35 million console users to receive free update bringing voice control to living room entertainment
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Full details after the jump.
Minority report meets Microsoft – An industry first, Today (6th December 2011) Microsoft will reveal their newly integrated entertainment system bringing gaming, TV and social media together in one unit with advanced voice and motion controls. Video footage and in-studio demonstrations are available upon request.
A new technological era in live TV in the home is launching in time for Christmas where the user becomes the remote control through voice and gesture control. Only one year on since the launch of the Kinect, this is the most significant update from Microsoft for the Xbox 360. TV, video, movies and music will be instantly searchable, with intelligent Bing voice search, motion-controls and voice functionality – no remotes, no buttons, no worries.
The new software update will create the biggest interactive TV service in the world, with close to 40 leading TV and entertainment providers accessible through the console’s Xbox LIVE online service. These include Sky, Channel 4, Channel 5, BBC, YouTube, MSN, Muzu.tv and many more (see notes to editor for full listings). One console will now bring together all these entertainment platforms, using the most advanced technologies in motion and voice controls.
The FREE dashboard update will be rolled out on 6th December across 35 countries to a network of 35 million Xbox LIVE members, making watching live TV or on-demand movies, playing video games or listening to music effortless.
Kinect voice and gesture controls available with select Xbox LIVE content, and may vary by feature. Features, content and launch timings for the apps vary by region. See xbox.com/live for more information.
Personal and social features including Cloud Storage for Game Saves and LIVE Profile, Beacons and Facebook Sharing will launch with the 6th December update, along with enhanced Family Settings.
TV and Entertainment Providers
· ABC iView – Australia
· AlloCiné – France, Germany, Spain, U.K.
· Antena 3 – Spain
· Astral Media’s Disney XD – Canada
· AT&T** – U.S.
· BBC – U.K.
· blinkbox – U.K.
· Bravo – U.S.
· BSkyB** – U.K.
· Canal+* – France, Spain
· Channel 4 – U.K.
· Channel 5 – U.K.
· CinemaNow (Best Buy) – U.S.
· Comcast – U.S.
· Crackle – Australia, Canada, U.K., U.S.
· Dailymotion – Available in 32 markets
· EPIX – U.S.
· ESPN** – U.S.
· Facebook** – Available in all 35 Xbox LIVE markets
· FOXTEL** – Australia
· GolTV – Spain
· HBO GO – U.S.
· Hulu – Japan
· Hulu +** – U.S.
· iHeartRadio (Clear Channel) – U.S.
· Last.fm** – U.K., U.S.
· LOVEFiLM – Germany, U.K.
· Manga Entertainment – U.S.
· Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment/Real Sports – Canada
· MediaSet – Italy
· MSN with MSNBC.com – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, U.K.
· MUZU.TV – France, Germany, Italy, Spain, U.K.
· Netflix** – Canada, U.S.
· Rogers On Demand Online (RODO) – Canada
· RTVE – Spain
· SBS On Demand – Australia
· Syfy – U.S.
· Telefonica – Spain
· Televisa – Mexico
· “The Today Show” – U.S.
· TELUS** – Canada
· TMZ – U.S.
· Twitter** – Available in all 35 Xbox LIVE markets
· UFC – Canada, U.S.
· Verizon – U.S.
· VEVO – Canada, U.K., U.S.
· VimpelCom** – Russia
· Vodafone Portugal** – Portugal
· YouTube – Available in 22 markets
· ZDF – Germany
· Zune** – Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, U.K., U.S.
About Xbox 360
Xbox 360 is a premier home entertainment and video game system. Thanks to the addition of Kinect, Xbox 360 has transformed social gaming and entertainment with a whole new way to play — no controller required. Xbox 360 is also home to the best and broadest games as well as one of the world’s largest on-demand libraries of music, standard- and high-definition movies, TV shows and digital games, all in one place. The entertainment center of the living room, Xbox 360 blends unbeatable content with a leading social entertainment network of nearly 35 million Xbox LIVE members to create a limitless entertainment experience that can be shared at home or across the globe. More information about Xbox 360 can be found online at http://www.xbox.com.
About Xbox LIVE
Xbox LIVE is the online entertainment service for your Xbox 360, connecting you to an ever-expanding world of games, movies, TV, music, sports and social entertainment. Xbox LIVE lets you play the best games, enjoy one of the world’s largest on-demand libraries on any console, listen to millions of songs and share the fun with friends around the world. Xbox LIVE is also the exclusive home of controller-free online entertainment through Kinect, making your Xbox 360 more intuitive and interactive than ever before. With an active community of nearly 35 million people across 35 countries, Xbox LIVE, together with Xbox 360, provides you with instant access to the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about, wherever you are. More information about Xbox LIVE can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/live.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
