The tech world was in a state of shock last year when Microsoft confirmed it had purchased VoIP telecommunications outfit Skype. The move for the software and technology wasn't too surprising in itself, but the $8.5 billion price tag certainly was, especially given the company - which was once under the control of internet auction site eBay - wasn't exactly making much money.
The Xbox 360 is getting a little long in the tooth these days, leading to rampant speculation about what the next version of the hugely popular console will be like. The biggest question though, without doubt, as to be when we will be able to get our hands on the new console. When will the Xbox 360 be retired?
Anyone who is familiar with the comings and goings of the consumer technology industry will be more than au fait with Microsoft's Kinect sensor and its associated attachments. What started out as a motion sensing accessory for Xbox 360 gamers has grown to be so much more, with people adapting the technology to be used in a number of different innovative and exciting situations.
As if students needed any more reasons to procrastinate and waste time gaming instead of studying, Microsoft is set to re-introduce its "buy a PC, get an Xbox 360 free" deal - another great offer in the Redmond-based Windows maker's push to get as many of the consoles in living rooms as humanly possible.
As the technology world keenly awaits further updates (and soon, a Release Candidate) of Windows 8, the software maker is seemingly focused on a big push with regards to Xbox and Kinect. As well as the purported Kinect Play Fit package, which would place stronger emphasis on Kinect's fitness and well-being prowess, the Redmond-based outfit is said to be testing a modded version of Internet Explorer 9 on the Xbox 360 console.
Microsoft has recently outlined its intention to push the Xbox + Kinect combo to as broad an audience as possible with its recently-introduced subscription package, and now rumor has it that a dashboard update will offer a cross-application exercise tracking implementation of some description.
Ever since the Kinect was released, people immediately began to see that the technology's potential extended far beyond gaming. A pretty extensive homebrew community surrounding the Kinect developed, eventually gaining support even from Microsoft. That's not surprising, however, given the plethora of cool stuff developed. And, speaking of cool stuff developed to bring the Kinect to new heights, a research team at the Human Media Lab of Canada's Queen's University led by professor Roel Vertegaal developed an insane 360-degree display called the Telepod. Basically, the primary function of the Telepod is to create a 3D hologram that slightly livens up videoconferencing.
With the Call Of Duty franchise breaking its own incredible sales records in unprecedented fashion on an annual basis, many wondered - particularly given the regularity of releases - whether Call of Duty: Black Ops II would once again capture the imagination (or at least, the dollars), of consumers once again.
According to sources close to The Verge, Microsoft is geared up to release a $99 Xbox + Kinect console package next week, which will charge a monthly subscription fee and include Xbox Live access, as well as additional extras.
The first real trailer for Treyarch's upcoming Call Of Duty game has finally aired on television, giving fans of the franchise their first look at what Black Ops 2 will encompass.
