Disk Inserted

Xbox Live and Windows Live Messenger are about to meet up in a very personal way — Microsoft has just announced a new video chat service called Video Kinect, which serves as a logical extension of its brand new Kinect voice- and motion-sensing control system. But it’s not just video calling, no sir, you’ll be able to watch movies, news, sports, and the like together with whoever you’re chatting with. Additionally, thanks to a motorized base and a new skeleton-tracking feature, the Kinect unit will also follow users as they move around the room. Yup, not creepy at all.

Video Kinect: video chat and stream sharing over Xbox Live and Live Messenger originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 13:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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From its humble origins as a chunky black box of PC parts, the Xbox has grown into a strapping young adult — attracting a social circle including Netflix, Facebook and Twitter. Now, rumor has it that the Xbox 360’s preening for a date with Hulu, too. Though plans aren’t set in stone, Gear Live tells us Hulu has been spotted in internal Xbox 360 dashboard builds, and that Microsoft will introduce the streaming video service as part of their Xbox LIVE experience at E3 2010. The publication is mighty certain here, but at this point we can’t corroborate for ourselves. If this does end up happening, the question is how much it might cost, as we hear there’s going to be some sort of fee — perhaps Hulu will be part of that “Xbox LIVE Platinum Tier” rumor that gets dragged out most every year.

Hulu headed to a Xbox 360 dashboard near you? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 23:40:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore certainly piqued our interest at MIX by demoing Windows Phone 7 on an unidentified Samsung handset, but our excitement soon faded when we found out it was just a hacked-up Omnia i8910 and not a real phone. Still, the Sammy remains only the third WP7 device we’ve seen other than the ASUS-built test mule and the prototype LG Panther that’s been popping up recently after debuting on the Engadget Show, so these two videos of it running a recent WP7 build at reMIX in France is still quite notable — the OS seems fast and responsive, and we’re told everything on the device was functional, including the GPS and camera. What’s more, there’s a demo of an Xbox Live Arcade / iPhone game port called Twin Blades by Press Star Studio — it was done in a week by one programmer using 90 percent of the Xbox Live code. That’s impressive, to say the least.

Of course, this device may look like an Omnia, but it doesn’t have the Omnia’s OMAP3 processor — as per WP7’s requirements, the internals have been swapped for a Snapdragon-based board. We’re still waiting for Microsoft and its partners to show us some more interesting hardware — let’s face it, the Panther and this Samsung are almost identically boring — but there’s no denying the software itself looks to be coming along quickly. Now let’s just hope it launches with enough heat to save Microsoft from another executive shuffle. Video after the break.

Continue reading Windows Phone 7 pops up on a Samsung prototype device, plays Twin Blades

Windows Phone 7 pops up on a Samsung prototype device, plays Twin Blades originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 May 2010 13:50:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seems that April 6th ship date that GameStop posted back in March was a bit off, but hey — beggars can’t be choosers, yeah? SanDisk has just announced that it’s now shipping the planet’s first licensed Xbox 360 USB flash drive, which just became useful for easily transferring gamertags, game saves, map packs, Arcade downloads, etc. from one console to another. The device is pre-configured for plug-and-play, and SanDisk is even throwing in a one-month subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold for good measure. Naturally, you’ll be paying a premium for that Microsoft seal of approval, with the 8GB unit boasting an MSRP of $34.99 and the 16 gigger going for $69.99 (or £29.99 and £51.99 respectively in the UK). Hang tight if you can, though — we get the impression that loads more are on the way from every other storage outfit, and you know what competition does to pricing. Don’t you?

Continue reading SanDisk ships first licensed Xbox 360 USB flash drive

SanDisk ships first licensed Xbox 360 USB flash drive originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 May 2010 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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From its humble HD-DVD-playing beginnings, the Xbox 360 has grown into a full-fledged set-top box that pulls down HD content from Netflix, the Zune Store and Sky TV (for Ireland and the UK). Now, rumors indicate an Xbox TV channel might be next in line. Bloomberg writes that former News Corp. president Peter Chernin discussed the possibility of adding regular exclusive programming to the console at an April 12th meeting with Microsoft, and reportedly suggested a $1 to $2 increase in Xbox LIVE monthly fees to cover the additional cost. However, since Microsoft apparently hasn’t formally responded to the proposal, this may just be another pipe dream — from the man who thought we’d pay $30 per movie for on-demand HD, no less. ‘Course, with all this talk of Hulu going paid, we suppose just about anything is possible.

Former News Corp president wants Xbox TV channel? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 04:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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