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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Many of the customers who were trying to get their hands on the T-Mobile Lumia 521 via HSN and Walmart were disappointed. The device is still out of stock. But maybe you are destined to play with the newly announced Nokia Lumia 925 which is headed to Big Magenta sometime in the near future.

Similar to the Verizon-exclusive 928 and the 920, the Lumia 925 features a 4.5-inch display (1280×768 resolution), a 1.5 GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, an 8.7MP cam, and 4G LTE. It also has 1 GB of RAM and a 2,000 mAh battery. All these might appear as ancient, but are more than enough to smoothly run Windows which is lighter than Android.

The Lumia 925 will be available in black, gray and white, and is coming with a “metal design”. Its edges are surrounded by a silver-colored frame that will work as an antenna, and on the back there’s a polycarbonate cover. And the 925 is also thinner at 129 x 70.6 x 8.5 mm and lighter at 139 grams when compared to the 920 which measures in at 130.3 x 70.8 x 10.7 and weighs 185 grams.

Although lighter and thinner, the device is coming with only 16 GB of non-expandable storage, unlike the 920 and the 928 which ship with larger storage. And to enjoy wireless charging with the 925, you will have to buy back covers which are sold separately.

So are you going for one of the best budget handsets out there, the Lumia 521, or the higher end 925 which is expected to cost upwards of $600? Or how about the 920? Or the 928?

Check out the video below which shows Nokia’s Kristina Bjorknas explaining a few things about the 925.

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HP hasn’t had tons of luck in the mobile devices market. The HP TouchPad was an interesting product, but ultimately fell short. Same thing happened with their smartphone endeavors. Luckily, HP isn’t one to give up. They’ve recently pushed hard into the Windows 8 tablet territory, and even released a budget Android tablet, the Slate 7.

So what’s next for HP in the tablet space? The company has now announced the HP Slatebook X2, a 10.1-inch Android slate that works a lot like the Asus Transformer series – combining an Android tablet with a convertible laptop base.

The Slatebook X2 looks very similar to HP’s convertible Windows tablets, with the big difference here being that this impressive looking tablet runs on the power of a Tegra 4 processor, has a 1920 x 1200 resolution display, and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean. Other specs include a 2MP rear cam, an HD capable front cam, internal storage up to 64GB, microSD, HDMI, USB 2.0, DTS+ sound and a full-sized keyboard dock.

So how much will this little “netbook meets tablet” beauty cost you? The HP Slatebook X2 is expected to arrive in August with a price point of $480. It is currently unclear whether that price includes the keyboard dock, but if it does – that’s a hell of dell for a device that effectively is both a true tablet and a great netbook replacement.

What do you think of the Slatebook X2, did HP finally get it right in the mobile department?

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Those who have been waiting for the Verizon 928 will surely be able to play with the good looking handset soon. But maybe you should wait a bit more time to check out what Nokia is coming out with tomorrow. They have released a teaser video of their upcoming Lumia device, the one that will be announced in London on May 14^th.

Not many details are being shown in the video. The main thing to note is that the device has a massive camera lens with dual LED flash, and seems to have a smooth white body. The device certainly looks a lot like the leaked aluminum “Catwalk” device which has been rumored earlier to be named the Lumia 925. The 925 is said to be coming equipped with specs similar to that of the Lumia 920. But there have also been reports about an upcoming 41-megapixel “EOS” Windows Phone which is similar in design to the Catwalk.

“More than your eyes can see” is what the teaser is saying which suggests that the device will probably have stunning camera capabilities. But whichever device is coming, we will surely be there to bring the latest info about all things Lumia. So stay tuned.

Check out the video and you can leave your thoughts below.

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We’ve been hearing about the Nokia Lumia 928 for what seems like forever now. Rumor this, rumor that. Sick of the damn rumors? Don’t worry, they are finally over, the Lumia 928 is now official!

That’s right, Nokia has come forward confirming that the Lumia 928 will arrive on Verizon’s network in just six days. May 16th is certainly a quick turn-around from announcement to release, but considering everyone saw this phone coming – it’s not that shocking.

Largely the phone’s specs are the same as the older Lumia 920. The Lumia 920 has a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 2000 mAh battery, 32GB storage and 4.5-inch OLED display. There are liekly a few small changes in the specs, but most of the change in the design.

While the Lumia 920 had a bold, sexy design that was different from other phones out there, Verizon’s variant only comes in black and white. It is also a bit boxier than the Lumia 920. Honestly, it is still a very attractive handset, but some folks will be a bit disappointed with the lack of color.

How much will the 928 cost ya? $99, after a $50 mail-in rebate, and after signing a contract of course. Additionally, they will run a limited time promotion that gives new buyers a $25 credit for Windows Phone apps and games.
That’s about all we know “for sure” about the Lumia 928, though Nokia tells us to “stay tuned” for more in-depth details and coverage coming soon.

The post Verizon’s Nokia Lumia 928 is Now Official appeared first on Mobile Magazine.

The Home Shopping Network started offering the Nokia Lumia 521 on T-Mobile last week and it’s currently being listed as sold out, although they resupplied the stock once. That’s not surprising as their $149.95 deal certainly makes the Windows Phone 8 handset one of the best budget phones out there. But Walmart has come out with an even sweeter deal.

The 521 is available on the Walmart website with a price tag of $129.88 without contract. But this deal does not seem to involve any free accessories, such as the car charger and screen protector available from HSN. But, unsurprisingly, the device is out of stock almost immediately, although it is available in some of its stores.

Just to remind you, the 4-inch 521 features a 5MP cam, HD video recording, 8GB storage (expandable up to 64GB), 512MB RAM, 1GHz dual-core processor, and it supports 4G (but no LTE).

Those are quite decent specs for the very low price. If you are planning to switch to Windows Phone over a more established iOS or Android, then this is the deal for you. But we are not sure when Walmart will have the handset back in stock again. We will keep you updated, so stay tuned to Mobilemag.

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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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T-Mobile is certainly having problems with the release of the Galaxy S4, but good news for those of you who are waiting for a budget Windows Phone 8 smartphone to hit Big Magenta. The Nokia Lumia 521, T-Mobile’s version of the Lumia 520, is now available at HSN.

You can get the device for an off-contract price of $149.95 (or four payments of $37.49), and the offer includes a car charger and screen protector and free shipping. You can also find the device at Walmart and Microsoft retail stores, but you will have to wait till May 11^th and probably that bundle deal will only be available from HSN. And it will hit T-Mobile’s stores on May 22^nd, according to Engadget’s sources.

The 4-inch Lumia 521 supports 4G but not LTE. But it is one of the best budget phones around, with decent specs and a good looking design. You can find the HSN order page here.

So, are you interested? Or are you too into Android like millions of others around the world?

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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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Rumors and leaks about the Nokia Lumia 928 for Verizon have been flying around for a while now. Now we might finally have leaked images showing us exactly what the 928 looks like.

The leaked press shots, which come to us courtesy of @evleaks on Twitter, allow us to take a peek at both the black and white versions of the 928. This probably is what’s heading to the Big Red as this Twitter account holder has a reasonably solid track record of leaking press shots of unannounced devices (though even he gets things wrong from time to time).

Looking at the images, the 928 features a PureView camera with Carl Zeiss optics and both a xenon and LED flash. It also appears to have an upgraded speaker and is compatible with 4G LTE.

The device is expected to be a bit lighter and thinner than the 920, but it still looks quite bulky. As for the specs of the device, most likely it’s coming with a 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon processor, 1GB RAM and 32GB storage. That might appear to be primitive by modern standards, but Windows Phone 8 is lighter than Android and does not need the best available specs to run smoothly.

We have heard reports that the 928 will be announced on April 25^th. We will let you know as soon as we get more info, so stay tuned to Mobilemag.

Are you looking forward to getting the Verizon Lumia 928?

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