Tag: microsoft

  • Windows 8 passes 100 million license sales

    Finally, the radio silence of Microsoft over the sales of windows 8 licenses is over and the company has announced that it has sold over 100 million windows 8 licenses since 60 million license sales till January this year. The company has been quite careful before disclosing the sales of its product license during the recent quarter.

    The figures are quite similar to windows 7 sales which reached 100 million license sales in April, 2010. The major challenge for Microsoft at this stage relies on touch based windows machines as windows 8 encourages usage on these devices. Although these devices are yet to make an impact in consumer market yet it could prove to be decisive for windows 8 success in near future depending on the sales on touch based windows devices.

    windows 8 screen 570x320 Windows 8 passes 100 million license sales

    Microsoft windows CFO Tami Reller mentioned that the company is not satisfied with the overall level of sales in touch based device market which was the prime focus of Windows 8 pre-launch. Microsoft expects some improvement in sales during the summer season due to increasing atom based tablet market. Microsoft is also planning to launch its new version of windows 8 i.e. windows 8.1 with improvements for non touch laptop and desktop users.

  • Halo 4 Announced For Xbox 360, Will Be Released In 2012 (Update: Trailer)

    Microsoft just made it official, Halo 4 is coming to the Xbox 360 in 2012. 343 Industries are at the reigns of the game and the brief teaser trailer Microsoft showed off to end their E3 Press Conference looked awesome.

    Master Chief and Cortana are back it seems to start a new trilogy but this time Bungie won’t be involved. More information on this as it develops.

    Update: The trailer has surfaced on YouTube which you can see below. Enjoy.

  • Halo: Combat Evolved HD Remake Announced For Xbox 360 (Update: Trailer)

    Halo fans should be rejoiced to see this 10 years old game which started the legacy in HD. Microsoft announced this remake at their E3 press conference.

    The Remake will feature the original Halo: Combat Evolved in its full glory including its campaign and multiplayer modes. Players will be able to feel all the nostalgic moments of the 7 multiplayer maps on their current generation Xbox 360. The remake is scheduled to be launched on 12 November. We will keep you updated as we get more info.

  • Microsoft Talks About The Leaked Xbox 720 Document

    As you may have already heard about the leaked 56 page document detailing Microsoft’s plans for the next Xbox. The document talked about the recently revealed Xbox Smartglass, 3D tech, Blu-Ray disc support along with a new and improved Kinect.

    xbox720 Microsoft Talks About The Leaked Xbox 720 Document

    Today the Redmond based company has finally come out and issued a statement to Eurogamer.

    We understand there is great interest and anticipation for what comes next for Xbox and we are lucky to have customers who are so passionate about the platform.

    Today, there has never been a better time to own an Xbox 360 console. We have found new ways to extend the console lifecycle by introducing controller-free experiences with Kinect and we’ve re-invented the console with a new dashboard and new entertainment content partnerships.

    We are continually thinking about the future of the platform and when we have something to share, we will.

    Its your typical PR response but notice how they don’t deny the report, guess it was real after all.

  • Microsoft Reportedly Planning To Buy Activision

    Vivendi’s been silently planning to sell its 60% share in Activision Blizzard for quite sometime now and now since everything’s official the rumor mill can’t help but turn quicker and quicker.

    activision vivendi Microsoft Reportedly Planning To Buy Activision

    According to Reuters the main potential buyers for Vevendi’s shares include Time Warner, Tencent and Microsoft. The sale has not begun as of yet but according to a close source to Vevendi’s board the company has gone ahead and told its bank “to go and talk to possible buyers”.

    Could this lead to Xbox exclusive COD? Or even WOW on future Microsoft consoles? Guess only time will tell.

  • Angry Birds Now Coming To Facebook!

    Angry Birds Angry Birds Now Coming To Facebook!

    Rovio the makers of Angry Birds just announced that the popular puzzle game is coming to Facebook. CEO Mikael head also said that the Facebook version features “completely new aspects to it that just haven’t been experienced in any other platform.” Looks like Zynga’s days are limited as the most popular app game is just about to crush the competition. Angry birds has been downloaded more than 30 million times on Android and a lot more on iOS. The game is currently available on PSP, PS3, PC, Android and iOS, And is soon to be available on Xbox360 and Wii.

    Source: Angry Birds’ Facebook

  • Xbox 360′s rumoured “New Disc Format” will only add 1 GB Storage Boost

     

    As promised by Microsoft in the upcoming latest Dashboard for Xbox 360, the currently allocated storage size for Xbox 360 game will receive a boost of 1 GB.The maximum space allocated to game data on the current disc format is just 6.8GB out of a maximum of 7.95GB on a standard dual layer DVD, with over 1GB dedicated to a DVD-Video partition that also contained anti-piracy security sectors. It seems that this video partition has either been drastically reduced or omitted completely in the new format Microsoft is looking to roll-out.

    Regardless, a 14-15 per cent boost in the space available to Xbox 360 developers is a very welcome advance, and some might argue it is somewhat overdue bearing in mind that the security scheme currently in place has proven to be inadequate for several years now. Tossing away the current system may also give Microsoft the opportunity to deploy a brand new anti-piracy strategy bearing in mind that its latest AP 2.5 system was defeated within a couple of weeks.

    Xbox 360 DVD firmware hacker “Commodore4eva” adding weight to the story by suggesting that the latest developer XDK confirms the changes:

    “MS will introduce XBG3 – this will add more AP checks, CVI (content integerity) checks, increase the disc size and adds a new layer for protection issues – all in the 20500 sdk! bring it on,” he posted on IRC.

    Source: Digital Foundry

  • Nokia Axes the Ovi Label, Rebranding Everything to “Nokia Services”

    The Ovi label was certainly short lived, Nokia’s first attempt at creating an integrated ecosystem. The mobile phone giant has stated in a press release that it will evolve its brand identity by renaming the aforementioned to Nokia services. The transition will begin somewhere between July and August, with the intention of it being completed in all regions by 2012. This was sort of expected attributing to the partnership between Nokia and Microsoft. The full press release after the break. 

    [box] GLOBAL – Starting with first services on some of the new Nokia devices in July and August, Ovi services will be rebranded as Nokia services in a transition expected to continue into 2012. Each of the services under the Ovi umbrella will simply be rebranded as Nokia, with no planned disruption to the service roadmaps. Nokia’s EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Jerri DeVard explains the shift: “We have made the decision to change our service branding from Ovi to Nokia. By centralizing our services identity under one brand, not two, we will reinforce the powerful master brand of Nokia and unify our brand architecture – while continuing to deliver compellingopportunities and experiences for partners and consumers alike.” The transition from Ovi to Nokia will begin in July this year, with the intention of it being completed across all countries and all services by the end of 2012. It’s likely that anybody buying a new Nokia smartphone or mobile phone later this year will start to see the new branding on services included within. However anybody already owning a Nokia phone will see this new rebranding through future software updates. Jerri continues: “The reasons for this decision includes the fact that Nokia is a well-known and highly-loved brand the world over. Our mobile experiences are tightly integrated with our devices – there is no longer a differentiation. For example, if consumers want the best mobile navigation experience, they know it’s a Nokia that they can rely on. These last few years, and moving forward, our mission remains unchanged: we will continue our work to deliver compelling, unified mobile service offerings and next-generation, disruptive technologies.” This is solely a name-changing exercise and the service roadmaps will continue exactly as planned. The only difference consumers can expect to see is the replacement of the word Ovi with Nokia, not only on their device software but also in other places such as printed material or online media and advertisements. The transition should be a smooth and seamless one.[/box]

     

     

    Source: Nokia Conversations

  • These Fourteen Minutes Of Bioshock Infinite Will Keep You Occupied

    Bioshock Infinite had a lengthy demonstration during this year’s E3. Previously only 2 minutes of the footage were available online, it seems now that the whole 14 minutes demonstration has been released. Read more to see the full video.

    bioshock infinite 358x269 These Fourteen Minutes Of Bioshock Infinite Will Keep You Occupied

    Via: Gametrailers

  • Microsoft To Reveal Something ‘Major’ On Monday

    Looks like Microsoft is planning to reveal something big this upcoming Monday, June 18th in LA. Mashable supposedly received an invite to a Microsoft “Media Event” with the tagline “This will be a major Microsoft announcement — you will not want to miss it.”

    microsoft xbox Microsoft To Reveal Something Major On Monday

    There were also no graphics or any other details on the invite keeping everything a secret till the proper reveal. What could this “major” reveal be? The new Xbox? Windows Phone 8? Or something never before seen? Let us know in the comments below.