Windows 9: One OS For Desktop, Mobile & Xbox

By Chris Smith at BGR:  


Unlike Apple, which thinks merging iOS and OS X would be a “waste of energy,” Microsoft wants one single Windows operating system to be available to all its device users, whether they’re Windows Phone handset owners, Xbox fans, or rely on a Windows computer for work or play. Business Insider reports that CEO Satya Nadella said on the company’s FQ4 earnings conference call that a future version of Windows will merge all current Windows versions, becoming an “operating system that covers all screen sizes.”

“In the year ahead, we are investing in ways that will ensure our device OS and first party hardware aligned to our core,” Nadella said. “We will streamline the next version of Windows from three operating systems into one single converged operating system for screens of all sizes.”

“We will unify our stores, commerce and developer platforms to drive a more coherent user experience and a broader developer opportunity,” he added.

Microsoft already revealed at Build 2014 in early April that it will let developers create apps that will work across devices, including Windows Phone smartphones, Windows computers and Xbox consoles, but the company is apparently ready to go even further.

However, that doesn’t mean Microsoft will have a simpler way of selling Windows products to users.

“Our SKU strategy will remain by segment, we will have multiple SKUs for enterprises, we will have for OEM, we will have for end-users,” Nadella added. “And so we will – be disclosing and talking about our SKUs as we get further along, but my statement was more to do with how we are bringing teams together to approach Windows as one ecosystem very differently than we ourselves have done in the past.”

PlayStation 4 Dominates Xbox One With Nearly Double The Sales

The PlayStation 4 outsold the Xbox One in the US last month, according to retail sales data tracked by NPD. Sony says that the PS4 was the top-selling console for January and remains in first place worldwide, but hasn't released the actual number of moved units.

Journalist Geoff Keighley, who spoke to PlayStation SVP Guy Longworth, earlier reported that Sony sold nearly twice as many PS4 consoles as its "nearest next-gen competitor" — assumed to be the Xbox One — and PlayStation marketing VP John Koller confirmed the reports to the official PlayStation blog. "Since we launched on November 15th, we’ve sold every PS4 available in the US," he said.



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Windows Phone 8 Gets Xbox Video, Xbox Music

Are you a Windows Phone 8 user that desperately needs official Microsoft apps for everything in your life? Well, the last two holdouts – video and music – are finally getting official apps.

Microsoft announced today that Xbox Video is finally available on Windows Phone 8. Like the app on PC and Xbox One, Xbox Video for Windows Phone 8 allows users to stream or download any number of movies and TV shows to their device. The app also pulls Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic ratings for those who just aren’t sure if they would like Pacific Rim (Spoilers: You will).

As for TV shows on Xbox Video, Microsoft touts the ability for users to purchase a season pass. This allows to pay a single upfront fee and download each new episode of a TV series as soon as it airs.

inally, Xbox Video for Windows Phone 8 offers SmartGlass functionality with Xbox 360 and Xbox One. You can use the app as a remote or to pull information about the film while watching it on your TV via your console.



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Avatar Kinect hits Xbox Live, your own virtual talk show starts today

Microsoft has been touting Avatar Kinect, since CES way back in January, and you can now finally it try out for yourself. The Kinect Fun Labs Gadget is available as a free download for all Xbox Live Gold members starting today, and even non-paying Live members can try it out during a limited trial that runs until September 8th. So just what is it? Partly a tech demo showing off things like new facial expression capabilities, but mostly another way for you to hangout with a few friends online -- up to seven in this case, in your choice of 24 virtual environments. Those looking to try something else a little different with Kinect will also be able to download the Kinect Sparkler 3D finger painting application this Thursday, although it'll cost you 240 Microsoft Points.

AMD says: Xbox will have some very impressive graphics

When Nintendo went on the record with its next generation console called the Wii U at E3 this year we knew that word would start coming before long of the other big gaming firms working in new consoles of their own. The first we grumblings heard of after the Wii U was the next generation Xbox console from Microsoft that is being called the Xbox 720 for now. AMD has come out and stated that the next Xbox will have some very impressive graphics.

Should Microsoft bring Xbox LIVE to other mobile platforms?

When we talk about something, we tend to lean towards the advantage of that thing to support our stance. When we’re talking about something with someone else, it usually comes down to that advantage if we’re trying to defend how great something is, or why that one thing may triumph against the competition. For Microsoft, they believe they have a few advantages up their sleep when it comes to Windows Phone 7, and the company would be right. After all, Microsoft Word is still used all over the planet to get word processing handled. And when it comes to gaming, Xbox LIVE’s presence is a constant one. But that’s on PCs and home video game consoles respectively. How can Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE service jump to the top in the mobile market?

Top 10 Revelations That Rocked E3 2011

LOS ANGELES — Nintendo's Wii U and Sony's PlayStation Vita made headlines at this year's E3 Expo. But aside from those big hardware reveals, surprisingly few unexpected videogames were unveiled.