Digital Media Bytes

A periodic roundup of relevant news… via our other outlets: Comcast subscribers may soon get HBO Go on the Xbox The fact that Comcast has blocked HBO Go on some devices has been a major point of contention in recent weeks. Reports say that Comcast and HBO are closing in on a deal to make … Read more

Xbox 360 Receiving HBO GO April 1. Or Sooner.

Announced last fall, HBO GO is just about ready for its Xbox 360 closeup. I still find HBO GO to be one of the most compelling online streaming services, yet cord cutters will remain disappointed as access requires an old school HBO subscription via one’s satellite or cable provider. Further, Comcast and DirecTV customers may continue … Read more

The Trojan Horses Have Been Activated

Dave threw the gauntlet down back in 2006(!) when he suggested the Xbox was a Trojan Horse, designed to be activated in the future as a central device in the connected living room. Today, that reality has, in many ways, come to pass. According to Microsoft exec Russ Axelrod, more than 20 million Xbox homes … Read more

Microsoft TV is About Cable Testing IP

Microsoft formally announced partners for its latest Xbox TV initiative today. In addition to Comcast and Verizon FiOS (two partners that were leaked last week), Xbox owners will be able to access content in varying degrees from Bravo, HBO Go and Syfy in the US, along with BBC in the UK, Telefonica in Spain, Rogers … Read more

Microsoft Promising IPTV on Xbox for Xmas… Again

Microsoft announced at a financial conference yesterday that it plans to offer live TV on the Xbox in time for the holiday season. It’s like deja vu all over again. It was in January of 2007 that Microsoft first made this promise, and the company has dangled the possible integration at every Consumer Electronics Show … Read more

Microsoft’s Slow Road to TV Land

There was a lot of hype leading up to Microsoft’s keynote at the E3 conference earlier this week, with huge speculation that the company would launch a new live TV service on the Xbox. The announcement itself, however, was a bit of a let-down, at least for those of us in the US. After years … Read more

The Case For Kinect?

Well, that didn’t last long… After only about a month with my (second) PS3, I went ahead and unloaded the Sony platform to a work buddy. While I appreciate the physical hardware, if not the UI and online gaming, after playing through Uncharted 2 I just didn’t have much use for the console. I thought I’d put the Blu-ray player to use, but I’ve got several good looking online HD video sources/devices available to me. Yeah, not as high quality as BRD. But good enough as I no longer hoard physical media.

Despite plans to the contrary, I sold my previous Xbox 360 to Gamestop last month when they ran a generous trade-in offer. So I’m currently consoleless, for the first time in forever, and contemplating a new 360 purchase. After all, my Xbox Live subscription is good for about another year and I’d be effectively upgrading RRoD-prone hardware to more modern (and cabinet friendly) construction. The question is, do I pick up a Kinect bundle?

Kinect is Microsoft’s take on the motion control craze. However, it utilizes decidedly more sophisticated (camera) technology than what Nintendo and Sony offer. And supposedly it’s selling like hotcakes. Yet I’m not sure I’d maximize its potential. Isn’t the point of video gaming to sprawl out on the couch and minimize physical exertion? If I really wanted to move, I’d hit the gym or take it outdoors.

I solicited some community feedback on Twitter. Based on the responses, as we have no children in the house and given the current gaming lineup, it seems like I can pass on Kinect. For now. Disagree?

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What’d You Do During Your Lunch Break?

I don’t know what you did for lunch today, but I swung by Gamestop for what could be the biggest video game release ever. Against my better judgement, I’d pre-ordered Call of Duty: Black Ops. And my suspicions were confirmed as in-store availability looked good. But that $5 deposit was greatly rewarded with a $20 Halo Reach … Read more