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Microsoft announces the Xbox One

Xbox One

At today's #XboxReveal event, Microsoft announced the Xbox One. Don Mattrick took the stage and said that Xbox One is a truly "all-in-one" box that is "simple, instant, and complete." From the looks of the device, it sports a dual-toned black color scheme with a slot-loading (goodbye, tray!) Blu-ray drive. We also get the standard Xbox power button with the ring of light surrounding it. 

When looking at the Xbox One hardware, it looks akin to an older set-top box. It's pretty wide and pretty tall, likely because of all the high-end guts on the inside. Speaking of specs, the Xbox One has 8GB RAM (up from 512MB in the Xbox 360,) an octo-core processor, and ships with a 500GB hard drive. A Blu-ray drive is included as mentioned, along with USB 3.0 and 802.11n Wi-Fi (no 802.11ac for a console that will likely be around for 5-8 years?)

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Next Xbox: November launch, $499, $299 with subscription, Blu-ray

Xbox Revealed

Windows super-fan Paul Thurrott, who has a good track record for internal Microsoft rumors, is sharing information that he has heard as it pertains to the launch window and pricing of the new Xbox (which we are assuming will be called Xbox Reveal or Infinity, but is codenamed Durango.) First, the next Xbox will launch in early November 2013, and will cost $499 out of the gate. Alternatively, you'll be able to pay $299 for the console if you also pay a $10 monthly subscription fee.

If this is true, then we imagine that this is where all of the hoopla over an "always-on" console is coming from. If you choose to go the subscription route, then your Xbox will likely need to be connected to the Internet in order to make sure the subscription is active. Piggybacking on that thought, maybe if you stop paying (or if you can't get the Xbox online,) then the Xbox will simply not let you play games until you are paid up or reconnect it to Xbox Live.

Other information shared include that the new console will ship with a Blu-ray drive, and will run on a modified version of Windows 8. We will have all the news as it happens when Microsoft unveils the next Xbox on May 21.

Read More | Windows IT Pro

Microsoft will reveal the next Xbox on May 21

Xbox Reveal May 21

Microsoft has announced that it will reveal the next Xbox on May 21st at an event to take place at the Xbox campus in Redmond. Gamers have been patiently waiting for an announcement from Microsoft on the next Xbox (codenamed Durango,) especially after Sony announced the Playstation 4 at an event in February. The company says that the event will "mark the beginning of a new generation of games, TV, and entertainment." Aside from inviting select press to be on hand, the event will also be broadcast as it happens on Xbox LIVE for all to see. It'll also be broadcast on SPike TV for those who are in the US or Canada.

Don't expect all the info on the next Xbox to be revealed on the 21st, though. Microsoft says that they'll wait about three weeks before announcing the full line-up of games, which it'll do at E3. There's a lot riding on the next Xbox, which follows up the current generations most successful console, the Xbox 360.

Read More | Major Nelson

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