By now you're probably aware that May 21st is a big day for Microsoft. That's when we'll
hopefully get some details about the next generation Xbox. Of course if it's anything like the PS4
announcement we'll just see a bunch of game demos.
That and at some point somebody's arms flailing about in
front of a Kinect sensor.
EA, the game publishing giant, is apparently on board with
the new console after two anonymous
sources leaked a few tantalizing tidbits about an exclusive add-on content deal. Exactly what
that means, however, is still a matter of supposition.
Until now, all we really knew from all the leaked developer
kits, anonymous tips and antisocial behavior from a former creative director is
that the console was going to be based on Intel X86 architecture, require an
Internet connection to function and have a Blu-Ray Drive.
Which may as well be a press release for the Sony PS4.
Then on April 25th Paul Thurrott, longtime watcher of all
things Microsoft, wrote an article for WindowsITPro called, "HereComes the Next Xbox"
Thurrott is a respected author, blogger and head honcho at
winsupersite.com and has access to those in the know at Microsoft. Basically if Thurrott says it's real there's
a 99% chance it is.
From his article we know this much about the next XBOX.
- · We still don'tknow its name will be but it definitely won't be XBOX 720.
- · It'll cost you $500 ($300 w/2 year XBOX Live sub. at $10/mo.)
- · It won't run Xbox 360 software but the 360 will still exist.
- · It's going to be running the Windows 8 Operating System
Yes, you read that right.
The next XBOX will be running Windows and not Windows RT or some strange
derivative. Thurrott says it will be
based on Windows 8 Core which is the entry level Windows 8 operating system
complete with tiles and media player and all of that.
Of course it will be heavily modified for the console but at
its heart it's still Windows 8. The
Modern (or Metro) tile interface would seem to lend itself to just such an
application so long as the translation from touch centric to something more in
line with a console could be adapted.
That's the rub.
Windows 8 may be Microsoft's one user interface to rule them all but on
a console, even one based on X86, you're still dealing with a limited
sandbox. It has to be that way or else
you're just selling a $500 PC that you can't upgrade.
Thurrott stated in his article that the "always
on" Internet requirement wouldn't be as "draconian" as people
think.
The question that comes to the forefront is why have it at
all then? How can a console be required
to always have a connection to the Internet if it isn't for DRM?
I think I've got the answer and it goes straight back to the
operating system.
Remember, Thurrott said the OS was based on Windows 8
core. If that's so then it's going to be
subject to the same patch cycle as any other Windows 8 deployment. Even in a sandbox, security holes, bug fixes
and the like will need to be applied on a regular schedule.
Which brings up a very real concern for the platform because
it's going to require Microsoft to be ever vigilant or face the potential
disaster of millions of Windows 8 consoles suddenly being bricked by an
unpatched vulnerability.
It's my own supposition but it's the only way I can see an
"always on" requirement being less draconian.
We'll know more in a few weeks at the announcement and at
this year's E3 where Microsoft is supposed to spill all the beans about the
console.
I guess this is what they meant by convergence.
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