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Microsoft has decided to finally dish out some sales figures for its new Windows Phone 7 platform, but alas, these are not the sales figures we are looking for. Instead of giving us the juicy number of actual devices sold to end users, the Redmond crew has provided a neatly rounded figure of 1.5 million sales to mobile operators and retailers. That tells us that the mobile industry is cautiously buying into Microsoft's new OS, and it'd be foolish not to, but it doesn't really educate us on the relative success of the platform's launch -- 1.5 million units is a tiny, tiny number when you consider the platform launched on 10 devices on over 60 carriers in over 30 countries. All that Microsoft's Achim Berg would say is that early sales have been "in line" with expectations.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/21/m...-sold-to-carr/ ...

At this point, we all have a serious question to ask: is there anything the Kinect can't do? While Microsoft has managed to move quite a few of the camera-laden tubes, a good amount of 'em have been put to use in applications not named gaming. Take the Virtopsy Project, for instance. This particular setup uses the Kinect camera bar to control a PACS system (OsiriX, in this case), and it relies on software based on "ofxKinect, libfreenect and open frameworks." That's a lot of technobabble for sure, but as they say, the proof is in the YouTube video. Ever dreamed of swirling medical images around with hand gestures? Head on down and mash play -- fantasyland awaits.

http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/21/k...re-control-of/ ...

Split-screen co-op and local multiplayer are becoming things of the past. What happened to cramming a bunch of gamers into a room with two TVs and doing a system link match in Halo? Where have the all-night GoldenEye matches gone? Like the arcades of gamers' youth, the local multiplayer and co-op bonding experience has been replaced with individual gamers and a network

http://games.slashdot.org/story/10/1...Co-op-Is-Dying ...

Microsoft has refuted rumours suggesting that it is to release a Firmware update for Kinect that will "quadruple" the accuracy of the sensor.

The platform holder told CVG this afternoon that the news - which came from an unnamed source speaking to EuroGamer - was "completely unsubstantiated".


The rumours suggested that a downloadable Xbox Live update would increase Kinect's 320x240 resolution limit to 640x480 - allowing it to detect finger movement and hand rotation.

However, an MS spokesperson told CVG: "We're constantly working to expand and improve on experiences for Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE, however, this rumour is completely unsubstantiated.

"We couldn't be more pleased with the fidelity of the technology and clearly consumers agree given we sold more than 2.5 million units around the world in the first 25 days Kinect was on the market."

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...VG-General-RSS ...

The much-rumoured PlayStation Phone might just have got itself a name. Sony Ericsson has just logged an EU trademark for something called the Xperia Play.

The listing, spotted by PocketNow, offers no additional information, other than that the application was filed on 1st December.

However, an unofficial Xperia blog has added that Sony Ericsson's PR firm Jung Relations has registered a number of Xperia Play domain names.

The Xperia brand is a line of Sony Ericsson smart phones which first launched in 2008. The most recent version, the Xperia X8, runs Android 2.1, has 168MB of memory and a 3.15MP camera.

Very little else is known for sure about the gadget, however, a reveal is expected at the Mobile World Congress event in Barcelona in February.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...ed-xperia-play ...

When Microsoft invented Kinect, wobbling boobies probably weren't top of the feature titlist, sorry, hitlist.

It's with a sigh, then, that Microsoft addresses the recent ThriXXX video that shows Kinect being used as a tool for virtual arousal.

"This isn't the first example of a technology being used in ways not intended by its manufacturer," Microsoft accepted, speaking to the LA Times, "and it won't be the last."

"Microsoft did not authorise or license its technology for this use.

"Xbox is a family-friendly games and entertainment console and does not allow Adults Only (AO) content to be certified for use on its platform, and would not condone this type of game for Kinect."

Sex-game maker ThriXXX took advantage of the hacked drivers for Kinect. The demonstration shows a disembodied hand, controlled by the user's own hand, fondling enthusiastic strumpets.

But there have been other more wholesome examples of what the Kinect technology can do. One clever sausage knocked-up a Minority Report-style demonstration that we duly dribbled over.

And despite Microsoft's condemnation of Kinect's pornographic potential, the company has openly promised not to prosecute hackers tinkering with the Kinect camera on PC.

Last week, Eurogamer broke the news that Microsoft intends to quadruple the accuracy of the Kinect camera - a feat that would make finger movements and hand rotation detectable by the device.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...inect-sex-game ...

In the US, brand Xbox is the clear winner in the battle of the high definition consoles. But globally, PlayStation has an insurmountable lead.

That's the verdict of one of the biggest game publishers in the world: Electronic Arts.

"Honestly, I think that Microsoft has done great work the last couple of years, and they've made a lot of smart moves: hitting pricing when they needed to, the right combination of hitting price points and disk drive sizes that allow them to hit price points that matter, and they've done a great job with Xbox Live," EA boss John Riccitiello told Industry Gamers.

"At the same time, the Xbox brand, the Microsoft brand, doesn't carry anywhere near as much sway as the Sony and PlayStation brand do outside the United States, and so I think the reality is the international marketplace is just so important and it's a natural advantage that no matter how good Microsoft is at growing their business, Sony has an almost-impossible-to-supersede head start."

While Microsoft currently enjoys a lead of a few million in the home console installed base battle - Sony had sold 41.6 million PlayStation 3 consoles as of 30th September 2010, Microsoft 44.6 million Xbox 360s – analysts predict the PS3 will overtake the Xbox 360 in 2011.

According to Riccitiello, the PS3's success is down to improved marketing and a better online offering.

"In the last couple of years, Sony's sharpened their marketing message, you know, 'the platform with everything.' Riccitiello continued. "They've actually gotten past simply Home as an online connected system for them. While I'm not sure that one would compare them in depth and breadth and features and support to what you have at Xbox Live, it's good now."

Ultimately, however, Riccitiello believes both Microsoft and Sony deserve credit for launching successful consoles.

"We have a similar share on both platforms. It's not that I wouldn't want to criticize one of the other; I'm not shy. I just think they've actually both done a pretty good job.

"The big disadvantage Sony carries is they have an expensive platform because of Blu-ray, so they have a harder time hitting price points. Microsoft has taken advantage of that and their online service, which really is the gold standard. Sony has [leveraged] their limited amount of unique content really well.

"They've done a nice job promoting the Blu-ray, their advertising and marketing campaigns have been stronger, and they've done a nice job of supporting some EA content to their own advantage. I don't know that you'd point to either of them and say they can't shoot straight or that they've given it up."

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...ats-brand-xbox ...

In the US, brand Xbox is the clear winner in the battle of the high definition consoles. But globally, PlayStation has an insurmountable lead.

That's the verdict of one of the biggest game publishers in the world: Electronic Arts.

"Honestly, I think that Microsoft has done great work the last couple of years, and they've made a lot of smart moves: hitting pricing when they needed to, the right combination of hitting price points and disk drive sizes that allow them to hit price points that matter, and they've done a great job with Xbox Live," EA boss John Riccitiello told Industry Gamers.

"At the same time, the Xbox brand, the Microsoft brand, doesn't carry anywhere near as much sway as the Sony and PlayStation brand do outside the United States, and so I think the reality is the international marketplace is just so important and it's a natural advantage that no matter how good Microsoft is at growing their business, Sony has an almost-impossible-to-supersede head start."

While Microsoft currently enjoys a lead of a few million in the home console installed base battle - Sony had sold 41.6 million PlayStation 3 consoles as of 30th September 2010, Microsoft 44.6 million Xbox 360s – analysts predict the PS3 will overtake the Xbox 360 in 2011.

According to Riccitiello, the PS3's success is down to improved marketing and a better online offering.

"In the last couple of years, Sony's sharpened their marketing message, you know, 'the platform with everything.' Riccitiello continued. "They've actually gotten past simply Home as an online connected system for them. While I'm not sure that one would compare them in depth and breadth and features and support to what you have at Xbox Live, it's good now."

Ultimately, however, Riccitiello believes both Microsoft and Sony deserve credit for launching successful consoles.

"We have a similar share on both platforms. It's not that I wouldn't want to criticize one of the other; I'm not shy. I just think they've actually both done a pretty good job.

"The big disadvantage Sony carries is they have an expensive platform because of Blu-ray, so they have a harder time hitting price points. Microsoft has taken advantage of that and their online service, which really is the gold standard. Sony has [leveraged] their limited amount of unique content really well.

"They've done a nice job promoting the Blu-ray, their advertising and marketing campaigns have been stronger, and they've done a nice job of supporting some EA content to their own advantage. I don't know that you'd point to either of them and say they can't shoot straight or that they've given it up."

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...ats-brand-xbox ...

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 add-on has been a hit not just with gamers but with modders and hackers as well. While only a few of its launch games are truly unique and imaginative – Dance Central and Kinectimals come to mind – more and more people are discovering a variety of non-gaming related purposes for Kinect, from rendering a person invisible to controlling drones. Zahoor Zafrulla and his colleagues at Georgia Tech College of Computing have found another possible use for Kinect, hacking it to help teach American Sign Language to deaf children.

This time though, Zafrulla and his team are actually working on a game, which they call CopyCat. In fact they were working on it even before Kinect came out, but back then they had to make do with accelerometers mounted on gloves. The Kinect’s advanced skeleton-detecting features allowed them to ditch the gloves and continue working on more complicated American Sign Language gestures.

Here’s a look at the hack:



Source technabob. ...