Comcast’s Xfinity TV app won’t count against data caps

It’s no news that Microsoft is trying to make Xbox 360 a multipurpose entertainment device transforming it into something that is it more than just a game console. That’s why Comcast is coming with the Xfinity app for Xbox 360.

Unexpected about this app is the fact that video streaming to Xbox 360 through this service will not count against Comcast’s monthly 250GB broadband cap. As one can read on the Comcast site, the reason why the cap will not apply is that the content will not be delivered over the public internet but over Comcast’s IP network.

This sounds like great news indeed but there are some downsides too. One points to the fact that customers will have to have Xfinity Internet, Xfinity Digital Video and Xbox Gold Live subscriptions in order to enjoy the bandwidth cap exemption.

Moreover, users will need to have another device that is connected to Xfinity service via a cable card or box. Plus, Xfinity On Demand is a must as the exemption will apply only to video streamed to Xbox 360 through the service just mentioned.

There are some goodies about this as well. Coming with apps for MLB.TV and HBO GO, Comcast’s Xfinity TV on-demand service for Xbox Live will make use of gesture navigation and Kinect voice.

Xbox 360 to work with all the devices you own

Just short time ago, Microsoft unveiled its plans regarding Xbox 360 which point to the possibility to use all the devices you own to companionate Xbox 360. In an attempt to make Xbox Live a more universal cloud-computing service, Microsoft just confirmed the release of a new technology that will make Android phones, iPad, iPhone, Windows iPhone and Windows 8 computers companion devices for everything you can experience with Xbox 360.

Thus, Xbox 360 will become more of a digital hub making it possible to synchronize content between the console and one of the devices aforementioned. Moreover, consumers will be able to use their tablet to get custom information and details about the content displayed on the TV screen. For instance, a live map on your tablet will explain what happens on screen while playing a “Game of Thrones” episode.

As most Xbox 360 fans already know, there’s a basic companion app that allows Windows Phone devices to find and control content on the Xbox 360. What Microsoft is trying to do now is to expand this technology to other devices and add new features as well.

One of the goodies this release will come up with is the Internet Explorer. Thus, you’ll be able to browse the web on the console and control your web browsing experience from one of the devices mentioned already. You’ll be able to manage your playlists, share your music choices socially and make suggestions. SmartGlass will change the way you play games, watch shows or movies and listen to music. This complete multimedia app will be released later this year, most probably this fall.

The company’s Zune brand gets attention too. A new Xbox Music service will be released being available not only across tablets and phones but also across Windows 8 computers and of course, Xbox 360.

A new Nike+ Kinect training program that Microsoft previewed at the E3 video game convention in Los Angeles will come out as well. Making use of Nike’s program for professional athletes, the Xbox 360 Kinect sensor will provide users with personalized training. Expanded sports programming have also been unveiled. The company said that NBA and NHL will join Major League Ball on Xbox Live.

The media brands that the new video streaming will deal with include Univision, Paramount and Nickelodeon. Not long is left until we actually get to enjoy all this. So, we’d better get ready for the great release.

Next-generation Xbox to bring deep Skype integration

When Microsoft got Skype in their hands, it became obvious that the two would bring together hundreds of millions of consumers to communicate in new as well as interesting ways. Now, gamers have probably wondered whether Skype would become a feature on the next-generation Xbox or not. Well, as rumors have it, this feature will be released somewhere next year.

So, when Microsoft’s next Xbox console comes out, we’ll get to enjoy some Skype functionality. Some gamers might find this unnecessary as there’s already text, voice and video chat on Xbox Live. But as Microsoft suggested this is not going to be just some functionality. At least this is what we get from a Microsoft job posting: “Skype is working on powering real-time voice and video communications on the Xbox.”

The post also reads that Xbox is a fundamental lynchpin of Skype’s living-room strategy and that the company focuses on enabling amazing new in-game and in-console voice and video experiences for the next generation of Xbox. This gives many gamers the answer to the question regarding the Skype integration in the next-generation Xbox 360. It seems that this will be more than just an app and it will offer a richer and more complete Skype experience.         

 

If the Xbox Skype integration turns out to be just a next-generation only implementation, users will still have to wait a long time to enjoy that as the next Xbox is rumored to be released somewhere next year.