Xbox 360, 5 years of continued growth
Posted Monday, February 6, 2012 at 10:09 pm by Jason Cartwright
Today the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (iGEA) released industry data which shows Microsoft’s Xbox 360 is still seeing strong growth. Despite a challenging environment where all other console makers are seeing retractions in revenue, the Xbox 360 seen more than 5% growth in 2011.
It seems those looking to gaming for a Christmas present also turned to the Xbox, likely due to the cheap cost of the 4G model and the Kinect bundle. Xbox 360 was the number one selling console during the Christmas period of 2011, not only that, but more Xbox’s were sold during December 2011 than ever before.
Microsoft also experienced almost 40% growth in Xbox LIVE Gold subscriptions during 2011. Their explanation points to the online services and partnerships, including FOXTEL, Zune Movies and Music, SBS ON DEMAND, ninemsn video, YouTube, ABC iView and Dailymotion11.
Review: Sennheiser X320 Headset for Xbox 360
Posted Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 11:39 am by Jason Cartwright
Gaming on you’re Xbox with the surround sound cranked may be fun, but will likely piss off your neighbours. Either that or the other people in your house. To solve this problem, you should consider some gaming headphones, particularly if you live in an apartment complex with thin walls.
Solving the volume out issue is one thing, but what about the volume in problem, you know, for those Xbox LAN sessions you have in the street.
Over the past month I’ve spent some time with the Sennheiser X320 gaming headset for the Xbox 360. It features a stylish and comfortable design with green accent, which matches the black / green design of the console. Weighing in at just 280grams, they become like a watch after a while, in that you forget you’re wearing them. Other headsets I’ve used become really uncomfortable after a long gaming session, but the X320 over-the-ear design worked great.
The headset also features a microphone that turns on when you flick it down, and off when you flick it up. It may not sound like a big deal, but its a hell of a lot easier than fumbling to find the mute switch between rounds.
The sound quality of the headset is really good, in fact I even picked up some engine noise intricacies in Forza 4 that I hadn’t noticed before. This is likely due to the low noise amplifier built into the X320.
Issues
While the sound quality is solid, there are a few issues with this headset. The first is the connections are overly complex. First there’s the USB cable connection, then there’s the red and white audio pass-through connectors, then there’s the microphone to controller cable. For such a stylish headset, this is a really ineloquent solution. Maybe it’s a technical limitation of the Xbox, but a simply USB cable to carry audio both ways would dramatically simplify the setup.
Like most users, I connect the Xbox 360 via HDMI these days, this means I had to go find the component cable to use these headphones.
The microphone level is adjustable via the in-line control (along with headphone volume and bass boost), but quickly introduce line noise. This is a pretty big flaw in the product, but if you can keep it low and talk louder, you can work around it.
Price
The Sennheiser X320 Xbox gaming headset sells for around A$199. Shop around and you could find it on sale as cheap as $179.
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Overall
There’s no way around it, these are expensive, but as a premium headset its not unexpected. The biggest issue is the limitation of Xbox-only. I tried plugging the X320 into the PC but they do not work as a regular headset. The only way I could swallow $200 for a headset is if I could use them for absolutely everything from the mobile phone to the TV. Sadly these are Xbox-only. There’s a bunch of gaming headsets in this space, so look at other options but if your after audio quality, keep the X320 in mind.
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.
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.
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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
