Microsoft demonstrates Xbox One user interface ahead of launch

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Microsoft has been pretty coy about showing off Xbox One’s user interface…until now, that is. Xbox’s Yusuf Mehdi and Marc Whitten demonstrate the One’s UI and its speedy multitasking prowess in the 12-minute video embedded above.

They mostly demonstrate features we’re already aware of, but seeing truly is believing in this case. Sit down in front of your Xbox One-equipped TV and Kinect will sense your presence, recognize you, and automatically sign you into your Xbox Live account. If your buddy’s with you too, no problem; Xbox will sign both of you in and you can switch between your personalize dashboard and your friend’s simply by saying “Xbox, show my stuff.”

The One’s home screen is pretty straightforward. The middle, main section is called Home and there is the space that shows you your most recent live session, whether that may be a game or an app. To the left of Home is Pins; this is a customizable space where you can pin and save your favorite and most frequently used apps and content for easy access. And to the right of Home is Store; this space is divided into various storefronts such as Games, Movies & TV, Music, and Apps.

Multitasking on Xbox One, or jumping in and out of games and apps, is truly a breeze. In this demo, Yusuf and Marc are playing Forza Motorsport 5. Say “Xbox, go to Netflix” and the system will automatically pause the game and jump into the Netflix app. Say “Xbox, return to Forza Motorsport 5” and you’ll jump back into the game exactly where you had left off. It’s just as easy to switch to Internet Explorer, Hulu Plus, and any other app you might have installed on your console.

Also discussed are the advantages of having your games system tied to your cable box. With the One’s HDMI IN port you can hook your TV feed into the Xbox and browse and watch live TV through the system. So, when you’re watching TV now you receive Xbox notifications and jump directly into a game when an invite is presented. You may also receive a Skype call when you’re watching TV and you just as easily pause your programming to initiate a video chat. Skype on Xbox One boasts a 1080p HD widescreen picture and Kinect will smartly track your movements as you move around your living space during a conversation.

Lastly, two new features of Xbox Live are demonstrated here. With Game DVR, gamers can record their gameplay, edit it and share it with friends via the Upload Studio app. You can even select picture-in-picture mode which will record your gameplay as well as instruct Kinect to record you and your narration as you play. With One Guide, you can browse your TV channel lineup by saying things like “Xbox, what’s on HBO” or “Xbox, what’s on ESPN.” You can also create customized favorites lists within One Guide with your apps; for example you can make it easy to browse Hulu Plus’ latest offerings right inside One Guide without having to jump into the app itself.

Side note: Speaking of digital entertainment apps, Microsoft has announced the full list of said apps that will be available on Xbox One at launch and you’ll find the full list after the break.

But words can only say so much. Hit play and discover just how fast and intuitive the new Xbox really is. Xbox One hits the market in just 12 days on November 22.

Update: Yusuf is back to demo another Xbox One feature not covered in the extensive video above. It’s called Snap and it allows you to “snap” or pin an app to your screen while you’re doing something else. For example, while you’re playing Forza you can say “Xbox, snap Internet Explorer” to pull up the browser  and view a website while you’re playing the game. You can even say “Xbox, snap TV” and you can watch live TV while you’re racing. It’s multitasking for the hyper-active generation. Watch it in action after the break. Continue reading Microsoft demonstrates Xbox One user interface ahead of launch →

Sony solidifies PS4 launch titles and digital entertainment apps

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It’s just five days until Sony releases its next-gen console the PlayStation 4. Previously we had only known the PS4’s “launch window titles,” those games that would release for the system before year’s end. Now Sony’s made known all 22 launch titles that will release alongside the console on November 15; they include 5 first-party games developed by Sony Computer Entertainment, 12 third-party titles, and 5 indie titles. See them all listed after the break.

In addition to announcing PS4’s launch titles, Sony also shared the 13 digital entertainment apps that will be available on the system starting day one and the most popular ones like Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, and Hulu Plus are all there. The full list of apps follows after the break.

[Via PlayStation Blog 1, 2] Continue reading Sony solidifies PS4 launch titles and digital entertainment apps →

Apple reports 2013 Q4 earnings: $7.5b profit on $37.5b revenue

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On October 28 Apple reported its third quarter financial results. Apple posted a $7.5 billion profit on $37.5 billion in revenue. Compare this to one year ago, that’s down from a profit of $8.2 billion and slightly up on $36 billion in revenue. Says CEO Tim Cook: “We’re pleased to report a strong finish to an amazing year with record fourth quarter revenue, including sales of almost 34 million iPhones. We’re excited to go into the holidays with our new iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s, iOS 7, the new iPad mini with Retina Display and the incredibly thin and light iPad Air, new MacBook Pros, the radical new Mac Pro, OS X Mavericks and the next generation iWork and iLife apps for OS X and iOS.”

Now let’s break it down by product category. Apple sold 33.8 million iPhones in the quarter (compared to 26.9 million in the year-ago quarter); 14.1 million iPads (compared to 14 million); and 3.8 million Macs (compared to 4.6 million). iPod sales have declined year after year ever since the introduction of the iPhone, and interestingly Apple is no longer reporting how many units sold in this product department.

Looking ahead to the first fiscal quarter of 2014, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer expects revenue between $55 billion and $58 billion.

[Via Apple]

Sony gets nostalgic with its PlayStation brand over the years

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As we near the launch of the next generation of video games, it’s time to get nostalgic. Sony has produced a video that takes gamers all the way back to 1995–the year the original PlayStation was released–and it time travels across the various incarnations of the PS1, PS2, and PS3 all leading up to the present. Well, the near present; PS4 comes out in less than a month on November 15. Relive the magic that is the PlayStation boot screens and their unmistakable bleeps and bloops. You’ve got to admit, this 3+ minute clip hits the spot and it’s hard not to feel all fuzzy and then genuinely pumped for the next console from Sony.

To balance things out, jump after the break to watch Microsoft’s latest ad pimping its next-gen hardware the Xbox One. The focus this time around, thankfully, is on the games. The One hits the market on November 22. Continue reading Sony gets nostalgic with its PlayStation brand over the years →

‘Arrested Development’ soundtrack coming in November

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Ten years after its debut, composer David Schwartz is finally releasing an Arrested Development soundtrack. The 42-track disc features music heard across all four seasons of the cult comedy, including fan favorites like the Arrested theme, “It Ain’t Easy Being White,” “Mr. F,” “Big Yellow Joint,” “Fantastic 4 (Medley),” and an extended version of “Getaway.” The last track on the collection is the incredibly catchy “Boomerang,” the song that closes out the Netflix season performed by Schwartz’s daughter Lucy. Schwartz says the soundtrack pickings were inspired by fan requests during Arrested‘s recent AMA on Reddit.

The Arrested Development soundtrack comes out November 19 and you can preorder it today at Amazon. Jump after the break for the full tracklist; there you’ll also find a video uploaded by Schwartz teaching you how to play the AD theme on the uke! Continue reading ‘Arrested Development’ soundtrack coming in November →

Showtime renews ‘Homeland’ & ‘Masters of Sex’

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Showtime has renewed Homeland and Masters of Sex for a fourth and second season, respectively. The Emmy-award winning Homeland is the network’s #1 rated show averaging 6.5 million weekly viewers. The CIA drama is exploring new avenues this season with intense character studies of its two main protagonists Carrie Mathison and Nicholas Brody, both of whom are experiencing extreme isolation as they remain worlds apart from each other. Some think it to be too slow, but I am appreciating the shift in pace and the focus on character. If you’re caught up you know the game has changed with a surprise twist so things are expected to ramp up in terms of sheer fast-paced action Homeland is famous for.

Freshman Masters of Sex has proven to be a hit as well, averaging 5.4 million viewers. Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan, who portray real-life human sexuality pioneers William Masters and Virginia Johnson, lead a great cast in a show that everybody knew would be sexual and risqué yet also addicting and very intriguing.

“Homeland continues to prove its strength for Showtime, and is one of television’s most exciting, provocative and widely-discussed shows. It has grown its audience significantly in each of its three seasons,” said Showtime President David Nevins. “And, the critical and audience reaction to Masters of Sex since its great launch has been incredibly gratifying. It’s a privilege to get to work with such talented and creative people as Alex Gansa and Michelle Ashford, as well as their tremendous casts. They have each created truly original shows, with distinctive voices that are among the most admired series on television.”

Homeland and Masters of Sex air Sunday nights starting at 9PM on Showtime.

Fall TV updates: FOX gives ‘Dads’ full season order, ABC likes ‘Back in the Game’ & ‘Super Fun Night’

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Despite critics panning the series as its September premiere approached, FOX has granted Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin and Wellesley Wild’s Dads a full season order; the back-nine increases the season’s episode total to 22. You can certainly argue that the “bad press” for Dads helped increase its popularity leading to its FSO. The raunchy sitcom starring Seth Green, Giovanni Ribisi, and Martin Mull averages a 2.2/7 rating among adults 18-49, a respectable number in these DVR-heavy times. FOX head Kevin Reilly explained the reason behind the season one order:

“FOX has been looking to break into the multi-camera format for some time,” he said. “With Dads, we have an asset that we can grow, and we’re looking forward to seeing where the fantastic cast and the creative minds of Seth, Alec, Mike and Wellesley take us the rest of the season.”

Shifting to ABC and single-cam comedies, comedies Back in the Game with James Caan and Super Fun Night with Rebel Wilson have each received two additional script orders–a good sign for fans of these shows. Previously the alphabet network showed confidence in its other half-hour sitcoms The Goldbergs and Trophy Wife by ordering three more scripts apiece for them. Is the network bold enough to grant FSOs to four of these guys? Time–and ratings–will tell.

Joe Carroll still haunts Ryan Hardy in season 2 of ‘The Following’

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Ready for some chills down your spine? Check out these two new teasers for season two of The Following. Above, Ryan Hardy and a bearded (so he’s not dead?) Joe Carroll fight for supremacy; cool camera trick, huh? After the break, James Purefoy’s Carroll still haunts Kevin Bacon’s Hardy who is on a mission of revenge next season.

The Following returns to FOX this January. Continue reading Joe Carroll still haunts Ryan Hardy in season 2 of ‘The Following’ →

Marvel drops new ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ poster + trailer

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Chris Evans is back as Steve Rogers aka Captain America in the sequel The Winter Soldier. Above Cap looks ready to jump off a S.H.I.E.L.D. “bus” and into action. In my opinion the first film was the weakest in Marvel’s Phase One batch; thankfully the movie’s premiere trailer kicks things into high gear with some fantastic, big budget action sequences featuring lots of Cap, Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow, and Samuel L. Jackson’s omnipresent Nick Fury. Joining the cast are Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, Anthony Mackie as Falcon, Emily VanCamp as Agent 13, and Robert Redford as Agent Alexander Pierce, a senior leader within the S.H.I.E.L.D. organization. The latest synopsis follows.

After the cataclysmic events in New York with The Avengers, Marvel’s “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” finds Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America, living quietly in Washington, D.C. and trying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under attack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Joining forces with the Black Widow, Captain America struggles to expose the ever-widening conspiracy while fighting off professional assassins sent to silence him at every turn. When the full scope of the villainous plot is revealed, Captain America and the Black Widow enlist the help of a new ally, the Falcon. However, they soon find themselves up against an unexpected and formidable enemy—the Winter Soldier.

Jump after the break to watch the new trailer. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is out April 14, 2014. Continue reading Marvel drops new ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’ poster + trailer →

Michael Arndt steps away from ‘Star Wars Episode VII’, J.J. Abrams & Lawrence Kasdan resume script duties

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Little Miss Sunshine and Toy Story 3 writer Michael Arndt has dropped out of penning the upcoming Star Wars movie from director J.J. Abrams. Taking over screenwriting duties for the film are Abrams and Lawrence Kasdan. Kasdan, who was the co-screenwriter for The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi and who also wrote Raiders of the Lost Ark, had already been serving as a consultant on Episode VII.

Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy commented on the behind-the-scenes changes, remaining positive as production on the highly anticipated franchise reboot is already underway.

“I am very excited about the story we have in place and thrilled to have Larry and J.J. working on the script,” Kennedy said in a statement. “There are very few people who fundamentally understand the way a Star Wars story works like Larry, and it is nothing short of incredible to have him even more deeply involved in its return to the big screen. J.J. of course is an incredible storyteller in his own right. Michael Arndt has done a terrific job bringing us to this point and we have an amazing filmmaking and design team in place already prepping for production.”

Location scouting, production design, casting, and costume design for Star Wars Episode VII has begun and shooting is scheduled to begin in spring 2014 at Pinewood Studios. The film’s expected 2015 release remains firm.

[Via Star Wars]

‘Slumdog’s Freida Pinto strips in Bruno Mars “Gorilla” music video

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The music video for “Gorilla,” a strong track off Bruno Mars’ second record Unorthodox Jukebox, has been let loose into the wild and it stars Slumdog Millionaire‘s Freida Pinto stripping in a club and later pounding Mars’ chest like bang-bang gorillaaa. Actor Luis Guzman pops up too, for good measure. With that, enjoy.