ABC iView app showing off on Xbox today
Posted Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 9:34 am by Jason Cartwright
Starting today, ABC’s iView application will be available on the Xbox 360. You will need to have upgraded to the new Xbox Dashboard to see the new app. As with all things Microsoft, it’s being rolled out, so if you don’t see it yet in the App Marketplace, just check back later.
The ABC iView app adds to the existing line-up of YouTube, SBSOnDemand, DailyMotion, NineMSN and Foxtel video apps on the Xbox 360. It’s important to note, that Xbox Live Gold Subscription isn’t required for iView. iView features shows like Good Game, Q&A, Gruen Transfer and more, allowing you to catch up on any episodes you or your DVR missed.
The iView app can be controlled using Kinect hand gestures (like the rest of the new Dashboard) and also supports voice commands. Not all the new apps do, so this is actually worth noting. If you’re using voice and hit an app that doesn’t support it, it really defeats the purpose, as you need to find that controller again.
ABC iView is now available on the Xbox 360, PS3, Boxee Box and the web. ABC has done an amazing job at making their content available wherever and whenever consumers want to consume it. If iOS had flash support it’d probably be on there as well. ABC’s content distribution is a model to be held as an example of how to use IPTV well. Without traditional commercial programming, ABC are free to distribute much more flexibly and achieve the ultimate goal of the content producers, to have it see by as many people as possible.
More information @ Xbox
Alan Wake 2… Is NOT Alan Wake 2?
Posted Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 6:30 am by Daniel Kipping
December 10, 2011. Culver City, California.
This was the date and location that played host to the annual Spike TV Video Game Awards. In addition, however – and, perhaps more importantly, this was the date and location that saw the official unveiling of the next installment in Xbox hero Alan Wake’s on-screen adventure. After much anticipation and teasing, it’s here: Wake fans, welcome to your very own American Nightmare…
The My Xbox app doesn’t go far enough
Posted Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 6:54 pm by Jason Cartwright
This morning Microsoft (or Apple rather) released the My Xbox app for iPhone and WP7 owners. It’s great to see Microsoft recognise that a lot of Xbox owners are also iOS owners. This also evidenced by the array of 3rd party Xbox companion apps already available. Without official support from MS and no way to ensure authentication is treating your credentials securely, it’s always been a ‘hold your breath’ experience when entering your Windows Live info.
With an official Xbox companion app now available, those fears (and other apps) can disappear. The My Xbox app allows Xbox owners to message friends, customize your avatar, check achievements and get beacon notifications. Beacons arrived as part of the latest Xbox 360 Dashboard update (still rolling out), these allow you to set notifications when friends are playing games or participating in activities that you’re interested in.
Basically it works like this. You set a Beacon for a Forza 4, you then go about your housework until your the My Xbox app buzzes in your pocket with a notification that friend is now playing Forza 4 and wants to race against you. You ditch the vacuum cleaner for the next 3 hours on the couch. This is technology helping our disconnected worlds become connected, for gaming, as in the example, but potentially to watch movies, TV shows, listen to music or even video conference.
All this sounds great, and sure the app looks great and is buttery smooth, but lets take a second to consider the future of the app and Xbox. With an internet connected device like the Xbox 360, wake-on-LAN should be on option. This means being able to wake up and shut down your Xbox using your phone. What if you could also control the Xbox interface using gestures on your phone. When using your phone for entertainment and potentially some gaming, this would replace or be a complimentary control.
Of course there is already the ability for games information to transfer from the Xbox to your WP7 device, but this requires an awkward QR-code scanning process (Kinectimals as an example). With a true Wi-Fi connection between the Xbox and your phone, this transition should be much more seamless.
Forza 4 December Car Pack now available
Posted Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at 8:53 am by Jason CartwrightRacing fans can now fire up their Xbox’s and pickup some brand new DLC for Forza 4. The December Car Pack includes a wide variety of cars from dedicated racing machines, to the latest model RX-8, and even a few classics. With a wide variety in the line-up the value proposition for everyone will be different.
Those of you who ponied up the cash for the Season Pass get this (and the next 4) for free as part of the packaged deal. There’s 10 new cars available in the December Car Pack, which will set you back 560 Microsoft Points which works out to A$9.24.
All these car packs are great turn10, but the biggest requested feature is the addition of new tracks like Bathurst. Get on it.
For more information, head to ForzaMotorsport.
Xbox 360 Dashboard update, adds Metro Aussie voice control
Posted Monday, December 5, 2011 at 10:52 pm by Jason Cartwright
Update 3
Well it seems those last minute gremlins are now sorted out, the new Dashboard has now started rolling out. Reactions online are mixed, some loving it, some hating, which always happens when your product is in the hands of millions.
Tip: To force the Dashboard Update, try running the network connection test to Xbox Live.
Update2
Microsoft have delayed the release of the Dashboard update without explanation. It’s likely a few last minute bugs were discovered that stopped the update from rolling out.
Update
@majornelson now says everyone in Australia should have the Xbox Dashboard update at 2AM tomorrow morning (Sydney timezone)
Go turn on your Xbox 360, there may be a major update waiting for you. The new Xbox 360 Dashboard is being rolled out today, the update adds a number of important new features including voice controls and applications, as well as a new Metro-style UI. Australian voice control has been missing since the launch of Kinect but is finally delivered in this update.
An increasing number titles are being released with voice capabilities exacerbating the delayed launch of Xbox voice controls in Australia. Strangely voice has been active in Kinect Labs and has worked well for months. The December 2011 Dashboard update bring Xbox-wide voice controls, meaning you can search for content by using commands like “Xbox Bing {movie title}”. The voice system is initiated by saying the word “Xbox” a list of possible commands is then displayed on each tile on the screen as well as common system functions at the bottom.
When you consider the challenges for Kinect, room acoustics, environmental noises and background conversations, it’s impressive how accurate it is. There’s also no training time like you may be used to with desktop voice systems like that of Dragon Dictate or even Microsoft’s own Windows 7 voice support. By limiting the list of possible commands, Kinect has a much easier task than attempting to interpret any words spoken in the room.
Metro-style UI
By now most of us are familiar with Microsoft’s current design philosophy Metro. It’s used on Windows Phone 7, Windows 8 and now the Xbox 360. This Dashboard update continues that theme with clean crisp text, minimal content per screen and large tiles. The use of Kinect gestures to move around the UI has also been improved from what was on offer in the Zune Marketplace. Gone are the days of having to find a ridiculously precise location to the left or right of the screen. Swipes gestures now work with a much larger region, achieving a much more natural experience.
If you don’t have a Kinect connected to your Xbox 360, don’t stress, it will continue to work just fine using normal controller operations.
Profile sync
With millions of Xbox sold around the world, it’s unsurprising that many of us find ourselves at someone else’s house, only for our profile stuck at home. With the new Dashboard update, you’re profile can now live in the cloud. This means that you can log into your account on any Xbox and have your achievements, game progress, friends list all come with you. About time right? If you’re thinking that this already existing with profile pull, it didn’t. Previously you’re account could only ever live on one console, now it can live anywhere you want with a simple sign in. This is progress.
Beacons
Setting up beacons on the Xbox, allows you to keep up to date with your best gaming buddies. While you’re contact list may have grown to dozens or more, there’s likely a few select ones that you always want to know about. Beacons also work with games. Set a beacon for Forza 4 and you’ll be alerted when one of your mates is playing that game. This information was previously only available when you started a game, it would say ‘4 friends playing this game’. Beacons will notify you Xbox-wide, so no matter what app you’re currently using, you’ll be up to date.
Gallery
Xbox as the future of TV
This afternoon, Microsoft confirmed they were bringing a number of key local applications to the Xbox 360. The following apps will be available in December.
- ABC iView
- SBS ON DEMAND
- YouTube
- Daily Motion
- Crackle
- Ninemsn – Nine News, Today, Wide World of Sports, CelebrityFIX TV
While Channel 7’s catch-up service is an omission this is actually a really impressive list, just remember they won’t be available today. Until now, 3rd party apps had been limited to Facebook, Twitter and Foxtel on Xbox 360. This announcement sets the scene for future applications to be delivered to the console.
The line-up of entertainment partners internationally makes out list look sadly depressing, but at this point we’ll take what we can get. It’s clear Microsoft is now committed to working with partners to deliver 3rd party apps. These apps will fundamentally change the way users think and use the Xbox 360. While predominantly a gaming console, Microsoft continue to push the device and an entertainment hub for the living room.
With each application that enables IPTV delivery to the big screen without switching inputs, take consumers one step closer to the ideal set-top-box. Unfortunately that ideal STB isn’t likely to arrive until the Xbox 720 (or whatever the next one’s called), when it could include tuners and DVR functionality. Searching the content on your Xbox is available now, how long do you think it’ll be before the Xbox adds search for the web and competes with GoogleTV?
A history of Dashboard updates
Which one is your favourite?
Metro-style UI
XNE Update
Original blade UI
More information @ Xbox Live
GAME holds first Game Swinging event in Sydney
Posted Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 9:19 pm by Nanopunk
Video game retailer chain GAME is hosting a Sydney Game Swinging event tonight, Thursday, 24 November. Think speed dating but with the added ingredient of games. It can sound eye-boggling, luckily we caught up with GAME Managing Director Paul Yardley to talk Game Swinging.
Basically, you turn up with a game you want to trade. Participants are herded into a purgatory area called the “Loading Bar”. There, the participants are picked by Cupid to play at one of the game stations on the “Trading Floor, and play a game with a potential mate. Couplings can play for a maximum of 10 minutes. However, if a couple wants play together for a longer period, they can do so in the privacy of the “High Scorers’ Suite” for a maximum of 10 minutes.
If swingers want to trade the game or the partner before the ten minutes expires, then all they need to do is hold up the Trade Paddle. Cupid will then pick a new partner or a new game station for them. This could make for some potentially awkward moments – and funny ones for onlookers.
So how did GAME find the inspiration to come up with the idea to play perfect match with gamers? Yardley explains how the idea was conceived.
“We’re a pretty youngish company, most of us are pretty young. We’re just chatting through what gamers like to do and what we could do to make gaming a bit more of an event. A bit more fun,” he revealed. “ Two things struck us: one was that gamers love to trade and with the amount of big games out this year its more important than ever to push a bit of trading and get the best money for those games.”
“Trading is about not committing to any one game, so we looked at what happens to our customers were and it strikes that 18 to 25 year olds are pretty uncommitted when it comes to the opposite sex,” continued Yardley. “You combine the two and you have game swinging. The idea being that you trade your games, you trade your partners and have a great night doing it as well.”
Game Swinging comes hot on the heels of massively popular events and hangouts that cater specifically to gamer culture in Australia. The emergence of gang-buster parties like Insert Coin and the the Mana Bars , the celebrated cocktail gaming bars have been a huge successes with gamers. So how did the gaming community respond to Game Swinging when registrations opened for the event?
“I don’t have the numbers at hand but we were vastly over subscribed, so three to four times than what we could fit. I’m a bit sad we couldn’t fit everyone who wanted to,” he explained, and he could not say how many invitations sent out to the people who registered.
Gamers wanting to participate in the event had to register their interest on the site first, although registration does not guarantee an invite. The invitations are complimentary, the drinks and food are up to the punter to purchase at the bar.
Yardley said that the event is aimed at guys and girls, from 18 to 35, who have a love for for games and was keen to meet a potential someone or someones. Whether the event catered to different sexual orientation preferences was a grey area. Reading the rules on the Game Swinging website, the event excluded gamers interested in same sex relationships. Yardley cleared the air.
“Yeah, look it’s open to everyone, everyone over the age of 18 anyway. And so gay,straight, whatever, bi are more than welcome to turn up,” he clarified. “I guess if we get a massive response from that community, we’ll look at doing a specific one for that community, but we’ll get this one out of the way first. If the demand is there we’ll do one, absolutely.”
As outlined in the terms, by registering “You consent to GAME performing any background checks about you as may be reasonably required to determine your suitability to participate in an Event”. It is an interesting line, what sort of background checks did GAME conduct? Certainly not police background checks or “anything like that” Yardley jovially assured. He went on to explain that checks were instrumental to make sure that everyone would have a brilliant time.
“We have a chat with them about what they played before to make sure they understand what gaming is about and what the event is about,” Yardley explained. “And that they’re not going to turn up and be disappointed – that’s what we were trying to do. We were looking for people who were up for a bit of a laugh and didn’t take themselves too seriously.
“We don’t want people who would turn up and end looking at themselves and going “errr what am I doing here”. Its all having a bit of fun really. That line came out of the lawyers, and to make sure we have people turn up at the event who are into it.”
After tonight, two more Game Swinging events are planned early next year, one in Melbourne on 2, February and another in Brisbane, at a date to be announced.
“Yeah absolutely. We’re hoping the initial event is a great success on Thursday,” Yardley concluded. “So if it all goes off and everyone loves it then we’ll definitely look at doing it again.”
Note: This post comes from Techromp.com
