Microsoft Reportedly Working On Xbox TV Device

SternisheFan writes with news of rumors over Microsoft's plans for its next-gen Xbox console. According to The Verge, the company is working on a cheap, Xbox-based set-top box for some time in 2013. "The device will run on the core components of Windows 8 and support casual gaming titles rather than full Xbox games typically found on a dedicated console. Although hardware specifications aren't fully locked down, we understand Microsoft will use a chipset to enable an "always on" device that boots quickly and resumes to provide near-instant access to TV and entertainment services. Microsoft's Xbox set-top box work is said to be part of a broader effort to ensure its core architecture for the next-generation Xbox is scalable enough to be put together to run on a number of devices. We understand that the company could opt to combine its core system for the next Xbox with a phone stack to deliver a phone capable of running a full version of Microsoft's Xbox Live services."

Comments

Failed xbox shrink

[spire3661]

I have known for a long time the xbox 360 would be relegated to a lower end Xbox gaming device when the next Xbox came out. Im surprised this is a mini, scaled down version that wont run the whole 360 stack though. I figured they would be able to make the 360 cheap/small enough by now to do so.

Re:Failed xbox shrink

[man_of_mr_e]

More than likely, this won't be an xBox at all, but rather a small ARM based version of Windows 8 RT with Media Center built-in, and Metro apps for things like Pandora, Netflix, Hulu, etc...

It doesn't make much sense to make it an xbox unless you're planning to run actual xbox titles.

Re:Failed xbox shrink

[ArcadeMan]

Unless you work for Microsoft's marketing department, in which case you'll want to stick an Xbox label on the box, since it's a Microsoft device that connects to your TV. I can't wait for the confusion this will cause.

Re:Failed xbox shrink

[Zaiff Urgulbunger]

XBox 360-RT. That'll clear up any confusion!

Re:Failed xbox shrink

[hairyfeet]

Ohhh AC, why did you have to open that can of worms? Frankly Ballmer should have been FIRED over the PFS fiasco, here you have a successful and GROWING online rental business that was actually making people WANT to go out and buy Windows compatible players, and not only that it was actually a damned competitive alternative to the iTunes monopoly because it gave people the ability to have ALL the music they could possibly want for one low price every month, so what does Ballmer do? Does he capitalize on this growing business, use it to get that coveted slot in the media business he so obviously craved by talking to the movie studios and coming out with a PFS for video to compliment the PFS for audio?

Oh fuck no, that is what a good and competent CEO would do! Instead Ballmer burns ALL his bridges with the player manufacturers by taking a big wet shit on their growing market, leaving them with a ton of players with a now useless feature, and for what? So he could yet again try to turn MSFT into a badly done, half baked, and truly pathetic Apple ripoff...which fails quicker than you can say "Shit brown Zune".

if there is ONE thing we can take away from the reign of Steve "ZOMFG I want an iPad too!" Ballmer it is this: Take ANY product they announce such as this, think "How could I fuck this up royally, so nobody will want this damned thing and it'll flop miserably?" and odds are Steve will have come up with a dozen stupider moves than you could possibly imagine that will torpedo the product so badly Woot! will have trouble selling the leftovers at one fifth the price. Its gotten so bad that MSFT announces a product and I think "Cue the stupid moves that kill the product in three, two, one.." because its like he can't help it, Ballmer just HAS to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

Problem with set top boxes...

[ducomputergeek]

My previous TV was older with no internet connection and I ended up using my Xbox that last year or so more to stream netflix then actually play video games. When that TV died last year and I bought a new one, the new TV had a dozen services built in including Netflix and Hulu. Since then I actually let my XBL subscription lapse because I just didn't use it enough. If the idea works, what is to stop Panasonic/LG/Samsung et al from basically building similar services directly into the TV. My current TV is still wired into the home network, but I'm seeing a lot more TV's with built in Wifi.

My Cable bundle contract expires at the end of the year and I'm seriously debating whether or not it's time to cancel the TV subscription.

Re:Problem with set top boxes...

[Anonymous Coward]

Unless you're a big sports fan you won't miss Cable TV at all. I haven't had it for several years and if they offered it to me for $5/month I would turn it down.

Re:Problem with set top boxes...

[El Rey]

The FUBAR thing about Hulu built into TVs and set top boxes is that they say there are titles that they have the right to stream on the web but don't have the right to stream to set top boxes, so you can't get all Hulu content on a set top box. Often the TV / box version is also Hulu Plus only (though I do subscribe to H+ currently to get it on my Roku).

It's one of reason's I'm looking to build a HTPC in the near future (well, that and getting tired of plugging the laptop into the big screen all the time for family viewing). Too much freakin lock in on the set top boxes...

Re:Problem with set top boxes...

[jittles]

I got an Apple TV3 precisely because I am able to buy the NHL Center Ice package for about $130 a season and watch all the games I want. Its cheaper than cable, and the quality is better than playing through a web browser. The quality is better because NHL streams HD content to the Apple TV and does stream that high of a quality over the web viewer. They also have plugins for MLB, and NBA as well. My TV doesn't offer anything but Hulu and Netflix. I wish they had an Amazon Instant Video plugin, but oh well. Maybe I just need to update my Apple TV for that. I have been hesitant to do so with hopes that they would jailbreak. Either way, a set top box will have a longer life period than a TV. I can tell you that there hasn't been a firmware update, or new plugins for my TV in over a year.

Another set-top box ?

[vikingpower]

They all failed. Invariably. So what makes this one different ???

Re:Another set-top box ?

[modmans2ndcoming]

Microsoft already has a deal with Comcast to deliver their content over-the-top into the xbox so this device can replace a DVR from comcast and provide a better app ecosystem for entertainment....cable operators will jump all over this kind of setup because it will make it cheaper for them to deliver and support their content and they get the best of both worlds...you subscribe to fast internet service and you subscript to their cable offerings.

Win8 Embedded

[nojayuk]

MS recently announced the availability of Windows 8 Embedded in early 2013, basically a modular version of the complete Win8 system which can be pared down for devices like set-top boxes, terminals etc. to run on limited CPU, graphics and memory as required. The description of this set-top box sounds like it's going to run Win8 Embedded but as a Xbox Live content delivery system rather than being aimed at console gaming i.e. it's going to be MS TV.

Is there really a pressing need/demand for an upgraded Xbox? Are console gamers crying out for more CPU and more graphics or are folks like MMO players satisfied with what they can see on their HD teevees right now with the current generation of consoles?

New & Improved, Coming Soon

[hutsell]

The article was an unpleasant read. It felt as if it was really written (imho) by a marketing department; sentences that included a variety of pleasant sounding adjectives that were abstract enough to give multiple meanings to the reader -- all designed to make the product's capabilities sound impressive, important and possibly giving the mistaken impression it's a new product release (without actually saying so).

From TFA:

"We reached out to Microsoft for comment on its Xbox set-top box plans and the company issued the following statement:"
"Xbox 360 has found new ways to extend the console life cycle by introducing controller-free experiences with Kinect and re-inventing the console with a new dashboard and new entertainment content partnerships. We are always thinking about what is next for our platform and how to continue to defy the life cycle convention."

Did I understand this correctly? It appears this could have been just as easily done with any potential product coming from any company

That one is going to be really popular (not)

[hAckz0r]

This must be the infamous XBox that watches the watcher to make sure they are legitimately paying for what they are watching.

.
Xbox team’s ‘consumer detector’ would dis-Kinect freeloading TV viewers
http://www.geekwire.com/2012/microsoft-diskinect-freeloading-tv-viewers/

Maybe they will watch you to see if you are skipping out on the wonderful commercials and instantly rewind the show for you, just in case you missed something important. Or maybe they will charge you more money for their service if you don't watch at least a minimum of their intellectually challenged TV shows each day? There are lots of ways they could increase the popularity if this system, only I bet they misuse all of its capabilities to the max. After all the stupid decisions Microsoft has made in the recent past, this one is likely going to be a real dud as well.

Discs for the original Xbox

[tepples]

It doesn't make much sense to make it an xbox unless you're planning to run actual xbox titles.

The Xbox 360 can't even emulate all Xbox titles.

Re:I bet 100:1 that it totally sucks

[DeathFromSomewhere]

They already have the worlds most popular STB software. It's called Mediaroom. I think they know what they are doing by now.