Microsoft

Get an Xbox 360 Elite for $250, but only until October 5th

by jessica on Tue, 2009-09-22 12:53


Xbox 360 Elite

Starting today, you can get an Xbox 360 Elite for $250. That is, if you can deal with mailing in the $50 rebate form and waiting for your check to arrive. Of course, one way to look at it is you'll surely have the check in time for holiday shopping. Right? And you have to admit…getting an Xbox 360 Elite for $250 is a pretty amazing deal, considering not too long ago it sold for $399.

But, you better act fast! As the Microsoft Xbox website says, "You can get a $50 rebate on the purchase of a new Xbox 360 Elite Console from September 22 to October 5, 2009."

Microsoft Cuts Price of Xbox 360 Elite

by jessica on Thu, 2009-08-27 10:20


Xbox 360 Elite

Microsoft just announced that they are cutting the price of the Xbox 360 Elite by $100. With the price reduction, Microsoft's most expensive Xbox 360 system is now $299. This comes as no surprise, after all, Sony recently announced a price cut of $100 on their PlayStation 3 and unveiled a new, Slim Edition. This puts both units, the PS3 and Xbox 360 Elite, priced the same, $299.

According to the Associated Press, Microsoft will be phasing out the mid-range Pro version. It will be marked down from $299 to $249 (while supplies last). Microsoft will still be offering the cheapest Xbox 360, the Arcade, for $199. The price cuts are said to go into effect on Friday.

Microsoft Gets its Groove On


300 screenshot

"'Goodbye my love.' He doesn't say it. There's no room for softness... not in Sparta. No place for weakness. Only the hard and strong may call themselves Spartans. Only the hard, only the strong." – Dilios (300, Warner Bros – 2006)

The grass isn't greener on the other side of the fence. It just seems to be human nature to want your grass … and theirs! We don't just want our share of the business that is out there, we want our unfair share. That's certainly true of the PC/CE/communications industry. It's even more fun when you're tweaking the biggest bear in the forest.

Apple has always had fun pulling Microsoft's tail and then running back to their walled garden. Google had fun poking the lumbering giant because they were part of the hip, free generation (o.k., so they follow your every move, record your clicks/visits and sell the info … big deal). But suddenly, the Gates/Ballmer crew got the lumbering giant moving forward. Read more

Zune HD Now Available For Pre-order

by jessica on Fri, 2009-08-14 10:42


Zune HD

Microsoft announced this week that the Zune HD media player is now available for pre-order and will be in stores on September 15th.

The new media player includes multi-touch navigation, 16:9 OLED display, integrated HD Radio receiver, HD video output capabilities, built-in Wi-Fi and web browser, as well as a touchscreen QWERTY keyboard.

The Zune HD will be available in 16GB and 32GB. Pre-orders are available now at Amazon.com, Best Buy, Walmart, and Microsoft. The 16GB will sell for $219.99, the 32GB, $289.99.

Our Next Great Tech CEO - Hero or Cheerleader?

Admit it. You missed Steve opening WWDC (Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference). You missed him walking out at the end of Phil Schiller's keynote where Steve walks from behind the curtain and says , "One more thing!"


No Show

No Show – Despite all of the wild speculation, Steve Jobs didn't show up at WWDC and according to his earlier statements plans to be back at 1 Infinity Circle late this month. Oh yes, the team put on a very good event focusing on business, not personalities.

There was no colored water to dazzle folks. No one sat down on the chair, whipped off the shoes and socks, held them in the air and said "today we're unveiling iSox." And five million people ran to the Apple store scooping up pairs at $50 per. There was no rush to roll-out matching laces, iSox cases, a dizzying array of toenail colors mixed. You had to focus on the announcements rather than the man. Maybe – just maybe – the PC/CE/communications industry has passed thru another stage of growth, dare we say maturation?

The business world goes through phases and the technologies industry has gone from techie gee whiz stuff to fashion statements. The business and consumer industry today changes fast. It changes more frequently than skirt length.Read more

HP Offers Customers Free Upgrade to Microsoft Windows 7

June 26, 2009 -- HP just announced it will offer the Microsoft Windows 7 operating system on consumer and business PCs beginning Oct. 22.

To meet customers' computing needs while protecting their investments, the company is participating in the Windows Upgrade Option Program to help customers transition easily to Windows 7. The program will enable customers who purchase qualifying HP PCs to enjoy the benefits of a new Windows-based PC immediately and receive a free(1) upgrade to Windows 7 when it becomes available in October.

Customers who purchase an HP PC starting today may be eligible for the upgrade program. HP customers can visit www.hp.com/go/windows7upgrade to check for upgrade eligibility, register and get answers about their PCs and current operating systems. Following general availability of Windows 7 on Oct. 22, qualifying customers will receive the Windows 7 upgrade and an upgrade utility disk(2) with a step-by-step guide for installation at their convenience.(3)Read more

Microsoft's E3 Press Conference Rundown

by Justin Hubbell on Mon, 2009-06-01 15:01


Project Natal

The big news was the motion sensor, Natal, which is a camera and a sensor bar that just plugs directly into the 360. Natal recognizes faces, body movements, objects, and even voices in order to integrate the player into the gaming environment. You can even browse the NXE using hand controls as in the movie Minority Report. Natal will automatically pick up who is in front of it and log that person into Xbox LIVE.

The video store will now be Zune-branded with 1080p instant-on streaming content in 18 countries. There will also be Facebook, Twitter and Last.FM integration.Read more

Microsoft Announces the Zune HD!

by Justin Hubbell on Wed, 2009-05-27 12:55


Zune HD

Yes, it's real. After months of speculation and rumors, Microsoft finally comes out and announces a new Zune. Equipped with a 3.3-inch (16:9, 480 x 272 resolution) OLED touchscreen with multitouch functions, the Zune HD will be the world's first portable media player to feature HD radio. The Zune HD will also feature HD (720P) video-out, via an optional docking station.

Microsoft is planning on pairing the Zune HD more effectively with the Xbox environment by occupying the first slot within the Xbox user interface in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace to help promote the brand and bring more videos to the Xbox 360. The Zune HD will also include an Internet Explorer-based web browser, since it will be Wi-Fi enabled.

More info will become available after E3, but you can grab the full press release here.

Photographers: Dream Big - Then Grab Your Passports

March 9, 2009 - Daydreaming about Anguilla's coastline at sunset? Taking a canoe down the Taramakau River? Or standing inside Mount Kenya's Ice Cave? If you're a U.S. resident with a camera and a vision, you could make your dream come true in Lenovo's first-ever "Name Your Dream Assignment" photo contest.

From March 3 to April 3, 2009, U.S. residents of any skill level will have a chance to win $50,000 to shoot a dream photo assignment anywhere in the world. In addition to $50,000, the grand-prize winner will also receive a digital camcorder and the Lenovo ThinkPad W700ds with Microsoft Windows Vista to take on the journey. Photographers can enter their ideas and with clear, succinct explanations at www.nameyourdreamassignment.com. Each participant may submit up to three ideas.

Participants don't just enter this contest - they'll help select the winner. A public online vote and a panel of expert judges will determine the outcome. The panel will also take into consideration skill and experience. Two runners-up will also receive the Lenovo ThinkPad W700ds with Microsoft Windows Vista.

To continue daydreaming with other hopefuls, please join the contest's online community at its official Facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/pages/Name-Your-Dream-Assignment/42186564483 and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dreamassignment.

For contest rules and information, please visit www.nameyourdreamassignment.com.

SOURCE Lenovo, Microsoft

Netflix is Streaming Movies Directly to the Xbox 360

by Joe Stewart on Tue, 2008-11-18 14:47


Xbox 360 Marketplace screenshot Netflix' New Xbox Experience premieres nationwide November 19. This helps Microsoft achieve their long held goal of creating a set top box for television viewing. The Xbox 360 stands out from other Netflix-ready devices to let users instantly watch movies and TV shows streamed from Netflix.

According the the press release, "Netflix members simply add movies and TV episodes from a growing library of more than 12,000 choices to their instant Queues at the Netflix Web site. Those choices are automatically displayed on the TV screen via the Xbox 360 and, once selected, will begin playing in as little as 30 seconds." There is no additional monthly fee for Netflix members who are also Xbox LIVE Gold members.

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