The written musings of a long-time Apple //e and Macintosh tech nerd. Opinions are my own.
For Christmas this year, I gave myself an Atari 2600+! Little did I know, that my pet soiled original Atari 2600 – that I left for dead – still freakin’ worked! Watch the 2600’s composite video go up against the Atari 2600+’s HDMI upscaled graphics!
For more Atari composite video shenanigans, check out BigBadBiologist’s Atari 2600 Composite AV mod video.
Microsoft just learned the hard way that they shouldn’t bite the hand that feeds them. The mega popular Xbox is due for an upgrade later this year and with it, Microsoft saw the new upgrade cycle as a way to lock down the new gaming console; a move that turned out to be very unpopular with the people they want to sell the new system too.
The Xbox One, the follow on produce to the current generation console known as the Xbox 360, was to have a “call home” feature that would check in with Microsoft’s servers daily. While a version of this feature has been in recent versions of their Windows desktop and server operating systems, this was the first time the “feature” was to be included in the Xbox operating system. Similarly, Microsoft was hoping to tamp down game piracy, and customers ability to lend, share, trade, and re-sell their games, by seriously limiting or removing the ability to use a previously registered game, depending on who’s version of the truth you subscribe to.
But that’s to the gumption of gamers around the world, Microsoft has decided to reverse the controversial components of the Xbox One system software.
On their website, the Wall Street Journal wrote:
“The Redmond, Wash., software company said it would no longer require its Xbox to connect to the Internet each day, nor would it restrict how its video game discs are traded, resold or rented.
“We have listened and we have heard loud and clear from your feedback that you want the best of both worlds,” Don Mattrick, head of Microsoft’s entertainment division that houses the Xbox, said in a statement.”
Nice job, Internet!
[Via WSJ.com…]
This past Wednesday, Sony held an invitation only press event to announce their new PlayStation 4, that is expected to be released just in time for the 2013 holiday season.
From the New York Times’ Sony event coverage:
“The first new PlayStation in seven years was promoted by Sony as being like a “supercharged PC.” It has a souped-up eight-core processor to juggle more complex tasks simultaneously, enhanced graphics, the ability to play games even as they are being downloaded, and a new controller designed in tandem with a stereo camera that can sense the depth of the environment in front of it.”
While Sony did show off the new PS4 controller and some graphics demos, the new unit itself was not put out for display.
[Via NYTimes.com…]