http://news.softpedia.com Softpedia News - Xbox Softpedia News en-us 2001 - 2013 Softpedia. All rights reserved. Sat, 25 May 2013 07:34:54 GMT Sat, 25 May 2013 07:34:54 GMT News http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 10 http://news.softpedia.com/base_img/softpedia_logo.gif http://news.softpedia.com http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-Music-Free-Music-for-Windows-8-Users-299300.shtml Microsoft announced the release of its Xbox Music service earlier today, but the company has also confirmed that this product would be released on Windows 8 and Windows RT Pcs and tablets on October 26.

Besides the top feature that will allow users to listen to free music online, Xbox Music will also sport purchase options to buy songs and ... (read more)]]> Mon, 15 Oct 2012 08:01:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-Music-Free-Music-for-Windows-8-Users-299300.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-Music-Free-Music-for-Windows-8-Users-299300.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Bogdan Popa) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Confirms-That-Mitt-Romney-Clearly-Won-the-2012-Presidential-Debates-297633.shtml Microsoft confirmed a couple of days ago that it conducted a survey on the Xbox Live network just after the first presidential debate was over, but the company today released some very interesting statistics concerning users’ opinions.

Mitt Romney was indeed the clear winner of the debate, Xbox Live... (read more)]]> Mon, 8 Oct 2012 17:51:02 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Confirms-That-Mitt-Romney-Clearly-Won-the-2012-Presidential-Debates-297633.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Confirms-That-Mitt-Romney-Clearly-Won-the-2012-Presidential-Debates-297633.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Bogdan Popa) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-s-Presidential-Debates-Gamers-Polled-Over-Obama-and-Romney-297228.shtml Gamers connected to the Xbox Live service on Wednesday night were invited by Microsoft to a poll in order to determine the real winner of the first political debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

Microsoft hasn’t yet released the survey results, but Scientific American writes that gamers were asked a ... (read more)]]> Fri, 5 Oct 2012 11:55:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-s-Presidential-Debates-Gamers-Polled-Over-Obama-and-Romney-297228.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-s-Presidential-Debates-Gamers-Polled-Over-Obama-and-Romney-297228.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Bogdan Popa) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Reinvents-Advertising-with-NUads-on-Xbox-LIVE-275900.shtml On Thursday, Microsoft announced the launch of NUads on Xbox LIVE, a new, interactive way of delivering ads to users.

Through NUads, Microsoft is transforming the standard 30-second TV spots into an experience that actively involves users, and which is based on the voice and gesture controls of Kinect for Xbox 360.

read more)]]> Fri, 15 Jun 2012 14:45:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Reinvents-Advertising-with-NUads-on-Xbox-LIVE-275900.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Reinvents-Advertising-with-NUads-on-Xbox-LIVE-275900.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Brings-Bing-on-Xbox-to-12-New-Countries-273814.shtml Redmond-based software giant Microsoft has big plans for its Xbox console moving forth and has just announced a new set of enhancements brought to it that confirms this.

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, the company announced the availability of new entertainment experiences for Xbox users, including expanded ava... (read more)]]> Tue, 5 Jun 2012 14:01:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Brings-Bing-on-Xbox-to-12-New-Countries-273814.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Brings-Bing-on-Xbox-to-12-New-Countries-273814.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-to-Kill-Zune-Replaces-It-with-Xbox-Music-273795.shtml In an attempt to simplify management and to align products, Microsoft is performing changes to more of its services, the latest of which being Zune.

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, the company announced the launch of Xbox Music, a new service for its users.

The company also showed a sneak pe... (read more)]]> Tue, 5 Jun 2012 13:28:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-to-Kill-Zune-Replaces-It-with-Xbox-Music-273795.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-to-Kill-Zune-Replaces-It-with-Xbox-Music-273795.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Skype-for-Xbox-to-Include-In-Game-Integration-272028.shtml Microsoft has been long rumored to plan the release of Skype for Xbox, to have the communication application available on as many of its products as possible, and it seems that it is finally nearing an official announcement on the matter.

Of course, the company already provides Xbox gamers with video chat via Kinect or the Live Vision ... (read more)]]> Mon, 28 May 2012 08:37:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Skype-for-Xbox-to-Include-In-Game-Integration-272028.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Skype-for-Xbox-to-Include-In-Game-Integration-272028.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-s-Xbox-Team-Gains-Windows-NT-Father-Dave-Cutler-247437.shtml 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 Window... (read more)]]> Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:59:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-s-Xbox-Team-Gains-Windows-NT-Father-Dave-Cutler-247437.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-s-Xbox-Team-Gains-Windows-NT-Father-Dave-Cutler-247437.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-to-Turn-Kinect-into-Set-Top-Box-with-Kinect-HD-246437.shtml Microsoft is reportedly gearing up to expand the use of its Kinect sensor by including it inside a set-top box capable of delivering multimedia content streaming capabilities.

Supposedly called Kinect HD, the set-top box would be included in Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE TV plans and might emerge on shelves in 2012.
read more)]]> Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:20:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-to-Turn-Kinect-into-Set-Top-Box-with-Kinect-HD-246437.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-to-Turn-Kinect-into-Set-Top-Box-with-Kinect-HD-246437.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/MSN-with-MSNBC-com-App-Now-Available-on-Xbox-LIVE-240555.shtml
Among them, we can count the MSN with MSNBC.com app that has just landed on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace.

Through it, users will be able to search MSN with MSNBC.com content for fast access to videos from MSN on a TV.

“Now through the power of Kinec... (read more)]]> Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:52:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/MSN-with-MSNBC-com-App-Now-Available-on-Xbox-LIVE-240555.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/MSN-with-MSNBC-com-App-Now-Available-on-Xbox-LIVE-240555.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Ionut Arghire) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-360-Sales-Increased-by-21-in-October-in-U-S-234178.shtml Sales of Xbox 360 consoles in the United States increased over 21% in October 2011, compared to October 2010, according to statistics shared with the public by The NPD Group.

Jeff Meisner, Editor, The Official Microsoft Blog, revealed that Xbox 360 outpaced its rivals in terms of sales, being the only product to experience double-di... (read more)]]> Sat, 12 Nov 2011 11:11:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-360-Sales-Increased-by-21-in-October-in-U-S-234178.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-360-Sales-Increased-by-21-in-October-in-U-S-234178.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kinect-for-Windows-SDK-Commercial-Program-Launches-in-Early-2012-231096.shtml Microsoft will open the Kinect for Windows software development kit to commercial use early next year, the company confirmed just ahead of the 1-year anniversary of its NUI sensor.

There’s no specific launch deadline for the Kinect for Windows commercial program, but the software giant stressed that businesses ... (read more)]]> Mon, 31 Oct 2011 10:49:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kinect-for-Windows-SDK-Commercial-Program-Launches-in-Early-2012-231096.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kinect-for-Windows-SDK-Commercial-Program-Launches-in-Early-2012-231096.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Resolves-Short-Xbox-LIVE-Outage-Blames-Human-Error-225377.shtml Microsoft has officially confirmed an issue which prevented Xbox owners from accessing Xbox LIVE on October 3, 2011. According to the Xbox LIVE team, users of Zune, as well as those running Games for Windows LIVE software on PCs, and Windows Phone were also impacted.

The Redmond company provided information to affected... (read more)]]> Tue, 4 Oct 2011 11:47:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Resolves-Short-Xbox-LIVE-Outage-Blames-Human-Error-225377.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Resolves-Short-Xbox-LIVE-Outage-Blames-Human-Error-225377.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kinect-for-Windows-SDK-Beta-Refresh-What-s-New-Video-215326.shtml   Earlier this week Microsoft released a new testing Build of the Kinect for Windows software development kit.

Kinect for Windows SDK continues to be in development at this point in time, and what the Redmond company actually offered was a Beta Refresh of the developer resources, and nothing more.

Kinect for Wind... (read more)]]> Fri, 5 Aug 2011 09:35:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kinect-for-Windows-SDK-Beta-Refresh-What-s-New-Video-215326.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kinect-for-Windows-SDK-Beta-Refresh-What-s-New-Video-215326.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Hilarious-Microsoft-Pranking-Softies-Video-215299.shtml It turns out that “The Faces of Microsoft” campaign was less of a publicity stunt, and more of a prank that pushed the modeling capabilities of a range of softies to the extreme.

“The Faces of Microsoft” video is a very special episode of the Tech with Tina channel, presented by Tina Wood Summerfold. Undoubtedly, so... (read more)]]> Fri, 5 Aug 2011 08:36:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Hilarious-Microsoft-Pranking-Softies-Video-215299.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Hilarious-Microsoft-Pranking-Softies-Video-215299.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Win-an-Xbox-360-and-Kinect-Bundle-via-the-Avatar-Kinect-Stand-Up-Comedy-Fest-213529.shtml   Xbox 360 owners that already acquired a Kinect NUI sensor can already download and try Avatar Kinect, a new experience pushing interaction between users to the next level.

Provided that they can leverage an Xbox 360 and Kinect combo, users can also download Avatar Kinect, which is free for the next 4... (read more)]]> Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:00:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Win-an-Xbox-360-and-Kinect-Bundle-via-the-Avatar-Kinect-Stand-Up-Comedy-Fest-213529.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Win-an-Xbox-360-and-Kinect-Bundle-via-the-Avatar-Kinect-Stand-Up-Comedy-Fest-213529.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kinect-s-True-NUI-Beauty-Kids-with-Disabilities-Playing-Video-Games-for-the-First-Time-212572.shtml For children suffering from autism, cerebral palsy or hydrocephalus, traditional input models including keyboards, mice, or controllers are impassible barriers when it comes to interacting with a computer.

But with Kinect for Xbox 360, their disabilities no longer factor in, and they’re abl... (read more)]]> Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:39:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kinect-s-True-NUI-Beauty-Kids-with-Disabilities-Playing-Video-Games-for-the-First-Time-212572.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kinect-s-True-NUI-Beauty-Kids-with-Disabilities-Playing-Video-Games-for-the-First-Time-212572.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Halo-Spartan-Goes-to-College-for-Free-Xbox-360-for-Windows-7-PC-Purchases-Campaign-211775.shtml Nothing like a video of a Halo Spartan on a college visit to remind students that they can get a free Xbox 360 if they purchase a new Windows 7 PC.

Microsoft’s 2011 back to school Windows 7 and Xbox special deal started early this year, as early as May in fact, and students only have a few more... (read more)]]> Fri, 15 Jul 2011 14:01:01 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Halo-Spartan-Goes-to-College-for-Free-Xbox-360-for-Windows-7-PC-Purchases-Campaign-211775.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Halo-Spartan-Goes-to-College-for-Free-Xbox-360-for-Windows-7-PC-Purchases-Campaign-211775.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Monumental-Second-Half-of-2011-for-Xbox-360-206084.shtml Xbox 360’s momentum could only increase in the second half of 2011, especially since market conditions are extremely favorable to Microsoft.

Mixing gaming, entertainment and next generation NUI capabilities into a single product, the Redmond company is dominating console sales in the United States according to NPD.
<... (read more)]]> Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:52:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Monumental-Second-Half-of-2011-for-Xbox-360-206084.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Monumental-Second-Half-of-2011-for-Xbox-360-206084.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Bing-and-Kinect-NUI-Magic-on-Xbox-Voice-Search-204611.shtml Bing and Kinect is an extremely powerful NUI combination that delivers next generation user experiences unmatched by any of Microsoft’s rivals in the console space.

By blending together the natural user interface capabilities of the Kinect sensor and of its decision engine, the Redmond company will enable Xbox 360 users to perf... (read more)]]> Tue, 7 Jun 2011 08:27:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Bing-and-Kinect-NUI-Magic-on-Xbox-Voice-Search-204611.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Bing-and-Kinect-NUI-Magic-on-Xbox-Voice-Search-204611.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Building-Great-Gesture-Detection-for-Kinect-Overview-203413.shtml Game developers creating games designed to take advantages of the NUI capabilities introduced with the addition of Kinect sensors to Xbox 360 consoles, should make sure and build great gesture detection.

Microsoft has just the right resource to at least point devs in the right direction, especially if they require a tad of help t... (read more)]]> Tue, 31 May 2011 13:41:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Building-Great-Gesture-Detection-for-Kinect-Overview-203413.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Building-Great-Gesture-Detection-for-Kinect-Overview-203413.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-720-Talk-Would-Unnecessarily-Shift-Focus-Away-from-Xbox-360-and-Kinect-199028.shtml Why would Microsoft shoot itself in the foot by shifting the focus on Xbox vNext when Xbox 360 and Kinect are selling at tremendous rates, as Peter Klein, chief financial officer at Microsoft put it when the company announced third-quarter results last month?

Recent speculation reveals that not only has X... (read more)]]> Sat, 7 May 2011 10:20:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-720-Talk-Would-Unnecessarily-Shift-Focus-Away-from-Xbox-360-and-Kinect-199028.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-720-Talk-Would-Unnecessarily-Shift-Focus-Away-from-Xbox-360-and-Kinect-199028.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-LIVE-Labs-Goes-Live-188852.shtml A new testing program designed to kick up a notch the experiences of gamers on Xbox LIVE has started rolling out.

Xbox LIVE Labs is an optional testing program, revealed Larry Hryb, the Director of Programming for the Microsoft gaming network Xbox Live, who invited Xbox 360 console owners to participate.

Essentially, the testing efforts will be... (read more)]]> Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:26:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-LIVE-Labs-Goes-Live-188852.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Xbox-LIVE-Labs-Goes-Live-188852.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Record-10-Million-Kinect-for-Xbox-360-Units-Shipped-Out-Selling-the-iPhone-and-iPad-188706.shtml Microsoft sold a record 10 million units of its natural user interface (NUI) peripheral for Xbox 360.

Kinect for Xbox 360 went on sale on November 4th, 2010, and for the first time in years, consumers crowded to stores and queued in line ahead of the general availability deadline, to get the new con... (read more)]]> Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:10:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Record-10-Million-Kinect-for-Xbox-360-Units-Shipped-Out-Selling-the-iPhone-and-iPad-188706.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Record-10-Million-Kinect-for-Xbox-360-Units-Shipped-Out-Selling-the-iPhone-and-iPad-188706.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kinect-NUI-Technology-to-Expand-Beyond-Gaming-and-Entertainment-185642.shtml In the spring of 2011 Microsoft will provide enthusiasts and academic researchers with the necessary tools to take its Kinect natural user interface technology well beyond gaming and entertainment.

Don Mattrick, president, Interactive Entertainment Business (IEB) together with Craig Mundie, Microsoft’s chief rese... (read more)]]> Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:31:01 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kinect-NUI-Technology-to-Expand-Beyond-Gaming-and-Entertainment-185642.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Kinect-NUI-Technology-to-Expand-Beyond-Gaming-and-Entertainment-185642.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/January-2011-Xbox-LIVE-Dashboard-Update-Released-179239.shtml Microsoft has started rolling out a couple of refreshes impacting both Xbox LIVE and Xbox.com. The plan from the Redmond company is to wrap up the updates’ delivery as soon as possible, but certainly no later than this week.

The first to be introduced is the Xbox LIVE Dashboard update. The software giant will push this update t... (read more)]]> Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:36:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/January-2011-Xbox-LIVE-Dashboard-Update-Released-179239.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/January-2011-Xbox-LIVE-Dashboard-Update-Released-179239.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Avatar-Kinect-Breathes-Life-into-Xbox-360-Alter-Egos-176648.shtml If you think that Kinect for Xbox 360 is just about games, think again. This NUI peripheral for Microsoft’s console can take experiences to an entire new level, offering something innovative and completely different, that rivals Sony and Wii simply cannot match at this point in time.

The natural user interface sensor allows... (read more)]]> Thu, 6 Jan 2011 13:58:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Avatar-Kinect-Breathes-Life-into-Xbox-360-Alter-Egos-176648.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Avatar-Kinect-Breathes-Life-into-Xbox-360-Alter-Egos-176648.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/8-Million-Kinect-for-Xbox-360-Units-Sold-in-2-Months-176536.shtml Microsoft is selling its new NUI sensor for Xbox 360 at an incredible pace, with over 133,000 devices shipped every day for the past two months.

In fact, since Kinect for Xbox 360 was introduced on November 4th, 2010, customers have been buying no less than 4 million units per month.

The natural user interface sensor... (read more)]]> Thu, 6 Jan 2011 09:54:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/8-Million-Kinect-for-Xbox-360-Units-Sold-in-2-Months-176536.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/8-Million-Kinect-for-Xbox-360-Units-Sold-in-2-Months-176536.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Xbox-360-Is-Best-Selling-Console-for-Sixth-Consecutive-Month-171869.shtml   Having celebrated its five year anniversary at the end of November 2010, the Xbox 360 continues to be at the top of the console game, a position that is bound to only be further consolidated as Microsoft ushers in out-of-this-world NUI gaming experiences.

According to sale figures from market analysis firm... (read more)]]> Fri, 10 Dec 2010 12:17:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Xbox-360-Is-Best-Selling-Console-for-Sixth-Consecutive-Month-171869.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Xbox-360-Is-Best-Selling-Console-for-Sixth-Consecutive-Month-171869.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga) http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Factory-Tour-the-Xbox-Building-170668.shtml A full-size elephant is perhaps not on the list of things you’d expect to come across on a software company’s campus. But then again…

If you ever visited Microsoft’s new building for the Xbox team then you surely must know where’s I’m going with this, but if not, make sure to watch the video embedded at t... (read more)]]> Mon, 6 Dec 2010 09:37:00 GMT Softpedia News - Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Factory-Tour-the-Xbox-Building-170668.shtml Xbox http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-Factory-Tour-the-Xbox-Building-170668.shtml#review_zone Softpedia News (Marius Oiaga)