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…

Since Alan Wake’s release in 2010, fans of the game have been craving for a second helping of their favourite torch-wielding, shadow-fighting writer. Earlier this year, almost twelve months after the game was introduced to the world, Remedy Games (the brains behind Alan Wake’s development) confirmed that their was “more Wake to come”. From that point on, rumours flew around like nobody’s business. To cut a medium-sized story short, however, speculation finally led to confirmation – and fans were ecstatic when hearing news of what was to come: Yes, there was a second Wake installment “in the works”. No: This release was not a full-fledged game, but rather an “independent release”.

The result of all these whispers, teasers and rumours? Alan Wake’s American Nightmare. As with its predecessor, this release has been developed by Remedy and published by Microsoft Studios. In addition, if die-hard fans haven’t left their favourite chair since the “first” game’s release, they’ll be pleased to know that they can stay seated — because American Nightmare is being published in the Xbox Live Arcade for download-upon-purchase obtainment.
Of course, for those of you who are interested in what AWAM’s storyline may entail, don’t sweat it: I’ve got you covered.
Alan is, once again, thrown into a world of darkness that refuses to set him free. Go figure. However, this time around, instead of fighting his way through a relentless wave of darkness-possessed woodcutters and loggers, he is pursued by what appears to be his darker (no pun intended. Honestly.), violent alter-ego: Mr. Scratch. Although the debut trailer for this release doesn’t give much away, I couldn’t help but notice that Alan will have all new locations to explore, all new weapons to play with and all new characters to be introduced to — see for yourself. For those of you who haven’t viewed the trailer, take a peek at it below.

Don’t be fooled, however, AWAM is not a sequel to Alan Wake — it is merely an “expansion of the Alan Wake universe”. A side story, if you will. Irrespective, it appears that Remedy are confident that they are giving Wake fans (myself included) a solid second installment to the “series”, and it will certainly be interesting to see if this release lives up to the hype.

Alan Wake’s American Nightmare is set to hit the Xbox Live Arcade early next year.

After using Windows Azure since around April this year for the backend of Constructiv, I’ve gotten pretty familiar with the website. Today there’s been a massive overhaul of Windows Azure, probably the largest since launch.

It’s important to not the change is the the Azure website, but the Azure Platform (Managing your servers) remains the same. SQL Azure was updated a couple of days ago, so it is likely just a matter of time before we see the new design across the board.

The new design brings with it the Metro UI we’ve seen across a number of other Microsoft properties including WP7, Windows8 and now the Xbox 360.

Check it out for yourself at https://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/

Those logging into SQL Azure today will get a prompt to update to Silverlight 5. Why the need for the latest developer version of Silverlight? It turns out even Microsoft developers are now being moved over to the new Metro UI we’ve seen on WP7, Windows 8, Xbox and now Microsoft’s cloud database service SQL Azure. Where will it stop?

Update
It seems the Metro UI rollout was much broader than first expected. The entire Windows Azure website has now had the new UI design applied.

Check it out for yourself at https://www.windowsazure.com/en-us

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

We all know Windows machines, well computers in general, slow down after a while with all the crap we install. Microsoft have a great new solution coming in Windows 8 to solve this issue. Refresh your PC will return your computer to it’s out of box experience, however your files aren’t effected. This will reset Windows, without loosing data. Expect to require some free hard drive space for this to work.

If your the IT support for you extended family, this tool is likely to be a saviour for you. If troubleshooting is taking longer than half an hour, it’s likely faster to get your mum to use this option.

If you’d sell or give away your PC, there’s an option for that as well, which will actually remove your files. Make sure you’ve backed up before you use this one.

Met with a huge round of applause, Windows Division President Steven Sinofsky just announced 5000 build developers will get a Samsung tablet running Windows 8. There’s an abundance of sensors for developers to take advantage of, check out the graphic below for the full list.

The Build conference sold out before any kind of agenda was released, those who travelled to build are no doubt very happy with their decision. Look for lots of reviews and hands-on content to flow throughout the day as the Windows Developer Preview PC’s get picked up.

Oprah would be proud.

The countdown is on. Microsoft is set to reveal all the juicy details of Windows 8, when the first Build conference gets underway at 2AM AEST tomorrow morning. Thanks to posts from Steven Sinofsky on the Build Windows blog, together with videos from Microsoft we already know a few pieces of what’s going to be included in the next version of Windows.

What we don’t know is, well, quite a lot. There’s an awful amount of attention on Build because Microsoft has done a really good job of keeping secrets. While Build will last for 4 days, the crux of the announcements will come during the opening keynote tomorrow morning. Watching Microsoft’s movements leading up to the event, Windows 8 is being positioned as fundamentally different to the successful Windows 7, rather than simply further refinements.

So if Windows 8 is to be truly revolutionary, what does tomorrow’s Build announcement need to contain to blow us away ?

LiveID login to any Win8 machine
Using a single machine is a very rare occurrence these days, wether it be home and work, or tablet and pc, or using internet cafes and libraries, we all seem to be touching multiple machines. Managing data online is an important part of the decentralisation puzzle, but what about login credentials and personal preferences? How many hours do we spend configuring each machine individually? The answer, far too long. This could be, and should be tied to you as a person. Creating user accounts currently is an annoyingly isolated, machine-specific venture.

• Imagine using LiveID as your authentication method for any Windows 8 machine
• Imagine Microsoft allow 3rd party identity providers like Facebook and Twitter to do the same.
• Imagine if you could bring Applications as well, or purchase history like iTunes does now and easy option to download.

If Microsoft does indeed include this in Build, it will fundamentally change the way we think about computers and devices and current ownership models. Naturally you’d need to be online, at least the first time you login, then it could cache your profile for offline use.

Actually deliver on 3 screens and the cloud vision
For years we’ve heard on this strategy touted by Microsoft, but today’s experiences between the phone, desktop, tablet and tv is actually incredibly segregated. We’ve seen the graphic of the Tile / metro UI running across Windows Phone, computers and the Xbox. So with upgrades to each one of these key platforms, Microsoft has the potential to finally achieve this. In reality, I don’t think this will be a home run. Expect a good step in the right direction, but not a solution without compromises.

• Imagine a scenario where Windows Phone gets airplay style content sharing with the Xbox.
• Imagine Zune, WMP, WMC all combined to one useful media interface that works from 3” to 70”.
• Imagine everyone of your devices being a throwaway, a copy of all data online

Cloud storage given equal placement as local storage
Saving files through desktop software to online service providers is a hassle. Take Office 2010 for example, the Save As option is much more accessible and fast than navigating through Skydrive folders. This needs to be fixed for online storage to really be a serious option for mainstream consumers.

Those in the know usually store files locally, then setup syncing software like DropBox or Live Mesh to sync to the web, but you ask the average consumer in the street and I guarantee they’ve never used it.

• Imagine being able to set your default Save As destination as an online folder.
• Imagine Libraries supporting SkyDrive, Box.net, Google docs, Flickr and others.
• Imagine browsing web folders was as fast as local files in Windows Explorer.

Releases
There’s a number of Microsoft release dates that are yet to be revealed in the closing stages of 2011. Microsoft may start confirming the release dates for a number of upcoming releases.

• Windows 8
• Windows Phone 7.5 (Mango)
• Commercial SDK and Marketplace for Kinect
• Skydrive upgrade
• Windows Live Wave 5
• Xbox Dashboard update

So what’s your list of Build announcements that you think Microsoft need to make for you to be blown away ? Comment away !

Liveside reported a couple of days ago that they “recently learnt that Microsoft will soon offer unlimited photos and Office documents storage on SkyDrive Wave 5. This move could have widespread ramification for a number of businesses, especially if they get Live Sync integrated.

Everyone from Dropbox to Flickr would be dramatically impacted if Microsoft makes this aggressive move. For the past couple of years I’ve paid for a Pro Flickr account, but if SkyDrive makes that free, I’ll jump ship in a second. Windows Live Wave 5 will also see a revamp of Hotmail, after a recent Hotmail event invite suggested we should ‘forget everything we know about Hotmail’.

With the Build conference this week discussing Windows 8, it’s likely Microsoft will discuss online service integration at a much deeper level to the OS, than what’s currently on offer. New of unlimited document and photo storage will spread quickly amongst those connected, but normal users are unlikely to take advantage of it unless made dead-simple and integrated into the Windows.

The desktop suite of products under the Windows Live Essentials banner is sadly still unknown by many. The theory was that by removing apps like Photo Gallery, Movie Maker, Messenger, etc from Windows, it would allow for faster updates outside of the 3 year OS cycle. In reality, things have changed and the updates of applications could easily be done through Windows Update.

Getting back to the unlimited storage in Wave 5, it does have a limitation, it is just for docs and photos, everything else will need to fit into 25GB. Right now there is 5GB of storage for Live Sync, so should Sync and SkyDrive be integration (like they always should have been), you would expect that should grow to 30GB. The limitation is clearly a move to prevent users from storing and sharing large video files, which is fair enough.

If the storage of documents and photos online does become a reality, expect a big shakeup in the industry and some services to die. It’s hard to compete with free.. ask Netscape.

More info @ LiveSide.

On June 16th this year, Microsoft made the Kinect for Windows SDK available for enthusiasts. This was an official release providing access to all the Kinect hardware, unlike the hacks that came before it. Since then, Kinect is being used in new and exciting ways, yep, your a creative lot.

I sat down with Stuart Tansley, acting product manager for Kinect for Windows SDK from Microsoft Research and Lawrence Crumpton, Academic Developer Evangelist, to discuss how people are using the SDK. We also discussed why we still don’t have voice controls in Australia, the commercial release of the Kinect SDK and much more.

For more info, head over to Kinect For Windows SDK. For all the creative creations, check out http://www.kinecthacks.com/.

During last night’s closing party at Tech.Ed Australia, attendees were treated to something pretty special. Two hotly anticipated upcoming games, Forza 4 and Star Wars Kinect were actually playable at the event. Forza 4 is due for release on the 11th of October and Star Wars Kinect was recently postponed till early 2012 release.

Forza 4 showed off some stunning visuals including tweaks to the lighting system to increase realism. Its understood that previous generations required hard coded brightness / exposure levels in certain locations because the engine wasn’t able to accurately display how the car should look.

One of the biggest questions and concerns hard-core racing sim and Forza fans have is the integration or use of Kinect in Forza 4. The good news is that Forza 4 uses Kinect in a very subtle and optional way as developers Turn10 were conscious of not dumbing it down just to appeal to entry-level gamers. Forza 4 is a driving game that uses Kinect, rather than a Kinect Game.

Star Wars Kinect was also enjoyed by attendees, allowing for the childhood lightsaber-wielding fantasies to come true. One of the biggest concerns with the game is input lag. After early builds were shown to be laggy, developers worked hard on updates to solve the issue. Its difficult to say which build was on display last night, but there was still a small lag between players movements and the Kinect interpretation translating to on-screen movement. Given the game is delayed now, this may be a problem they need some more time to solve to get the experience right before unleashing it on the public. That aside, the attendees that did play, were having a bunch of fun.

Update
Star Wars Kinect on display last night was the same build from E3 earlier this year.

Those non-gaming attendees were treated to a variety of other entertainment during the closing party. Go-Karts in the underground car park, comedy and music performances in the main arena and an array of sporting events on the show floor.