Dave Cutler, who once led the development of Windows NT, is now working on Microsoft's Xbox team. Cutler joined Microsoft in 1988 and has helped build Windows NT, 64-bit versions of Windows and Microsoft's Windows Azure cloud platform, amongst others. His work earned him the special designation of "Technical Fellow" at Microsoft, a small group of 22 employees, including sysinternals creator Mark Russinovich, who are recognized as technical leaders.
Cutler's previous experience and technical knowledge make this a particularly interesting move. Mary Jo Foley notes that Cutler has effectively earned the right to do "whatever he wants" at Microsoft, and it appears that his future is Xbox related. Microsoft confirmed the move in a statement, noting that Cutler's Xbox project work will help the company advance its "goals in the consumer space as we continue to grow the Xbox from a game-centric console to a complete home entertainment device."
We are still waiting on a next-generation Xbox, but as Microsoft pushes live TV, YouTube and other services to the Xbox 360, it's clear the company has even bigger plans for the future of its gaming console.
Image Credit: Majorconfusion
There are 32 Comments. Add yours.
In pajamas?
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 5:38 AM EST reply Recommend (9) Flag actions
Apparently so …
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 5:39 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 5:48 AM EST reply Recommend (36) Flag actions
Maybe he plans to sit around in his PJs all day and actually do nothing except play Xbox games?
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 6:13 AM EST reply Recommend (12) Flag actions
Lucky man.
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 6:40 AM EST reply Recommend (8) Flag actions
that is hands down the best job description i’ve ever heard of in my life.
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 6:24 AM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
I think something like XBOX is not an Operating System, It needs a young and tech-addicted team not a ‘Father of Something’
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 5:50 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
young team can bring new ideas but father of something can give them the technical support… especially if he created the technically better microsoft products :)
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 5:58 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
He wrote NT which underpin all of Microsoft’s Operating systems (apart from WinPho/CE). Both the Xbox and Xbox 360 already run customised variants of NT already so he is probably the best possible person to do this!
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 6:14 AM EST reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
hmm, you’re right apart from the fact that xbox runs nt :) xbox uses its own directx os, which was a reason why bill gates hated it in the beginning :)
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 8:43 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
You sir are so wrong it’s shocking. There is no such thing called DirectX OS. Where the hell did you hear that?!
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 10:39 AM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions
He thought no one would notice.
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 4:52 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
i didn’t mean to say that it was called directx os.. i just wanted to say it’s not windows. i don’t know the name, maybe it’s called xbox operating system but i know it’s custom built to enable developers use directx in games
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 3:18 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
i’ve found the story where i’ve read this:
http://venturebeat.com/2011/11/14/making-of-the-xbox-1/3/
read the chapter called “Bait and switch on Bill Gates”
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 3:47 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
that’s such an crappy thing to say. as if because someone is old, they no longer have the ability to do good architectural/implementation work.
odds are, the young people on the team are going to be the one’s coming up w/ ideas, and then other “young” people would be the first to say it can’t be done…and he’d find a way. never doubt old people, they’re often more crafty than you think
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 6:27 AM EST reply Recommend (6) Flag actions
Yeah, especially in the tech industry where age is almost equated with senility. Old people have the experience to manage and create successful projects! And they probably are smarter than you.
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 10:29 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
The young people will have passion that drives them to bring up increadible work, the old people have the wisdom to craft a game plan on how to deliver the ideas that spring up.
You have to understand that you need a balanced team to accomplish tasks. Experience seems to be very underrated these days.
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 6:33 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Depends what they’re doing. Without Xbox, I would be rather worried about Microsoft’s consumer offerings right now. They have some really clever people and the technical fellows are some of the best in the world. There’s clearly something big on the horizon for Xbox above and beyond what we see today. Exciting if you’re an Xbox fan.
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 6:44 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions
The young ones are the morons who can’t properly port games to PC.
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 8:24 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Completely disagree, as a computer programmer for some 25 years, knowing how everything works because you were there when it was introduced is invaluable and priceless.
In computer terms, experience is everything and just look at the job market to see this is the case.
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 11:11 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
It seems neat that what were once just ‘mere gaming consoles’ a decade ago are now being looked at as genuine platforms in an ever increasingly post-PC age.
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 6:11 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Games Console
Live TV, TV on demand, Record TV & Media Centre
Fitness Centre
Home Automation Centre
Make it happen now, you’re nearly there
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 6:18 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 6:38 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
You plonker.
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 7:00 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
*Grand
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 7:51 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
His XBox team co-worker ………………………………..
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 8:02 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions
I’m surprised that there’s no mention of what he did prior to working at Microsoft: he worked at DEC and helped create VAX/VMS.
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 9:24 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions
Any new ideas Microsoft can bring to the Xbox can only be a good thing, But please don’t forget the gamers!
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 1:04 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
Ctrl+Alt+Del is added to Xbox
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 1:40 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
But what if you have Kinect?
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 2:32 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
So basically he is like a jedi master
Posted on Jan 19, 2012 | 3:26 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
xbox 360 need to be more robust. Especially now that general public are using it and there are going to be more apps coming. At the moment, I encountered system freeze occasionally. I need to power off/on the console to resume back its service.
Mr Cutter’s experience with NT, is very much needed, so to ensure robustness of Xbox360 / even 720. Cheers.
Posted on Jan 20, 2012 | 7:21 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions
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