Comment

Who cares if it’s direct access or not. There’s no difference if your data is sent over a push vs. pull scheme.

All that matters is the level of cooperation.

1 day ago on Apple claims it can't decrypt FaceTime and iMessage data, details extent of government requests 1 reply

Comment

“Enormously beautiful?”

Facepalm.

6 days ago on 'Can't innovate anymore, my ass': Apple's bravado clouds the company's real challenges

Comment

where is that arrogance?

Seriously?

It’s arrogance when your biggest competitor doesn’t require a “feature” that does absolutely nothing but potentially piss off your paying customers, but you blow it off anyhow.

7 days ago on No internet for Xbox One? Get a 360, says Microsoft

Comment

Bulleted list of why XB1 is a “hands-down better gaming console” please?

And don’t use exclusives, because clearly PS4 has theirs as well and that’s a matter of taste.

7 days ago on No internet for Xbox One? Get a 360, says Microsoft

Comment

Soldiers probably have better things to do. Granted, gaming is a big rec thing but I don’t think they will be that bad off.

Nope. Video games are hugely popular with deployed troops.

7 days ago on No internet for Xbox One? Get a 360, says Microsoft 1 reply 3 recommends

Comment

Your post and posts like it completely miss the point.

I have stable internet. But things happen. My ISP could take a nosedive. Microsoft’s servers could go down (because we’ve never seen that before!). My router could burn out. Etc etc etc.

But here’s the real rub. Microsoft is essentially punishing YOU, the guy who spent 500 bucks on a gaming console, for ANY scenario where your Xbox can’t communicate with their servers. Why? Because they assume that you’re a pirate out of the gate.

So yes, while you’re right in that this probably wouldn’t be a massive issue for many gamers, it’s the PRINCIPLE of the thing, and that principle is more important to many of us than playing Halo 5 or whatever.

That the Playstation 4 doesn’t have those anti-customer requirements, is more powerful, and is 100 bucks cheaper to boot makes Microsoft’s position even worse.

7 days ago on No internet for Xbox One? Get a 360, says Microsoft 4 recommends

Comment

Can you understand where that solution is

1. Useless to anyone who isn’t tech-savvy, of which the majority of users generally are?
2. Ridiculous because the problem is manufactured by MS and then imposed on the customer with no benefit back to them?

7 days ago on No internet for Xbox One? Get a 360, says Microsoft 1 recommend

Comment

Yes, every gamer who doesn’t want to pay 500 dollars for a console that assumes that you’re a pirate every time you turn it on and so disables itself after 24 hours if it can’t ping MS…

There’s no way that’s actually a legitimate concern especially given the unveiling of the 400 dollar, more powerful, less DRM’d PS4.

It must be a troll or PR agencies.

7 days ago on No internet for Xbox One? Get a 360, says Microsoft 1 reply 5 recommends

Comment

1. Build an HTPC with a good video card in it and Xbox PC controller
2. Install XBMC, point it to your media.
3. Install AdvanceLauncher plugin and point it to a directory that holds all of the shortcuts to your games, including emulators for any system that has one for PC.
4. Recoup money from step 1 by enjoying the benefits of digital PC sales via Steam, Amazon, etc.

You now have a couch-friendly gaming setup that can play any media file you can throw at it, looks fantastic, is ad free, is able to take advantage of all of the great mods out there, etc.

I did this about nine months ago and it’s fantastic, GIVEN that you’re willing to pay the short-term premium, take the time to put a PC together and install the software. Only big weakness of it right now is that Netflix is a bit of a hack on XBMC, but that should be improving with HTML5 video.

7 days ago on No internet for Xbox One? Get a 360, says Microsoft 1 reply 2 recommends

Comment

But seriously, do you think Microsoft somehow is going to tune in to all 70-100 million owners and watch what they do?

How can you be so incredulous given everything the NSA has already done?

8 days ago on PlayStation 4: Sony outmaneuvers Microsoft on price, design, and common sense 8 replies 49 recommends