It's a Microsoft World, Welcome. Today marks the beginning of a new era where Microsoft attempts to re-establish its dominance of the consumer electronics world. With today being the official launch of Windows 8 and the Microsoft Surface there is a whirlwind of mainstream coverage and media attention surrounding the company. While most are debating how steep the learning curve will be with W8 or whether the Surface will be an iPad killer, what I am most interested in how this new product line will enhance and reshape how I view my Xbox 360.
In yesterday’s Windows 8 Presentation the Xbox was brought up in several different times. It's being billed as if the Surface, and according to rumor Windows Phone 8, will have the ability to transfer streaming content from device to TV through the Xbox at the touch of a button using "Smart Glass". This is an idea that others like Apple have tried to incorporate before but never truly took off due to the many failures and woes of Apple TV. I believe it is TERRIBLY UNDERSTATED that one of Microsoft’s biggest advantages is that worldwide roughly 68.3 million Xbox 360 consoles have been sold and are likely resting comfortably in living rooms and bedrooms across the country. This number has to dwarf the number of Apple TV's sevenfold.
Microsoft is also very excited to announce that while watching movies through your Xbox, using smart glass you can use your Tablet to fast forward, rewind, pause, and even have an option to learn more about the actors. Admit it we have all been watching something on tv, recognized someone and were compelled to imdb them on spot. Outside of these, what I would consider, minor features I am looking to the future and here are things that are on the horizon.
TOUCH PERIPHERALS FOR XBOX'S WEB
BROWSER
Although leaps and bounds better than PlayStation 3's sorry excuse for a web interface, Xbox's Internet explorer is in dire need of solid peripherals. The ability to use your Tablet or Windows phone as a touch mouse and keyboard would do wonders. Videogame controllers where made for playing games, not as an input method for text. Typing in usernames and passwords, or even content codes for Xbox live are currently miserable experiences. Utilizing Smart glass would save a lot of time and frustration.
EVERYTHING THE Wii U IS OFFERING ONLY
BETTER
First off to me the Wii U is ugly, impractical, and going to sell millions this holiday season due to uninformed customers. The Wii U touch screen will be expensive and proprietary, offering pretty much only one use and that’s for gimmicky Nintendo games. Xbox needs to capitalize on equipment and technology that everyone already has in their homes. Every single thing that the Wii U's touch screen controller can do, any Windows 8 Tablet or Phone should be able to do better. I want to use my windows phone as a rear view mirror while playing Midnight club. I want to use my windows phone for a lock picking mini-game in Fallout. The only limitations for this bond between Tab and console should be the imaginations of the developers.
In reality the Xbox 360 is a device that has been on the market for 7 years. It is a whole different piece of technology now from what it was at launch and it’s possible that it has met its end of life. The silver lining is that with the Xbox 720 or whatever it becomes known as is released they need to make the connection between the two flawless. The world is changing and more and more people are looking to have very few devices run many things in their life. We like when our devices are connected and streamlined. And Windows 8, Windows Phone 8 and Xbox have the potential to be the productivity work and play trifecta that many many people have not even imagined yet.
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