devices Division (EDD), which houses Xbox, PC consumer and Zune, saw its operating loss increase 22 percent year-over-year to $172 million. Sales, however, jumped 27 percent to $1.6 billion.
It’s worth noting that on a 12-month … Continue Reading
