Microsoft has confirmed some major organizational changes to its Entertainment and Devices unit following the departure of Corporate Vice President Enrique Rodriguez, who has reportedly decided to pursue other interests. Under Rodriquez were teams for Zune Software & Services, Mediaroom IPTV and Media Center. Those have now been moved to Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business (IEB).
The IEB division is also part of Entertainment and Devices, and is in charge of Xbox development, Games for Windows and Microsoft Game Studios. “As a natural evolution of the Interactive Entertainment Business, our consumer products and experiences focused on games, movies, TV and music will move into IEB, led by SVP Don Mattrick. In addition, we’ve formed a new centralized E&D services infrastructure team, which will act as a combined resource across the division,” a spokesperson said.
“Finally, Enrique Rodriguez has decided to move on from his leadership position running the TV, video and music business and is evaluating his next career opportunity. The TVM first party business, Zune and Windows Medica Center will move to IEB, and Mediaroom, the TV platform business, will become a standalone group within E&D, reporting directly to (E&D) President Robbie Bach.”
The move has led to speculation that Microsoft may also move Windows Mobile away from the Entertainment and Devices unit, and put it under President Steven Sinofsky, who heads up development and strategies for Windows, Internet Explorer and Windows Live. Such a move would signal a change in the way Microsoft views the market for software developed for mobile platforms.
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Result for: media center
Myka has launched the Myka ION media center set-top box this weekend, giving users a one-stop shop for Internet video services and video playback via your HDTV.
The ION has an Intel Atom 1.6Ghz Processor 330,a NVIDIA ION Graphics Processor, as well as 4GB of RAM, ten USB 2.0 ports, VGA / DVI / HDMI outputs, an eSATA connector and Ethernet.
“Technology has finally caught up with what consumers want out of Internet video services,” said Myka President Dan Lovy. “They want to be freed from their computers and watch the growing variety of Web video content on their large-screen, high-definition living room TVs. And they want to do it without a lot of hassle and without video quality suffering.
You can add a Blu-ray drive, HDD and Wi-Fi module, but that will increase the price significantly.
Prices start at $379 USD.
Result for: media center
The Windows version of boxee, a media center program based on the open source XBMC media player, has entered public alpha. Boxee has been available for Linux, OS X, and Apple TV for some time, but the Windows version has been in closed testing.
Boxee is unique among media center applications because it’s primarily oriented toward viewing online content. In fact it doesn’t even support TV tuner peripherals, but can connect to a great deal of TV content found online.
One notable exception is Hulu. After a decision by one or more of Hulu’s content owners earlier this year, they have actively worked to block Boxee users from using their service.
Boxee for Windows is expected to move from alpha to beta status some time later this year.
To download your own copy you need to register at the Boxee website first. If you would like to give feedback to Boxee’s developers we have a sticky thread on our forum for just that purpose.
You can also read our Boxee preview from earlier this year for more information.
