Microsoft is releasing an update to the Xbox 360 that will consolidate video games, live television, and online entertainment into the console. Xbox users will be able to search for TV shows, movies, and music using voice commands via Kinect. Microsoft has deals with an array of providers from around the globe including the UK’s LOVEFiLM and Hulu Japan to stream movies and TV shows. Live sports such as UFC and Major League Baseball will also be available. Cable providers Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-verse, and Comcast XFinity apps are planned for the Xbox as well. “Microsoft has just built and delivered it: A single box that ties together all the content you want, made easily accessible through a universal, natural, voice-directed search. This is now the benchmark against which all other living room initiatives should be compared,” said James McQuivey of Forrester Research.
Here’s a list of apps planned for the Xbox:
Available Dec. 6:
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EPIX. United States |
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ESPN on Xbox LIVE (ESPN). United States |
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Hulu. Japan |
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Hulu Plus. United States |
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LOVEFiLM. United Kingdom |
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Netflix. Canada, United States |
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Premium Play by (MediaSet). Italy |
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Sky Go (SkyDE). Germany |
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Telefónica España – Movistar Imagenio. Spain |
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TODAY (MSNBC). United States |
Available later in December:
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4 on Demand (C4). United Kingdom |
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ABC iView (Australian Broadcasting Corp.). Australia |
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AlloCiné. France (AlloCiné), Germany (Filmstarts), Spain (Sensacine), United Kingdom (Screenrush) |
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Astral Media’s Disney XD (Astral Media). Canada |
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blinkbox (Blinkbox). United Kingdom |
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Crackle (Sony Pictures). Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States |
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Dailymotion. Available in 32 countries globally |
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Demand 5 (Five). United Kingdom |
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DIGI+ (CANAL+). Spain |
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GolTV (Mediapro). Spain |
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iHeartRadio (Clear Channel). United States |
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Mediathek/ZDF (ZDF). Germany |
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MSN. Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, United Kingdom |
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MSNBC.com. United States |
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MUZU.TV. Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom |
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ninemsn. Australia |
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Real Sports (Maple Leaf Sports). Canada |
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Rogers On Demand Online (Rogers Media). Canada |
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SBS ON DEMAND.Australia |
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Sky Go (SkyDE). Austria |
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TMZ (Warner Bros.). Canada, United States |
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TVE (RTVE.es). Spain |
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UFC on Xbox LIVE (UFC). Canada, United States |
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Verizon FiOS TV. United States |
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VEVO. Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom, United States |
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Vudu (Wal-Mart). United States |
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YouTube. Available in 24 countries globally |
Available early 2012:
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Antena 3 (Antena 3 de Televisión). Spain |
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BBC (BBC). United Kingdom |
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CinemaNow (Best Buy). United States |
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HBO GO (HBO). United States |
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MLB.TV (MLB Advanced Media). Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Columbia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States |
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Telenovelas/Sports (Televisa). Brazil, Chile, Colombia, France, Italy, Mexico, Spain, United Kingdom |
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Xfinity On Demand (Comcast). United States |
