Xbox Live Facebook-Twitter update deployed

You have been hearing about it for what seems like an eternity, but today the update to Xbox Live that adds support for Last.fm, Twitter and Facebook integration, streaming HD movies and more is now live on Xbox Live. Simply logging in will give you all these features and more. Hopefully this is the last time we’ll ever have to mention this to you too.

With today’s update Facebook users will be able to update their status to share what they are doing (what movie they are watching, game they are playing, etc.), connect with friends and view Facebook streams, check out status updates and photos, compare Xbox LIVE and Facebook friends lists, etc. in a custom-built interface for Xbox 360. Twitter users can expect similar functionality. allowing you to share tweets and status updates from that popular service.

Microsoft will also launch Zune video in streaming high definition (1080p) with 5.1 channel surround sound - an experience that you can share with up to seven friends. Last.fm support is in there as well, allowing Xbox Live users to explore radio stations, skip, ban or love tracks and more. Finally Xbox LIVE will get News and More, a new section of the Inside Xbox channel that delivers content from MSNBC, The New Yorker and Dilbert.

Get the update by simply logging on to Xbox Live today.

Next major Xbox Live update rolls out Nov. 17

We are a mere 5 days away the update from Microsoft that will add support for Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm and Zune on Xbox Live. Microsoft passed along a note to say that Nov. 17 will see this update officially go live.

Those have been involved in the beta already know that the updates allows Xbox Live subscribers to connect the dots when it comes to their favorite social networks. Facebook users will be able to update their status to share what movie, game or entertainment you partaking in, connect with friends and view Facebook streams, check out status updates and photos, compare your Xbox LIVE and Facebook friends lists and more. Microsoft promises seamless integration within a custom-built interface for Xbox 360.

Microsoft will also launch Zune video on Xbox LIVE featuring instant on HD in 1080p and 5.1 channel surround sound. You can also share the experience with up to seven friends through voice chat and Avatar integration on the TV screen, which is kind of scary. Twitter integration will also be in the latest update allowing you to tweet and reply to tweets right on your Xbox 360. You can even view friend profiles, trends and conversations, or search to see who’s tweeting about your favorite game.

Last.fm support will be added, allowing users to explore radio stations, skip, ban or love tracks and some special Gamer Stations with game-related types of music selected specifically for the gaming community (Available in the U.S. and UK). Finally Xbox LIVE will get News and More, a new section of the Inside Xbox channel offering a regularly-updated stream of content from MSNBC, The New Yorker and Dilbert.

Look for the update to go live on Nov. 17.

Halo Waypoint now live on Xbox Live

Starting Saturday, Nov. 7, Halo Waypoint will begin previewing new Halo content on Xbox Live. The new virtual home for all things Halo launches today on Xbox LIVE, and will be the “exclusive destination for full-episode previews of Halo Legends beginning Saturday, Nov. 7. Halo Waypoint promises daily updates featuring developer interviews, trailers and screenshots, exclusive video footage, community activities and the latest Halo news.

In addition, Halo Waypoint includes a career system that tracks players’ accomplishments across multiple Halo games and gives them new ways to show off their in game exploits. Players who participate in Halo Waypoint will be rewarded with a variety of Bungie-created Halo 3: ODST Avatar Awardables for attaining specific Achievements in the game. Rewards vary from T-shirts to full sets of ODST armor. These awardables are retroactive, so if players have already unlocked the requisite Achievements, the awards will be ready for them once they enlist in Halo Waypoint.

Turn on your Xbox 360 and log on to Xbox Live to learn more.

Microsoft CEO’s vague comment fuels Blu-ray on Xbox 360 rumor

Was it a slip of the tongue or baiting when Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft - in an interview with tech site Gizmodo - said something a bit odd about Blu-ray support on the Xbox 360? What is even more bizarre is Microsoft’s PR department doing its worst to deflect or deny what Ballmer said, adding a little bit of fuel to a rumor we’re going to have to read about for the next 3 - 6 months.

Allright, i’ll bite.

In the interview Gizmodo asked Ballmer about the possibility of adding Blu-ray support of some kind to the Xbox 360, to which he replied:

“Well I don’t know if we need to put Blu-ray in there—you’ll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories.”

A follow-up by Gizmodo with Xbox division PR flaks yielded this response:

“Our immediate solution for Blu-ray-quality video on an Xbox 360 is coming this fall with Zune Video and 1080p instant-on HD streaming. As far as our future plans are concerned, we’re not ready to comment.”

Maybe Microsoft could say “no we are not doing that” instead of pretending that they might. And is it me or is Steve Ballmer the Joe Biden of the tech world? How many times can he misspeak before sites stop immediately slapping up headlines like “Ballmer Confirms Blu-ray Add-On for Xbox 360” and causing a general ruckus? That’s what I want for Christmas, at least.

Datel responds to Xbox 360 memory device lockout

If you own an “unauthorized” third-party device like a memory unit for your Xbox 360, it may not work for you thanks to Microsoft’s plant to block them in the not-too-distant future. In a post on the Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb’s blog, it was recently revealed that the next update (which will add support for twitter, Facebook and Last.fm) will lock-out unauthorized storage devices. Ain’t that a bitch? When they say unauthorized, what they really mean is unlicensed and unapproved by them. If you own an Arcade version of the 360 and don’t have a hard-drive or if you just like to back up your data on other versions of the console you may be forced to go out and by “officially endorsed” Microsoft memory devices.

Obviously companies like Datel, which has found success in selling its third-party Xbox 360 accessories at top retails like Target and Best Buy, are not pleased. A Datel spokesperson, speaking to CVG, said that locking out its devices would prevent consumers from having a freedom of choice and added that the company was “disappointed.” Here’s further comment from Datel, taken from that article and found over at GamePolitics:

“We are following this issue and awaiting the outcome like everyone else. Everyone is looking for ways to make their cash go further at the moment and we believe that Max Memory offers a good value, high capacity, alternative to the official Memory Unit.”

When this update goes live Microsoft had better be prepared for the deluge of Max Memory owners that will probably go ape shit crazy on them. When that happens we’ll let you know.

Video game hardware, software sales mostly flat in Sept.

While some might applaud the new batch of sales numbers for the month of Sept., they show that the sector, like many others in the world during this still shaky financial times, is feeling the bite just like everyone else. It is hard to imagine what hardware numbers might look like if Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft hadn’t slashed the prices on their respective home console systems. Even with those price cuts, NPD data for the month showed a meager 1 percent gain over the same period a year ago, with total videogame related sales in the U.S. of around $1.28. Again, if not for cuts, it would have been more downward trending for the sector. Still it’s hard to ignore that compared to August, sales were up considerably in Sept.

On the hardware front, the one relevant console that did not get a price cut, the DS (which includes the DSi and DS Lite), was at the top of the heap moving over half a million units in the month. The good news for Sony - if there really is any in a month that was mostly flat - is that it managed to beat out the Wii and Xbox 360 in the month with 491,000 units. The Wii was close by with almost 463,000 units and the Xbox 360 managed to move nearly 353,000 units. The PSP moved right around 190,000 units in Sept., - which we assume includes both the old model and the new PSP go. Finally, the PS2 managed to move 146,000 units.

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Popular Mechanics test drives Project Natal

Popular Mechanics takes Microsoft’s motion sensing control scheme for the Xbox 360, Project Natal, for a test drive and likes it apparently if you believe this article. In it Seth Porges gets a little too excited about the possibility of controlling his games controller free, testing out a racing game and a full-body Breakout-like game.

While Natal is still pretty interesting Microsoft needs to get past the gimmick phase and show the real power of this system with some key franchises that will get players excited. A racing game is a start but i’m really concerned that will see more silly little applications like a “full body Breakout-like games, than serious ones. Check out the article and the video at the link above and judge for yourselves.