After all the speculation about Durango, Xbox 720, Infinity or the many other names we heard associated with the console – the next Xbox is here, and is called the Xbox One.

Now before you get too confused, the Xbox One’s name isn’t about it being the “first”, it’s about it being the “one and only” console you need, and how it is supposed to be the one device you need to take your multimedia experience to the next level.

Honestly, the Xbox One is really more of a super-powered multimedia device than a console, in that media seems to be just as (if not more) important for the X-One!

So what else do we know? First, here’s the brief bit we know about the specs: it has an 8-core CPU, 8GB RAM, a Blu-ray drive, a 500GB HD, built-in Wi-Fi, and HDMI In/Out ports.

The real beef is in the multi-tasking and multimedia aspects, though. The system is designed to work with live TV, easily pulling up all your channels from right within the Xbox. In fact, you can browse channels like MTV just by saying “turn to MTV”. Voice control and gestures are a huge part of the Xbox One experience – in fact the console not only includes the 2nd-gen Xbox Kinect, it is required for the console to work.

The new Kinect has an 1080p camera and is considerably more accurate on how it reads people than ever before. Speaking of Kinect, it also recognizes you when you ask it to turn on, and it automatically loads up your profile quickly, without the need for you to manually log on.

Now moving on to multi-tasking, ever wanted to watch a TV show or movie while browsing the net, all on just your TV? Easy enough with the Snap Mode feature (similar to Windows 8′s modern UI snap feature). Here you can put up Internet Explorer and TV all at once.

There are also a hell of a lot of gestures like pinching, zoom and more. Want to control moving around on the interface with your tablet or smartphone? Done.

Of course the Xbox controller is also there (and presumably the only option for gaming, besides perhaps Kinect for some games) with a slight redesign.

There are plenty of other great features, but that gives you a pretty good overview.

Now here’s a big question: are the rumors about always-on connectivity and the inability to get/sell used games true?

Always On and Used Games

The Microsoft Xbox One WILL require an internet connection. That said, it will be possible to access the system ‘offline’ for single player games, movies and other online activity. The system does push internet connectivity and cloud features wherever possible, and even pushes game saves to the cloud.

In other words, it isn’t always-on, but it is pretty close.

As for used games? Microsoft requires all discs to be installed onto the drive. Afterwards, you can archive away the disk, as the game is tied to an Xbox Live account. Want to link a game to more than one Xbox Live account? You will have to pay a fee. Who knows how this will work for multi-gamer households.

Microsoft also says that selling a game is possible, though again it might require some kind of fee from the sounds of it.

Wondering if your old Xbox Live content and 360 games will work? In a word, they won’t. No backwards compatibility of any kind here.

What about the games?

Not much in the way of game information was released at the event, with much more Xbox One stuff expected at E3. Here’s the list of games announced however:

• Forza 5
• Battlefield 4
• Destiny
• Call of Duty: Ghosts
• Thief
• Quantum Break
• NBA Live 14
• FIFA 14
• Madden NFL 25
• EA Sports UFC

Microsoft promises will we see 15 new exclusive and 8 new Ips at E3, so there is plenty more to come.

Summing it all up…

Bottom-line, the Xbox One has a lot of great features going for it. Unfortunately, it also has some potential negatives – such as its online requirements and used games fees.

What do you think of the Xbox One: impressed, excited, disappointed or indifferent? No matter how you feel right now, remember that E3 is coming soon enough and we will learn quite a bit more at that time, both about the Xbox One and the Sony Playstation 4.

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A 2012 study done by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests that an average of 38 small children die each year in the US alone, due to heatstroke after being left unattended inside a hot parked car. There are some systems to prevent this problem, but three engineering undergrads from Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins University have come out with a unique solution.

Anshul Mehra, Yejin Kim and Jeffrey Kamei (seen in the above image from left to right) have turned the Microsoft Kinect into a safety system. It will utilize the Kinect’s ability to detect even the smallest movements, like those of a sleeping baby.

After more development the final product could be built into a car and would become active once the car is parked. If the temperature inside the vehicle rises above a limit with an occupant in it, the system could make sounds or notify the police or a service such as OnStar. And since the window glass blocks infrared light, the system will not detect movements outside the vehicle.

But, of course, if the parents are a bit more careful, they won’t have to rely on technology to look after their children. Yet, since some people are fond of learning things the very hard way, incorporating such a system into future cars could be the only way to save a lot of lives.

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It has been talked about for a while that HTC is working on Windows tablets to be released sometime this year. According to a new rumor, the Taiwanese manufacturer is planning to release two tablets running Windows RT Blue in October.

First up is the smaller of the two, the HTC R7, which could be the first of a wave of small screen Windows tablets expected to be available in the coming months. The R7 apparently boasts a 7-inch full HD screen, a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB RAM, a 13 MP cam, 16GB of storage (and microSD slot), and it will be available as a Wi-Fi only version and as a model with LTE/HSPA+ support.

The R7’s bigger screened brother, the HTC R12, will reportedly feature a 12-inch display with a resolution of 2048×1536 (similar to the iPad’s Retina Display). It will come equipped with the same internal specs as the R7, though the R12 will add NFC and HDMI.

The rumor suggests that the devices will be launched on October 13^th. There’s currently no info regarding possible price tags, though we believe that they won’t come cheap looking at the specs. If the R7 is coming with the reported features, it is less likely to hit the market as a budget tablet to go against tablets like the Nexus 7. For that segment, “Clover Trail” tablets are expected to arrive sometime in the future.

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Windows 8 has certainly received mixed reception up until this point, but Microsoft is hoping to change all of that with Windows Blue, aka Windows 8.1. Microsoft hopes to win folks over to Windows Blue, and has officially confirmed that they will be releasing a preview version just in time for its Build conference this June.

So what’s new in Windows Blue? Essentially, Blue is all about making the learning curve of Windows 8 less harsh. That means making customization and other aspects better in the new Start Screen. While not 100%-confirmed, there is also strong reason to believe that Microsoft is actively considering returning the start button in Windows Blue.

Keep in mind that the Start Button’s return doesn’t mean the Windows 7-style start menu will return, it will still use the full-screen Start menu from Windows 8.

After Windows Blue debuts, Microsoft is also looking to get into the small-screen tablet market with 7 and 8-inch devices.

Can Windows Blue help address some of the concerns surrounding Windows 8? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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Late last month we reported on a leaked tablet, the Acer Iconia W3. At the time, the W3 was believed to be the world’s first smaller-screen Windows tablet, though little details were known. During the weekend, Amazon put up a listing for the tablet giving us a lot more details, at least until the page was taken down.

So what can we expect from the Acer Iconia W3-810, provided Amazon’s listing got things right? First, it will be powered by a dual-core Intel Atom processor, accompanied by 2GB of RAM. Next, we know it has an 8.1-inch display with a resolution of 1280 x 800. Some of the other specs that we are aware of include 32GB internal storage, 2MP rear cam, 8 hours battery life (average) and 1 USB 2.0 port.

The tablet runs on Windows 8 and manages to weigh just 1.1-pounds. It certainly sounds like a decent enough tablet, but what about pricing? The original listing points to a price of $379.99, which is quite a bit more expensive than the iPad Mini’s $329 price tag or the Nexus 7 32GB model’s price of $249.

Still, this is the cheapest we’ve seen from a Windows tablet so far and with an x86 processor in tow, the Acer Iconia W3-810 also has the advantage of working with a vast array of Windows legacy software. This might not matter so much to the average Joe, but for business users, it could certainly be an important difference.

Personally, I was hoping to see Microsoft and its partners aim for a $275-$350 target range for these smaller tablets. At the current range, they still could offer an important value for those that are highly invested in the Microsoft brand and ecosystem, but $380 is still a bit of a hard sell compared to Android and iOS small-screen tablet pricing.

What do you think, is Microsoft asking too much or are they priced just right?

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Windows 8 might not be selling like hot-cakes, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been a success at least at some level. With the mobile-centric OS, Microsoft hoped to push into tablets in a more meaningful way than ever before. That mission has been accomplished, at least to some degree.

According to the latest IDC stats, Windows say a measly .2 million tablets shipped last year, which for most of that year means Windows 7 devices. Three months into 2013, tablet shipments are up 700% with 1.6 million units. Microsoft also now represents 1.8% of the tablet market thanks to its Surface line, making it the fifth most significant tablet brand if IDC’s numbers are correct.

Sure, these numbers are paltry compared with Apple, Samsung, Asus and other brands – but it is still a foot in the door, and that’s what Microsoft was aiming for. Now they just need to push on with the Surface brand, and with the upcoming Windows Blue. It won’t be an easy road, but the groundwork is perhaps finally there to at least allow Microsoft to compete as a solid third place contender in the mobile world.

So what’s next for Microsoft? While we can’t say for sure, DigiTimes claims to have some insider information. Before we go forward, just remember that DigiTimes has a very mixed reputation when it comes to rumors, so speculation is needed.

The latest gossip ships to indicate that the second generation Surface line is coming in June at Microsoft’s BUILD Conference, which could see not only a new 10-inch model, but also 7 and 8-inch variants.

While this is a rumor, it isn’t terribly far-fetched. We already know that Windows Blue is going to be officially shown off at BUILD, and even a Preview version might be released. We also know that Microsoft has previously talked about the possibility of 7-inch tablets, and that rumors indicate Windows 8.1 Blue will be more tablet friendly.

Smaller Windows tablets and a smaller Surface are coming eventually, it’s just hard to say if June is too early or not. What do you think, would you be interested in a smaller-screen Microsoft Surface tablet if Microsoft can position the device at a price equal to or lesser than the iPad Mini?

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The next Xbox will be here soon, likely bringing with it improved graphics, as well as social and multimedia enhancements. There is still a lot we don’t know about Microsoft’s next console, such as whether it will feature always-on DRM or even what it will be called. The later of this questions might now have been revealed. Microsoft has started registering “XboxFusion.com” and other domains related to the Fusion name.

Of course that doesn’t mean the next system will be called the Xbox Fusion. It is equally possible that Fusion could be a new engine, mechanic or service for the next Xbox. We really don’t know.

IF the next Xbox really will be known as the Xbox Fusion, what do you think? Like the name or not, tell us in the comments below.

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Regardless of what mobile platform you currently use, you are likely well aware of the major rivalry between iPhone users and Android users – or more specifically, Samsung users. With that in mind, Microsoft’s latest commercial takes a humorous look at the war and weighs in with its own comment about switching to Windows Phone instead.

Whether or not you like Windows Phone, it is admitedly a fun commercial. Does it do much to truly promote Windows though? Honestly, not really. The commercial really doesn’t focus on the phone’s features at all, instead it just has two waiters using Lumia handsets talking about how Android and iOS fans like to fight.

What do you think of Microsoft’s latest marketing attempt for Windows Phone 8? Effective, humorous? Or totally missed the mark? Let us know in the comments below.

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Microsoft needs to hurry up and confirm its new multimedia gaming system, the Xbox 720 (or Xbox 3 or Durango or whatever have you). Why? Because similar to gossip around Windows Blue early on, things are getting pretty wild when it comes to speculation regarding always-on DRM, used gaming abilities and other related issues.

IF Microsoft goes with an always-on policy for its next Xbox console, there are some strong negatives here. There are also some positives hidden underneath. So let’s talk about that for a bit, shall we? Let’s start with the biggest ‘negatives’ in regards to the next Xbox always being on.

Always-On Xbox: Cons

Not everyone has high-speed Internet: I know it’s hard to believe. Even in developed countries in Europe, North America, Asia and elsewhere, some people still use dial-up or only have Internet access through their smartphone.

As tablets and smartphones become more commonplace, many folks are turning to cellular connections and cutting the cable/DSL cord at home.

If you don’t want/need a powerful laptop or desktop, you might have no need for home Internet. It seems like a pretty big pain in the ass to pay for online connectivity in your home if your only device using it is the Xbox.

There is also the concern about if you have high-speed Internet but it goes down for whatever reason. The main time I seem to play my console systems or even PC games is when the Internet is out of commission for a little while. I would personally hate the idea of my expensive console pretty much just being a shiny brick when my net connection is down.

Concerns about used games: Just yesterday, Nowgamer published an article where they claim that a source close to Xing’s interactive managing director has unofficially confirmed the next Xbox 720 will not only require always-on but will also have DRM that could make it so used games are a thing of the past.

While I’d take this assertion with a grain of salt, it is something to think seriously about. In a perfect scenario, maybe Microsoft would only require you to ‘register’ your game once and lock it to the console, where it would install and not require the disc to play. Then if you didn’t want it anymore and wished to sell it, you could simply ‘de-register’ it and it would remove all the files from your system, making it a clean disc copy that could then be resold.

In a nightmare scenario, Microsoft locks the game to your system and checks every time you play. It can be delocked and so there is no reselling it if you decide the purchase wasn’t a good one.

Just the idea: With SimCity have server issues because many of the game’s elements where in the cloud, you might feel that a time could come when the next Halo isn’t playable the day or even week you buy it because the single-player campaign (for those of us that actually play it) requires you to be online and the servers are bogged down.

We are no doubt moving to a computing future that fully lives in the cloud, and that’s means an “always on” lifestyle. Some of us aren’t ready to make that change right now, however.

Always-On Xbox: Pros

Is always on DRM all doom and gloom? Not necessarily. There could be positive aspects as well.

Better online integration: Xbox Live is already an immersive experience with plenty to do, but allowing it to go fully to the cloud for save files, social interaction and other elements could make the experience even better.

Even single-player games could be enhanced with social features and perhaps even the ability for friends to jump in and ‘help’ a little. Though some of us (myself included) like single-player experiences where we are truly left alone to handle ourselves.

An always updated experience: In its lifespan, the Xbox 360′s software has changed so dramatically (multiple times) that you almost feel like a late-2005 Xbox 360 and that same Xbox 360 today are two different systems with the addition of tons of apps and other experiences that weren’t there from day one.

With an always-on experience, your console could turn itself on to pre-fetch these changes and ensure that you always have the latest software. That means you won’t turn on your console, go on live and then find you have to wait to play because you need to download some patch first.

No need for them pesky discs: With always-on DRM, you could just install your game from the disc and then archive it for later. That means no need to worry about discs when it is time to play your favorite Xbox title.

How often aren’t we online? For the vast majority of us, we log into our PS3 Network or Xbox Live the second we start our console even if we aren’t planning on playing multiplayer, heading to the store, or doing anything else that requires an online experience.

Not to mention so many of us use our consoles as a multimedia gateway almost more than we do for gaming, from movies to music and even television.

Going always-on doesn’t seem like a huge stretch in this case and makes us more open to receiving messages and other social data from our friends and family.

Summing it all up…

In short, there are a few positive reasons to give in to an always-on Xbox, but do they outweigh the negatives? While I personally am leaning towards “no”, it really depends on your own personal feelings. For some people, the idea might not be perfect, but it wouldn’t be a deal breaker either.

Others would absolutely say that if Xbox goes down this path, they aren’t interested. Ultimately I feel that Microsoft will evaluate the opinion of its gaming and multimedia-viewing audience before doing anything too drastic, but you never know.

How do you feel about the always-on Xbox? Would you still buy one or not?

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Source code found in a recent build of Windows 8.1 might hint at a new boot up option for the latest Windows update. Currently Windows 8 users are forced to boot to the tiled menu screen before heading to the desktop to get some actual work done. On a touch screen device this isn’t really an issue, but if you are using a track pad or mouse it’s an unnecessary extra step.

Russian site Windows Portal claims that code they have found might allow users to jump directly into the desktop in Windows 8.1. Those browsing through the code say that “twinui.dll” can be disabled and reactivated depending on which screen you wish to start from.

Already current users of Windows 8 are excited by this prospect, and those currently on Windows 7 have said they would be more likely to update if this feature is included in 8.1.

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