Recently in Microsoft Category

Over the past couple of years, Fifa has stolen a march on PES and in 2009 it looked to have completely overtaken them. But in 2010, Konami looked to have turned it around.

Menu

The menu has got a complete overhaul and needed some getting used to. It's a lot more creative than 2009 and really jumps out at you. It's edgy and clean. It's not extremely intuitive but not bad enough to put you off.

Playability

This is where the romance started. Slick, realistic and beautiful. I struggled with 2009 and it took a while for me to enjoy it properly but 2010 has got me jumping like mad when I score a goal. The realism is incredible and things like the intelligence of my full backs overlapping is a joy to behold. You can see attacks unfolding when you get possession.

I love the way the players seem to be proactive as well as reactive. You can see players anticipating what will happen before it happens.

I was playing with Arsenal and, it might not sound like a big deal but, the way the players broke when Liverpool's attack came apart was majestic.


Graphics

The graphics are much improved. Face detail and expressions are extremely accurate. On the whole, a lot better. On a huge HD TV it's a feast for the eyes.

Sound

The music is about a million miles better as they have finally got bands that we've actually heard of. This isn't such a big deal as I create playlists anyway but still good to have some names I recognise out of the box.

The crowd has also been improved vastly. The crowd reactions to the on-field action are now more varied, with new chants and cheers. They react spontaneously to specific situations in a game, showing their disdain or pleasure as fouls are committed and goals scored.

The commentary is a bit better but still not there. Don't get me wrong I like their choice of commentators but it's just a bit repetitive. This is something Fifa has mastered.

Animations

Animations now dovetail into each other seamlessly, with dribbling and shots on goals worked into dribbling animations. More individual skills are also on show, including new flicks and tricks that have a definite showing on the way a game flows. Several elements have been completely reworked, with the dribbling, turning and kicking animations greatly enhanced.

Verdict:

Pro Evo has built it's following on the gameplay. If you go down to your local park you'll see two types of players. One that is decked out in all the latest football gear, shin pads, most expensive football boots and the full Man Utd kit (brand new). He can do loads of kick ups but can't play football to save his life. That's FIFA.

Then there's another kid who looks like he's just crawled out of bed with a scruffy t-shirt, wrecked footy trainers and some jogging bottoms that look like he stole them from a tramp. But when he plays, the boy can play and is a match winner. That's Pro.

If you want flashy menus, nice music and all the glitz then by all means buy FIFA 10. But if you just want to play and marvel at the best football simulation game to date? Then Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 is what you've been looking for all your life.

A video of the Zune HD has come out of the gdgt party in San Francisco. This video of a hands-on demo showing the interface and media playback.

We've heard about the great browser and how it'll support HD but this video really shows off the slick user interface and that gorgeous OLED screen!

I just wish they'd show off the multi-touch. That would be like one of those moments when you're on the train and you se a beautiful girl and you think 'Wow she's beautiful' then she does something to make you completely fall for her.

Today I got invited to the 'Microsoft Christmas Showcase' in Central London.

Microsoft were showing off some of their new products due for release in December like teh Zune marketplace, Windows Mobile 6.5 and Windows 7 touch.

So what impressed me? Well, I liked the Xbox stuff like being able to rent films from Netflix, downloading movies and music from Zune, Facebook (below) and Twitter functionality as well as their new Xbox LIVE Party to watch matches and movies with your mates.



The Xbox LIVE Party I thought was a bit naff in that I like to invite my mates over to my place as oppose to having my avatar hang out with other avatars.

The 360 is basically a living room PC that has been customized to be easy to use. I love this idea and thought that Microsoft have come a long way from the initial Xbox 360 console launched all those years ago.

Project Natal will obviously take the console another step forward but the new functionality makes the 360 an all round monster of a machine.

As far as video 'virals' go, this is a good one. How can you make Microsoft Office interesting? Make a Matrix style movie. This video boarders on being rubbish but just about pulls it off.

Enjoy.

A quick post to show XBox 360's Project being used on the Jimmy Fallon show.

This video actually shows how you'd play games at home as oppose to the polished advertorials we've seen up until now.

One word: Amazing.

We all knew Microsoft was looking to release something to come up against the Wii but this is something extra wow. A camera, depth sensor and microphone in one device able to track your movements and space.

So basically, it'll completely track your body movements in 3D (inc depth). This is Microsoft's answer to Nintendo's Wiimote which, for those of you that have been in a coma, a wand that's movements are tracked by the Wii.

The Zune HD is real and ready to take on the iPod Touch. It has a 3.3 inch screen (with multi-touch) and OLED display (480x272 resolution) it's looking like a genuine rival.

Features that stand out are that you can watch HD films/programmes in 720p, and hook it up to your TV using an AV Dock.

It'll have Wi-Fi and you'll be able to buy content from the Zune marketplace which will replace the Xbox Live marketplace which has us licking our lips.

You can browse the web through an IE that's been adapted to the Zune and it'll have 'tap to zoom technology, built-in accelerometer, and touchscreen QWERTY keyboard'.

Last and probably least, it'll also feature HD radio with the ability to tag the songs you like for later purchase. HD radio hasn't really taken off properly and it'll be interesting to see whether the Zune will trailblaze.

The Zune HD will be released in the vaguely dated 'early fall'.


Press Release:

May 26, 2009

Microsoft Announces the Expansion of the Zune Entertainment Service to New Platform and Markets; Confirms New Zune HD Portable Media Player

Premium Zune digital entertainment service to be available internationally on Xbox LIVE.

REDMOND, Wash. - May 26, 2009 - Microsoft Corp. today announced the evolution of Zune, the company's end-to-end music and entertainment service, to a new platform and new markets. Zune will extend its video service to Xbox LIVE internationally this fall. This marks an important development in the Zune strategy and brings the Zune brand to more than 17 million international Xbox LIVE subscribers. In addition, Microsoft confirmed the next generation of the Zune portable media player, Zune HD. Available in the U.S. this fall, Zune HD is the first portable media player that combines a built-in HD Radio receiver, high-definition (HD) video output capabilities, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touch screen, Wi-Fi and an Internet browser.

"The Zune music player is an integral part of the overall Zune experience, and we're proud to be growing and extending our offering beyond the device," said Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president of the Microsoft TV, Video and Music Business Group. "Delivering on Microsoft's connected entertainment vision, this news marks a turning point for Zune as it brings cross-platform experiences and premium video content to living rooms around the world."

Zune Service Expands to New Platform

Zune will be a premium partner in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, bringing an exciting catalog of TV and film to the platform. Zune will occupy the first slot within the Xbox user interface in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, exposing the Zune brand experience to millions of new consumers for the first time. At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) next week, attendees will see firsthand how Zune integrates into Xbox LIVE to create a game-changing entertainment experience.

Introducing Zune HD

Zune HD is the next iteration of the Zune device family and brings a new level of listening and viewing experiences to the portable media player category.

• Zune HD comes with a built-in HD Radio receiver so users can listen to higher-quality sound than traditional radio on the go. Users also will have access to the additional song and artist data broadcast by HD Radio stations as well as additional channels from their favorite stations multicasting in HD. If you don't like the song playing on your station's HD channel, switch to its HD2 or HD3 channels for additional programming.
• The bright OLED touch screen interface allows users to flip through music, movies and other content with ease, and the 16:9 widescreen format display (480x272 resolution) offers a premium viewing experience on the go.
• The HD-compatible output lets Zune HD customers playback supported HD video files from the device through a premium high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) audiovisual docking station (sold separately) direct to an HD TV in 720p.*
• Zune HD will include a full-screen Internet browser optimized for multitouch functionality.
• Zune HD is Wi-Fi enabled, allowing for instant streaming to the device from the more than 5 million-track Zune music store.

More information on Zune and related images is available at http://www.zune.net/press and http://www.zune.net/ZuneHD.

About Zune

Zune is Microsoft's music and entertainment brand that provides an integrated digital entertainment experience. The Zune platform includes a line of portable digital media players, elegant software, the Zune Marketplace online store, Zune Pass music subscription service, and the Zune Social online music community, created to help people discover more music. Zune is part of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division and supports the company's software-based services vision to help drive innovation in the digital entertainment space. More information can be found online at http://www.zune.net/en-us/press.

About Xbox LIVE

Xbox LIVE connects more than 17 million members across 26 countries to each other and the entertainment they love. Home of more content from one remote than can be found from any device connected to the television, Xbox LIVE is also a unified online social network bringing friends together, no matter where they are - in the living room or across the world. More information and Xbox LIVE membership can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

* Supported 720p HD video files play on the device, downscaled to fit the screen at 480 x 272 - not HD resolution. Zune HD and AV Dock, and an HDTV (all sold separately) are required to view video at HD resolution.

HD Radio™ and the HD Radio logo are proprietary trademarks of iBiquity Digital Corp.

This is a great way of checking out how much they are claiming >>

Bumptop has been around for a few years now but it is finally available for download for the pc. What this does is organises your desktop with a 'physics engine underpinning the UI'.

Basically you can grab stuff and throw them aroud. Bumptop also works with a mouse but it's much more fun with your hands.