The Xbox 360 is set to change how you watch cable, plus take over your PC
Matt Hawkins Microsoft’s long in the works plan to dominate your entertainment center is coming to fruition.
For years MS has been trying to broker a deal with cable companies about using their Xbox 360 as a cable box, and as Kotaku reports, word’s floating around it’s finally close to actually happening with both Comcast and Verizon.
Basically, those who subscribe to either Comcast or Fios TV wouldn’t need any additional hardware to take up valuable real estate on your entertainment center. Meaning, you’ll finally have room for that HD-DVD player you’ve had you eye on for such a long time!
Anyway, the good news is that, once again, the life of current console technology is being stretched out once again, to further ensure that a Xbox 720 is further down the road. Granted, if this all works out for the 360, there’s nothing to say that it couldn’t be done for the new console, but still…
The bad news is that your 360, which is pretty finicky hardware to begin with (thank goodness the reports of hardware failure has died down significantly in recent years, but whenever I launch Netflix I think to myself “Maybe I should watch old Kids In Hall episodes on the PS3, just in case?”), will also become yet another means for advertisers to aggressively target your wallet.
It’s hardly a shock, and somewhat unavoidable. If part of the plan calls for programming and services that are more fine-tuned… which means none of the crap channels that most gamers have no time for… it’ll also mean ads. Lots of ads. Oh well.
And for those hoping for a cheaper cable bill? I highly doubt it. You might save a few bucks from having to no longer rent another box, but that’s about it me thinks.
In other news, for those who haven’t seen it, this is what the next version of Windows, Windows 8, will look like…
… Rather stylish, huh? I love it, and I’m a diehard Mac person. But guess where they’re getting that look from?
… Behold the brands new Xbox dashboard, which is coming very soon. Should hopefully address some of the long linger user interface issues. Anyhow, the reason for the unified look is rather simple: Xbox Live is coming to Windows as well, which to be honest, is the best thing that MS has going for itself at this point.
Anyhow, as for where the new dash got it’s looks from…
… The interface for the new Windows Phones are amazing, as any current owner will tell you. Too bad, other than looking good, you can’t do much with them! Other than making phone calls of course.
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