Category: From Our Sites

It’s been a while since we heard much about Windows Phone 7.8, the next update for Windows Phone devices that can’t run Windows Phone 8. While consumers shouldn’t rejoice just yet, -it isn’t coming to their devices today, developers can now begin to update their applications.

Last we heard, it would be delivering multiple Live Tile resizing and according to Microsoft, that description includes the amount of software changes coming with the update in it’s entirety. Although, today only marks the release of the emulator for those looking develop applications, we’d expect to see the new software roll out to devices sometime soon.

Microsoft is now confirming that the previously announced sister tablet to the Surface Windows RT is will arrive this coming February.

In a post at The Official Microsoft Blog, Panos Panay, General Manager of the Surface family of products, confirmed that the Intel powered, stylus wielding, big brother to the currently available Surface will arrive in the United States and Canada on February in local Staples, Best Buy, and Microsoft Stores nationwide. The Surface Windows 8 Pro as the folks in Redmond have decided to brand it above my numerous objections will ship in 64GB and 128GB  at $899 and $999 respectively.

This new tablet will also have some new cover-shaped friends beside them on store shelves as Microsoft will also be launching a few limited edition Touch Covers in pink, purple and red with printed designs to match, though they will set you back $10 more than Touch Covers of the non-special edition variety at $129.

Lastly, while those in outposts more remote than North America won’t be able to pick up the Surface Windows 8 Pro, interested parties in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland  will finally be able to purchase the Surface RT locally, though Microsoft hasn’t yet detailed in what retail locations it might be made available.

We guess, the only stone left unturned is to collectively wonder out loud whether the person in Microsoft’s marketing arm who came up with “Surface Windows 8 Pro” as a consumer model name, should be stoned to death. Don’t get us wrong, we’re all for leniency during sentencing but the name borders on a crime against all consumer electronics.

If you’re feeling all sorts of patriotic today, and happen to live in the United States, there’s no better way than to catch today’s Presidential Inauguration on Xbox LIVE.

Those Xbox LIVE users with an Xbox LIVE Gold account can tune into the festivities as they happen via the services recently released NBC News on Xbox LIVE free of charge. If you’re really feeling patriotic, we suppose you could also don one of those nifty American flag lapel pins while watching. Sure, no one but you will know you’re wearing it, but it’s the thought that counts.

What better way to start off the new year is by getting free stuff. We all like free stuff. How about 1600 Xbox LIVE points? Sounds pretty fantastic to me. If you go over  to the Microsoft Store online and pre-order certain games you will be able to score those 1600 points. Did I mention free by the way?

The promotion includes, Gears of War: Judgement, Grand Theft Auto V, Bioshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, Lost Planet 3, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Crysis 3 Hunter Edition, Army of Two: The Devils Cartel, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14, Dead Space 3 Limited Edition, and South Park: The Stick of Truth.

You’ll have until  April 6th or the game day of each title to get that aforementioned 1600 Xbox LIVE points.

Well, that didn’t take long. After the National Hockey League finally managed to broker a deal with it’s locked out players and clubs, it was only a matter of time before the users would get their digital mittens on the already announced NHL GameCenter on Xbox LIVE.

Starting tonight, as I’ve been told by those whose knowledge of the sport vastly exceeds my own, Xbox LIVE users can use their GameCenter LIVE subscriptions right from their Xbox in the form of HD streams and delayed replays.  Those who think the game was better back in the day can also watch the classic matches of yesteryear with access to NHL Vault, while kindly informing younger watchers in the same room to get off their lawns.

As with all third-party Xbox LIVE entertainment applications, use of NHL GameCenter on Xbox LIVE will requires a subscription to Xbox LIVE Gold.

Say you’re a movie star who’s lived in France for the better part of four decades and now is moving just across the border to avoid a rather unsavory tax rate? Now, we know keeping most of your Xbox LIVE content wasn’t very high on your priority list, but hey -now you rest easy and take most of your digital baggage with you.

Starting immediately, Xbox LIVE Gold users have the option to transfer their Xbox profile along with some of their digital content, though we must stress that the account portability comes with some huge caveats including the possibility of completely losing any content that you haven’t stored on your device locally.

Unfortunately, Xbox Music Pass subscriptions aren’t including the admittedly long list of terms and conditions.

Have you decided to drop out of college and take a job at a telemarketing firm? Probably not, but oddly enough that scenario turns out to be one hell of a setup for a comedy routine.

Until January 24th, you can pick up the first three seasons of Comedy Central’s Workaholics on sale for $14.99 in the Xbox Video Store. We here at enConnected fully endorse the relatively hilarious comedy, though we can’t same the same for the hairstyles. Sure, we’re all for hipster fashion but even we have our limits.

Many of you have probably noticed all the “Xbox 720 is just around the corner” stuff going around. We haven’t reported on any of it, mostly because it’s all conjecture, and partially because it all comes from people citing other’s conjecture as fact… Continue reading in enConnected Social

It’s no well kept secret, we’re not exactly on the “must contact” list when it comes to Microsoft Press events where things outside of the purview of the Xbox Team are of concern. So it’s with a heavy heart that tell you, we haven’t had the opportunity to use a Microsoft Surface Pro. Thankfully, Tom Warren of The Verge has had such an experience.

In his very, very detailed look at Microsoft’s forthcoming tablet for those who’s needs aren’t met by the Surface RT, Warren goes into detail about nearly everything about the device including it’s HD Display, pen input, and Desktop compatibility. We won’t ruin all of his hard work for you, but let’s just say USB 3.0, Display Port, 720p camera, + Intel Core i5 processor = Win.

What’s better then sitting as close as possible to your television screen to feel immersed in the game your playing? Making the entire room a part of your gaming experience.

Microsoft Research is now detailing IllumiRoom, a conceptual product that uses projects and a Kinect sensor to engulf you in the game your playing by displaying geometry and visual representation of things in the going on in that game’s environment on your walls. You can check out footage of the system in action above. For it’s part, Microsoft notes that nothing in that video “is the result of any special effects”.

Don’t get your hopes up just yet though, as with all publicly shared Microsoft Research products, this may never be used in any future products. The company has plans to talk about it at this year’s Conference on Human Interactions this April in Paris.