Microsoft's new text-input device
Microsoft has announced that Windows Live Messenger (MSN Messenger, for those of us still living in last week) is coming to the Xbox 360. The service will be available from May 7th as part of the console's spring update. Microsoft is also launching a new text-input peripheral to make the service more accessible.
Gamers will initially be able to use the service either through the 360's virtual keyboard, using their control pad or, more comfortably, by plugging in a USB keyboard. If both of those sound a bit unwieldy, however, you'll be able to get your hands on the QWERTY text-input device (pictured above) this summer.
The service will enable Xbox 360 users to chat with up to six people at once. The sell line is also that you'll get access to the 260 million people on Windows Live Messenger - until they block you.
The service also comes with the nifty feature of allowing 360 owners to see at a glance whether their Messenger contacts have gamertags, meaning those lonesome souls with no-one to play with can bump up their friends list ever-more-quickly.
It might not have escaped your notice that the launch coincides with the date that Games for Windows - LIVE becomes available in the US. Us Europeans will get the service on May 18th.
The spring update will also include a feature that allows 360 owners to see what games their mates are playing and jump in. If you cast your eyes down the screen you can see some of the other features Microsoft tells us will be included in the update.
Gamers will initially be able to use the service either through the 360's virtual keyboard, using their control pad or, more comfortably, by plugging in a USB keyboard. If both of those sound a bit unwieldy, however, you'll be able to get your hands on the QWERTY text-input device (pictured above) this summer.
The service will enable Xbox 360 users to chat with up to six people at once. The sell line is also that you'll get access to the 260 million people on Windows Live Messenger - until they block you.
The service also comes with the nifty feature of allowing 360 owners to see at a glance whether their Messenger contacts have gamertags, meaning those lonesome souls with no-one to play with can bump up their friends list ever-more-quickly.
It might not have escaped your notice that the launch coincides with the date that Games for Windows - LIVE becomes available in the US. Us Europeans will get the service on May 18th.
The spring update will also include a feature that allows 360 owners to see what games their mates are playing and jump in. If you cast your eyes down the screen you can see some of the other features Microsoft tells us will be included in the update.
· A richer Achievement notification pop-up will showcase the name of the unlocked Achievement and the gamerscore value without needing to leave the game to check the Achievements list.
· Enhanced family settings features for Xbox LIVE communications enable different defaults for video chat and voice chat.
· A new Xbox LIVE Marketplace blade lets Xbox LIVE members access the content they seek — whether it is game content or TV shows and movies (available in the United States) — from one place on Xbox LIVE.
· Updates to Xbox LIVE Arcade allow owners to quickly see which Xbox LIVE Arcade games their friends are playing and join in the fun. Xbox LIVE members can also compare progress of leaderboard scores and Achievements directly with all friends on their friends list. Expanded Tell a Friend capabilities make it easier than ever to boast about Achievements and high scores.
· A new option in Auto Downloads provides faster access to the entire collection of free, trial-version Xbox LIVE Arcade games.
· New progressive download controls provide easy access to optimal viewing options by letting people fast-forward, rewind, pause and resume as their video is downloaded from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.
· Extension of the background download functionality will allow owners to set their Xbox 360 console to turn off automatically after downloads are complete.
· Enhanced family settings features for Xbox LIVE communications enable different defaults for video chat and voice chat.
· A new Xbox LIVE Marketplace blade lets Xbox LIVE members access the content they seek — whether it is game content or TV shows and movies (available in the United States) — from one place on Xbox LIVE.
· Updates to Xbox LIVE Arcade allow owners to quickly see which Xbox LIVE Arcade games their friends are playing and join in the fun. Xbox LIVE members can also compare progress of leaderboard scores and Achievements directly with all friends on their friends list. Expanded Tell a Friend capabilities make it easier than ever to boast about Achievements and high scores.
· A new option in Auto Downloads provides faster access to the entire collection of free, trial-version Xbox LIVE Arcade games.
· New progressive download controls provide easy access to optimal viewing options by letting people fast-forward, rewind, pause and resume as their video is downloaded from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.
· Extension of the background download functionality will allow owners to set their Xbox 360 console to turn off automatically after downloads are complete.
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Microsoft
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Comments
DoctorDee 10 Apr 2007 09:51
1/7
If only the Infinium Phantom keyboard was available.
tyrion 10 Apr 2007 12:13
2/7
Extension of the background download functionality will allow owners to set their Xbox 360 console to turn off automatically after downloads are complete.
That's an excellent idea! I hope Sony copy that for the PS3.
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Joji 10 Apr 2007 13:18
3/7
Messenger was always gonna come to Live, since its already on mobile phones and such. While good, I hate the idea of Windows creeping into the whole thing (yes I know its still MS, but its comforting not to see that pesky logo in my gaming). If Live gets a lockdown like MS did with Messenger on PC, this is gonna be very bad news, I've never forgiven them for that kneejerk move which could have been handled better.
That qwerty adapter looks cool and should sell well enough.
What I'd like to see on Live is the ability to add your own wallpaper from your PC (with more ease, if you already can, enlighten me here if you can anyone). I really want to customise my 360 dashboard to something better, that I don't have to freaking well buy.
Good additions all the same though.
That qwerty adapter looks cool and should sell well enough.
What I'd like to see on Live is the ability to add your own wallpaper from your PC (with more ease, if you already can, enlighten me here if you can anyone). I really want to customise my 360 dashboard to something better, that I don't have to freaking well buy.
Good additions all the same though.
config 10 Apr 2007 15:49
4/7
Maybe MS can include that fabulous Windows feature, whereby it states "Windows is Shutting Down" for all eternity* without every doing so.
*Yes, I know there'll be a power cut, hardware failure, sun death before eternity has past. Pfft. Pedants.
*Yes, I know there'll be a power cut, hardware failure, sun death before eternity has past. Pfft. Pedants.
ajmetz 10 Apr 2007 19:54
5/7
DoctorDee wrote:
If only the Infinium Phantom keyboard was available.
Ahh! But it is, and it'll cost you $129. ^_^.
http://www.phantom.net/home.html
ajmetz 10 Apr 2007 21:31
6/7
ajmetz wrote:
DoctorDee wrote:
If only the Infinium Phantom keyboard was available.
Ahh! But it is, and it'll cost you $129. ^_^.
http://www.phantom.net/home.html
On second thoughts...although that appears to be an online shop you can buy it from, I can't find any evidence online that people have actually successfully bought one at all. =/
DoctorDee 11 Apr 2007 07:37
7/7
ajmetz wrote:
Ahh! But it is, and it'll cost you $129. ^_^.[/url]
And what a bargain that is.
I'd buy one if it was BlueTooth. But RF. WTF???