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[Maximilian E.]

So, its a matter of time before MS buys or make something similar to Gog.com?

The possibility of playing classical PC games (or pc games up to a certain point, where they can still be maxed out by the hardware) could be a nice added feature. Best from the Pc past and the newest titles?

 

[cilonen]

And people act like the XOne is dead.

What's to stop Microsoft from making an exclusive version of Office with Onedrive support baked in? They could add a free skype subscription, free office, and extra one drive storage for the life of the console. Microsoft is the sleeping giant posed to take consoles to the next level. Their new CEO loves pushing services so this is a realistic possibility.

I don't like all the things associated with Xone but I'll switch for office and an app store.

Outside contender for joke post of the year. It's a good effort from a newcomer!

 

[Dead Prince]

MS doesn't give Office away. They sell it - and make a shitton of cash off it. (see: the MS enterprise division).

But they'll give away full windows 8 for tablets smaller than 10 inches

 

[justsomeguy]

You can apply to make apps through ID@XBOX so the apps will be coming.

Not only that but "anyone" will be able to make xbox apps - although they've only announced JavaScript and c++ so far and not c#) and nor have they announced if/how they will be opening up the store to random app devs - I get the impression that will be separate to id@xbox as you'll only need a retail.xbox and a pc, not an xbox dev kit

 

[ThoughtsOfSpeaking]

And people act like the XOne is dead.

What's to stop Microsoft from making an exclusive version of Office with Onedrive support baked in? They could add a free skype subscription, free office, and extra one drive storage for the life of the console. Microsoft is the sleeping giant posed to take consoles to the next level. Their new CEO loves pushing services so this is a realistic possibility.

I don't like all the things associated with Xone but I'll switch for office and an app store.

Because, even discounting that most would not want to do work in their recreation time, for the vast majority of users, working on office documents on the couch blow up on the TV is not fun.

That functionality is better served by a laptop or in a pinch, tablets/smartphones.

Just like a web browser, Document editing on a television, is more "cool feature that nobody uses seriously past a month" Than useful utility.


That said, It would be pretty useful to have a powerpoint viewer app at least.

The Windows app store has tremendous potential on the Xbox one, but not with ports of traditional desktop apps. Think bigger. A Kinect powered flipboard for example, could be far more a hit than office.

 

[kitsuneyo]

What is the W8 App scene like? I don't have any W8 devices

Just terrible. There are no good apps, and the desktop version is usually better when available.

 

[giancarlo123x]

And people act like the XOne is dead.

What's to stop Microsoft from making an exclusive version of Office with Onedrive support baked in? They could add a free skype subscription, free office, and extra one drive storage for the life of the console. Microsoft is the sleeping giant posed to take consoles to the next level. Their new CEO loves pushing services so this is a realistic possibility.

I don't like all the things associated with Xone but I'll switch for office and an app store.

This is exactly what I want from my gaming consoles, office. If they ever did bring these to Xbox it wouldn't be free. In the least locked behind gold.

 

[Banfield]

I think one of Microsoft's issues with universal apps is that apps made for touch don't work well in a desktop, or on a console. In the same vein, apps made for a mouse won't work well for touch, or a controller. Even in the android ecosystem, you have apps made for phones that are terrible for tablets and often the only ones available. The universal app thing always sounds neat, one OS for all, etc., but in practice, it isn't very practical.

 

[Eusis]

This is exactly what I want from my gaming consoles, office. If they ever did bring these to Xbox it wouldn't be free. In the least locked behind gold.

I almost expect the Office division would storm the Xbox division for wanting to be an obstacle. Office itself they seemingly want to move to a subscription model and they probably do not want people intimidated away from it by Gold. Nevermind that there SEEMS to be mounting resistance on the entertainment front, at least with PS3 becoming the most popular Netflix streaming device when 360 was king in America. Whether that changed since or not it won't look good when the PS4 is ALSO the dominating console.

... Though at least Microsoft had the sense to get their own remote out sooner than later.

 

[Objectively Bad Opinion]

I don't know about the site, but this is all exactly what the Microsoft tech talk on the XBO said. That was weeks (months?) back.

Whether they are or not, what they're saying is true.

Sorry, it's a knee-jerk reaction. They often spread misinformation, so at this point I just don't even bother clicking on links to that site.

 

[hipbabboom]

You don't need office on xbox, that's just bonkers. If you must, use office web apps with IE (assuming they're compatible )

I think its more the ability to sell Xbox as a computing appliance. For example... video conferencing systems are a rip-off... what if someone told you they could sell you a system with an excellent camera and sound technology that you just had to plug-in and use for the low price of $500?

It'll be a dangerous ground for MS to attempt to introduce the Xbox as a general PC because the PC OEMs would skin them alive but as an appliances with specialized target uses, you can conceivably have the XB1 hardware appear in many other applications. I'm totally for it if it can lead to cheaper hardware through proliferation and also potentially more possibilities with more hardware out there. I'd love to think of gaming as concept vehicles whose tech trickles down and sets standards to more general hardware design.

Just terrible. There are no good apps, and the desktop version is usually better when available.

It's probably worth noting that this post is very wrong.

 

[R3TRODYCE]

That's interesting, I'm intrigued by PC app ports now.


Still trying to beat that score Statham.

 

[Synth]

Then the functionality would be useless to you anyway. How would it benefit you to switch?

I only have my PC on my TV because I play my PC games there. I'd place the PC elsewhere if I could stream my Steam games to the console. I just like being able to do anything anywhere really. If all my shit is cloud-synced, then I feel I should never be required to move from one device to another in order to do any task that the machine is theoretically capable of. If I want to quickly call up OneNote to check something whilst playing the Xbox, then I should be able to. There's no good reason for it to be incapable of doing this.

 

[knitoe]

Surface RT only and that thing is dead, dead, dead. Anyway, Office isn’t a thing that anyone is gonna give a shit about for a home console.

Anyway, if the Xbone runs a stripped own Win 8 it doesn’t really matter for games (well, for some devs, sure) if those PC ports don’t come.

Looking forward to seeing Halo 5 on PC? yeah...

It came free on my Windows 8.1 HP Omni 10 tablet. In fact, I think it comes free on all full Windows 8 tablet.

 

[DopeyFish]

I think one of Microsoft's issues with universal apps is that apps made for touch don't work well in a desktop, or on a console. In the same vein, apps made for a mouse won't work well for touch, or a controller. Even in the android ecosystem, you have apps made for phones that are terrible for tablets and often the only ones available. The universal app thing always sounds neat, one OS for all, etc., but in practice, it isn't very practical.

That's not what universal apps means. It means buy on one device and be able to use on another if a binary for said device is available.

Devs still have to do some minor 're-writing and compile with X1 in mind.

Not only that but "anyone" will be able to make xbox apps - although they've only announced JavaScript and c++ so far and not c#) and nor have they announced if/how they will be opening up the store to random app devs - I get the impression that will be separate to id@xbox as you'll only need a retail.xbox and a pc, not an xbox dev kit

My understanding is ID@Xbox will go back to what they were intended to be... A gateway for larger independent studios. New marketplace will be for the Indies that have a few employees/homebrew .

 

[jem0208]

Just terrible. There are no good apps, and the desktop version is usually better when available.

Yeah, this isn't true at all...

 

[onQ123]

I figured this was the case.

 

[SPDIF]

Here's a link to the presentation Frank Savage gave if anybody's interested.

 

[Banfield]

That's not what universal apps means. It means buy on one device and be able to use on another if a binary for said device is available.

Devs still have to do some minor 're-writing and compile with X1 in mind.
.

Do you have examples of an app that runs on phones, tablets, and Windows 8, that is designed with all 3 in mind?

 

[Jezbollah]

But they'll give away full windows 8 for tablets smaller than 10 inches

Let me know when they patch keyboard and mouse support for the XB1 then. Otherwise I'm sure that people would love to make complex word documents using Kinect or the controller.

 

[hipbabboom]

Though I'm still not sure why the author is saying that the idea that there's three windows OSs in the box is wrong. I understand all the OSs running, virtualized or otherwise are using the Windows kernel. Old DX coders know DX runs under Win32 lean and mean which includes elevated thread priority that's close to real-time thread response so none of this comes at a surprise.

 

[KJRS_1993]

Terrible by phone/tablet ecosystem standards... Godlike by console standards.

Have you ever tried to upload an app / game onto the Windows Store?
It's not perfect, but to describe it as terrible is gaffer hyperbole magic.
It's solid. Not amazing, but solid.

 

[Synth]

Do you have examples of an app that runs on phones, tablets, and Windows 8, that is designed with all 3 in mind?

Pretty much all apps made for Windows Phone and Windows 8 were made before Universal Apps were an option. I don't think this is a fair question right now.

Something like Plex or Weave would almost certainly been examples had they been created today instead. It's not like the concept is questionable in any way. The apps will use the same base code, and alter only the presentation layer depending on the screen it will be displayed on.

Have you ever tried to upload an app / game onto the Windows Store?
It's not perfect, but to describe it as terrible is gaffer hyperbole magic.
It's solid. Not amazing, but solid.

I took it to mean the available apps on the store itself, rather than the process. The Windows Phone store currently fairs significantly better here than Windows 8, but both would be magical if applied directly to an Xbox console.

 

[statham]

Let me know when they patch keyboard and mouse support for the XB1 then. Otherwise I'm sure that people would love to make complex word documents using Kinect or the controller.

patched back in feb.
http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/03...-harmony-smart-keyboard-for-xbox-one-and-more

 

[Ploid 3.0]

Doesn't windows 8 require a lot of ram to run, and the background footprint or processes effect resources for games? I suppose with the way consoles are these days they too are effected by their OS like PC. The thing with PC is that you could disable services and such plus buy over compensating hardware.

 

[Synth]

patched back in feb.
http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/03...-harmony-smart-keyboard-for-xbox-one-and-more

Keyboard is fine... but they need to let us use the mouse as well. I've never understood why they're so stubborn about this.

Hopefully the new app focus will change their mind.

 

[JaggedSac]

Do you have examples of an app that runs on phones, tablets, and Windows 8, that is designed with all 3 in mind?

The MS Office suite is being rewritten as a universal app. The same code base with specific UIs for each targeted platform. Makes updating easier.

 

[hipbabboom]

Let me know when they patch keyboard and mouse support for the XB1 then. Otherwise I'm sure that people would love to make complex word documents using Kinect or the controller.

Really weird when unrelated news seemingly converges. MS during last build conference demonstrated universal apps running on pc, phone, tablets and xbox1 (stressing if you can optimize your code to run well on a phone, it would run blazingly fast everywhere else) and then later during the demonstration of Office technology, they slyly dropped the fact that moving forward, Office would be compiled as a universal app. Then a few days ago, a video celebrating MS's peripheral division showed a multimedia keyboard that was being used in front of a TV with the Windows 8 UI.

Now, there is such a thing as coincidence in my book but xxxHolic wants you to believe there's a purpose to all of these random happenings. Office on the XB1 is, from all I understand, possible and closer to reality than you think... it seems like its a policy change away but that's the difference between life and death as far as a corporation is concerned. MS up to a couple of months ago were really dogmatic about everything but it seems like there are less holy cows around there these days and they're much more open to change driven by interesting market opportunities and less about ideology.

 

[Respawn]

And people act like the XOne is dead.

What's to stop Microsoft from making an exclusive version of Office with Onedrive support baked in? They could add a free skype subscription, free office, and extra one drive storage for the life of the console. Microsoft is the sleeping giant posed to take consoles to the next level. Their new CEO loves pushing services so this is a realistic possibility.

I don't like all the things associated with Xone but I'll switch for office and an app store.

Joke post? Office on X1? Why?

 

[Shin-Ra]

And people act like the XOne is dead.

What's to stop Microsoft from making an exclusive version of Office with Onedrive support baked in? They could add a free skype subscription, free office, and extra one drive storage for the life of the console. Microsoft is the sleeping giant posed to take consoles to the next level. Their new CEO loves pushing services so this is a realistic possibility.

I don't like all the things associated with Xone but I'll switch for office and an app store.

Not sure if serious.

 

[hipbabboom]

Doesn't windows 8 require a lot of ram to run, and the background footprint or processes effect resources for games? I suppose with the way consoles are these days they too are effected by their OS like PC. The thing with PC is that you could disable services and such plus buy over compensating hardware.

FACT: Windows 8 uses less RAM today than Windows 7 or Vista used at launch and uses relatively less RAM than any other version of Windows.

FACT: Windows 8, because it was designed to run on lower power and portable devices, not only uses less resources but has better resource management overall. If you run better on lower-power devices then that means you run faster on PC.

 

[JaggedSac]

So when is the Bone getting 8.1? Lol

 

[Banjo-Kazooie]

Microsoft should start a cross-buy program like Sony did. PC/Xbox One version for one price. That would be cool.

Last week they launched their universal app program. IE, buy an app on windows 8 and it unlocks on your windows phone. Previously you had to buy it on each platform. This is supposed to be extending to the Xbox One also in the near future, so I think they are moving in that direction and have already taken the first steps as of last week. Cross but should be in effect once the floodgates open.

 

[hipbabboom]

So when is the Bone getting 8.1? Lol

It's waiting for Threshold :-/

Last week they launched their universal app program. IE, buy an app on windows 8 and it unlocks on your windows phone. Previously you had to buy it on each platform. This is supposed to be extending to the Xbox One also in the near future, so I think they are moving in that direction and have already taken the first steps as of last week. Cross but should be in effect once the floodgates open.

Like Sony, it's ultimately up to the developers but I don't see W8 apps picking up steam (no pun intended) until they allow universal apps to run on desktop. The good news is running metro apps on the desktop is a feature they announced but didn't give a launch date on.

 

[Sephiroth_VII]

I guess this is hardly helping them performance-wise... It's a well-known fact that Linux and BSD-based systems are significantly lighter memory-wise, and a bit more efficient at using the available processing power efficiently(see: Valve's first Linux-port(DR2) being significantly faster than its windows-equivalent).

With the PS4 OS being based on OpenBSD, it should have yet another edge there. Not that it needs it.

 

[Synth]

Joke post? Office on X1? Why?

Not sure if serious.

Everybody's questioning if this is a joke post... but its not like he only specified Office. He said office and an app store. Basically, he'd switch for Office, and a few hundred thousand other things. Seems a bit less ridiculous when taken that way right?

 

[spwolf]

Really weird when unrelated news seemingly converges. MS during last build conference demonstrated universal apps running on pc, phone, tablets and xbox1 (stressing if you can optimize your code to run well on a phone, it would run blazingly fast everywhere else) and then later during the demonstration of Office technology, they slyly dropped the fact that moving forward, Office would be compiled as a universal app. Then a few days ago, a video celebrating MS's peripheral division showed a multimedia keyboard that was being used in front of a TV with the Windows 8 UI.

Now, there is such a thing as coincidence in my book but xxxHolic wants you to believe there's a purpose to all of these random happenings. Office on the XB1 is, from all I understand, possible and closer to reality than you think... it seems like its a policy change away but that's the difference between life and death as far as a corporation is concerned. MS up to a couple of months ago were really dogmatic about everything but it seems like there are less holy cows around there these days and they're much more open to change driven by interesting market opportunities and less about ideology.

why would you run Office on your TV? How can that make any sense? I have 2 desktops, laptop, 2 tablets and a phone. I dont need my TV to show me my email or display .doc files.

They need to invest into games, and forget everything else for a while.

 

[Tigress]

And people act like the XOne is dead.

What's to stop Microsoft from making an exclusive version of Office with Onedrive support baked in? They could add a free skype subscription, free office, and extra one drive storage for the life of the console. Microsoft is the sleeping giant posed to take consoles to the next level. Their new CEO loves pushing services so this is a realistic possibility.

I don't like all the things associated with Xone but I'll switch for office and an app store.

I'm not arguing your point, but I will argue your example. Why in the world would you want to use Office on your tv, that just seems super awkward. I don't even like internet browsing on my tv (that's what my tablet is for, internet browsing while watching the tv). Same reason I don't really see why snap is all that important, everything it allows me to do while I game/watch tv I can do using my tablet and I'd prefer to do on my tablet anyways.

 

[Banjo-Kazooie]

Let me know when they patch keyboard and mouse support for the XB1 then. Otherwise I'm sure that people would love to make complex word documents using Kinect or the controller.

It's already there...

 

[RulkezX]

MS aren't just going to allow anyone to publish an app on X1 though , are they ?

It'd become a play store style Wild West of junky apps and clones, and the chances of XBMC are.....slim.

Surely they are still going to retrain ultimate control over what they allow on the console.

 

[LukasTaves]

Who would want this?

If it supports mouse and keyboard, it could be a nice PC replacement. If Ms keeps the eco system open enough.

 

[Ploid 3.0]

FACT: Windows 8 uses less RAM today than Windows 7 or Vista used at launch and uses relatively less RAM than any other version of Windows.

FACT: Windows 8, because it was designed to run on lower power and portable devices, not only uses less resources but has better resource management overall. If you run better on lower-power devices then that means you run faster on PC.

I hear Win 8 or 8.1(?) run games better than 7. I always thought 8 required more ram than 7 does now, if there are no more game compatibility issues with 8 I might upgrade my windows 7. I'll wait until after I upgrade other components though. Interesting.

 

[JaggedSac]

MS aren't just going to allow anyone to publish an app on X1 though , are they ?

It'd become a play store style Wild West of junky apps and clones, and the chances of XBMC are.....slim.

Surely they are still going to retrain ultimate control over what they allow on the console.

A Plex client is on the way.

 

[IvorB]

Honestly curious. Why would you/anyone care about whether or not their xbox runs Office?

So that you can play Forza while skyping your grandma AND working on that company presentation.

 

[hipbabboom]

why would you run Office on your TV? How can that make any sense? I have 2 desktops, laptop, 2 tablets and a phone. I dont need my TV to show me my email or display .doc files.

They need to invest into games, and forget everything else for a while.

Presentations is the biggest space I can think of. This is a big part of PowerPoint. It allows embedded content from a slew of office software for presentation. Other use-cases are to fringe in my opinion for MS to care but I can see EVE type games really taking advantage of the features of Excel

 

[Jezbollah]

It's already there...

Official support, not via any kind of mod or third party tool.

 

[Furyous]

Usability

Also, you seem to be giving away a lot of stuff. What's to stop Microsoft from giving away a Skype subscription and Office on a console for games? I guess they could do it, but why?

I have two words for you: value add.

Microsoft wants users hooked on services. If Google can bundle free cloud storage with smartphones then Microsoft can bundle free cloud storage with the Xone.

In all honesty, how in the shit do they expect us to export our screenshots and videos. At least give us a onedrive export tool.

My main point is this: there are over 83 million Xbox systems in homes. Microsoft has to find a way to add value to the box moving forward. Some will say but, but, but give me games. I want games too but if Microsoft focuses on apps the. their in a prime position to extend functionality to customers who might not buy consoles at all. Does your PS4 have Skype? EXACTLY. That's a future ad just like the ads defecating on Apple for not having office. There are all types of ways to flip apps on TV. They could kill any google or Apple TV before it happens in the long run if this happems in the future. The box is right there and they make software. BIg Al make this happen, por favor. I'm not a paid shill but I want more bang for my buck. If I have to pay for gold at least give me free cloud storage, and/or Office 365/Skype.

I want games but hopefully this push towards apps keeps Elop from getting antsy and pulling the trigger on the console in the future.

We need positive thinking people instead of disaturbation about Microsoft being doomed.

 

[Banjo-Kazooie]

Who would want this?

Don't have a PC/laptop and want to use Office? Oh nice, my game machine can also run office, and now it has a lot of PC features. I can access my email, use word, OneDrive, browse the web, and even play my games. For $450-500? Not so horrible IMO.

Obviously it has not as much use to people with PCs already with office, but it would serve as another draw to differentiate itself and add a bit more use and value to the system for someone who might be looking to buy a PC and a gaming machine. My .02

 

[michaelius]

Microsoft should start a cross-buy program like Sony did. PC/Xbox One version for one price. That would be cool.

They would have to start making something that isn't windows/office/visual studio for pcs first.

 

[LukasTaves]

Not only that but "anyone" will be able to make xbox apps - although they've only announced JavaScript and c++ so far and not c#) and nor have they announced if/how they will be opening up the store to random app devs - I get the impression that will be separate to id@xbox as you'll only need a retail.xbox and a pc, not an xbox dev kit

C# is supported by winrt, and by extension Xbox one too.

They've said that so far the channel for developing xbone apps is indeed Id@x, but I guess that will change as they enable the retail console as a devkit feature.