CES2008 Microsoft

[MRU]

Just a few articles from IGN's coverage of CES2008

CES 2008: Xbox 360 to Dominate in '08?
Bach expects the "biggest year ever" in gaming.
by Hilary Goldstein

January 6, 2008 - President of Entertainment & Devices Division Robbie Bach offered some encouragement to Xbox fanboys distraught over Nintendo's newfound dominance in hardware sales. Despite being surpassed by Wii in console sales in '07, Xbox 360 managed to sell more software. In fact, Microsoft raked in $3.5 billion in the U.S. through November of last year with the 360. According to Bach, that is a billion dollars more than the Wii pulled in.

Bach said he expects Microsoft's mega-machine to enjoy "the biggest year ever videogame history" in 2008. This could well be true. Xbox Live has now tallied more than 10 million subscribers and did so six months faster than Microsoft expected. The unexpected spike in subscribers is what led to Xbox Live connectivity issues through the holidays.

Sadly, no major announcements were made at during the keynote address.

Show's that the money really is in the software, and Nintendo really need to speed up software delivery if they want to win on both fronts.

I know many many people who have 1 single game for there wii - and that's wii sports. Great to get non-gamers to buy and drive your hardware sales, now lets give them software ASAP.

CES 2008: Xbox Marketplace Expands Offering
Disney, MGM sign on with Microsoft to offer TV shows and films.
by Hilary Goldstein

January 6, 2008 - During Bill Gates' kenote address, which opened CES 2008, Microsoft announced some exciting new partnerships for Xbox Live Marketplace. Disney and MGM will begin offering content on Marketplace later this month. MGM has a considerable number of high-caliber movie titles expected to be available for download, including Rocky, Dances with Wolves and Agent Cody Banks. Disney, which owns ABC, will open up its large movie and television library. That's right, Hannah Montana is coming to Marketplace! New episodes of ABC shows are expected to be available for download the day after they've aired.

Many important people had many important things to say about the new deal.

"Disney-ABC Television Group and MGM are two of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, and this announcement helps continue to evolve and diversify the content offering on Xbox Live," said Robbie Bach, Microsoft's President of the Entertainment and Devices Division. "The ability to offer such great content in high definition further expands Microsoft's commitment to connected entertainment with Xbox 360."

"As a company dedicated to providing consumers with a variety of high-quality entertainment and news content that they can view at their convenience, regardless of time, place or platform, we are very excited to bring our programming to Xbox Live members," said Anne Sweeney, co-chair of Disney Media Networks and president of Disney-ABC Television Group. "This new agreement will not only provide incremental viewing opportunities, but also provides a wealth of promotional opportunities to further awareness of our shows and brands."

"The Video Store on Xbox Live Marketplace has proven to be very successful, and we are excited that MGM will be a partner in 2008," said Jim Packer, co-president of Worldwide Television at MGM. "At MGM we are always looking for new ways to reach our broad audience, and partnering with Microsoft allows us to make our legendary library available to the millions of Xbox Live members here in the U.S."

"I just crapped my pants," said Nate Ahearn, Associate Editor of IGN Xbox 360.

The new content adds to Microsoft's popular service which already has more than 3500 hours of entertainment programming available for download. Expect MGM and Disney offerings to appear by the end of January.

Nice.. more studio's, more films on LIVE. LIVE rental service is great (100 points) €1 rentals compared to €5.25 in xtravision is a no brainer, just really need 'more' movies on there.

CES 2008: Bill Gates Breaks Hearts of Xbox Fans
Announces nothing of consequence to gamers hoping for the "Ultimate" 360.
by Hilary Goldstein
January 6, 2008 - Over the past week, rumors have circulated suggesting that at his final CES keynote address, Microsoft founder Bill Gates would announce major Xbox 360 news. Two popular theories emerged: one suggested the revealing of the Ultimate Xbox 360 (a device with features that likely would put its price tag above $1000), the other was more plausible, suspecting that Microsoft would license 360 technology to manufacturers so that any hardware device could include the ability to play Xbox games. Neither became reality Sunday night.

Gates announced nothing that would excite 360 gamers. Robbie Bach, President of Microsoft's Entertainment & Devices Division, gave 360 geeks one small cheer, announcing that MGM and Disney have agreed to release content on Xbox Live Marketplace.

CES has long been a platform for Microsoft to reveal new and exciting things for the future. This year, at least for gamers, that was not the case. It's possible that February's GDC would be Microsoft's preferred platform for unveiling new hardware or services for Xbox 360.

So no more hardware news till Feb - until then we will continue to speculate away

 

[Markleshark]

Shame there was no Ultimate console, I was taken by that.

100 points? I'm sure they we're 500+ when I last looked.

 

[0098386]

What's all this news about the Xbox joining up with BT for some kind of content delivery stuffs? That'll be mega here. Absolutely mega.

 

[72930]

What's all this news about the Xbox joining up with BT for some kind of content delivery stuffs? That'll be mega here. Absolutely mega.

Maybe, I personally don't think this will be such a big deal until the next gen of consoles...

 

[0098386]

The final announcement, last year we talked about the 360 being an STB -- this year we're excited to announce that BT will be the first to provide that capability. Buy a 360 and use it as an STB for your TV.

So it's IPTV. I can't find a use for it but if it's a free service (or feeds off the Xbox Live subscription). With recording and the likes?

When you couple that with the 360's HD film and TV download service then its certainly got huge potential. How does a system survive if HD-DVD dies? BT and Marketplace knows.

 

[MRU]

100 points? I'm sure they we're 500+ when I last looked.

500 for HD version 100 for SD version

 

[MRU]

What's all this news about the Xbox joining up with BT for some kind of content delivery stuffs? That'll be mega here. Absolutely mega.

Basically its the UK version of IPTV

edit... doh you already just posted that

Microsoft Announces BT Partnership
Bringing digital TV to Xbox 360 users in Blighty.
by Martin Robinson, IGN UK
UK, January 7, 2008 - Microsoft has revealed it is partnering with British Telecom to bring BT Vision to the Xbox 360, a Freeview TV service that grants users access to digital television and will enable the 360 consoles to operate as a set-top box.

The partnership was unveiled in Bill Gates' final Consumer Electronics Show keynote and while it wasn't quite the big story everyone was anticipating, it's fairly big news for Xbox 360 users in the UK. BT Vision is already powered by the Microsoft Mediaroom Internet Protocol TV and the intention is to integrate the service with Xbox Live, allowing Xbox 360 users access to both digital television and the gaming services already on offer.

Dan Marks, CEO of BT Vision, trumpeted: "…for the first time consumers in the UK will be able to experience the advantages of an advanced TV service together with the benefits of next-generation gaming…". Meanwhile, Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president of the Connected Television Division at Microsoft, chimed "…this is an exciting moment in home entertainment."

The service is scheduled to go live at some point in the middle of 2008.

 

[Queso]

BT's IPTV system is a bit pants according to the people over at Digital Spy forums. The general consensus is that it needs quite a bit of work before it starts to become something worthwhile. Content is seriously behind what's available on both Virgin and Tiscali.

This deal will benefit BT more than Microsoft IMO.

 

[0098386]

Virgin is IPTV? My Carolines on that at her student house and I was mightily impressed about watching old shows without the STB having a HDD or anything like that.
Oh, and lovely Mighty Boosh sig there

 

[Queso]

Virgin is IPTV?

It's sort of a hybrid from what I understand. Since they pipe their Internet access down the same cable as their broadcast channels they can also do VOD stuff over IPTV to their STB.

And you must love the Boosh, or I'll have to turn my back on you