As great as the allure of its filters may be, Facebook didn’t spend $1 billion on Instagram for its digital photo effects. No, it was because Instagram was mobile-first, growing like a weed, had just launched on Android, and because it had created (with a small team) the first good-looking, mobile-centric social network for photos — location-tagged photos to boot. Launching a major redesign of… → Read More
Last July, TeliportMe launched an Android app that allows users to capture and share panoramic images. The app, appropriately called 360, gives users the ability to not only capture high-res 360 panoramic views, but share their images on Facebook and Twitter, as well as view, comment on, and “fav” images captured by their friends. Essentially, it’s Instagram in 360-degree mode. → Read More
Earlier this month, MG broke the news that iOS app testing platform, TestFlight, had been acquired by Burstly. In one fell swoop, TestFlight (which continues to exist in its current, free-to-use form) combined its app testing strengths with Burstly’s app monetization platform, launching a supposed one-two punch with TestFlight Live, a new product that allows developers to view realtime engagement… → Read More
Last November, TechCrunch’s own Sarah Lacy sat down with Vineet Devaiah from “social streetview” startup, Phototour.in, which, at the time, had just received term sheets from a number of high-profile U.S. investors and had recently been awarded the “Top Emerging Technology Company of 2010″ by Nvidia. The startup was the first international, non-funded, under-20-member company to win the award… → Read More
The old, white Xbox media remote was often a godsend. Instead of pressing odd buttons on the controller, the media remote let you control Netflix and DVD videos with ease and it was big and unique enough not to get lost. This new media remote, however, looks less like a bar of Dove soap and more like a traditional remote control. → Read More
Well, I think we can call the 360 a hit now. The console is six years old and, according to a chart by the NPD, has never seen a down year in the states. What’s more, it’s actually increasing in sales thanks in part to the Kinect. That, if you’re to believe these stats, makes the Xbox 360 the only console in history to see such growth this far into its lifecycle. Other systems tend to peak in year… → Read More
If you need an official XBox 360 USB Flash Drive (and we all do), why not go down to the SanDisk store and pick up an 8 or 16GB flash drive for $34.99 and $69.99 respectively.
N.B. – You can basically use any flash drive with your XBox and, as nice as SanDisk is, this stuff is a bit pricey. → Read More
Get ready to spend some Gil – it looks like Square isn’t going to ignore the US this time. Square Enix and Microsoft just announced that they are putting together a special Final Fantasy XIII Xbox 360. And while these are normally restricted to Japan, this time you’ll actually be able to buy one without have to pay to import it! → Read More
Does your Xbox 360 look out of place on your equipment rack? Does it just look too juvenile with the concaved case? Are you a boring old fart that still want the the Xbox 360 but need it to look more like a VCR than a gaming system? If so, the Xbox 360 Elegant Edition is for you. → Read More
Yes, you read the title correctly. Your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. Up for auction on eBay is a PS360: an Xbox 360 in a PS3 case. → Read More
Conspiracy or not, Sony-owned Columbia Pictures movies are mostly good to go from Netflix to the Xbox 360. Initially the studio claimed that licensing was to blame for the restricted access but apparently the proper papers have been pushed ’cause most Columbia flicks can now be played with the notable exceptions of Walk Hard and Bad Boys. Chances are those will be available soon. → Read More
Now that the NXE lets users install games onto the hard drive, space is premium cause these games aren’t small. Plus, the Xbox’s standard hard drive space for the majority of the past three years was a measly 20GB so you really should know how much space these games are going to take up. Full list after the jump. → Read More
Looks like the NXE is out for those who signed up for a preview account and Netflix has confirmed that there will be 300 HD titles in the new streaming system. Looks like Christmas came early! Instead of adding another 10,000 people to the preview program like we did last week, we’ve decided to do something a little different: everyone who successfully applied to the preview program (and… → Read More
The Xbox 360 just gained Netflix high-def streaming capability but a small issue has arisen concerning HDCP and compatible displays. It seems that these high-def files are protected by the copy protection, but no fear, it has nothing to do with component video – and never did. You see, HDCP was devised to protect digital audio and video content that travels over digital mediums such as… → Read More
HD Netflix streaming just dropped on the Xbox 360 and while the reviews have so far been stellar, a little issue just appeared in the form of copy protection. It seems in order to stream the HD videos, the Xbox 360 must be connected to a HDCP-compatible display, therefore alienating most owners using DVI-equipped screens. The situation doesn’t come as much as a surprise though now that… → Read More
We have all had poorly shipped packages, but apparently Microsoft has had enough with DHL’s piss-pore shipping; specifically after a whole train derailed destroying 21,600 Xbox 360s. The suit is seeking $2 million in total damages due to the October 13, 2007 incident. It seems that we here in the States would not have noticed an inventory shortage as these units were destined for Hong… → Read More
But then it will get faster say some folks at Golem. Apparently games on the hard drive suffer from a seek problem that DVD based games don’t have. While the game is loading on DVD, for example, pertinent blocks are placed closer together to speed load times – and the PS3 writes those blocks a few times on the disk to make things even faster – while the HD drive spins around… → Read More
The gaming news keeps on rolling with word of an improved XBOX 360 controller. It seems the boys over at Microsoft have outfitted a larger rocker underneath the d-pad, thus improving control. The new controller looks the same as the current model so don’t expect anything from that department as the change is inside. Time will tell if many gamers will ditch their current controllers though… → Read More
A lot of people got double-screwed when there were all those 360s failing. Not only did your damn console die, but if you had downloaded content like XBLA games, chances are it wouldn’t be on your new console when you got that. Until now, recourse has been difficult, but the license transfer tool lets you consolidate any licenses you had on your last four systems that died. However, I… → Read More
Mr. Miyamoto, tear down this wall! DS and 360 gamers may soon be united by their hatred of Viva Pinata: Trouble In Paradise, a game that simulates brain death. The game uses the 360′s camera to track and decode trading cards. These cards can also appear on devices like Zunes, cellphones, iPods and… DSes. MTV is positing that the upcoming Viva Pinata title for the DS may include… → Read More
To combat the red ring of death and other problems that plagued the 360, chip evolution and improvement has been an important consideration for Microsoft. The Falcon revision, for example, has improved things slightly. Microsoft, then, hopes with this next update, codenamed Jasper, will let them put the rash of console problems behind them. Microsoft is setting up provisions to start updating the… → Read More
Microsoft has just discontinued their HD DVD players for the XBox 360. Microsoft chose… poorly. As a result of recent decisions made by Toshiba, Hollywood studios, and retailers, Microsoft plans to withdraw from HD DVD. Xbox will no longer manufacture new HD DVD players for the Xbox 360, but we will continue to provide standard product and warranty support for all Xbox 360 HD DVD Players in… → Read More
Sure, they’ve been shooting panoramas since the days of sepia-tone, but it’s never been so easy, and it’s never been so def. Hi-def, that is. This new Olympus gadget shoots full circle within a vertical plane of 50°. The company explains that by optimizing the axisymmetric free-form-surface lens, which apparently is the cylindrical lens element, they were able to achieve this… → Read More
We’ve heard a few rumors about Xbox 360 owners being able to get a special deal if they want to trade up to an Elite model and now some have been confirmed. Here’s the deal: If you’re going to trade in your old 360 for an Elite model, go to Gamestop. They’ll give you $50 for an Xbox (wow, not too bad at all), $200 for a Core Xbox 360, and $250 for your Premium version. Even… → Read More
Apparently GameSpot posted — and yanked — a video of the 360 Dashboard updates coming May 7. Good stuff includes: – Releases May 7th. – Add up to 600 Windows Live Messenger contacts to your Friends List. – Text chat with up to 6 Live Messenger contacts at once during games or movies. – The Marketplace will be getting its own Dashboard Blade. – The Marketplace will be skinned… → Read More
With the success of Guitar Hero 2, it was only a matter of time before some publishers and developers went “Hey…what if we did the same concept with a whole band?!” Rock Band is that next step, which is set to drop in November of this year. The game will include a whole band setup using unique controllers for guitar, bass, and drums, as well as microphones for belting out those… → Read More
Though Vista is great and all and quite the improvement over XP, it still has a lot of issues with certain programs and hardware. Hence why Microsoft is taking awhile to roll out its Games For Windows Live service. Luckily, the time is almost upon us. Microsoft will be releasing Games For Windows Live for Vista owners come May 8th. The service will allow gamers to easily play against each other on… → Read More
Well, here’s a bit of news you can use while you spend 70 hours trying to finish Zelda. The Wii uses considerably less electricity than the PS3 or Xbox 360 and makes the PC look as wasteful as a Hummer with a hole in its gas tank. At its peak, the Wii sucked down 18.4 Watts during gameplay as compared to 209.7 Watts in the PC and 199.7 Watts in the PS3. The total power consumption is… → Read More
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