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[Marty Chinn]

I think the comparison to Google TV is a poor one. The problem with Google TV is that it went without the support of the content providers and the content providers pulled access so you couldn't do all the things Google TV promised. That's not the case here. So it's not the same exact situation. Google screwed up Google TV.

 

[BruiserBear]

It's funny how so little of the gaming press seemed to acknowledge the obvious error in Microsoft's strategy. Live tv viewing is a dying thing, so why feature live tv so heavily as a tent pole for your new "future proof" console that's supposed to take over the world's living rooms?

 

[Marty Chinn]

It's funny how so little of the gaming press seemed to acknowledge the obvious error in Microsoft's strategy. Live tv viewing is a dying thing, so why feature live tv so heavily as a tent pole for your new "future proof" console that's supposed to take over the world's living rooms?

The death of live TV is grossly exaggerated.

 

[PG2G]

It's funny how so little of the gaming press seemed to acknowledge the obvious error in Microsoft's strategy. Live tv viewing is a dying thing, so why feature live tv so heavily as a tent pole for your new "future proof" console that's supposed to take over the world's living rooms?

People keep bringing this up. Has their support of Live TV (which is still essential for a large part of the market) someone hindered their ability to support future means of content delivery?

 

[BruiserBear]

The death of live TV is grossly exaggerated.

Not from my viewpoint. The people in the prime demographic for the Xbox don't watch that much live tv. Why would some overlay features totally excite people? Fantasy stats overlaying my football game? Direct Tv has been doing this for years. Not to mention we all have smartphones, tablets, etc, ect.

But the new Xbox can do that too? How exciting!

These features are going to generate about as much buzz as the Wii U having it's own "tablet".

 

[ciridesu]

People keep bringing this up. Has their support of Live TV (which is still essential for a large part of the market) someone hindered their ability to support future means of content delivery?

To some extent, yes, they've chosen this path at the expense of gaming. That is in regard of the specs that some would agree to be relatively under-powered of what is expected in late 2013.

 

[PG2G]

To some extent, yes, they've chosen this path at the expense of gaming. That is in regard of the specs that some would agree to be relatively under-powered of what is expected in late 2013.

I'm talking in terms of content delivery. People keep calling this silly because people are cutting the cord and going with services like Netflix and Hulu Plus.

 

[BlazinAm]

Article should have been "Microsoft learns nothing from Playstation 3's mistakes"

Did you read it?

 

[BruiserBear]

I'm talking in terms of content delivery. People keep calling this silly because people are cutting the cord and going with services like Netflix and Hulu Plus.

The real question is how much do people really care about overlaying info over their sporting events? How much do people want to change channels with their voice? How much do people want to make Skype calls with their tv?

It's my belief that the interest in all of that is minimal at best.

 

[Marty Chinn]

Not from my viewpoint. The people in the prime demographic for the Xbox don't watch that much live tv. Why would some overlay features totally excite people? Fantasy stats overlaying my football game? Direct Tv has been doing this for years. Not to mention we all have smartphones, tablets, etc, ect.

But the new Xbox can do that too? How exciting! These features are going to generate about as much buzz as the Wii U having it's own "tablet".

Where's the proof that Live TV is going away anytime soon or that the numbers are dropping rapidly. There is still an extremely large number of people still subscribing and those that are cutting the cord are an extreme minority at this point in time. Nothing points that cord cutters are going to be a major factor before the life of the Xbox One will be over.

It's not about the overlay, but the integration. The overlay is a perk, the integration is a better perk. It's how you'll move between the two and always be on the Xbox because being on the Xbox makes it easier to deal with everything. DirecTV, and I'm a huge fan, is kinda shitty in its overlay. It's nice, but there is so much more room for improvement in just responsiveness alone.

People are putting too much emphasis on the TV aspect and it's kinda dumb how much weight people are putting on it. It's one piece of the puzzle. You can still play games, you can still stream from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, HBO, ESPN, and a number of other sources, AND you can use Live TV from Cable, Satellite, and so forth. If you're a cord cutter, you don't have to use it and can use the cord cutting services that MS also supplies. If you have Live TV, you can also participate. Why are options and covering all bases a bad thing here?

 

[Chuck Norris]

The death of live TV is grossly exaggerated.

Not amongst younger demographics. Live TV viewership declines every year for 20-30 year olds. The main demographics of videogames as well.

So who is this really aimed at?

 

[KimonoNoNo]

Article should have been "Microsoft learns nothing from Playstation 3's mistakes"

At least the Ps3 has DVR capabilities.

 

[Quasar]

I do have to wonder why Microsoft went with the same klugy method of controlling cable boxes when the much better cablecard system was there.

 

[PG2G]

The real question is how much do people really care about overlaying info over their sporting events? How much do people want to change channels with their voice? How much do people want to make Skype calls with their tv?

It's my belief that the interest in all of that is minimal at best.

I think you couldn't be more wrong honestly.

People want to change channels with their voice because they don't know the channel numbers, especially when you have 400 of them. They want to search the guide and schedule records with their voice because its much quicker. They want to Skype in their living room because it is much easier in a family setting or with many people.

I do have to wonder why Microsoft went with the same klugy method of controlling cable boxes when the much better cablecard system was there.

Did Cablecard ever really catch on?

 

[Angelus Errare]

I'm not sure who microsoft is competing with now, sony and nintendo or google and apple?

I like how everyone was worried about the girl on the left who seemed fine, but the chick in the right is clearly in a bit of pain.

 

[Marty Chinn]

I do have to wonder why Microsoft went with the same klugy method of controlling cable boxes when the much better cablecard system was there.

Because cable card is limiting and adds to the bulk and cost of the system.

 

[indigo-cyclops]

Man I remember when Art Bell was promoting WebTVs thinking they were some grand shit. But I really do think the demographic is wrong for this core focus of Microsoft's. I'm baffled by it even.

 

[BruiserBear]

Where's the proof that Live TV is going away anytime soon or that the numbers are dropping rapidly. There is still an extremely large number of people still subscribing and those that are cutting the cord are an extreme minority at this point in time. Nothing points that cord cutters are going to be a major factor before the life of the Xbox One will be over.

It's not about the overlay, but the integration. The overlay is a perk, the integration is a better perk. It's how you'll move between the two and always be on the Xbox because being on the Xbox makes it easier to deal with everything. DirecTV, and I'm a huge fan, is kinda shitty in its overlay. It's nice, but there is so much more room for improvement in just responsiveness alone.

People are putting too much emphasis on the TV aspect and it's kinda dumb how much weight people are putting on it. It's one piece of the puzzle. You can still play games, you can still stream from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, HBO, ESPN, and a number of other sources, AND you can use Live TV from Cable, Satellite, and so forth. If you're a cord cutter, you don't have to use it and can use the cord cutting services that MS also supplies. If you have Live TV, you can also participate. Why are options and covering all bases a bad thing here?

There is nothing wrong with covering bases, but I just found myself fundamentally unexcited about being able to quickly flip between TV and a game with my voice. I found myself unexcited about fantasy stats on the side of the tv screen. I found myself unexcited about flipping to Internet Explorer with my voice. None of it seemed highly appealing to me.

I'm not saying it's irrelevant. Just that's it's not even close to being the game changer Microsoft seems to think it is. In fact, as a gamer, I'd rather have the console that is partitioning more of it's resources to games, instead of holding back system resources so I can flip to TV channels anytime I want.

 

[BolognaSoup]

This is basically what Francis' rage video said in about 60 seconds. I just don't get the point. Why would I want to pay $5 a month (XBL Gold) to watch the cable service I'm paying $70 a month for and only get to watch it live? Why is there no DVR service? What is the benefit to me as a consumer here? Because I can pull up Bing or sports stats on the side?! That's what my smartphone is for.

Has MS said if the Xbone can work passively? As in, can I watch my cable box TV with the Xbone off like I can with my Yamaha receiver currently? I really don't want to have to have two devices running every time I want to watch TV (actually 3 because of the sound receiver).

 

[Big Takeover]

I do have to wonder why Microsoft went with the same klugy method of controlling cable boxes when the much better cablecard system was there.

The US is the only country to have cablecards, and you'de better hope Microsoft partnered with your provider, and you'd better take another Benjamin out to cover the extra storage and TV tuners. Still want cablecard?

 

[PG2G]

There is nothing wrong with covering bases, but I just found myself fundamentally unexcited about being able to quickly flip between TV and a game with my voice. I found myself unexcited about fantasy stats on the side of the tv screen. I found myself unexcited about flipping to Internet Explorer with my voice. Nothing about that seemed highly appealing to me.

I'm not saying it's irrelevant. Just that's it's not even close to being the game changer Microsoft seems to think it is. In fact, as a gamer, I'd rather have the console that is partitioning more of it's resources to games, instead of holding back system resources so I can flip to TV channels anytime I want.

For what it's worth, I am not excited about a game DVR, sharing videos of me playing games, watching other people play games, or letting other people take over my game remotely.

I think you'll find the amount of people interested in that stuff is far lower than those interested in some advancements in TV watching.

 

[CambriaRising]

The US is the only country to have cablecards, and you'de better hope Microsoft partnered with your provider, and you'd better take another Benjamin out to cover the extra storage and TV tuners. Still want cablecard?

Cablecards are fucking awful. The only draw is the rental price which is usually a lot cheaper than a box

 

[Marty Chinn]

There is nothing wrong with covering bases, but I just found myself fundamentally unexcited about being able to quickly flip between TV and a game with my voice. I found myself unexcited about fantasy stats on the side of the tv screen. I found myself unexcited about flipping to Internet Explorer with my voice. Nothing about that seemed highly appealing to me.

I'm not saying it's irrelevant. Just that's it's not even close to being the game changer Microsoft seems to think it is. In fact, as a gamer, I'd rather have the console that is partitioning more of it's resources to games, instead of holding back system resources so I can flip to TV channels anytime I want.

I think flipping between the two was merely to show how fast the interface was and how quickly you can get into something. This is especially something to point out after the debacle of the Wii U with how slow it is to switch between anything. It's great that I can stop my game, watch something when my show is on and then switch back to the game when the show is over without it having to really boot because it saved the state .

Plus resources? It's a given that in this day, the OS is going to be live and allow you to switch between things. That's going to happen regardless of the TV functionality. Since there isn't any processing on it due to it just being an input, you're not losing anything.

 

[BruiserBear]

For what it's worth, I am not excited about a game DVR, sharing videos of me playing games, watching other people play games, or letting other people take over my game remotely.

I think you'll find the amount of people interested in that stuff is far lower than those interested in some advancements in TV watching.

That's fine, but the beautiful thing is that all of those functions on PS4 are handled by a special processor that specifically handles those tasks.

On the Xbox those tv functions are using portions of the console's power. Less memory and CPU power for games.

 

[Ramocalypse]

I honestly think, that without DVR functionality, their entire plan (to take over the living room) is bust. Its just too big of a hurdle to ignore in terms of convenience. I would love to be able to use voice, and have a competent UI, but without DVR functionality, at least, I just cant see this taking off at all.

 

[PG2G]

That's fine, but the beautiful thing is that all of those functions on PS4 are handled by a special processor that specifically handles those tasks.

On the Xbox those tv functions are using portions of the console's power. Less memory and CPU power for games.

That doesn't sound so beautiful to me, it sounds like you're paying more.

 

[Suikoguy]

For what it's worth, I am not excited about a game DVR, sharing videos of me playing games, watching other people play games, or letting other people take over my game remotely.

I think you'll find the amount of people interested in that stuff is far lower than those interested in some advancements in TV watching.

I think you have it backwards, caveat being there is little demand for either.

My reasoning being the popularity of online you-tube game videos.

 

[BruiserBear]

That doesn't sound so beautiful to me, it sounds like you're paying more.

haha, ok

I want my gaming consoles to be designed around games first and foremost.

 

[CamHostage]

Article should have been "Microsoft learns nothing from Playstation 3's mistakes"

Hey, I thought PlayStation's set-top box efforts actually weren't half-bad. I've seen some pretty good reviews for PlayTV / Torne (DVRs for PS3) and a friend of mine actually even liked a whole lot his "PSX" PS2 DVR in Japan.

All of those PS systems came of age before TV signal providers jacked up media delivery so badly with the move to digital and the lack of interest in CableCard and other handshake connectors that would have made GoogleTV such a killer product today if it could have delivered on all of its aspirations. Now, TV is so screwed up (why is there still a channel 2 and a channel 1002, shouldn't you just ask me if I want to watch Fox in HD and then always be HD?,) and you don't even know with all the DHCP in the pipe whether upcoming cable boxes will even allow Xbox One to pass through (doubt it'll record) the video signal, much less interface with the box to find and play your media.

Plus, all it will take is a cable company really kicking its own ass over the crappy cable boxes it currently has and Xbox One's services are moot. Heck, GoogleTV is doing a huge portion of this stuff already (and Google would love to get interest going in voice search,) and their margins for OEM integration are low enough that probably the only thing stopping half these companies from making their boxes GoogleOS-based is currently existing deals with Yahoo and other providers. Microsoft is trying to sell you the ultimate cable box, but the problem (as outlined in the original article) is that the cable companies are still shoving their own cable box in the stream, and unless CableCards miraculously escape their shackles (which realistically isn't an option anymore anyway since they've fallen so far out of development and are underpowered against the demands of modern entertainment systems,) the cable box is going to be more important than any other downstream media box trying desperately to control it.

 

[ironcreed]

This thing is a disaster waiting to happen and is already coming apart at the seams.

 

[dr.yosh]

As non-american, I barely understand what you are talking about. Is the xbox one a specific product for mid-30 american males?

 

[Graphics Horse]

I'm not sure about the thing about not being able to control your DVR, the Wii U was supposed to be able to do that (Not sure if it ever got the update, sounds like it hasn't yet...)

If you can control your Tivo via your router then you should be able to add that sort of functionality.
http://vmhd.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/control-your-tivo-from-windows-pc.html

 

[ReturnOfTheRAT]

As non-american, I barely understand what you are talking about. Is the xbox one a specific product for mid-30 american males?

It's for dads.

 

[Radec]

Seems like most tech blog is shooting MS after the announcement.

Did Polygon made some spin articles already?

 

[Tobor]

Where's the proof that Live TV is going away anytime soon or that the numbers are dropping rapidly. There is still an extremely large number of people still subscribing and those that are cutting the cord are an extreme minority at this point in time. Nothing points that cord cutters are going to be a major factor before the life of the Xbox One will be over.

It's not about the overlay, but the integration. The overlay is a perk, the integration is a better perk. It's how you'll move between the two and always be on the Xbox because being on the Xbox makes it easier to deal with everything. DirecTV, and I'm a huge fan, is kinda shitty in its overlay. It's nice, but there is so much more room for improvement in just responsiveness alone.

People are putting too much emphasis on the TV aspect and it's kinda dumb how much weight people are putting on it. It's one piece of the puzzle. You can still play games, you can still stream from Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, HBO, ESPN, and a number of other sources, AND you can use Live TV from Cable, Satellite, and so forth. If you're a cord cutter, you don't have to use it and can use the cord cutting services that MS also supplies. If you have Live TV, you can also participate. Why are options and covering all bases a bad thing here?

1. Most of the bases are covered elsewhere for a lot less money.
2. The new bases don't justify the cost.
3. The main base(gaming) has been moved from home plate to somewhere in the outfield.

 

[CamHostage]

If you can control your Tivo via your router then you should be able to add that sort of functionality.
http://vmhd.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/control-your-tivo-from-windows-pc.html

Well, maybe that's what all these devices will end up doing, talking to each other through the internet. (Kind of crazy that they sit right on top of each other in a lot of houses yet you can't just plug a simple USB cord between them and have devices talk, instead you have to have both devices go through the internet and back into each other for them to simply change a channel... or worse, one device has to fake a remote control's IR blast and hope the other saw its signal.) Still, the Xbox has to talk the language of the TIVO or whatever device, and you're talking dozens of different cable boxes and DVRs just across the US. There are Comcast boxes and Time Warner boxes and Google Fiber boxes and uVerse boxes and Charter boxes and Dish boxes, boxes from Motorola and Verizon and Intel, so many versions from the same company, four generations just of TIVOs...

For a human tapping into a TIVO website that sends specific one-way instructions to your box once it has registered your account and password to the device's hub, that's one challenge, but getting two different devices to do two-way communication between systems competing for your time, good damned luck.

 

[saunderez]

Did Polygon made some spin articles already?

Haven't checked because I don't want to give them ad revenue but I know Arthur Gies has welched on various bets he made over the Xbox Infinity. Not that that's news, honouring his debts would require him to admit he was wrong but he's such a narcissist he'd never do that.

 

[element]

What is really disappointing is when MS sold off their IPTV technology to Ericsson. IPTV would have been a game changer, since it is an entire data signal, so it COULD have done DVR, multiple streams, and more.

Plugging into the box already it meh. I remember when I had a Tivo years ago and it used IR blasters, and it was awful. I finally gave up and got rid of it.

 

[Marty Chinn]

1. Most of the bases are covered elsewhere for a lot less money.
2. The new bases don't justify the cost.
3. The main base(gaming) has been moved from home plate to somewhere in the outfield.

1) Most of the bases are covered but are poorly implemented and not integrated.
2) What cost? Nobody should be buying this for this functionality alone. You're not paying extra for it either.
3) Says who? Because they focused on it here with games being the focus at E3? You know damn well had they talked about this at E3 they would have gotten a lit of flak for it there too. I'll wait until they finish revealing their plans before I judge their stance.

 

[Aaron]

The US is the only country to have cablecards, and you'de better hope Microsoft partnered with your provider, and you'd better take another Benjamin out to cover the extra storage and TV tuners. Still want cablecard?

All of this is true of how Xbox One is doing it too, only with less integration.

 

[gofreak]

Can't it/won't it do DVR stuff itself?

 

[Radec]

Haven't checked because I don't want to give them ad revenue but I know Arthur Gies has welched on various bets he made over the Xbox Infinity. Not that that's news, honouring his debts would require him to admit he was wrong but he's such a narcissist he'd never do that.

same,

I doubt he will honor anything.

 

[BigJonsson]

wtf is an IR blaster

 

[Graphics Horse]

Can't it/won't it do DVR stuff itself?

It only has hdmi input. If it command your cable box via hdmi or network to change to the correct channel then yes it should be possible to record that, but I haven't read anything saying it will.
No use to me because I only have a tuner inside my TV.

wtf is an IR blaster

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=wtf+is+an+ir+blaster

 

[Replicant]

Most of the functions of Xbone that MS demonstrated yesterday is practically useless for me since I don't live in the US. That whole explanation in the OP also went through my head and I got no idea why it's important.

 

[Dueck]

This thread is where I learned that Google TV has already come out. I thought it was next year and I'm usually pretty up to date on that stuff. Says a lot about it.

Same here, on all counts. When will companies just be happy playing to their own strengths and the demands of their userbase? Sure, it's not always exciting, but it is profitable and secure.

 

[Tagg9]

It's mostly for live sports anyway. DVR functionality is mostly irrelevant.

 

[Trent Strong]

As non-american, I barely understand what you are talking about. Is the xbox one a specific product for mid-30 american males?

I'm a mid-30s American male and the Xbone doesn't appeal to me at all. I don't know who this product is for.

 

[thepotatoman]

Where's the proof that Live TV is going away anytime soon or that the numbers are dropping rapidly. There is still an extremely large number of people still subscribing and those that are cutting the cord are an extreme minority at this point in time. Nothing points that cord cutters are going to be a major factor before the life of the Xbox One will be over.

The non-techie crowd may not be cutting the cord, but they are certainly using DVR functionality and that's something that just straight up doesn't work with the Xbox interface. When people say live TV I think they're including that.

 

[Snubbers]

Whilst I'm still not remotely sold on the whole TV integration, especially living in the UK, I do see that it could actually work for me very easily.

I have a 1Tb sky box, which earlier this year had a firmware update so that the accompanying android app can now fully control the box via ethernet, it can retrieve the list of recorded stuff, change channel, fast forward, rewind and let you set recordings from the apps TV guide. So if MS can strike a deal with sky, then it would allow a slick experience. Our course I do imagine sky would not be too cooperative if MS didn't allow sky's movie rental service.. So while technically possible, I can see it being commercially impractical.