[May 22, 2013] New Xbox plays bigger TV role [Boston Herald] Tweet (Boston Herald (MA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) May 22--The days of hunting around for a remote control are coming to an end, and Microsoft wants to lead the way with its upcoming Xbox One, the first refresh of its popular entertainment console in nearly a decade. It's a one-stop multimedia experience, with a unified device that will be your existing set-top box, gaming console and Internet-connected television in one. Though no release date or price has been disclosed, Microsoft previewed its make-or-break product this week, with one game-changing revelation after another, including: --The Xbox One will know your voice. Just say "Xbox, on," and you'll be automatically signed into your profile, with television viewing suggestions tailored to your habits. --Microsoft is developing original television programming, as previously predicted by Booting Up. To start, Steven Spielberg will produce a series based on the popular game Halo. --Exclusive NFL and sporting content will offer new features. For instance, football fans will be able to watch a live game on one side of the screen, with fantasy league data updated live on the other side. --A new motion-sensing Kinect that Microsoft claims can read your heartbeat from afar is baked into the device. --More than a dozen new games within the first year of release. Among them is Quantum Break, where events in the gaming world affect an upcoming television show and vice versa. Details were scant. With more announcements expected at next month's E3 gaming conference, Microsoft has likely killed any chance of a rebirth for Apple TV and issued a huge challenge to Sony's upcoming Playstation 4. But now expectations for Microsoft are perilously high. The Xbox One's voice and motion recognition features must work as flawlessly as shown in the product reveal for it to succeed. Microsoft's early unveiling was a brilliant move because it took the pitch directly to consumers, promising that "you're going to have a relationship with your TV." With the level of consumer buzz generated for the device, cable companies will have no choice but to agree to integrate with Xbox on Microsoft's terms -- or face an even bigger exodus of subscribers. If all goes according to Microsoft's plan, the Xbox will become the technological hub of your home (think "Xbox, lights on"). Add to that an ecosystem of compatible smartphones and tablets, and we really are looking at the post-PC world that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs talked about -- just not led by the company he wanted. ___ (c)2013 the Boston Herald Visit the Boston Herald at www.bostonherald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]