Microsoft may have launched its companion app for Xbox consoles on Windows Phone 7 devices exclusively, but it isn’t leaving iOS users completely out in the cold. The official My Xbox LIVE universal app, which works on both iPhone and iPad, is in the App Store now.

My Xbox LIVE doesn’t have the console-controlling functions of the Xbox Companion app, but it does offer gamers access to their Xbox LIVE account info, including game achievements, your 3D avatar and friends management and messaging. In fact, if you don’t have a keyboard accessory for your Xbox controller, it makes chatting with friends, managing your friends list and setting Beacons, which alert you to when your friends want to do the same thing as you, much easier.

var galleryData = [{"title":"MyXboxLIVE-iPad1","caption":"","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/12\/myxboxlive-ipad1.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"MyXboxLIVE-iPad2","caption":"","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/12\/myxboxlive-ipad2.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"MyXboxLIVE6","caption":"","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/12\/myxboxlive6.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"MyXboxLIVE5","caption":"","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/12\/myxboxlive5.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"MyXboxLIVE4","caption":"","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/12\/myxboxlive4.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"MyXboxLIVE3","caption":"","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/12\/myxboxlive3.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"MyXboxLIVE2","caption":"","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/12\/myxboxlive2.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}, {"title":"MyXboxLIVE1","caption":"","thumbnail":"http:\/\/gigaom2.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/12\/myxboxlive1.jpg?w=48&h=48&crop=1"}];
 

It’s actually a very handy little app, and it does a good imitation of Windows Phone 7 for people who haven’t experienced that platform’s interface yet. Sounds are taken straight from the Xbox itself, and despite a little lag when switching between some screens as the info is retrieved from Microsoft’s servers, it’s a pretty fun way to navigate content that’s kind of a chore to view on your console.

The app also includes a “Spotlight” section that presents you with video trailers and featurettes normally available through the console. It’s free, so if you’re an Xbox LIVE user, there’s no reason not to check it out.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

• Connected world: the consumer technology revolution
• Forecast: Tablet App Sales To Hit B by 2015
• Forecast: the evolution of the e-book market

alt=''
border='0'
/>

GigaOM

Just as the rumors indicated, Microsoft is bringing video from a number of providers beyond the ones it initially announced to the Xbox 360 in its fall update, including big guns like Verizon and Comcast. While Verizon is promising “a selection” of its live TV channels on the Xbox 360, as we’d expected Comcast is only bringing its Xfinity TV video on-demand offerings (no AnyPlay powered live TV — yet) for subscribers when it launches “in the coming months”. Other notables on the list include Lovefilm and BBC TV streaming in the UK, HBO Go, and Syfy. As promised during E3, the services integrated with Xbox will offer support for search across whatever video is available, no matter where, as well as support for Kinect voice and gesture controls. The universal search is promising, as it pulls together various services in one UI as we discussed on the podcast yesterday, but the reality is content providers and geographical limits on what services you can pick from are still throwing up walls. Check after the break for press releases from Microsoft, Comcast, and Verizon detailing what you’ll be able to access and where, as well as a video introduction to the new services.

..developing

Continue reading Microsoft reveals new TV providers including Verizon and Comcast coming to Xbox 360 (video)

Microsoft reveals new TV providers including Verizon and Comcast coming to Xbox 360 (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink Major Nelson  |  Microsoft Technet, Verizon, Comcast, MS PR  | Email this | Comments
Engadget

The most frequent Xbox 360 problem is the Xbox 360 Ring of Death which has really bothered a lot of gamers. When this happens, the Xbox is unusable and is said to be due to a general hardware failure. It got its name the red ring of death for the reason that when this problem strikes, rather than green circles around the power button, it becomes red. The red lights is an indication that there is something wrong with your Xbox.

So, you will discover that you are experiencing this Xbox 360 ring of death when you turn on your Xbox and instead of the four green lights appearing, you will see three red lights surrounding the power button and your game console will refuse to work anymore. Going through this is no fun at all since it makes your Xbox unusable. If you like to fix your Xbox cheap and fast, then you need to find other solutions instead of sending it to the manufacturer.

When you experience the Xbox 360 ring of death, it won’t just disappear on its own because it is a fatal error. This problem will just continue to persist no matter what you do in trying to revive it. Definitely with the right instructions, there are now helpful solutions that you can do to get rid of this problem.

This problem doesn’t just strike out of the blue though, before the Xbox 360 ring of death actually happens, you will notice a few warning signs prior to this. You will encounter graphical problems while you are playing games, the console freezing often interrupting your play, and also not being able to turn the Xbox off automatically making you switch it off manually by pressing the power button are all signs of the red of ring death problem.

If it just so happens that your Xbox conks out while it is still under warranty then that is a great thing. However if it isn’t under warranty then sending your Xbox to Microsoft for repairs will cost you a lot which is why you have to search for other choices such as using a repair guide that is affordable and will surely get your Xbox up and running again.

To fix any problems with the Xbox 360 Ring of Death along with other problems, check out 3 Red Light Fix which a repair manual that will help you fix any problem you are experiencing.

Earlier we discovered that J. Allard, the Father of the Xbox, is leaving Microsoft. This was the goodbye email he sent to his team: More »










Microsoft – J Allard – Xbox – Monopolies and Oligopolies – Economic

View full post on Gizmodo

The WSJ solidifies an intriguing post by Mary Jo Foley last week that J. Allard, the guy behind the Xbox, Zune and Courier—or more formally, the Chief Experience Officer and Chief Technology Officer of Microsoft’s E&D division—is leaving after Steve Ballmer killed the Courier tablet project. More »










Microsoft – Xbox – J Allard – Mary Jo Foley – Steve Ballmer

View full post on Gizmodo

Microsoft is bringing USB mass storage capabilities to the Xbox 360 in an update coming in a week and a half.

Originally posted at Web Crawler