Apple, Microsoft Try Social Software Model
Microsoft got the ball rolling with its XNA programming framework for making XBox games aimed at amateur and student programmers. The product, called XNA Game Studio Express, costs $99 per year and allows you to compile code to run on PCs and the 360 as well as share your work with others in the same network. Most games will probably never make it into the wild, but Microsoft expects some games to reach shelves.
Like a farm team, the Studio Express model gains lots of Microsoft goodwill while giving a generation of programmers access to the APIs that make Xbox such a compelling platform.
Apple recently sent out a survey asking for information on the following details:
* The ability to view a friend’s wish list, with permission
* The ability to view what a friend is currently listening to, with permission
* The ability to view a friend’s playlist, with permission
* The ability to view a friend’s recent purchases, with permission
* The ability to view a friend’s favorite artists, with permission