14 DAY TRIAL // The father of Windows NT, Dave Cutler, is currently part of the Xbox team, the Redmond-based software giant has confirmed.
Not only was he the mind behind Windows NT, but he also designed Microsoft’s public-cloud operating system, Windows Azure (codenamed “Red Dog”).
However, with the Windows Azure platform done, there was not too much left for Cutler to do in that team. As a Microsoft employee, Cutler is said to be currently reporting directly to the company’s CEO Steve Ballmer.
Apparently, Microsoft is considering the possibility to move Xbox beyond gaming, and the presence of Dave Cutler in the Xbox team can be seen as a proof of that.
Microsoft already started to move Xbox closer to TV and/or set- top boxes and might be en-route to even replace these with its product, currently a gaming console.
We already learned that the company was planning to come up with a new version of Kinect, one that would offer set-top box capabilities.
For the time being, Microsoft did not offer specific info on what Cutler’s role in the Xbox team involved, but did confirm that he was working on the future console version.
“Dave is one of our brightest minds and is currently working on projects that will help advance our goals in the consumer space as we continue to grow the Xbox from a game-centric console to a complete home entertainment device,” the company said, ZDNet’s Mary-Jo Foley reports.
Given the fact that the Xbox operating system is based on NT, Cutler is certainly the man capable of driving the console upwards.
According to Mary-Jo Foley, Hoi Vo, an expert in hypervisor development, who was on the same team with Cutler when he was working on Windows Azure, is now part of the ISS Console Development research and development team. The Interactive Entertainment Business Software and Services group is led by Microsoft Corporate Vice President David Treadwell.