HardwareGeeks
xbox
HuluPlus On the XBOX 360 Now Live
The Xbox 360 finally has HuluPlus! I am not sure when it went live but its live right now as of 5am EST. They are also giving you a free week. Turn on your Xbox and go to the Video Markeplace for more information.
I will post a video of it later today for those of you with no Xbox 360.
Microsoft Kinect for Xbox 360
“Project Natal” if you have been following Xbox then you have heard of “Project Natal” and if you haven’t it was the codename for Kinect. Since I first heard about Natal I have been excited about it, and when I was able to see it in action at this past e3 I knew I wanted it and today I finally got one after waiting in line at a Game Stop for 15 minutes. While everyone was at the Toys R Us in Times Square I was at a little known Game Stop in Brooklyn NY. Check the image below to see what I picked up.
So I got Dance Central because I honestly believe it to be the best Kinect Game available and I got Kinectimals well because I thought it was cute, shoot me. The Kinect also comes with Kinect Adventures.
Microsoft Project Natal Event
I am in Los Angeles California for E3 the yearly gaming expo, and I arrived a day early to attend a Microsoft event where they were demoing their Project Natal Product “Kinect”. I assume its name is similar to the Kin phone because of its social media capabilities.
At the Project Natal event Microsoft had a somewhat confusing show going on, with Cirque Du Soleil Dancers, it seemed some what odd. Although odd it was very entertaining, and I regret not having pictures to show you guys but Microsoft Security Goons threatened to confiscate my phone and camera.
The “Kinect” eliminates the need for a controller, it allows your body to become the controller. It also allows you to web-conference and share files easily via Xbox live with the swipe of a hand.
New Xbox 360 Dashboard
Turn on your Xbox 360 and download the update, need I say more???????
New Xbox 360 Gaming Experience
Yesterday I had the chance to speak with some people working on the new Microsoft Xbox Experience and I was given an in person demo of the new Dashboard and even got to play with it my self.
But first I would like to dispel some rumors. A lot of people are saying that if you have the Xbox 360 Core system you will not be able to upgrade to the new dashboard. That is not true. Microsoft says every single Xbox 360 system will be able to upgrade. However Core system users may face a problem. The new dashboard is 128 MB in size, so if your core system doesn’t have enough space then you face an option, delete content or get a memory upgrade module from Microsoft for free. Microsoft said they will be offering core system users a memory module upgrades for free. Microsoft will also make the 20 GB hard drive available to core system users for just $20. I will post more details on how the free upgrade and $20 dollar offer will work.
New Xbox 360 Dashboard arrives November 19th
Today at the Tokyo Game Show, Microsoft announced that its new Xbox Dashboard will go live on November 19th, and also announced that starting this month if you buy any Xbox 360 Console you will get LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures” and “Kung Fu Panda(TM) free.
“Our industry is defining the future of entertainment,” said John Schappert, corporate vice president of Interactive Entertainment, LIVE, Software and Studios, while at the Tokyo Game Show 2008. “When the New Xbox Experience launches in just six weeks, we will be inviting the whole world to play. We will also have the games that everyone will want, including all-new social experiences like ‘Lips,’ ‘Scene It? Box Office Smash,’ and ‘You’re In the Movies,’ all launching this holiday, all exclusively on Xbox 360.”
Microsoft drops Xbox 360 Price. Now $199 – $399
Microsoft today announced that Friday September 5th it will drop the prices of it’s Xbox 360 systems just intime for the Holiday Shopping Season. The Xbox 360 Arcade will retail for the estimated retail price of $199.99, the Xbox 360 console for $299.99 and Xbox 360 Elite for $399.99.
“We are thrilled to be the first next-generation console on the market to reach $199, a price that invites everyone to enjoy Xbox 360,” said Don Mattrick, senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “Xbox 360 delivers amazing performance at an extraordinary value with the leading online service and best lineup of games, downloadable movies and TV shows available from a console. The majority of consumers make the decision to buy consoles once the price falls to this mark, making this an important milestone for consumers and the industry.” said Microsoft in a press release.
Video of Xbox 360’s new dashboard
GameTrailers has posted a direct-feed video walkthrough of the recently announced dashboard redesign for the Xbox 360. View the video after the break, or check out the HD version here.
Additional new Xbox 360 features coming
Microsoft’s own Major Nelson blog has detailed additional features that will be included in the upcoming dashboard update for the Xbox 360. Apparently this is only the beginning and additional details about features will be revealed in the coming months leading up to the fall release. Read on for highlights of some notable features.
Netflix, NBC, and Universal coming to Xbox 360
News from E3 2008 continues as Microsoft announced that the Xbox 360 will be receiving content from NBC, Universal, and Netflix. Available today, users will be able to download TV shows from NBC, as well as movies from Universal via the Xbox Live Marketplace. This includes hit shows such as The Office and Heroes, and popular movies such as The Bourne Supremacy and The Mummy.
The rumors were true once again, as Microsoft announced a partnership with Netflix to bring more movies to the Xbox 360. Xbox Live Gold members who also have a Netflix membership will be able to stream movies at no additional cost.