The Verge - Microsoft Posts

Xbox One games will require internet 'spot checks', but Microsoft won't charge to authenticate used games

2013-05-24T23:02:04Z

Does the Xbox One actually require an internet connection? Will used game buyers or sellers have to pay an extra fee? Microsoft hasn't made it clear, but a report at Polygon now claims that the answers are "yes" and "no" respectively. According to the publication's sources, Xbox One games will phone home to Microsoft servers on a regular basis to verify that their users own the games. If you buy a used title, however, Polygon claims that you won't have to pay Microsoft for a fresh license to the game.

Simply popping in the game disc and installing it will reportedly establish lawful ownership as far as Microsoft's servers are concerned. When you install the game on your Xbox One, you'll be deauthenticating it on the previous owner's...

Microsoft and Google working together on new YouTube Windows Phone app

2013-05-24T20:00:35Z

Google is announcing today that it's working together with Microsoft on a new YouTube application for Windows Phone. Following a fight with Microsoft over its unauthorized YouTube app, the pair appear to have resolved some of their differences. Google demanded that Microsoft should remove its app by May 22nd, but Microsoft issued an update to address some of Google's concerns earlier this week. Google says "Microsoft and YouTube are working together to update the new YouTube for Windows Phone app to enable compliance with YouTube’s API terms of service, including enabling ads, in the coming weeks."

Apply some pressure

Microsoft, for its part, has said that it's happy to include ads in its YouTube Windows Phone application if Google...

Xbox One could allow remote play over Skype, Siri-like voice conversations with Kinect

2013-05-24T16:13:40Z

With the first phase of Microsoft's Xbox One reveal complete, the company now looks ahead to E3 where it plans to give gamers a more thorough look at the upcoming console. Polygon is today reporting that there are two major features of Xbox One that weren't shown off in Redmond this week: Skype-based remote play and the new Kinect's ability to initiate two-way conversations with users. According to the report, the Siri-like feature will enable Xbox One players to carry on back-and-forth dialogues with Kinect. The console will speak up when it notices an unfamiliar player in the room, for example, requesting a new user's name before automatically setting up their local profile. We've previously reported on Xbox One's vastly improved...

Microsoft targets 25 million more Xbox 360 sales, 'huge announcement' planned for E3

2013-05-24T11:51:04Z

Microsoft believes it can sell 25 million more Xbox 360s despite announcing the console's successor, the Xbox One, earlier this week. The Xbox 360 launched back in 2005, and has sold an estimated 77.2 million to date. Growth has slowed significantly in recent months (despite the console outselling the PS3 in the US for over two years straight), and it only sold 1.3 million last quarter. Speaking to the UK's Official Xbox Magazine, Interactive Entertainment Business Senior VP Yusuf Mehdi said that Microsoft is aiming to sell the additional consoles over the next five years.

Microsoft explains Xbox One cloud gaming in an effort to justify online requirement

2013-05-24T08:06:24Z

Microsoft created confusion over its Xbox One online requirement this week, but fresh details are emerging that offer an insight into why the next-generation console needs an internet connection. Microsoft is increasing its number of Xbox Live servers to 300,000, up from only 500 at launch and 15,000 today. The servers will help power a lot of the new Xbox dashboard features, but they'll also be a core part of Microsoft's cloud gaming plans.

The software giant didn't discuss these plans in detail during the Xbox One unveiling earlier this week, but an Ars Technica interview with General Manager of Redmond Game Studios and Platforms Matt Booty sheds some light on the 300,000-server cloud architecture. Part of the server setup will be...

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen rocks out with Joe Walsh and Chrissie Hynde on major label debut

2013-05-24T05:00:14Z

Multibillionaire Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen is set to release his next project this summer: the major label debut of his band, The Underthinkers. The LA Times reports that the record features Chrissie Hynde from The Pretenders, Neville Brother Ivan Neville, and Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh, and that all the money from album sales will go toward educational programs at his Experience Music Project museum in Seattle.

You might not guess it, but Allen is an accomplished guitarist, as evinced by the impressive blues shredding in the video below. The LA Times notes that the 60-year-old Allen claims to have "rarely gone a week without picking up a guitar," helping to keep the Idea Man balanced over the years. His album, titled Everywhere...

Future proofing: Xbox One to support 3D and 4K content

2013-05-23T20:02:03Z

The Xbox One is a next-generation console, and as such, it's built with some future proofing in mind. It can do things you're not quite ready for just yet, such as play back 4K resolution games, movies, and TV. And it'll support 3D visuals too, despite the fact that 3D in the home has yet to catch in any meaningful way when it comes to TV, movies, or games. Microsoft noted that the new console would support 4K at the Xbox One launch event on Monday, but 3D support was kept under wraps until Xbox spokesman Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb mentioned it in a Wednesday Yahoo chat session.

Microsoft says new Kinect for Windows launching next year

2013-05-23T16:27:28Z

In addition to launching its new generation Kinect alongside the Xbox One, Microsoft also plans to again release a version of the powerful sensor that's geared for Windows. A post on the company's Kinect blog today confirms the product will be released next year, meaning it will trail behind its console counterpart. Both versions of the new Kinect have been built on top of a shared foundation of technologies, however. When the hardware eventually does reach the hands of developers, Microsoft promises it will "revolutionize computing experiences" thanks to higher fidelity, an expanded field of view, improved skeletal tracking, and other improvements. We were impressed with the latest Kinect during our brief trial at Microsoft's Xbox One...

Microsoft puts a Windows 8 key on its latest mice, hopes to improve navigation (hands-on)

2013-05-23T16:00:02Z

Windows 8, as we all know very well at this point, was designed for touchscreens. Multitasking, the Charms bar, and Snap View (read: split screen) are all quite easy to use with touch gestures — and aren't that bad with a laptop's touchpad — but those who use a traditional mouse have been somewhat left behind. Microsoft is trying to change that today with two mice that are designed to make Windows 8 navigation a bit easier. Microsoft's solution? Place the Windows key directly on the mouse.

It's somehow slightly disturbing when you first see it — we're so used to the Windows key being resigned to sitting quietly between the control and alt keys. Nevertheless, it has a prominent spot on both of Microsoft's new mice, the Sculpt...

Google engineer publicizes Windows zero-day bug, claims Microsoft is 'difficult to work with'

2013-05-23T11:07:28Z

A Google engineer has once again disclosed a Windows flaw. In a Full Disclosure posting to the SecLists mailing list, Tavis Ormandy — an Information Security Engineer at Google — details a vulnerability in Windows 7 and Windows 8 that can be exploited by local users to gain escalated privileges. Security firm Secunia notes that the issue is "less critical" than other flaws as it's not a remotely exploitable one. Nevertheless, it appears that Ormandy has taken the full disclosure approach, stating he doesn't have "time to work on silly Microsoft code," rather than Microsoft's preferred responsible disclosure route that calls for vulnerabilities to be reported privately.

Ormandy previously revealed a serious vulnerability in Windows...