For the Xbox fans there is good news and bad news. Technology writers Paul Thurrott and Mary Jo Foley revealed recently that a new Xbox, called “Project Ten” is in the making. The not so good news is that the impatient users will not be able to get their hands on the new gadget until the 2012 holiday season.
According to Paul Thurrott, the new Xbox console will feature Silverlight video plug-in, which would improve the Internet TV push, that Microsoft begun with Xbox 360. Another enhancement expected to be part of the next generation Xbox – a better integration with Microsoft’s other products and platforms. Oddly enough, now Xbox 360 plays media on iPod or iPhone but doesn’t support Windows Phone.
The new Xbox is expected to address the issues Microsoft currently faces and to unify the functionality of the company’s products. That means that the upcoming Xbox will integrate Windows 8 and Windows Phone. Paul Thurrott described this strategy as “going the Apple route”.
The rumoured release is probably going to take place at the Consumer Electronics Show, to have a better chance to compete in the holiday season. However, the previous announcements of Xboxes didn’t necessarily rely on the general yet high profile event. In 2005, Xbox 360 was released in November and there was no mention of the console at that year’s Consumer Electronics Show.
On the other hand, there are speculations that seem to contradict Paul Thurrott’s recent opinion. Last month, another buzz over the Internet suggested that the next Xbox would be released in 2013, according to sources from chip manufacturers and software firms. Microsoft’s comments on this matter are rather ambiguous and raise more questions than answers.
