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(Image source: Microsoft)
BY JIM FLINK
After eight long years, it's here. Microsoft has unveiled the Xbox One: The company's
new flagship entertainment device. So long XBox 360. You're so two-thousand-and-late.
So, what's new and cool? The Xbox One boasts TV integration and voice control. And that's
big. Analysts suggest Microsoft is trying to take over your living room.
(Via Bloomberg) Xbox One builds in Skype and streaming services,
and even uses an HDMI pass-through to present your TV content...
(Via Microsoft) ... plus it has a Blu-ray drive for movies,
an improved Kinect sensor so sensitive, it can track when your heart beats faster. And
did we mention it's voice controlled? (Via The Verge)
Still for all the cool, Microsoft immediately had to deal with the critics. The Guardian
notes... "Gamers would be forgiven for feeling a little
disappointed by Xbox One, which seems so focused on being the hub for the living room that
there has been little apparent innovation in the games themselves ...."
That may require some patience. A Wall Street Journal reporter says, most think Microsoft
will make another big splash in three weeks at the E3 gamer's conference in Los Angeles...
"...there's gonna be at least eight wholly new game properties that are going to be exclusive
for the XBox One...so these would be games that are franchises, not like what we've seen
before with games like Halo, but potentially all new game franchises..."
Another thing the new console apparently won't have — backwards compatibility with old
Xbox games. (Via Mashable)
Forbes reports, all Xbox One games will have to "be installed to the hard drive, either
through digital download or the disc itself. That allows easy access to titles without
disc switching, but it also causes complications." Complications like your friends having to
pay an unlock fee — if you allow them borrow your game.
So, excitement yes. And, still lots to muddle through. There's time though. Microsoft
says Xbox One will be available later this year.