Microsoft backs down after Sony kicks console ass

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/blogs/game-junkie/8825103/Microsoft-backtracks-on-next-gen-vision

Microsoft has made major concessions with it's Xbox One.  No longer will the console require an online connection and games can be bought and sold just like the 360.

This reversal marks a huge backdown by the software giant.  So much so that wags online are now calling the new console the Xbox 180.  You've gotta laugh.

 One wonders how Microsoft got it so wrong.  Did they really believe that punters would accept their draconian vision of game ownership and access?  Really?

More than the telling public storm, is the fact that PS4 sales were leaving the Xbox One dead in the water.  Some markets reported PS4 sales were outstripping Xbox One by 7 to 1.  Horrifying figures for Microsoft.  Of course a viral video from Sony mocking Microsoft's ineptitude probably didn't help in the humiliation stakes either.

I'm still not buying an Xbox One.  Not until I can play my current back catalog of games on it (see my previous blog post).

Come on Microsoft, do another 180 on this issue and you'll have a full 360.  And you'll have a console I'll be willing to purchase.

More > http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/games/8831970/Microsoft-Cries-Uncle-on-Xbox-One-Battle

Xbox One - not "The One" for me

Microsoft has had another brain fade in announcing that it's much touted Xbox One will not play older games.

http://au.businessinsider.com/xbox-one-will-not-work-with-old-xbox-games-2013-5

http://au.businessinsider.com/why-the-new-xbox-one-wont-play-old-xbox-360-games-2013-5

When I heard this I was astonished.  Backwards compatibility should have been a must to get users to carry over from their previous consoles.

When I bought my Xbox 360 I gave away my original Xbox with some of the games I didn't like.  I kept the games I did like because they played on my new console.  I was happy with this.

According to Microsoft, their new console "It uses an “x86″ architecture for its processor and the others relied on a “PowerPC” architecture."  Therefore it won't work.  Rubbish!  They simply haven't bothered, gambling that punters will flock to the new Xbox One and abandon their old machines and games. Nope.

Expect a reversal on the stance from Microsoft.  Just like their Windows 8 reversal on the need for a start button.  They'll bring out an update which opens access to old games when their sales targets are missed by miles.

You heard it here first.

I'm keeping my Xbox 360 until it dies.  If I can't play my current selection of games  on the One, I'll replace it with another 360.  Chew on that Microsoft.

Goodbye XP - it's been a blast

Microsoft has announced the date that it will stop supporting Windows XP.  You have one year from today to before XP will become officially 'unsupported'.  Here's how the NBR reported it:


http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/microsoft-calls-time-windows-xp-still-used-500000-nz-computers-ck-138309


XP was released in 2001 - so is showing it's age with three iterations of Windows (Vista, Win7 and Win8) having been subsequently released.

It's a shame, but progress has to be made.  The fact that the operating system (OS) will no longer be supported does not mean that it will stop.  Microsoft will just stop issuing updates and support for it.  If you have an old XP system running on old hardware it will keep going.

I love XP.  It's a wonderful, faithful old companion.  I like it's simplicity and the way it worked.  I spent many thousands of hours playing Doom II on an XP system - these were some of the happiest times of my IT career.


What shall we do with old hardware which won't run the later versions of Windows?

1. Keep running XP on it.  As mentioned above, XP will keep going.  When the hardware breaks then dump it.

2. Upgrade the hardware.  This sounds great, but is not really an option.  The costs are prohibitive and you would be better buying a new system.

3. Install Android.  Yup - you heard me right.  I installed Android 4.0 onto a pen drive and use it to boot my old XP laptop up.  Android works wonderfully on old humble hardware and will become my laptop's OS should XP die on me.

The Android OS is free to download so you have nothing to lose.  Search the Internet for instructions using the keywords "x86 Android" to find out more or use this link to the Wiki page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android-x86

New Zealand Teletext service shutting down.

Here in New Zealand the Teletext service is being shut down.  We lose it in April 2013 along with the rest of the analogue TV service.

I like the service - fraught though it is with problems.  I use it to scan the headlines for something interesting or new.  It's a bit like a prehistoric RSS feed.

To solve the problem of missing this news service, I got one of these

Mini TV for Android, coupled with one of these

 Mini keyboard & mouse from www.GeekBuying.com.

This little package plus my home WiFi turns my 'dumb' TV into a smart one with Android 4.1, apps, browser et al.  not only is this cool, but the dual core mini TV is very quick.

For a news service I use this free app:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.daingo.news.newzealand&feature=search_result

Goodbye Teletext, sniff - I'll miss you with your wonky links, bad spelling and horrendous grammar.

BTW I have got great service from GeekBuying.com!  They ship internationally for free.  That's right. FREE.

I highly recommend them.