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Latest Gear Live Videos
Xbox 360 slims down with 250GB HDD, built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi for $299
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Microsoft, Video Games, Wireless / WiFi,
At E3 2010, Microsoft just announced a brand new Xbox 360 design. The slim Xbox 360 launches today, selling for $299 (same price as the Elite) and has been not only redesigned on the outside, but the inside brings some excitement as well. First, it has a 250GB hard drive built in, and Microsoft says that it’s “whisper quiet.” It’s also got built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi, which eliminates the need for that horrible $99 Wi-Fi add-on, and saves you come cash in the process. It’s got three USB ports on the rear, along with a new AUX port, and dedicated Toslink as well. As we said, these are shipping this week, and should show up on places like Amazon and Gamestop at any moment.
Gallery: Xbox 360 slims down with 250GB HDD, built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi for $299
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Kinect for Xbox 360 launches November 4
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Microsoft, Video Games,
Microsoft just announced at their E3 2010 briefing that Kinect for Xbox 360 will launch worldwide on November 4, 2010. No price was given, but knowing the date it half the battle. That said, who’s in? What’s the maximum price you’d pay for the Kinect add-on?
Gallery: Kinect for Xbox 360 launches November 4
During the E3 2010 Microsoft Xbox Media Briefing, while showing off the new Kinect dashboard, it was announced that the Zune music catalog would be coming to the Xbox 360. IT was kind of announced as an afterthought, as they were focusing on the Kinect integration, but it’s a big deal because currently, Zune is used just as a video store for movie and television purchases and rentals. For music, you need to use Last.fm or stream your own content. Now it appears that you can link up your Zune Pass and play from the entire 7 million track library that Zune offers. No date has been set as of yet, but we can’t wait.
Gallery: Zune music coming to Xbox 360
Apple surpasses Microsoft in market cap, becomes second biggest US company
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, Corporate News, Microsoft,
Yesterday, for the first time ever, Apple, Inc. surpassed Microsoft in market capitalization, making Apple the most valuable tech company in the US, and the second-largest in the country, behind Exxon Mobil. We’ve gotta say, we’re surprised and very interested in how all this went down. I mean, Microsoft just makes so many more products than Apple does, so much more software, and even has the wildly popular Xbox gaming division to boot, and all the software income that comes along with that platform. Yet, here we are. The company with the wildly popular iPhone and iPad devices and simple product line has bested the juggernaut. One point of interest in the graph above—notice the trend Microsoft had when Bill Gates was at the helm, followed by what happened when Steve Ballmer took over. Scary.
Read More 
| NY Times
Gallery: Apple surpasses Microsoft in market cap, becomes second biggest US company
HP TouchSmart 600 Entertainment PC giveaway!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Microsoft, Video Games,
Hot on the heels of our HP TouchSmart 600 review, we’ve got a contest for you guys where we will be giving a brand new TouchSmart 600-1055 away to one of you! In case you didn’t read the review, the HP TouchSmart 600-1055 is an entertainment all-in-one PC that rocks Windows 7 64-bit, 4GB RAM, 750GB hard drive, and supports Blu-ray playback as well as HDTV tuning and DVR functions. So, how do you enter to win this bad boy? Here’s your answer:
- If you don’t have one already, sign up for a Twitter account
- Follow the Andru Edwards Twitter account
- On Twitter, post this tweet about our contest: “Hey @andruedwards hook me up with that @gearlive HP TouchSmart 600! http://bit.ly/touchsmart-600” (Click here to tweet this now)
That’s it! You must be following the Twitter accounts listed, because we will be sending the codes to the winners on Twitter via DM, and if you aren’t following, we can’t DM you. Simple as that. We will be choosing a winner at random next Monday, so you’ve got a week. Get your entry in before then!
Gallery: HP TouchSmart 600 Entertainment PC giveaway!
Microsoft, Intel Announce Intelligent Ads; Say You Look Good in Levi’s
Posted by Dan Hughes Categories: Corporate News, Displays, Microsoft,
This week, Intel announced the availability of technology made especially for digital signage. The new platform, based on Windows Embedded Standard 7 and running on Intel Core i5/i7 processors, along with technology such as touch screens to allow interactivity from a passerby.
The “Intelligent Digital Sign” also could use a camera to use what they call “anonymous video analytics” to show items of interest to the user at an appropriate height for the user, along with gender recognition software. The sign is large enough that if another person comes up to the ad and interacts, they would be presented with their own advertisement while the first person continued their own experience.
I’m a bit wary of anything using a camera or having access to my cellular phone, but take a look at the release and decide for yourself. The release also has a video from back in January when they demonstrated the system.
Read More | Microsoft: Next Generation of Digital Signage Applications Is Possible Today
Gallery: Microsoft, Intel Announce Intelligent Ads; Say You Look Good in Levi’s
Early Halo: Reach multiplayer beta code giveaway!
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Microsoft, Video Games,
If you own an Xbox 360, then we’re fairly confident that you’re salivating over getting early access to the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta. Sure, the beta goes public on May 3rd, open to all who have a copy of Halo 3: ODST, but who wants to wait 4 more days to get in on the action if you can have it today? Yep, that’s where we come in. We’ve got a bunch of Halo: Reach beta codes that we are going to be giving away today, and if you get one, you’ll be able to download and play the Halo: Reach beta today! So, how do you enter to win one of these super-exclusive codes? Here’s your answer:
- If you don’t have one already, sign up for a Twitter account
- Follow the Gear Live Twitter account
- On Twitter, post this tweet about our contest: “Hey @gearlive hook me up with a Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta code please! http://bit.ly/haloreachbeta” (Click here to tweet this now)
That’s it! You must be following the Gear Live Twitter account, because we will be sending the codes to the winners on Twitter via DM, and if you aren’t following, we can’t DM you. Simple as that. Again, we’ve got a bunch of these, so you have a good chance of walking away with a code! We will start choosing winners this afternoon.
Gallery: Early Halo: Reach multiplayer beta code giveaway!
Microsoft Fuse Labs announces Docs for Facebook
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Internet, Microsoft, Software,
Microsoft’s Fusion Labs just announced a new product that they are doing in partnership with Facebook, called Docs for Facebook. Built on Microsoft Office 2010, Docs for Facebook is seemingly a play by Microsoft to take some of the cloud-based office suite share away from Google Docs. You’ll be able to create and share documents with friends on Facebook, control privacy settings, and with a click of a button, open the documents in your native Office software on your PC or Mac. That’s all well and good, but do you know many people who’ve been clamoring for the opportunity to add their boss and co-workers as Facebook friends, just so they can share documents with them on the popular social networking site? Yeah, us either.
If you want to get in on the action, hit the link below.
Read More | Docs for Facebook
Gallery: Microsoft Fuse Labs announces Docs for Facebook
Just a quick heads up about that 64GB Zune HD that we were all excited about the other day - looks like it’s on sale, just a couple of days early. It’s supposed to come out on Monday, but we’ve seen it selling today. You can pick up a 64GB Zune HD for $349.
Gallery: 64GB Zune HD available now
Zune 4.5 update now available
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Handhelds, Microsoft, Music, Software,
Hey Zune owners, head up—the Zune 4.5 update has just gone live, and it’s ready for you to suck down from Microsoft. As a refresher, here’s what you have to look forward to:
- Smart DJ integration on Zune HD
- Picks on Zune HD (personalized recommendations based on your listening habits)
- Browse the Zune Marketplace on TV when you dock your connected Zune
- Expanded video codec support, reducing need for transcoding
Of course, there are likely a bunch of bug fixes and all that to make things feel mo’ better. In addition to all that, the new 64GB Zune HD will be available in a week!
