Latest Gear Live Videos
Microsoft releases 2012 highlight reel video
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Smartphones, Handhelds, Microsoft, Software, Video Games, Videos,
Microsoft is not shy about patting itself on the back. Here's the 2012 highlight reel that it put together, showcasing company milestones like Halo 4, Kinect, and their re-imagining Surface tablet.
There’s no question that it’s been a momentous year at Microsoft. The company introduced the world to Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8, announced its family of Surface PCs, showcased a new version of Microsoft Office and released “Halo 4,” keeping up a steady rhythm of advancements across its most popular products for individuals and businesses throughout the year. - Microsoft
Click to continue reading Microsoft releases 2012 highlight reel video
Read More 
| Microsoft
Advertisement
Facebook 4.1 for Windows Phone 8 brings speed improvements
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, Microsoft, Software,
A new update for Windows Phone 8's Facebook app doesn't bring new features, but does make the app a lot faster and more responsive. Similar to the recent Facebook app updates on Android and iOS, this one focuses on the general performance of the app, and eliminates the lag from the older version.
Windows Phone 7 devices, however, aren't capable of running the new update. UK users will assuredly find the Facebook version 4.1 update in the UK Windows Phone Marketplace, but its not quite available in all markets yet.
Read More | Windows Phone
Google Trends shows Microsoft’s next Xbox is already beating Playstation 4
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Culture, PlayStation 3, Sony, Xbox, Xbox 360,
We trust Google with a lot of things: we trust that it will be there for us when our memory fails and that it will find the best information for us. Can we trust it to predict the future for us too? Well, the future of consumer electronics at least.
Based on Google Trends searches, Microsoft's next generation system is poised to take down Sony's next Playstation console. Google Trends previously held the data that showed the winner of the high-def DVD race, as Blu-ray yielded more search results than HD DVD films. This time, news site Ludos Mundi used Google Trends to discover whose winning the next-gen popularity contest, and found users search "Xbox 720" about 60 percent of the time, compared to searches for "PS4" that occur 40 percent of the time.
You can use Google Trends yourself to see the data. Simply compare "Xbox 720" and "PS4" using the Forecast feature.
Read More | Ludos Mundi via Venture Beat
Bleeding Edge TV 463: Surface Type Cover review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Features, Microsoft, Podcasts, Product Reviews, Videocasts, Videos,
We gave you a look at the Microsoft Surface Touch Cover in our last video, and now we are here to show you the Type Cover. Both are keyboard covers for Microsoft's Windows RT tablet, but the Type Cover features real mechanical keys. This means that it's more like a traditional keyboard than the Touch Cover...but it's also thicker as a result. Check out the video for our review of the Type Cover in this episode, and if you'd like one, you can pick up a Type Cover for $129.
Be sure to also check out our full Microsoft Surface review!
Bleeding Edge TV 462: Surface Touch Cover review
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Features, Microsoft, Podcasts, Product Reviews, Videocasts, Videos,
We give you a look at the Microsoft Surface Touch Cover, the keyboard accessory for Microsoft's tablet, in this episode of Bleeding Edge TV. The Touch Cover offers a pressure-sensitive touch typing experience for the Surface, making it a super-thin, convenient way to type when using the tablet in kickstand mode with Windows RT. We give you a look at all the different colors available for the Touch Cover, attaching each to the Surface to give you a little bit of a fashion show, and review the overall functionality with a demo.
You can pick up the Touch Cover for $119.
Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 Pro drops in January for $899
Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Corporate News, Microsoft, PC / Laptop,
If the Surface with Windows RT isnt sporting the power and flexibility you need (check our Microsoft Surface review,) then the Surface with Windows 8 Pro would be more your jam, and Microsoft has finally announced pricing for the beefed up slate. Surface with Windows 8 Pro will be available in early 2013 (read: at least 3 months later than it should have been release) in two configurations: a 64GB standalone version priced at $899 and a 128 GB standalone version priced at $999. Both models will include a Surface pen with Palm Block technology.
What do you think? Have you been holding out for the Surface Pro? How does that price range hit you?
Read More | Microsoft Blog
New Tiers added to Xbox Community Ambassador program
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Internet, Microsoft, Xbox Live,
The Xbox Community Ambassador campaign now has five more tier levels added to it, which include awards ranging from free Avatar swag to the Xbox Live gamer spotlight. The Xbox Community Ambassador program rewards Xbox Live members who assist other members through chat or the forum, acting as a reputation system that awards XP that can be redeemed.
The new tiers are listed below:
- Level 11, gold star avatar t-shirt.
- Level 12, gold star avatar hat and 10 tickets for periodic ambassador sweepstakes.
- Level 13, gamer spotlight, ilomilo on Xbox Live Arcade.
- Level 14, one month Xbox Live subscription and 10 ambassador sweepstakes tickets.
- Level 15, avatar spacesuit, 800 Microsoft Points.
If you're interested in becoming an ambassaor, you can apply here.
Read More | Xbox Community Ambassadors
Xbox 360 Sells 750,000 Last Week, more than Wii U and Wii combined
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Corporate News, Hardware, Microsoft, Nintendo, Wii U, Xbox 360,
If Major Nelson's calculations are correct, the Xbox 360, a seven year-old console, has outsold the Wii U and Wii combined during the week of November 18th. The Wii U sold 400,000 units during its launch week, and the old Wii managed to still sell 300,000. The Xbox 360 sold 750,000. This is a remarkably high number for a console so late in it's life cycle, and it begs the question, do we need new hardware anytime soon?
The number of Xbox Live Gold subscriptions also increased more than 50 percent compared to last year's Black Friday week, with over 14 million people logged into Xbox Live on Sunday alone.
Sony hasn't revealed its numbers yet, but it looks like the Xbox 360 will end up being the best selling console in the US for November. You can pick one up on Amazon.
Read More | Major Nelson via Neowin
Microsoft readying OTA update remedy for Windows Phone 8 reboot epidemic
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Smartphones, Microsoft, Software,
Microsoft has gotten to the bottom of the random Windows Phone 8 reboots, and is issuing an OTA update by December. The company, however, won't reveal the problem.
Here's what Microsoft had to say: “We’re continuing to investigate some reports of phones rebooting and have identified a cause with our partners. We are working to get an over-the-air update out in December.”
If you're currently one of the people with affected phones, let us know in the comments what model you have, as Microsoft hasn't detailed the types of phones affected or whether it's all Windows 8 devices.
Read More | AllThingsD
Microsoft has sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses
Posted by Jason Diaz Categories: Corporate News, Microsoft, PC / Laptop, Software,
Microsoft has announced that it has sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses since the release of the operating system on October 26th. Although reviews of the operating system suggest it has not been well received, it seems that consumers are excited about Microsoft's new hotness. Also, sales figures revealed by Microsoft state it sold just 4 million copies in the first week of launch, so it's obviously ramped up a bit.
Click to continue reading Microsoft has sold 40 million Windows 8 licenses
Read More | ZDnet
