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Yesterday Microsoft announced that they are partnering with Netflix to bring Netflix’s streaming content to the Xbox 360 Dashboard.  What was not announced however is the same in Media Center.  The good news is that Microsoft now has the backend to make it work.  The bad news that knowing them Netflix streaming may never be ported to Media Center.  Looks like the Xbox 360 Dashboard is still Media Center biggest enemy. On the same Netflix partnership, I think people might be getting too worked up about the usefulness.  While Netflix has a great amount of content that you have heard … Continue reading Short Bits: Netflix

Xbox 360 promises best and broadest entertainment lineup ever; more fun, social and simple-to-use experience. LOS ANGELES — July 14, 2008 — As Xbox 360 readies for the next wave of audience expansion, Microsoft Corp. today announced a new Xbox experience that will reinvent home entertainment from the inside out, changing the way we play games, watch movies and TV shows, and even become contestants in game shows. It all begins this fall with a bold new look and feel that is fun, social and simple to use. The announcement was made during the E3 Media and Business Summit in … Continue reading New Xbox Experiences Reinvent Home Entertainment, and Everyone Is Invited

Exclusive agreement creates game-changing home entertainment experience; more than 10,000 movies and TV episodes will be available to watch instantly at no additional cost to paying subscribers. LOS ANGELES — July 14, 2008 — An exciting new home theater experience is coming to living rooms this holiday season. At the E3 Media and Business Summit, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq “MSFT”) and Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX), the world’s largest online movie rental service, today unveiled an exclusive partnership to offer consumers the ability to instantly stream movies and TV episodes from Netflix to the television via the Xbox 360 video game and … Continue reading Microsoft and Netflix Unveil Partnership to Instantly Stream Movies and TV Episodes to the TV via Xbox LIVE

60GB storage now included with Xbox 360; 20GB console will drop to $299.99 in U.S. and Canada. REDMOND, Wash. — July 13, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. is giving consumers more gigabytes for their buck. The company today announced an Xbox 360 console with triple the storage space of the original console, but for the same price of $349 (U.S.) estimated retail price (ERP). Available in retail stores in the U.S. and Canada starting in early August, the upgraded Xbox 360 will include a 60GB hard drive for storing the growing wealth of digital entertainment available for the console, including music, … Continue reading Xbox 360 Console Now Offers Triple the Storage for Same Price

We don’t even have to wait until tomorrow to find out that the Xbox 360 isn’t getting Blu-ray.  Why?  Because Robbie Bach was asked if Microsoft had plans for Blu-ray to appear in the next generation Xbox (Via Engadget) and answered “No. There is nothing to even talk about right now with regard to the next generation. That is so far out that there isn’t anything to talk about.”  Now I’m sure some of you will tell me that he didn’t deny Xbox 360 with Blu-ray and instead just talked about the next generation, but trust me Blu-ray is not … Continue reading Bach Says No to Blu-ray in Xbox 720, First Party ZunePhone

Another day, another horrible rumor.  Microsoft will not announce that the Xbox 360 is getting Blu-ray on Monday. This latest rumor does give me a good chance to cover Shane Kim of Microsoft Game Studios saying the Xbox 360 is set to last seven years.  This would clearly go against what I’ve been saying about the shelf life of the Xbox 360 playing into Blu-ray considerations, so I’ll admit that I’m wrong on that front.  That said, I still don’t see an Xbox Blu-ray addition near-term. If they are going to stick with the Xbox 360 and focus on games, … Continue reading No, Xbox 360 Isn’t Getting Blu-ray on Monday

Xbox LIVE tops 12 million members globally as Xbox 360 console sales hit more than 19 million worldwide. REDMOND, Wash. — May 14, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. today announced that the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system has sold over 10 million units in the U.S., making it the first current-generation gaming console to break the 10 million mark in the U.S. The U.S. install base contributes to global sales of over 19 million, more than any other current-generation console. “This year will be the largest in the history of the video game industry, with Xbox 360 leading the … Continue reading Xbox 360 First Gaming System to Reach 10 Million in U.S. Console Sales This Generation

I hope you didn’t really think Microsoft was doing an Xbox 360 with Blu-ray, because they are once again denying it.  So, what do you think is really going on? These sites are flat out making up the rumors to drive web traffic OEMs think constant reports will help get them a contract, suggesting they would be able to provide the drives at $xx to Microsoft. Microsoft has expressed interest in Blu-ray Disc drives for the Xbox 360, reports are truly leaking out. Microsoft has expressed interest in Blu-ray Disc drives for the “Xbox” (360 not implied, meaning it could … Continue reading Microsoft: “No Plans to Introduce a Blu-ray Drive for Xbox 360”

Previous coverage: Here, Here,  Here,  Here,  Here, and Here. Latest rumor, ASUS subsidiary Pegatron has reportedly won the contract to “assemble the Xbox 360 with Blu-ray Disc ROM drive” according to Economic Daily News (Chinese). I’ve covered the Xbox 360 Blu-ray rumors since they started, and I think I’ve made my case pretty clear.  In my opinion it doesn’t make sense for Microsoft to include Blu-ray in the Xbox 360.  It doesn’t make sense for Microsoft to even offer an external Blu-ray drive.  If doesn’t even really make sense to do a single new SKU for Blu-ray, but lets look … Continue reading Why I’m I Still Posting About Xbox 360 With Blu-ray?

You didn’t think Lite-On was really manufacturing Blu-ray Disc drives for the Xbox 360, did you?  It doesn’t seem that Microsoft put too much stock into it, supposedly being quoted flat out with “No. Lite-On is not manufacturing Blu-ray drives for Xbox 360.” The only thing that troubles me here is that TechRadar’s source is about as reliable as DigiTimes.  An unnamed source saying this stuff doesn’t mean much, but whoever the “source” is does seem to have a good understanding of what Microsoft wants to offer in place of Blu-ray; Digital downloads. “As we have stated, games are what … Continue reading Xbox 360 Blu-ray Shot Down Again By Microsoft