Microsoft

Microsoft has updated its My Xbox Live application, and now Android users can access their Xbox Live games, friends, and achievements, from anywhere. iOS users also received an update, adding the ability to use their phones to remotely control the Xbox 360, a feature that is expected to come to Android phones in the future. With My Xbox Live, Android users can enjoy a fully-featured Xbox Live client, as well as one of the best looking applications on the platform, as it does a great job of replicating the "metro" look of Windows Phone 7.  Read More

Every year, once E3 rolls around, most gamers know what to expect. Almost anyone setting foot in the LA Convention Center already knew there is going to be a new Call of Duty, a new Halo, a new Assassin's Creed, more Kinect dancing games, and this year, the Wii U. But then there are those announcements which made a huge splash because, up until the show, almost no one had any idea they even existed.  Read More

Microsoft used its E3 press conference to unveil its new SmartGlass technology that will use handheld devices such as smartphones and tablets as both an Xbox control device and as a second screen for the display of dynamic, rich information. Head of Xbox Live, Marc Whitten, confirmed that in addition to working with Windows 8 phones and tablets, SmartGlass would be compatible with iPhone, iPad and Android devices. The technology will also finally see the arrival of Microsoft's Internet Explorer web browser to the Xbox 360 before the end of the year.  Read More

Microsoft has unleashed its latest Windows 8 Release Preview. As expected, this third and final pre-release version shows significantly more polish than its predecessors and offers increased personalization options in addition to some welcome new apps in the form of News, Sport and Travel.  Read More

With decidedly little fanfare, Microsoft’s research-oriented FUSE Labs launched a new, student-oriented social network last weekend. While very much an experimental product at this point, So.cl (pronounced “social”) does highlight once more that the Redmond-based software giant is keen to keep its boffins thinking outside the box in order to find the next big thing, first.  Read More

Microsoft has announced the world's first game console with subscription-based pricing, making the Xbox 360 more accessible to those interested in gaming on a budget. The new package will cost US$99 up front, with a two-year contract of $15 a month, much like your average cell phone contract. This is an entirely untested price model for videogame consoles, and may prove to be a stroke of genius for Microsoft, whose Xbox 360 is closing in on its seventh anniversary. A new price model could breathe life into the system for years to come.  Read More

Microsoft’s Kinect peripheral senses motion inputs using a combination of a depth sensor, RGB camera and a multi-array microphone. Now Microsoft’s research division, Microsoft Research, has developed a gesture recognition system called SoundWave that relies on sound instead of video to bring gesture recognition capabilities to a standard laptop or desktop computer without the need for any additional hardware.  Read More

Microsoft has announced plans to scrap native DVD playback from Windows 8, instead focusing on improving video streaming abilities by making it easier to access services like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube. Citing a decline globally in physical media sales, Microsoft is investing in a future without discs, and is hoping to keep costs down by removing DVD licensing fees. However, those interested in having access to their collection of DVDs do have options, as Microsoft claims that third party DVD software will be readily available to fill the void where Windows Media Player once was.  Read More

Microsoft is looking to unify electrical appliances within the home and establish itself in the burgeoning “smart home” market with the development of HomeOS. Essentially a lightweight “smart home” operating system that aims to make it easy for users to manage their home networks and ease the creation of applications by third party developers, HomeOS is designed to provide a central hub through which various household devices can be controlled.  Read More