While the Xbox One is all-new from a technology standpoint, it also feels like a continuance of the ideas that Microsoft has been adding to the Xbox 360 since 2005.
Home Entertainment
With Xbox One, Microsoft Emphasizes TV over Games
With Xbox One, Microsoft’s moving to secure its place as your living room’s de facto media hub — with or without games.
Fun Fact: There Was Once a Yahoo DVD Player
Forget Yahoo the web portal, forget Yahoo the e-mail service, forget Yahoo the company that just bought Tumblr: Back in 2005, there was a Yahoo DVD player.
Ongoing Coverage of Google’s I/O Conference
This is the biggest week of the year for Android, Chrome, Glass, search and other Googley matters.
Ouya Delayed to End of June, Snatches $15m in New Funding, Lures Ex-EA Boss Bing Gordon
You’ll have to wait just a bit longer to lay hands on Ouya’s upcoming Android-based game console.
Dear Vdio: I Dislike You. Please Go Away.
I’ll be content with Vdio’s existence if it somehow helps save Rdio from obscurity, but it’s hard to see that happening in its current state.
Stop Complaining: Playmysong and Spotify Just Gave Us Free Jukeboxes
Playmysong launched a Spotify app this morning that can turn any computer into a jukebox containing most of the music in the world, for free.
Amazon Rumored to Be Prepping a TV Box for Streaming Video
Bloomberg reports “people with knowledge of the matter” as saying that Amazon is working on a TV box for streaming on-demand video. The rumored box will apparently be available later this year and looks to compete with the likes of Apple TV, Roku and similar streaming boxes.
Amazon Said to Plan TV Set-Top Box for Streaming Video [Bloomberg]
Have a House Full of Streamers? Netflix Is Rolling Out a $12 Family Plan of Sorts
Netflix currently allows two simultaneous streams; a new plan coming soon will allow up to four.
Logitech’s New Harmony Remotes: One’s a Deluxe Model, and One’s Your Phone
The newest additions to the universal-remote line include a fancy touchscreen version and an app for iPhones and Android handsets.
Is There a Walt Disney–Steve Jobs Connection?
They were more alike than you probably ever imagined.
Smile for the Camera: How Gadgets Can Better Measure TV Ratings
Facial recognition technology and other devices may be the future of how television networks and advertisers find out just who’s watching what and when.