Xbox is halfway there

They are. They really, really are. Say it with me or at least think it in your head. 

So here's the deal: in the new xbox experience (or NXE as it's called) you can browse through new release movies, television shows, music videos, just like Hulu, Youtube, etc. But the problem is that unlike other services in which you can stream the content for free (YouTube) or with limited ads (Hulu), Microsoft has offered up the suggestion that we still want all this stuff for a small fee. What's worse is that they (NXE) think charging a user to view this stuff is still relevant. I can view this stuff on my computer, no problem. And an xbox is built open enough so that I can use other services (windows media center, playon, tversity) to stream local and internet content (Hulu, Youtube). So why not just induct it into the NXE? 

Here's how everyone wins: the end user gets a better experience: easier access to libraries of entertainment, and xbox becomes heralded as a backer and friend of like-thinkers. Walls with ones and zeros are simple enough to change when new ideas roll around. The box that can become the clearest wins. It's not that we don't love your ideas, Microsoft. What is important is that you understand the nature of our relationship: you give us something great, and we'll make it something greater. It's only natural that a system that encourages togetherness will brew crafty ideas. Now it's your own fault, Microsoft, for dragging your feet and delaying what could be an even better xbox experience.

Some links:

http://tversity.com/

http://www.themediamall.com/playon

http://www.hulu.com/

http://www.youtube.com/

Bad news for Blockbuster

So far this Friday had nothing to squawk about. It proceeded as planned: an hour of job hunting, some breakfast, a little exercise, more job related endeavors, and finally culminating in a relaxing session of Halo. So far this Friday had been pretty great but what happened next was what put it over the top.

1. Cut out the middle man.

The world is overrun with these pesky half-trys of business models. They exist to make life easier, or so they say. But in reality the world would be a simpler place without them. Which leads me to what I stumbled across while playing Halo tonight. 

The new NXE interface is pretty sweet. It's a complete overhaul of how the xbox feels and brings with it a new list of features available to the xbox owner. Netflix now streams to your xbox (in HD). One can now purchase & download  movies (in a variety of qualities) straight to the xbox.  Community games, created by regular people, can be purchased or demoed directly from your xbox. It just takes up some space but 120GB is a fat enough wallet. 

What caught my eye was something much smarter than anything I've found on my wii: demos of the latest games. Yes, I am as of 11:56p.m. on Friday, January 2, 2009 downloading demos for Too Human, Tomb Raider, Mirror's Edge, Banjo Kazooie, Lego Batman, Dead Space, and some Lord of the Rings title. All for free. And if I'm debating whether it looks worthy of download space there're game trailers and screenshots to view. All for free. If the game's rad, I can buy/download it right then and there. 

So if Blockbuster CEOs are up late playing their xboxes they might want to realize that despite it's awesomeness this doesn't bode well for their company's position in the video game market. 

Is Blockbuster really hoping to live on as merely a rental service? Seriously guys? I noticed you've added gummy bears in the snack aisle leading up to the checkout counter but besides that what have you really innovated in the last decade? 

2. Competition

Why not just be able to trade your game backups (when you download your game to your hdd)? Just associate some special key with it and then let the end-user (who know legally owns that specific copy of the game) control the transaction completely. It's their money anyway - they spent it originally. And seeing as it's not a copy there shouldn't be as much to guffah about.

3. The Nostalgic Bus.

The reason, I think, that I held off on the whole console wars escapade (and didn't just leap out at the 360) was based off of some preconceived notion that Microsoft products are POS hand-me-downs of the tech world. BSOD is justly infamous. All it took was for a spark happiness derived from video games to flare out. 

There's something wonderfully centering about reconnecting with past experiences. For me it was playing super nintendo with my brother, blasting through levels on Super Metroid, or at each other in mech games. On the flipside of the nostalgic bus...something plainly predictable awaits. 

The list of positives for the Xbox360 continue to climb. All I can suggest is that you get one and enjoy the hell out of it.