Tag: Microsoft

At today’s E3 press conference, Microsoft lifted the covers on their greatly-anticipated update to the Xbox 360’s hardware. It’s not called the Xbox 360 Slim as anticipated, rather simple “The New Xbox 360”. The New Xbox 360 features a smaller case then previous models (it was actually hiding inside an original Xbox 360 case before its reveal today).

What you’re looking at is the millionth Xbox 360 to be sold in Australia and New Zealand, and it’s going to be auctioned off for charity. The customized Xbox 360 was created by Richard Taylor and the Weta Workshop.

Put your glasses on, grab your books and boot up your PC, because it’s time to play Are You Certifiable?, a game that will help you find out if you’re ready to earn a Microsoft Certification (an IT nerd badge, if you will).

How funny would it be if this thing Red Rings? And then when the owner returns it to Microsoft for repairs, it comes back with the bling “cleaned off”. Actually Microsoft owns this special Xbox. Microsoft Australia, to be exact.

While I’ve been getting used to the touch-only display on my new iPad, I have to say that I really wish I could use both my fingers and a pen for doing things like taking free-form notes.

Remember the bit of news we shared a while back about Microsoft’s filing a trademark for “Ribbon Hero?” Well now the game/add-on/learning tool is available for download! It’s a manifestation of Mr. Schell’s vision of the future, but at least this time the game is for a product that a customer has a already bought and is primarily a learning tool, and an optional one at that, not a nagging advertisement. The game is pretty much what you’d expect.

As seen on the bbps: I love how Shaun White’s intervening smiling mug completely obliterates whatever seriousness is left out of the Tiger news.

Meet the Microsoft Surface Monster. He’s half-real, half-virtual, 100% adorable. As you may have guessed, the monster was made specifically for the Surface, Microsoft’s super multitouch tabletop computer. Right now the monster can’t do much besides suck bubbles up its butt (and poop them out if its eye is poked), but it does a good job of illustrating the level of interactivity that’s possible with the Surface.

Project Natal is not scheduled to be released ’til later this year. Much later. Christmas later. But it seems Christmas came early for the super-powered citizens of Smallville, as Microsoft’s “Wii Killer” made a guest appearance on the latest episode of Smallville, “Warrior.” Halfway into the episode, during a scene where Chloe Sullivan (the show’s proto-Lois Lane before Lois was introduced in season four) flexes some journalistic muscle and feminine wile to charm some answers out of Alec, Smallville’s latest super-powered showboater, the two take turns dancing erratically playing Natal’s Ricochet.

Citizens of the United States of America, young and old, noob or hardcore, Xbox loyalist, Wii fanatic or PS3 fanboy, hear ye hear ye! Microsoft is looking for video game testers! The most likely location of the “Playtest facility” will be in Microsoft’s Seattle compound, but they’re encouraging everyone from the USA to sign up. Even minors can be part of Microsoft’s program, as long as their parent or guardian consents.

A new trailer for Capcom’s upcoming game Lost Planet 2 has popped up in the Xbox Live Marketplace that features Gears of War’s Marcus Fenix and Dominic Santiago battling the Akrids. Eurogamer thinks that the two will be downloadable characters (only for the Xbox 360 version of course), and will play no role in the story of the game.

If Intel has its way, your idle time at airports, train stations, and other public places will be less idle and have more window shopping. The chip giant is recently showed off a proof of concept digital signage at the National Retail Federation Convention & Expo.

You know what’s big? Xbox and Xbox 360 cases console cases. You could fit all kinds of things in there, if you were so inclined… like a make-your-own-Macbook, or possibly a small elephant. But the Macbook?

Actually no, it probably won’t be. And if Ribbon Hero does come out Microsoft will most likely distribute the game for free. istartedsomething‘s Long Zheng dug up a trademark application filed by Microsoft last November, which describes Ribbon Hero as a “computer software for training users to use business application software; and computer game software for use in computer user training.” The game is supposedly about “providing online training in the nature of tutorials and “how to” demonstrations in the field of business application software; educational services, providing training and educational materials in the field of business application software; entertainment in the nature of competitions in the field of business application software user skills; and providing recognition and incentives by the way of awards and contests to demonstrate excellence in the field of business application software user skills.”

These clever Dosogus 2.0 pillows by designers at Art Lebedev Studio are embroidered with a directory listing from everyone’s favorite command line operating system – DOS. All your old favorites are there, including AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS.

Looking for sleek, slightly geeky cufflinks? You know Etsy is the place to go if you’re looking to subtly show off your proclivities while dressed in your best. And with these cufflinks, you can announce your allegiance in the console wars without messing up your look. I think what I like best about these cufflinks over some of those we’ve seen before is the fact that they’re thin and flat, and even a little dark.