wraggster
October 6th, 2011, 23:15
Not all of the 40 TV and entertainment providers who are bringing their content to Xbox 360 (http://www.next-gen.biz/news/microsoft-unveils-tv-xbox) later this year will do so for free, and it appears that voice and gesture control using Kinect will also be restricted to Xbox Live Gold members.
Microsoft's press release (http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=PR&date=20111005&id=14352275) contains a quote from Don Mattrick, president of Microsoft's interactive entertainment business, and his reference to "combining the world's leading TV and entertainment providers with the power of Kinect for Xbox 360" ends with an asterisk. That, the release explains, means: "Xbox Live Gold membership and/or other subscriptions/fees required."
It seems an odd move for a company that has built its new dashboard (http://www.next-gen.biz/news/xbox-360s-new-dashboard-detail) around Kinect and, at E3 in May, put great focus on the Xbox 360 motion sensor and the use of a voice-controlled, integrated search (http://www.next-gen.biz/features/microsoft-press-conference-report) with Bing. We're waiting for confirmation from Microsoft that this is indeed the case.
Furthermore, while Microsoft's press release suggests that only one channel - France's Canal+ - will be restricted to Gold members, it appears others may follow and some may even require additional fees.
"With regard to Gold/Silver we will be releasing more information over the coming weeks," a Microsoft representative told us in an email. "Some will sit behind Gold, some Silver, and others will require additional subscriptions."
http://www.next-gen.biz/news/xbox-tv-kinect-control-and-some-channels-be-gold-only
Microsoft's press release (http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=PR&date=20111005&id=14352275) contains a quote from Don Mattrick, president of Microsoft's interactive entertainment business, and his reference to "combining the world's leading TV and entertainment providers with the power of Kinect for Xbox 360" ends with an asterisk. That, the release explains, means: "Xbox Live Gold membership and/or other subscriptions/fees required."
It seems an odd move for a company that has built its new dashboard (http://www.next-gen.biz/news/xbox-360s-new-dashboard-detail) around Kinect and, at E3 in May, put great focus on the Xbox 360 motion sensor and the use of a voice-controlled, integrated search (http://www.next-gen.biz/features/microsoft-press-conference-report) with Bing. We're waiting for confirmation from Microsoft that this is indeed the case.
Furthermore, while Microsoft's press release suggests that only one channel - France's Canal+ - will be restricted to Gold members, it appears others may follow and some may even require additional fees.
"With regard to Gold/Silver we will be releasing more information over the coming weeks," a Microsoft representative told us in an email. "Some will sit behind Gold, some Silver, and others will require additional subscriptions."
http://www.next-gen.biz/news/xbox-tv-kinect-control-and-some-channels-be-gold-only