Microsoft denies report of new Xbox coming in 2010
Microsoft sources have denied 1UP’s recent report that a new Xbox is coming in late 2010.
Aaron Greenberg, director of product management, says: “I think part of the excitement about this announcement is that in many ways we are delivering a next generation experience this generation. With that said, I can confirm that Natal will run on Xbox 360 so no new console investment will be necessary.”
Adds another Microsoft source: “Don’t believe nonsense on the internet is all I’ll say. We’ll do the right thing for Natal.”
During the weekend, 1UP reported that a “new” Xbox console would be launched in fall 2010, with improved hardware and full backwards compatibility with the 360.
Rich Leadbetter, editor of Eurogamer’s Digital Foundry channel, also says: “The fact is that an enhanced Xbox 360 is rather unlikely simply because the tech requires none of the console’s processing might to sift through the data acquired by the 3D camera.”
“All of the really clever stuff that Natal does is carried out onboard [the camera device], with the data then streamed across to the 360 via USB. If, as the 1UP report suggests, the 360 update is only offering a minimal amount of extra power, then the question surely must be, what’s the point of that?”
Kindle DX is already sold out on Amazon
The Amazon Kindle DX e-book reader is already sold out at the giant e-tailer, just three days after Amazon announced large volume on pre-orders.
The next batch of supply will be available June 17th, notes the site.
The device costs $489 USD, and is sold exclusively through Amazon, at least for the time being.
The reader “sports a 9.7-inch, 1200×824 resolution e-ink display as well as PDF file support, unlike the original Kindle and its successor, the Kindle 2. It can hold up to 3,500 books, periodicals, and documents in its memory and downloads this content via a no-charge 3G data connection. A tilt sensor will change the orientation of the screen as needed.”
‘DVD Jon’ has the ‘The Cure for iPhone Envy’
Jon Lech Johansen, known notoriously as “DVD Jon” for his work in cracking the CSS encryption on DVDs, has this week put up an advertisement that directly mocks Apple.
The ad campaign, placed conveniently across from an Apple store in San Francisco, promises that Johansen’s doubleTwist software is “The Cure for iPhone Envy.”
Additionally, the ad says “Your iTunes library on any device in seconds.” The ad is 15-feet wide.
“We’re trying to convey you don’t need to get an iPhone to have a great media experience,” Johansen adds. DoubleTwist has just gone beta for Windows and has been available for Macs for a few months.
doubleTwist allows users to share all their music, video and pictures easily and more efficiently with all their media devices. As the about page reads: “Our vision is simple: to create a unifying media platform that connects consumers with all their media and all their devices, regardless of whether they are online or offline.”
Demand is extremely high for iPhone 3G S
Apple seems to have another hit on their hands, with the company already warning that the upcoming iPhone 3G S will be sold out on launch day and anyone pre-ordering after the 13th will not receive theirs on launch day.
AT&T, the exclusive US carrier, has been telling customers that anyone pre-ordering past that date will receive their devices in one to two weeks after the order is made.
A couple of the new software features from the upcoming iPhone 3.0 firmware will only work on the new 3G S model, and those are specifically, support for voice control, new camera controls, video capture, electronic compass, hardware encryption of all data and Nike + iPod support.
The voice control allows for, as expected, voice dialing. The new camera features include “rapid shutter, low light, macro and autofocus, touch controls for automatic refocus, exposure and white balance settings.” The camera will also be 3MP.
Video capture will allow for trim editing and easy uploads to MobileMe and YouTube. The hardware encryption will encrypt all internal data, making remote wipes instant. The compass, well, shows what direction you are facing on a map display.
The 3G S will hit stores on the 19th.
Microsoft to release free anti-virus program
Microsoft is set to release a free anti-virus program “soon”, dubbed Morro, which promises to handle virus and malware threats as well as paid suites. The software will lack other utilities however, such as parental locks.
Morro is a sort-of second coming of the company’s unsuccessful Windows Live OneCare service, and the latter will be discontinued when Morro is ready to go.
There is no timetable for the software but Microsoft says December 2009 is the absolute latest.
Janice Chaffin, Symantec’s president of consumer products, says customers want more than just basic protection however, no matter the price. “A full internet security suite is what consumers require today to stay fully protected,” she added.
Virgin and Universal team up for unlimited music downloads
Virgin Media, the large cable TV operator and music store chain has announced an unlimited music download subscription service with Universal today, designed to allow all Virgin broadband users in the UK to stream or download as many Universal songs as they want, for a fee.
Of course, entertainment lawyers say the service will do nothing to stop global music piracy, which can amount to “millions in lost revenue” every year for the major labels. Many added that the 25 and under segment of the population will continue to pirate music, while this service may bring in user over the age of 30, who are less prone to unauthorized downloads.
Universal, the biggest major label in the world, includes such popular acts as U2, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, Duffy, Kanye West and Akon.
Virgin adds it remains in talks with other labels in an effort to bring more artists into the service.
The downloadable songs will be in DRM-free MP3 and will be available “later” this year.
IFPI Chairman John Kennedy adds of the deal: “It epitomizes the way in which the music business is adapting to the digital world, embracing new business models and responding to the changing needs of consumers,” Kennedy said of the new service.
“It also marks new ground in ISPs’ willingness to take steps to protect copyrighted content on their networks, and that sets a very encouraging example to the whole industry.”
Virgin also added: “We expect the deal will drive a material reduction in the unauthorized distribution of its repertoire across Virgin Media’s network.”
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Linux is first OS to support USB 3.0
Sarah Sharp, of the Intel Open Source Technology Center has said today that Linux will be the first operating system to officially support USB 3.
The support will soon be integrated into the Linux kernel.
“This is a giant project that I’ve been working on for the past year and a half. It’s gratifying to see the code finally released, and exciting to know that hardware is on its way,” says Sharp. “I hope that some USB vendors who have prototypes will test with my driver.”
USB 3, sometimes referred to as SuperSpeed USB has potential data transfer rates of up to 4.8Gbits/sec, a 10x improvement from the current standard, USB 2.
Safari 4 sees 11 million downloads in first three days
According to Philip Schiller, Apple senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, has announced this week that in three days since its public launch Apple’s Safari 4 has been downloaded 11 million times, a blistering pace for the popular browser.
“Safari 4 is an incredible success on Mac and Windows with more than 11 million downloads in the first three days,” says Schiller. “Safari users love the incredible speed and innovative features like Top Sites, Full History Search and Cover Flow.”
The most hyped of the new features in Safari 4 is the Nitro JavaScript engine that runs JavaScript at up to 4 times faster than Firefox 3.1.
A few of the new additions, taken from the full updates page are as follows:
Full-Page Zoom
Zoom in or out on web content using keyboard shortcuts, Multi-Touch gestures, or the Zoom toolbar button for more comfortable reading. Images and graphics scale up while your text remains razor sharp, keeping the web page layout consistent as you zoom. To add the Zoom button to your toolbar, simply choose Customize toolbar from the View menu and drag the button onto your toolbar.
Speculative Loading
Safari loads the documents, scripts, and style information required to view a web page ahead of time, so they’re ready when you need them.
Nitro JavaScript Engine
Safari 4 introduces the Nitro JavaScript engine, an advanced bytecode JavaScript engine that makes web browsing even faster. In fact, Safari 4 executes JavaScript up to 6 times faster than Internet Explorer 8 and up to 4 times faster than Firefox 3.1.
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Blu-ray ‘Managed Copy’ coming next year
Yesterday we reported that the AACS Final Adopter Agreement had been made available and surprisingly still included in the license was the controversial Managed Copy which allows owners of Blu-ray movies to make themselves one legal digital copy to be played at home.
Today, Michael Ayers, chairman of the AACS Licensing Authority, has confirmed that all discs beginning in January 2010 will allow for one full 1080p resolution copy, which will be a Windows Media DRM video file which can then be burnt once to recordable BD or DVD discs.
Unfortunately, Ayers admits, most Blu-ray owners will not be able to make the copies immediately as current players will not have the ability to make the “managed copies.” Suppliers do not expect to get new players out with the ability to do so until the Q2 2010 at the earliest.
Additionally, the major studios have the ability to charge for the copy and will have full control over what kind of backups can be made.
According to VideoBusiness, “the way managed copy is expected to work is that a consumer would insert their disc in a Blu-ray player and the disc’s menu would include an option to make a managed copy or the consumer might have to press some buttons on their Blu-ray device to make a copy, Ayers said. Once they choose the option to make a copy, the Blu-ray player connects online to an authorization server, run by a studio, supplier or the AACS-LA. The authorization server then gives the go-ahead to make a copy.”
Dell becomes first non-Microsoft site to offer authorized downloads of Microsoft software
According to a Dell press release, users can now purchase and download authorized Microsoft software through the company’s Download Store, marking the first time a non-Microsoft site has offered legal downloads of the popular products, which include most notably, Microsoft Office and all its components.
Dell claims to have cheaper prices as well, saying “For example, Microsoft Office Home and Student 2007– one of the top-selling software titles in the is priced at $129.99 compared with the suggested retail price of $149.99.”
If you get a new computer or have a HDD crash, users keep a “digital locker” with Dell, that allows you to download any purchased software again at no extra charge as well as find your serial number if you forget it.
“With everyday savings plus on-demand access, the Dell Download Store addresses our customers’ two main concerns: price and immediacy. In addition, downloading is a more environmentally friendly way to purchase and distribute software because there’s no need for packaging material,” adds Geoff Surkamer, general manager, Dell Global Digital Distribution.
