Gawker
-
cutbacks
Microsoft makes logical business move
Microsoft's Department of Losing Money — the Xbox and Zune division — has reportedly frozen hiring. [Silicon Alley Insider]
673
2
By Owen ThomasComment by Shadowlayer: Funny, last time I checked the X360 was burning thanks to a bad design brought by an understaffed engineering dept. How... more » | Other threads
-
great moments in journalism
Microsoft cans whistleblowing game tester
So much for radical transparency. Microsoft's embrace of honest online criticism stopped at VentureBeat blogger Dean Takahashi's insanely long story about how the software giant launched its Xbox 360 game console despite production flaws. The story had one source brave enough to go on the record: Robert Delaware, a contract game tester, who talked about a bug he encountered during testing phases persisting as the Xbox went into production. Now he's out of a job and faces a civil suit from Microsoft for violating a nondisclosure agreement. More » -
microsoft
Xbox users can register to vote from the couch
Microsoft and Rock The Vote today announced a partnership to allow Xbox 360 owners to register to vote via Xbox Live, which I'm sure sounds almost as fun to gamers as learning how to get girls drunk so they'll go to strip clubs in Grand Theft Auto IV. There's also going to be some polls and a chance for users to "voice their opinions," says the press release, which also handily points out that because it claims 12 million users, "if Xbox Live were a state, it would rank as the country’s seventh largest, giving it approximately 20 electoral votes." (Photo by Sebastian Fritzon) -
apple
Jeff Zucker's Zune revenge
Having dropped Apple's iTunes store in a dispute over pricing, NBC Universal will soon start selling downloads of TV shows like The Office and 30 Rock for its Zune media player. If NBC chief Jeff Zucker manages to scrape some sales out of Microsoft's handheld also-ran, it will be a miracle — and the surest proof yet that content, not hardware, is king. Don't hold your breath. Microsoft's Zune has always seemed like a parody of Apple's iPod. Want to buy songs? Well, first you buy "points" from Microsoft, which you can then exchange for music at some bizarre exchange rate. Nothing about its user interface seems quite right compared to Apple's polish. The system for TV shows is no better. Though Microsoft also makes the Xbox, shows downloaded to a Zune won't play on the videogame console unless you're adept at fiddling with cables. By going with Microsoft, Zucker is betting that technology doesn't matter, design doesn't matter, and market share doesn't matter. He must really believe in his prime-time lineup. (Photo via Fake Steve Ballmer)
1,194
By Owen ThomasComment by audiophil: @jbelkin: great idea! I'd call the show 'Welcome to the social' more » | Other threads
-
deals
Microsoft and Netflix may partner to offer movie downloads over Xbox Live. An announcement would likely come tomorrow, at the Game Developer's Conference. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings is a member of Microsoft's board of directors. [MSNBC] -
format wars
Sony wins Blu-ray, loses online-video war
I'm as ready as anyone to declare Sony the victor in the epic high-definition disc battle. Its Blu-ray, now supported by Warner Bros., looks set to best Toshiba's HD-DVD. In Hollywood, where they still care about the industrial process of shipping plastic discs by the millions to retail stores, this matters. In the Valley, we've long since moved on. Sony executives still dream of formats, hardware, and an empire of lock-in. To them, "software" means the creative content screened in theaters, dropped into CD players, or played on a videogame console. That's why they're doomed to lose the real war. More »
997
By Owen ThomasComment by gkanapathy: Really, WMA and Fairplay aren't a "format"? They don't constitute a way to create an "empire of lock-in"? From what it... more » | Other threads
-
-
microsoft
Xbox mastermind wants to own Hollywood
J Allard, VP of Microsoft's entertainment and devices devision and one of the gurus behind the Xbox and the Zune, has some crazy plans that he hopes will put Microsoft on top of entertainment — and it has nothing to do with discontinuing the brown Zune. In his ramblings to Saul Hansell of the New York Times Bits blog, he revealed he's looking to create an entertainment-distribution service that will do all the heavy lifting for content providers. Microsoft's online gaming service and the Zune's Internet interface are built on the same platform. The implication? More »
750
Comment by Wabewalker: @mtalinm: The difference is that Apple delivers, while Microsoft dreams. Hollywood may hate Apple, may even fear Apple, but in... more » | Other threads
-
microsoft
If you're making money, you're not worth a damn
Microsoft remains in high spirits after its Entertainment and Devices division, responsible for the Xbox and Zune, posted a profit last quarter. This division hasn't made it into the black in years. Papa Steve Ballmer is so proud, he's planning "an upscale campus" for the product group. No doubt Redmond hopes to spur these slackers' performance by making corporate rock stars like J Allard and Robbie Bach feel drunk with power. (Note to Ballmer: Don't take that literally. Actually including a bar may not boost productivity.) What message is Microsoft sending to its less troubled children? If you want nice things, start losing money. -
microsoft
World, tell us why Google is better than us?
At least Microsoft owns up to its inferiority. Early next week a band of dejected Microserfs from across the company, from chief software architect Ray Ozzie on down, are meeting to discuss the company's floundering Web services like Windows Live Search and Hotmail. During the two-day powwow, they'll be discussing strategy and trying to figure out how to get Google addicts excited about the Microsoft's Live offerings. To help fuel discussion, Larry Hyrb, director of Xbox Live programming and official videogame-community spokesperson (who posts under the alias Major Nelson) asks Xbox users, "What do you think we don't get? I know Google may be better in some areas, but what makes them better? What makes us not as good?" I'm sure the minds at the Googleplex are resting easy to learn that Microsoft is still trying to figure out how to even copy Google well, let alone out-innovate it.
1,050
Comment by sggrf: The people that work for MSN.com need to understand that their prowess in software is NOT transferable to the web.... more » | Other threads
-
breakups
Halo 3 developer gains independence
Having finished the fight to bring out hot new shoot-'em-up videogame Halo 3, and in the process helping Microsoft rake in $300 million in sales, Bungie has, as rumored, reclaimed its independence from Microsoft, which acquired the studio in 2000. As part of the deal, Microsoft is holding onto a small equity stake and will continue to churn out Halo titles with the aid of Bungie. Meanwhile, the studio will be free to develop new titles and publish games with Microsoft Games Studio — so there's really no need to overreact. Sure, Bungie put Microsoft's Xbox videogame console on the map — but as the Xbox morphs into a set-top box for the living room, bringing Internet music and video downloads straight to your flat-screen TV, it's not clear that hot videogame titles are what's going to drive sales in the future.
205
Comment by 0x6772: Somehow I doubt this means Bungie will go back to being a Mac-only game maker, though. more » | Other threads
-
i hate it here
When the doorbell rings, pray it's Master Chief
MISSION DISTRICT, SAN FRANCISCO — Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you know that the world's most anticipated game of all time, Halo 3, launched Monday at midnight. The New York Times wrote about it, ferchrissakes. I was forced to spend an entire evening listening to my roommate disintegrate friends and foes with the Spartan laser through our shared wall. TORTURE! I hate standing in line at launch events, so like an idiot, preordered the game through Amazon.com. It's scheduled to arrive tomorrow. All I can think about is finishing the fight. Honestly, who actually cares about tawdry Valley business matters at a time like this? And then ... then visitors arrived. And my life, unbelievably, got worse. More » -
videogames
Microsoft's gaming division has struggled to pull itself out of the red since its inception back in 2001. Its current console, the Xbox 360, has been plagued with manufacturing defects that could cost the company up to $1 billion to fix. But Microsoft expects its blockbuster Halo 3 to end its financial woes by tallying an estimated $140 million upon its release today — a blockbuster some will no doubt tiresomely liken to first-day box-office figures. [BBC News]
184
Comment by 0x6772: @Keymaster: per [www.brandweek.com], "$10 million-plus" Netting a ten fold return on advertising cost wouldn't be too shabby (but there's also production... more » | Other threads
-
online video
The Beeb to team up with Xbox 360?
There's a new battleground for digitally ditributed content brewing in the most unlikeliest of places — home videogame consoles. Last week there was the rather shocking announcement that Sony's PlayStation 3 would soon be home to movie and television content. Not to be outdone, Microsoft's Xbox 360, which has had video content downloads since last November, is now courting the BBC and all of its TV shows and HD programming. While the soothing tones of the BBC are not usually what we associate with xBox, the deal, which Microsoft is "working diligently on," would add some much needed gravitas to a portfolio currently dominated by South Park and UFC Fights. -
digg
Imitation is not always flattery
Social news filter Digg has spawned imitators, including Reddit and Slashdot's Firehose. Oh, and the late, unlamented Netscape. "Ripping off" is practically a core tenet of Web 2.0, though we suppose it sounds nicer if you call it "iteratively evolving industrywide best practices." One creative Web designer and Xbox fanboy, though, decided the Internet needed a Digg dedicated to Microsoft's Xbox consoles, so he created Diggxbox. As you might imagine, it uses its own version of Digg's user-driven filtering to sort the day's Xbox-related news. It's even adopted cute videogame touches like the Xbox's "red ring of death" as the "bury" button (as Digg's mechanism for voting "no" on a story is known). Cloning Digg is easy, but attracting a fanatical userbase like Digg's is another thing altogether. More »
672
Comment by sample032: I quit reading Digg about a year ago, so when I do go back and visit, I notice the changes.... more » | Other threads
-
microsoft
On the Xbox, Linux is a dirty word
Microsoft, apparently sick of taking guff from Windows haters, has banned users of Xbox Live, the Xbox 360 videogame console's online service, from setting their motto to "Linux." Apparently the company views competing operating systems — especially dreaded open-source ones — as "inappropriate" words. Unix is also considered too naughty for public display. Mentions of Apple, iPod, or variations of Mac OS X are, however, permissible. (Photo by zarcx)
673
Comment by dickster: Passport/XBox/Whoever-else-in-MSN is going off of the old Hotmail/Messenger forbidden words list. Hotmail, UNIX, Sysadmin, admin, etc were all verboten. For... more » | Other threads
-
microsoft
Microsoft is looking to put Blockbuster out of business. How? Having added 100 gigabytes of storage to the Xbox videogame console, enough to store dozens of high-definition movies, it's now undercutting Blockbuster's rental fees for download-to-rent movies. Microsoft's rental charge — about two bucks — is low enough that some think it will hurt DVD sales, too. [MonstersandCritics.com]
206
By Owen ThomasComment by Carlos: This is the -only- way ipvideo will ever be even remotely successful. Surprisingly my girlfriend is annoyed when I... more » | Other threads
-
microsoft
Talk about planned obsolescence: Microsoft sells games about living piatas
Sorry, but am I the only one intensely creeped out by this creative idea from Microsoft? More »
207
By Nick DouglasComment by DisposableRob: Actually they aren't ignoring their purpose at all, as broken pinatas in the shows spill out candy which is then... more » | Other threads
- 1
1-20 of 20 for "Valleywag, Xbox"
