Now that Google has unveiled its proper entry into the living room entertainment space, the Nexus Q, is it worth considering against the already established products in the market from Microsoft and Google? Short answer: Unless you want to pay more for less, no. Here's the longer answer.
If Microsoft is trying to keep its future plans regarding new products under wraps, then the company is doing a pretty poor job of it at present. With supposed details regarding the next-gen Xbox having surfaced a couple of days ago, another nugget of info has now emerged describing a new device, named "Xbox Surface".
It really isn’t a secret that Microsoft has grand plans to roll out a next-generation gaming console, thanks to a number of technical and aesthetic specifications spreading across the world wide web in the last few months. The video game industry is staggeringly large and generates billions of dollars in revenue on an annual basis for the top players in the game, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Redmond based company have their Xbox department busy producing something remarkable to capitalize on the hype.
A new gaming device promises to make it possible to use PlayStation 3 controllers with Xbox 360 consoles, and vice versa. The great thing about having more than one gaming platform out there is the choice that it affords. If you prefer Microsoft's Xbox 360, then you can buy one. Like the Sony option of the PS3? Then that's the device you go for. Simple.
While Microsoft's E3 media event may not have satisfied those with an incessant craving for new, power-laden hardware, the were still plenty of presentations to arouse the interest of us tech fans, and none perhaps were more exciting than the software maker's SmartGlass.
EA has been especially busy during the opening half of this year, and that work ethic shows no sign of petering out with more details emerging about the upcoming Battlefield 3 Premium service. Gone are the days when a game would be sold and that was that, publishers are now really upping their game (pun intended) in offering additional content for the hardcore players, and the Battlefield 3 expansion looks rather tasty indeed, although will set gamers back a cool $50.
Not long ago, there was a rumor that Microsoft was going to announce a feature called SmartGlass for tablets and phones at E3, allowing users to interact with content on the Xbox using their "second-screen" devices. Well, that rumor has panned out to be true; during its E3 keynote, Microsoft did officially announce the service.
As well as concentrating on bringing a host of new services and products to consumers, Microsoft has been placing a lot of emphasis in improving what it already has. The lack of progress of Internet Explorer over the years has seen the likes of Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome become the front runners - despite the fact that 90 per cent of computer users run Windows, and thus have Internet Explorer installed by default.
With E3 just around the corner, the rumor mill on the technology front is in sixth gear, with much speculation (often conflicting), trying to surmise just what we - as consumers and lovers of all things gadgety - can expect to be revealed once the event commences.
Owners of Microsoft's Xbox 360 console who are not already subscribed to Xbox LIVE Gold will be able to give the service a try for free this weekend. For the period of June 1st to June 3rd, gamers will be able to take advantage of all that an Xbox LIVE Gold account has to offer, without having to stump up the fee usually associated with it.
