Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Innovation
    • Innovation

    Xbox One Multitasking Takes the Spotlight

    By
    Pedro Hernandez
    -
    October 28, 2013
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin
      Microsoft XBox One

      With less than a month before the Redmond, Wash.-based tech titan releases its next-generation Xbox, the company’s popular video game and streaming console, Microsoft is showing off the strides it has made to forge its software, cloud services and sensor technology into the multitasking, multimedia-savvy Xbox One.

      In a newly released promotional video from Microsoft, an Xbox One user puts the device through its paces using little more than his voice. After powering up the console by uttering the “Xbox on” command—its included Kinect sensor can remain in a low-power, always-on listening mode—the Xbox One’s personalized home screen welcomes the user and springs to life with Windows 8-like tiles.

      The message: Loading widgets and screens are a thing of the past.

      The video then goes to show the Xbox play a movie, access the user’s activity feed and join a game and watch live TV using voice commands with lag-free, instant switching between modes. As the user voices each instruction, a microphone icon pops up in the upper-right-hand corner. Familiar chimes confirm that a command has been received and the desired action is being initiated.

      In addition to quickly switching between apps, games and media, Microsoft is also highlighting the game system’s social features’ ability to do two things at once. While watching TV, the user “snaps” in the included Internet Explorer browser to search Bing. While playing a game, he records footage and shares it with his gaming circle. Finally, he accepts a Skype video call—which instantly fills the screen—hangs up and shuts down the device with a parting voice command.

      At just over a minute long, the video not only shows off some of the device’s biggest features, it provides some justification for including Kinect (formerly an add-on) as standard equipment. Privacy concerns aside, the Xbox One’s upgraded Kinect motion controller, which can be switched off completely, has been criticized for pushing the hardware’s price tag to $499. By comparison, Sony’s soon-to-be-released PlayStation 4 will sell for $399 when it goes on sale Nov. 15.

      The video also follows the launch of Microsoft’s Xbox One television campaign with a TV ad called “Invitation.” Marked by high production values, driving music and some familiar faces, the commercial “showcases experiences that only Xbox One can deliver,” namely games, movies, TV and sports, stated Robert Matthews, general manager of Consumer Marketing for Xbox in an Xbox Wire blog post.

      Suggesting that Microsoft is sparing no expense for the Xbox One ad campaign, Matthews name-dropped some celebrities. “Authenticity was a key goal for the campaign design, from including one of only three McLaren P1’s in the world to represent ‘Forza Motorsport 5,’ to including Liverpool football star and England national team captain Stephen Gerrard, to actor Zachary Quinto representing Spock,” he said.

      Pedro Hernandez
      Pedro Hernandez is a contributor to eWEEK and the IT Business Edge Network, the network for technology professionals. Previously, he served as a managing editor for the Internet.com network of IT-related websites and as the Green IT curator for GigaOM Pro.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×