Live data from Hacker News

Xbox One: Microsoft's All-In-One Home Entertainment System

techcrunch.com

51–60 of 165 posts

Re: Xbox One: Microsoft's All-In-One Home Entertainment System

#54
Most of the comments here focus on Microsoft, Sony, and gamers; I'd like to (indirectly) bring the traditional cable co into the discussion.

Last semester several Comcast reps gave my class a presentation which included a summary of their media strategy, a demo of their new cable TV platform/cable box, and a Q&A section. Their new cable box (a small, black, ATV-like 'dumb' set-top box) is progressive: it has a modern UI, connects to the Xfinity cloud platform, and can be updated through software rather than hardware changes.

However, one student asked their VP of Media Acquisition a simple question: "Who is your biggest competitor?" His answer shocked us.

"Microsoft."

At the time (~March), he told us Comcast expected Microsoft to stage a coup to claim "input A," the consumer's primary content interface. Traditionally, consumers would have their cable boxes plugged into input A and their gaming consoles plugged into input B. Microsoft, he said, would attempt to take over input A by including a cable jack in the back of the Xbox and offering live TV alongside streaming/web browsing/apps/games.

Looks like he was spot on.

Re: Xbox One: Microsoft's All-In-One Home Entertainment System

#55
post #41
post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most of those people got one because of gaming. And then used it as a Netflix machine or blu-ray player. But why would they pay hundreds of dollars more for a "new" Netflix machine? And if they own none of them, and just want a Netflix machine, why not buy a much better (for media) $100 Roku? Or even an Apple TV?

We haven't seen pricing information. Rumors surrounding a subsidized model (as some versions of the Xbox 360 were sold) have been thick.

Still, I'd be amazed if it's less than $300 new.

Re: Xbox One: Microsoft's All-In-One Home Entertainment System

#56
post #48
post #9

I'd like to be impressed, but it's really hard. I have friends that work at Microsoft and have worked on various bits of this platform. I know personally the incredible amount of hard work that gets put into this product. This presentation just feels... empty. It's largely middle-aged men (and a woman who worked at tv companies) dryly reciting a badly written script with significant intentional pauses intended for ap…

Honestly? I don't really know why anyone bothers to do launch events like this any more. Post a bunch of images, videos and some bullet points about the product somewhere. Done.

Well, the Sony PS4 event was actually fairly well done, especially in comparison. There was a lot of noise about them holding off on showing the actual box, but they talked extensively about games, about the things you could do with the console like screen sharing with friends, and about what the new hardware meant for developers and the kinds of doors it'd open for games.

It certainly wasn't without flaw, but it did get me somewhat excited about a console I didn't really have any interest in before the event.

Re: Xbox One: Microsoft's All-In-One Home Entertainment System

#58
post #15

Most people I know who own a PS3 consider it essentially a blu-ray player. Most people I know who own an Xbox consider it essentially a Netflix player. These people bought games, but they don't really play them. I've got naught but my anecdata, but I think attempting to bill this new console as an entertainment system that happens to also play some great games is a very, very good idea.

I agree as long as it doesn't sound like a jet taking off in my living room. I gave up on using the 360 as a NF player because it was simply too LOUD. The ATV I have streams NF fine and is silent.

A rumor I had read (can't find where now, take with many grains of salt) is part of the reason the thing is so large and, well, xbox huge, is that the cooling solution for the box is nearly silent and to do that necessitated the size.

Re: Xbox One: Microsoft's All-In-One Home Entertainment System

#59
post #30

As someone actually interested in playing games (and I know that may make me a minority here), this was the best commercial there will likely ever be for the Sony PlayStation 4.

Personally, as a gamer, the native replay system is the most exciting thing I've seen out of this generation. So many times I've been playing a game with my brother over Xbox Live and something awesome happens, and afterwards we're kind of like, "Man, I wish this game had a record button like Halo so we could watch that over and over again." And now they all will.

The feature Sony announced for the PS4 is actually more powerful than that - it not only records, but also allows live screen streaming and sharing gaming sessions with friends remotely. One of the use cases they suggested was being able to have a friend take over and help you out if you were having a particularly hard time with a section of a game.

Re: Xbox One: Microsoft's All-In-One Home Entertainment System

#60
post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Honestly? I don't really know why anyone bothers to do launch events like this any more. Post a bunch of images, videos and some bullet points about the product somewhere. Done.

Well, the Sony PS4 event was actually fairly well done, especially in comparison. There was a lot of noise about them holding off on showing the actual box, but they talked extensively about games, about the things you could do with the console like screen sharing with friends, and about what the new hardware meant for developers and the kinds of doors it'd open for games. It certainly wasn't without flaw, but it did…

What part of that did the Xbox miss? I only sporadically followed it, but it seemed to have plenty of detail on what you can do with it. Light on games perhaps, but it sounds like that's MS's direction with this generation.
Post reply on HN