Over the last few months, many names have obviously been flying around with the most common name almost being a media christening in reference to the Xbox ’720′ tag. That may never come to light though, with other names such as Loop, Ten and Infinity being thrown into the hat as well – with Microsoft probably enjoying every minute of the name game speculation.

Some new details have surfaced over the weekend which you may find particularly interesting though, as we may see an outcome where Microsoft actually decide to name their next Xbox, the Xbox 8. While it obviously isn’t the 8th version of the Xbox, the number does combine with other Microsoft products – the main two being Windows Phone 8 and the upcoming desktop software Windows 8.

The source of the information has come from ThisIsXbox, and you may have actually heard about the Xbox 8 name already, since the same site mentioned it a few months ago. When discussing rumors about the Unreal Engine 4 though, they felt the need to talk about the Xbox 8 again though, so in the space of a few months they are still adamant that this will be the name of the next Xbox.

Does the name really fit though? Microsoft has often separated their other products away from the gaming side, but by calling their next console the Xbox 8, it’s obviously a clear side that they want to draw even closer ties with their mobile OS and their desktop OS.

Don’t be fooled if we see some details on this at E3 2012 either, despite the company stating that they won’t have any new hardware to show. The element of surprise is always possible at E3, so we just hope that Microsoft are planning to drop this huge bomb this year, rather than next.

If you think about Xbox 8, Ten, Loop, Infinity and Xbox 720 – which name do you think would suit the console best? Nobody expected that Kinect would be the final result of a Project Natal codename, so do you think Microsoft are planning to surprise everyone with another totally unique name not mentioned yet? Give us your thoughts on this in the comments. Another thing to bear in mind if they are going with Xbox 8 – what happens when Windows 9 and Windows Phone 9 is released?

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For some reason, Sony has really struggled in this department. Navigating to simple websites on the PS3 such as Facebook remains a chore and it is an area that many users wish Sony spent a bit more time improving.

With that said, their efforts to improve the browser may be forced, as we’re hearing that Microsoft may be planning to finally bring a web browser to the Xbox 360. Not only that, but it could be compatible with the Kinect camera, meaning that Xbox 360 users can navigate through websites using voice and hand gestures only.

According to a Polygon insider, the Xbox 360 browser could end up being a modified version of Internet Explorer 9. Moans and groans aside, if it carries the same look as the Metro style UI dashboard, you can bet that Xbox 360 users will be all over it in a flash and we’re willing to bet that it will offer a better experience than that seen on the PS3 at the moment.

Don’t forget that the Xbox 360 now has Bing Search, so extending that functionality with an web browser is obviously a very logical progression for the system. It also comes on the back of rumors suggesting that the next-generation Xbox may feature a biometrics controller so it is certainly looking good for Xbox 360 owners in the years to come.

Sony on the other hand will need to step it up if Microsoft are indeed planning this step. Navigating through websites using a brightly colored wand isn’t an option, obviously, so perhaps Sony needs to give their web browser an entire UI makeover, adding various menu and website shortcuts to make the experience as simple as possible.

It’s highly unlikely that we’ll see Adobe Flash working on the PS3 to an extent that it matches desktop performance, but Sony could find ways around this – i.e HTML5. At the moment they seem to have given up on their web browser as if to say ‘ there it is, that’s all you’re getting’, but if Microsoft bring out a superior browser you can bet that it will give Sony a wake up call that they badly need.

What is your opinion on the state of the web browser on the PS3? Do you think an Xbox 360 browser would force Sony to improve or do you think they are just holding off for next-gen now?

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Innovative is certainly going to be the key word for consumers as they look for brand new features in hardware and software that haven’t been seen yet. Nintendo’s Wii U touchscreen controller certainly fits this bracket, but Microsoft also have something huge in the pipeline and we could be seeing it in their next console.

The company has filed a patent for an Xbox controller which uses biometrics to identify users. In other words, the controller has the ability to scan data such as the length of your fingers, as well the firmness of your grip and send back the info to the console which will identify the person each time based on his or her biometric data.

It means that simply grasping the controller will allow you to sign in to Xbox Live straight away without the need of any button presses, and in our opinion – it’s a stroke of genius. Additional details over at TheVerge suggest that the patent also extends to Kinect as well, using biometrics to boot up Kinect games and profiles without the need of button presses.

It sounds fantastic doesn’t it? There’s no indication that this patent will be ready in time for the next console but we think we speak on behalf of everyone in saying that we hope so. These are the kinds of innovative features that the next generation console needs and it could turn out to be a major selling point for Microsoft. Does Sony have something similar in the pipeline, or will this end up being a Xbox ’720′ exclusive feature thanks to the patent? Not long to go until E3 2012 now – we can’t wait.

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The upcoming Halo sequel will be featured on the Conan O Brien show, and Major Nelson has already Tweeted to inform everyone that news is coming on the game within the next 24 hours.

Officially, the game has only been given a Holiday 2012 release date, but The Verge are claiming to have inside sources at Microsoft, who have told them that the game will release on November 6. A confirmation of this is expected to come before 12pm tomorrow Eastern Time.

We would be surprised if this information is accurate, not the date itself but the timing of the reveal, as we would have thought that an announcement at E3 2012 would be more suited. Still though, any Halo 4 news is good news in our books and the sooner a date is made the sooner fans can start getting excited about the next gameplay reveal.

If the timing rumor is spot on though, that means we actually only have a few more hours to wait until we find out if the release date is real or not. November 6 falls on a Tuesday just to let you know and judging by the pedigree of the game, we’re guessing that this relates to a global release as well, so those in Europe won’t have to wait until the Friday.

What are your thoughts on these surprise Halo 4 release rumors, did you expect the date to be unveiled at E3 2012 as well? Let’s see what happens. Don’t forget you can check out the new look Master Chief here.

UPDATE: It’s confirmed that Halo 4 will be released on November 6.

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Just like E3 2011, it seems like Microsoft are starting to follow a certain pattern. Last year the company were first to announce the latest and greatest involving the Xbox 360 and this year, history will repeat itself.

Microsoft has confirmed that their keynote will start on Monday June 4 at 10am Pacific Time. For those of you in the UK that relates to 6pm UK time so an ideal slot for most of you. However, those watching in Asia will have to stay up quite late as the event won’t start until 1am Hong Kong time or 2am in Japan.

Sony on the other hand will be much more accomodating for their Asia viewers. Their keynote will start on June 4th also, but will take place much later at 6pm Pacific Time or 9pm Eastern Time. That means that UK fans will have to stay until late for a 2am start, but those watching in Asia can enjoy a 9am (HKT) or 10am (JP) start the following morning (Tuesday).

While Sony and Microsoft have now both finalized their E3 conferences, we’re yet to hear from Nintendo as they look to have another crack at showing off the Wii U to the world. We’re guessing that their keynote will take place on Tuesday June 5th, but we’ll update this as soon as they have given the details officially.

What can we expect to see from Sony and Microsoft though at E3? They have both said that they are not going to show any new hardware, but do you think it is a sly move to divert attention away? Both the PS4 and the Xbox ’720′ have been rumored to death, so perhaps both companies want their eventual reveals to be a complete surprise since in previous E3 tradition, the major reveals are often leaked prior to the event.

How many of you are actually going to try and get tickets? Microsoft’s event is probably the one you want to attend, since the company has become notorious for handing out free goodies such as Xbox 360 consoles. We’re expecting to see a full reveal on Black Ops 2, while some gameplay for GTA V and The Last of Us would go down a treat as well.

Let us know how the timing of both events affects you. Will you be tuning in to both conferences, or is it too early or late for you?

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That was just a few days ago, but now it’s Microsoft’s turn as some new whispers have popped up this week about the elusive next Xbox console, more commonly known as the Xbox ’720′. There has been plenty of discussion on how the next console won’t include a disk drive and will rely entirely on digital sales, but a recent article has completely contradicted this.

Patrick Garratt over at VG247 has revealed that the next Xbox will in fact make use of a disk drive and like the Sony PS3, it will be based on the Blu-Ray format. According to their ‘reliable’ sources, the next Xbox will be releasing during the Christmas period of 2013 and again matching recent speculation with the PS4, Microsoft’s next console could also be based on AMD architecture.

However, the source also hints of a possible four to six cores for the system, two of which will be specifically reserved to service Kinect and the operating system. Perhaps the biggest talking point though and again it’s something that we have heard rumors on prior to this new report, is that the Xbox 720 will require a constant internet connection, meaning that users will not even be able to play single-player games like The Elder Scrolls offline.

If true, this is obviously a bold move to combat the huge piracy problem that they have right now with the Xbox 360, so on that basis alone it’s not a totally surprising move by Microsoft, as it’s clear that they need to do something about it. Over here in Asia, we are amazed to see just how easy it is to pick up copied Xbox 360 discs for next to nothing. If Microsoft are going to attempt to put an end to this, having a constant internet connection as a requirement may be the only possible solution to this.

We’ve seen Ubisoft’s attempts to cut down on piracy with their controversial DRM tactics, and it looks like Microsoft may be looking to do the same with their next Xbox. Of course these are still rumors at this point, but how would you treat a next-generation console that required an internet connection to play single-player titles?

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There are a lot of seasoned brands that can learn from Apple and this includes Microsoft – the Windows 8 previews have been appearing on YouTube and in articles after a detailed hands-on, and most of these previews are shouting the word “Simplicity“. If you spend enough time with an iPad you’d understand how easy it is to use when compared to a laptop or desktop, and this is the very reason we’ve seen a growing number of people dumping traditional computers for a tablet PC like the iPad.

Microsoft understand this and want to offer as much simplicity as possible with their new operating system, and this is why the Windows 8 refresh is one of the most simple concepts to date, especially from Microsoft. You only need to look at the MSN homepage and compare it to Google’s homepage to see the different approaches with making things simple, and we hope Microsoft bring this simplistic approach to many more products and services in the future. In fact they’ve already started with the naming process and we’re seeing Microsoft simplifying the names of the products and services they offer.

Do you like the direction Microsoft is moving and would a more simply approach make you want to stay with windows, or return if you left already? It’s our opinion that Microsoft only needs to keep the existing Windows users happy, and push for these people to upgrade. There has been a growing number of Microsoft’s customers leaving for Mac OS X, and it will be hard to get these people back now they have changed to something totally different and in many cases fell in love with Apple.

If you’ve not had time to go hands-on with Windows 8 then you might enjoy the videos we’ve embedded below, which give you some good insight into the new OS and how good it stacks up to Windows 7 and Mac OS X. The first video is a 6-minute Windows 8 walkthrough, which shows how the metro interface is inspired by phones and tablets.

The second video has the aim to show how “real people” would find the new Windows 8 UI, and it’s interesting to see how a novice would use the new interface but we’d like to point out we know a lot of older parents that are experts at computers, although it does show how complicated the UI could be to those that don’t know a lot about computers. The third video shows the same novice explaining the difference between using Windows 8 and Mac OS X, which he was unfamiliar with both operating systems.

In the last video you can see a review of Windows 8 from a performance benchmark point of views, and its being compared to Windows 7, which is just what some upgraders would want to know. The short video includes some key details on boot up times and other information. It seems that novice computer users could find a totally new UI hard to use, and changes should be made in small steps rather than a massive change at once.

Watch the videos below and let us know if you think making too many changes could harm Microsoft Windows?

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The new information has come direct from the mouth of the ‘MS Nerd’, who you may be familiar with since the person has garnered a reputation for spilling the beans on Xbox leaks for sometime now. Using Reddit as his or her platform for communication, we’re told that the Xbox Lite will be announced at this year’s E3 event, but the system won’t actually be ready until 2013.

The machine won’t be a next-generation Xbox, but instead a smaller and compact model which will contain an ARM architecture and offer both Xbox 360 playback as well as media apps, which could involve Microsoft Windows 8 support as well. Here’s the interesting part though – considering that the Xbox Lite won’t be deemed as a next-generation Xbox console, we’re hearing that Microsoft will be making their new Xbox 360 variant very attractive from a pricing perspective. Additional information over at TechRadar reports that the Xbox Lite may hit the shops at around the £100 / $100 mark, making it very appealing indeed.

We have already had a slim-line PS3 of course, but could we now be seeing the very first compact Xbox 360? You can’t really call the current Xbox 360 Elite a slim model as Microsoft didn’t change too much from the original model. We’re not sure if we’re happy or sad about this though – a slim Xbox 360 would probably look great, but we’re getting to the point where we really need to see some brand new next-gen hardware soon, especially to those who are thinking of overlooking the Nintendo Wii U.

Would you be satisfied with an Xbox Lite instead of an Xbox ’720′ next year? Let us know your reaction this – we’ll inform you if we hear anymore whispers on this story.

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Among other announcements, these included the co-op game Fable Heroes that we cannot wait to play, Microsoft confirmed the price for Minecraft on Xbox 360, which is set at 1,600 points and that works out at around $20/£14. On the release date you’ll be able to download the game via Xbox Live Arcade complete with its new interface, and multiplayer for teaming up with friends and other fans.

We’ve embedded a video below that showcases Minecraft gameplay on the Xbox 360 with split screen, which we’d love to hear your thoughts on. This comes from the recent GDC 2012 event and shows the new build, so this only adds to the excitement although some fans are asking about mods, texture packs, and Skins? We know it’s not all about graphics, especially when it comes to games like Minecraft, but looking at the video and remembering this is on an Xbox 360 we hope Microsoft at least add ways to enhance graphics via DLC or an update.

Let us know what your expectations are for Minecraft on Xbox 360, and also the DLC you’d like to see in the future?

The story leading up to this announcement: We first heard about the Minecraft Xbox 360 release back in June last year, although at this time most of the information had been based on rumors. This news had been followed with Minecraft alternatives like FortressCraft hitting OnLive, and towards the end of last year we also got some hints for Minicraft 2.

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There were fears that this may end up a paid service, or be restricted to those only with an Xbox Live Gold subscription, but thankfully it looks like the BBC and Microsoft has come to some sort of agreement to make the popular video service completely free for Silver members as well.

The device was meant to be coming out towards the end of last year, but Microsoft’s demands for the app to be a Gold service only led to the delay, which prior to this had lasted for no fewer than three months. Just like the PS3 BBC iPlayer app, you’ll now be able to watch your favorite BBC TV programmes such as Top Gear, and of course fulfill your secret Eastenders fetish from the comfort of your Xbox 360 console as well.

Just like the collection of other on-demand video services from the UK such as the ITV Player, 4OD and Channel 5 on demand, the BBC iPlayer will only work for UK Xbox 360 owners. This is pretty frustrating if you live outside of the UK like myself, so hopefully, magically, all these great services will be enabled outside of the UK in the future – not getting my hopes up on this though.

If you live in the UK and are looking forward to this, you’ll be able to download it sometime next week according to a Eurogamer report. However, it is still not official news yet though so we’re waiting for a press release from Microsoft. We’re glad that Microsoft has finally come to their senses on this, as charging for the iPlayer would have been a travesty – and they know it.

Are you a fan of the BBC iPlayer?

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