microsoft on technabob...

From the looks of this post up on Digg, a certain bullseye-wearing big box retailer has accidentally let loose the new Xbox 360 Elite model a couple of weeks early.

The new model is slated for release on April 29th, but at least one branch of Target (in Chico, California) has sold this one to a lucky buyer…

Bungie.net has revealed the dates for the official Halo 3 Beta test. The Beta will run for just under a month from May 16 through June 6, 2007. Since the Beta will be over in June and the game isn’t expected to be released until September, we’ll be going through at least two months of withdrawal symptoms during the late Summer…

Earlier today, Gamespot made mention of an upcoming QWERTY keyboard add-on for the Xbox 360 controller. Since that time, the post was yanked, but Engadget posted some rather slick looking images of what the controller could will look like.

There were rumors as far back as 2005 that Microsoft would release such a device, but those never came to fruition…

Microsoft has posted a brief video clip which shows off a number of new features which will become available on May 7th, 2007.

Among the improvements, the new version will add Friends List and text chat integration with Windows Live Messenger…

[NOTE : This post originally appeared on April 1, 2007, and was an April Fools Day joke. Vista does not include a copy of BOB, but if you scroll down to the comments, one of my readers has posted a link to a download of the original BOB installer if you really want to run it.]
It turns out that the folks over in Redmond might have a sense of humor after all…

The Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite has been confirmed by Microsoft’s resident Xbox guru, Major Nelson. The new model will feature a 120GB hard drive, HDMI output and a new black case, all of which have been rumored for some time. Unlike the PS3, the 360 Elite includes an HDMI cable in the box, so you can use it right out of the box…

Microsoft today announced a new startup business focused on improving user interfaces for mobile devices called “ZenZui.”

ZenZui’s differentiator is its unique “zooming” user interface which lets you quickly maneuver from one application or website to another…

File this one in the “real or fake?” bin… According to Xbox 360 Fanboy, a tipster managed to sneak some cell-phone snaps of the production line in China where Microsoft is cranking out their rumored Xbox 360 Elite.

Most rumors point to the 360 Elite including a 120GB hard drive, HDMI digital output and IPTV capabilities out of the box…