Microsoft unveils Xbox with 1TB storage, souped-up wireless controller

A souped-up Xbox controller, an Xbox One console with 1TB capacity, and a lower-priced Xbox One 500GB model are among Microsoft's offerings to gamers ahead of the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles this week.

Microsoft unveiled an Xbox One console with 1TB capacity and a new matte finish, which it said stemmed from frequent fan request.

"Since Xbox One launched, one of the most frequent requests from fans is to add more storage to their consoles. Today, we’re unveiling the Xbox One 1TB console, with a new matte finish and more storage for your games and media, making it the best place to play the biggest blockbusters this holiday like Halo 5: Guardians, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and Forza Motorsport 6," Major Nelson said in a blog post.

The new console also lets users extend game storage further by adding an external USB 3.0 drive.

Bundled with the new console are Microsoft's new wireless Xbox controller and for a limited time in selected regions the game "Halo: The Master Chief Collection."

The Xbox One 1TB consoles will start shipping to retailers June 16 in the United States and select markets later this month, with prices starting at $399.

Microsoft also brought down the price of the 500GB Xbox One consoles to $349 in the US and select regions.

Wireless controllers

Microsoft also unveiled its new Xbox One Wireless Controller that now has a built-in 3.5mm stereo headset jack to accommodate gamers' gaming headsets.

"With the updated controller, in addition to the volume and mute controls on gaming headsets, you’ll also have the option to adjust headset volume, mic monitoring, and voice and game audio balance through the Settings menu on your console," Major Nelson said.

Microsoft also said it has improved the quality of audio coming through the controller and increased the maximum audio volume on headsets used with this controller.

The bumpers have been fine-tuned for more consistent performance and the controller can now get firmware updates wirelessly.

Gamers can also buy the new controller as a standalone item in black or as a new camouflage design in silver and black.

Windows 10 support 

Also, Microsoft is releasing the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows so gamers can use the wireless controller on Windows 10 PCs, laptops, and tablets.

"[S]imply plug the Adapter into the USB 2.0 or 3.0 port of your Windows 10 PC and bind the Adapter to your Wireless Controller to enable the same gaming experience you’re used to on Xbox One, including in-game chat and high-quality stereo audio," Major Nelson said.

He said the wireless adapter for Windows will be available for $24.99 or bundled with an Xbox One Wireless Controller for $79.95. — Joel Locsin/BM, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com

Microsoft makes next XBox One Twitter-friendly

The next iteration of Microsoft's Xbox One gaming console will play nice with Twitter.

In a November update, Microsoft's Major Nelson said this is one of the new features rolled out for the Xbox One preview program.

"You can now share your favorite Xbox One game clips with your followers on Twitter. Use the Share button on any game clip you have created and select Twitter to compose the Tweet," he said.

With the new Live TV and Twitter integration, Microsoft said users can "discover new shows to love and see what people are saying on Twitter about shows in real-time."

Microsoft is also bringing to the Xbox One a most-requested feature - the ability to customize one's Xbox One background.

Another feature is the ability to share some favorite achievements and game clips.

"For the first time, each account on your Xbox One can have a customized background.  You can choose a custom color or achievement art as your background on Xbox One, with more customization options coming down the road," Major Nelson said.

Gamers can also share location and bio as part of their profile, while using Xbox One SmartGlass to browse to other people’s profiles and check their showcase items.

They can also select showcase items displayed when other gamers look at their profiles on an Xbox One console.

Live TV trending

For preview members in the US, Canada and the UK, there will be a new tab in OneGuide showing the top 20 most watched TV shows.

"The Live TV Trending list is updated by the minute, so you can easily discover shows that are popular with other viewers. The Trending tab in OneGuide is updated to display Twitter - Live TV trending first and Xbox – Live TV Trending second. You can tune to a specific show by pressing the A button," Microsoft said.

But that's not all with Twitter integration: another new feature allows users to see what Live TV is trending based on shows with the most conversations taking place on Twitter. The feature is initially available in the US.

On the other hand, the Trending tab in OneGuide can also display Live TV Trending.

Tweets will also be available in MiniGuide along with Recents and Favorites.

Store, smartglass updates
 
Improvements have been made to the Store pages on Xbox One to quickly browse and find content and game add-ons.

Store categories have also been standardized "so you can easily see the top items in each query at a glance," Microsoft said.

Also on SmartGlass, users can see friends’ game activity.

Gamers with an Xbox Live Gold subscription can browse “Free Games with Gold” and discounted content with Gold, and download the content to their Xbox One consoles from their mobile devices.

Meanwhile, a new section for Apps will make it easier to find and download apps for the Xbox One.

IE updates

Updates are also coming to the Internet Explorer browser, including snapping from a full screen experience and moving IE into snap mode.

Also updated is the Preview dashboard app, which now adds a user's stats and leaderboard. — Joel Locsin/VC, GMA News

source: gmanetwork.com