Microsoft Reportedly Working On Xbox TV Device

A reader writes with news of rumors over Microsoft's plans for its next-gen Xbox console. According to The Verge, the company is working on a cheap, Xbox-based set-top box for some time in 2013. "The device will run on the core components of Windows 8 and support casual gaming titles rather than full Xbox games typically found on a dedicated console. Although hardware specifications aren't fully locked down, we understand Microsoft will use a chipset to enable an "always on" device that boots quickly and resumes to provide near-instant access to TV and entertainment services. Microsoft's Xbox set-top box work is said to be part of a broader effort to ensure its core architecture for the next-generation Xbox is scalable enough to be put together to run on a number of devices. We understand that the company could opt to combine its core system for the next Xbox with a phone stack to deliver a phone capable of running a full version of Microsoft's Xbox Live services."

That one is going to be really popular (not)

[hAckz0r]

This must be the infamous XBox that watches the watcher to make sure they are legitimately paying for what they are watching.

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Xbox team’s ‘consumer detector’ would dis-Kinect freeloading TV viewers
http://www.geekwire.com/2012/microsoft-diskinect-freeloading-tv-viewers/ [geekwire.com]

Maybe they will watch you to see if you are skipping out on the wonderful commercials and instantly rewind the show for you, just in case you missed something important. Or maybe they will charge you more money for their service if you don't watch at least a minimum of their intellectually challenged TV shows each day? There are lots of ways they could increase the popularity if this system, only I bet they misuse all of its capabilities to the max. After all the stupid decisions Microsoft has made in the recent past, this one is likely going to be a real dud as well.

Re:Problem with set top boxes...

[jittles]

I got an Apple TV3 precisely because I am able to buy the NHL Center Ice package for about $130 a season and watch all the games I want. Its cheaper than cable, and the quality is better than playing through a web browser. The quality is better because NHL streams HD content to the Apple TV and does stream that high of a quality over the web viewer. They also have plugins for MLB, and NBA as well. My TV doesn't offer anything but Hulu and Netflix. I wish they had an Amazon Instant Video plugin, but oh well. Maybe I just need to update my Apple TV for that. I have been hesitant to do so with hopes that they would jailbreak. Either way, a set top box will have a longer life period than a TV. I can tell you that there hasn't been a firmware update, or new plugins for my TV in over a year.