The Xbox Companion app for Windows Phone has now been released – go get it!
Discover great entertainment with the power and convenience of your Windows Phone! Search for your favourite movies, TV shows, music, and games, and play them on your Xbox from your phone. Xbox 360 console and Xbox LIVE membership required.
Whilst we are waiting for Microsoft to release the Xbox Companion app, here are the instructions on how to install it, just so you are prepared!
The Xbox Companion allows you to use your phone to find and play content on your Xbox 360 console. Use the app to browse items in the Xbox LIVE Marketplace. When you find a video that you want to watch, tap the Play button on your phone and the content will start playing on your console.
To install the Xbox Companion app, you need:
Note You must be signed into your Windows Phone and your console using the same Windows Live ID
Set the Xbox Companion to Available on your console. Here’s how:
Your Windows Phone connects to your Xbox 360 console.
On Monday night, UWHS was invited to an exclusive invite-only into social event hosted by Alex James, so off we went in search of phones, apps and cheese.
Film, fashion music, food, travel, gadgets? Whatever it is you’re into, you’ll find it through into by Windows Phone.
You’ll get access to hand-picked offers and money can’t buy experiences, content and articles from top UK contributors and have access to really unique events, plus with this app, you can show the best bits of Windows Phone to your friends earn points along the way. Share, tweet, like and invite your way to some fantastic rewards.
![c1b8c604-571f-4a32-8c83-f9ebdab8cc0b[1]](https://i0.wp.com/moviesgamesandtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/c1b8c604-571f-4a32-8c83-f9ebdab8cc0b1.png?ssl=1 "c1b8c604-571f-4a32-8c83-f9ebdab8cc0b[1]")
Pin the app to your Start screen and through the Live Tile you can keep up to speed with all the new great rewards and offers coming to into by Windows Phone.
The event itself was a great party, with some great music. Alex introduced some new up and coming artists called Isabel Rose and Bebe Black, both of whom were very good, and also the Chipping Norton All Stars. There was a great DJ in-between those acts, and Alex himself even did some DJ’ing later in the even, along with Mr and Mr Jones (that’s Sophie Ellis-Bextor and her husband Richard Jones in case you didn’t know).
And yes, there was cheese, both on display, and with a huge table of fondue.
There were also lots of other food and drink, including a special cocktail created for the event by the amazing mixologist Nick Moran called the Windini.
There were also demos of the app, plus an Xbox with Kinect to play on.
And here is a short video by Alex explaining into:
If you have a Windows Phone, you should definitely check out the into app!
And thanks again to Alex James for being such a great host – we can’t wait for the next one.
Yesterday Microsoft announced the Windows Store.
Here is an excerpt from the blog post:
This is the first post in our new Windows Store blog, which will be dedicated to informing developers both on the progress of the Store as a service, and the platform and economic opportunity the Store represents.
In September, we announced the Windows Store as part of Windows 8 and the distribution point for Metro style apps. And today, at our Store Preview event in San Francisco, we described the app policies and business terms for the Store, both of which are now published to our Dev Center.We also announced our First Apps contest for developers, and confirmed that we’re also inviting a select set of developers to submit Metro style apps for inclusion in the Beta version of the Store.
We’re also proud to publish the Store’s developer-first economics—with up to 80% revenue share for apps sold through our platform. Combining the broad reach of Windows, a new developer platform, best-in-class developer tools, a reimagined user experience, support for new chipsets, and a built-in Store with industry-leading business terms—Windows 8 is the largest developer opportunity, ever.
As with the Building Windows 8 blog, this is a dialog. Comments will be supported and the common sense rules apply. Thanks in advance for your consideration and interest in the Windows Store!
This looks really interesting and I look forward to hearing much more on this in the coming months.
Are you a budding developer? Want to develop some apps for Windows 8? Well Microsoft have just launched a new contest you might want to take a look at.
Here are the details:
The First Apps contest will select eight winning apps to be the very first apps in the Windows Store when it opens. This is your chance to show off your great app and to be part of an exclusive group of developers invited to participate in the Store when it first opens. The winning developers will also get some goodies to help them build even better apps:
Submissions are due by Sunday, January 8 at 11:59pm PST. This gives you just over 30 days to design and develop your app. Finalists will be notified on Sunday, January 15. Finalists must update their app to run on a new, confidential Windows 8 build provided by us and resubmit their app before February 3 to be eligible to win.
You’ll need a Windows Live ID to sign in to the contest site and submit your app. You’ll also need the Windows 8 Developer Preview with developer tools in order to start building your app.
Our panel of judges is very excited to review the innovative apps you submit. The judges are:
The judges will be evaluating apps based on how well they embrace the Metro style principles, as outlined at BUILD. Great Metro style apps adapt to a variety of form factors and screen resolutions, so our judges will be evaluating each app on both a Samsung Windows Developer Preview PC (1376×768 resolution) and a laptop (1920×1080 resolution).
Visit the Dev Center to learn more about designing Metro style apps and building Metro style apps.
All apps must comply with the App Certification Requirements.
Read the Official Rules ›
Archos is showing a preview of Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich running on the OMAP4 based Archos G9 tablets.
Here is what was posted along with the video:
Archos is showing a preview of Android 4.0.1 Ice Cream Sandwich running on the OMAP4 based Archos G9 tablets to be finalized during Q1 of 2012. They still have to finish the hardware acceleration for video support, Samba/Upnp, 3G stick support and all of the other specific features that Archos provides on top of Android.
Check out the video below:
Logitech have started rolling out the Android 3.1 update to their Logitech Review with Google TV devices.
Here is what Logitech posted on their blog today:
We are pleased to announce that we will begin delivering a free software update of the Android 3.1 platform to Logitech Revue™ with Google TV™ this week. If you’re already a Revue user, simply ensure your unit is turned on and connected to the Web, and accept the update that pops up onto your TV screen. New customers are expected to receive this version automatically upon activation.
Some of the key developments include more entertainment choices such as access to Android Market; faster and more comprehensive search and browse capabilities; a simplified user interface, and improvements to the Logitech Media Player.
With the Android Market now available through your Logitech Revue, you’ll get new and useful apps all the time, such as the new Google Music app, making your Logitech Revue the fastest growing entertainment hub in your living room. At launch, the Android Market will feature around 50 apps optimized for HDTV, and we expect number of apps to increase over time.
In a world of infinite entertainment choices you need an easy way to discover the content you want to watch: Logitech Revue has you covered. The Google Chrome browser brings full search capabilities to your HDTV, along with full keyboard navigation and support for Adobe Flash player version 10.2.
The Quick Search Box quickly vets TV content, Web video, Apps, Bookmarks, and the Web, so you can spend less time searching and more time watching. And the TV & Movies app allows people to easily search, watch and even rate more than 80,000 movies and TV episodes from cable, Netflix, Amazon and YouTube.
With the Logitech Media Player software and your Logitech Revue, you can unlock your computer’s library of music, movies and photos to enjoy on your HDTV.
What’s more, Logitech Revue can help you visit with friends and family. Thanks to the optional Logitech TV Cam and Vid HD service, you can make and receive high definition video calls on your HDTV, and from the comfort of your couch.
Customer feedback is very important to us, and we worked closely with Google to ensure that Logitech Revue with the next version of Google TV incorporates the features and improvements that are most important to you. With these improvements, we hope you find that the Logitech Revue with the next version of Google TV is an easy way to integrate your existing broadcast or pay TV service with Internet content all on your HDTV.
Do you have the Logitech Revue?
Following a slight delay, the new Xbox 360 Dashboard Update has rolled out.
I have been beta testing the new dashboard for a while now, and I really like it!
You can find out more about the update from here.
Here are some more pictures of the new dashboard:
Have you got the update yet? What do you think of it?
Here is a short video about some of the new Xbox LIVE Partner Apps:
Website The Verge are saying that Microsoft have confirmed the first Windows 8 public beta is coming in February 2012.
This is what the Verge posted:
We wouldn’t be surprised if you missed it in all the Windows Store hubbub, but Microsoft also just confirmed that the public release of Windows 8 Beta will come in February of 2012. We’d previously heard competing rumors of a late January or late February launch, so it looks as though Microsoft is doing a good job of hitting its development goals for the new OS.
This actually surprises me – I would have thought the first public beta would have been announced at CES 2012 in January – this is certainly how it worked for Windows 7.
Still, its only early December 2011 and it can all change by then!
Personally I am looking forward to getting my hands on something more than just the developer preview. How about you?
We have talked about the BBC Global iPlayer app previously, and now it’s coming to the iPhone and the iPod Touch tomorrow adding to the range of devices you can access iPlayer on.
According to TNW:
The global iPlayer app will be made available on iPhone and iPod Touch from this Thursday (8th December), and will reach millions more viewers in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, The Republic of Ireland, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
So watch this space….
Today saw the release of aTV Flash (black) version 1.1 for the 2nd generation AppleTV.
Here is what Firecore said:
Happy Tuesday! Today we are pleased to announce the release aTV Flash (black) 1.1 for the 2nd generation AppleTV. This new version includes a healthy dose of goodness by adding things such as custom view options, web page auto-load, playback improvements, and a huge pile of bug fixes.
Full details on all the great new features as well as how to update can be found below.
New View Options
For the most part we found people love the grid view, but for some media types a list view may be more desirable. Now it’s possible to have the best of both worlds!
Once the default view type has been set through the Media –> Settings menu, a different view can be set for a specific folder or group of folders. To access this option simply highlight the folder you wish to adjust, hold the center button (to open the popup menu) and choose the desired view type. The chosen view will be used when viewing the contents of that folder, as well as any subfolders contained inside.
We’ve also added a sort by date view option. This option can be found in the Media –> Settings menu, and when enabled will cause the most recent media to appear at the top.
Improved Couch Surfer with Auto-Start
Couch Surfer has gotten a number of improvements, not the least of which is a brand new auto-start feature. This feature enables the AppleTV to automatically load a ‘homepage’ anytime it’s powered on. Support for automatically reloading the specified page is also included. This allows the AppleTV to be used as a low-cost digital signage solution.
Full Changelog
Excellent! Where can I get it?
If you’re already running a version of aTV Flash (black) the new 1.1 version can be installed through the Maintenance –> Manage Extras menu. If you need to re-install aTV Flash (black) links for the new version can be found in your account under the Downloads tab.
New users can order aTV Flash (black) here.
Amazon today announced the LOVEFILM was now part of Xbox Live, but with the slight delay to the update, it’s coming asap.
Here is what Amazon said today:
LOVEFiLM, an Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) company and Europe’s largest subscription service – streaming movies and TV episodes over the Internet and sending DVDs by post – launches on Xbox LIVE tomorrow, giving millions more film fans instant access to the movies they want to watch, when they want to watch them.
Xbox LIVE members will be able to instantly watch thousands of movies via LOVEFiLM Instant – the movie streaming service – including exclusive content such as the award-winning drama Gran Torino and teen phenomenon The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, with forthcoming titles The Dark Knight, breakout comedy The Hangover and dark romance Blue Valentine becoming available in time for Christmas.
Kinect for Xbox 360 will transform the way people use LOVEFiLM Instant to search and watch movies. For the first time thanks to Kinect, LOVEFiLM can be effortlessly controlled using voice commands or gestures, enhancing the ease of the movie-viewing experience.
LOVEFiLM Instant is available via a huge range of devices including PCs, iPad®, Internet-connected TV sets, Blu-ray players, tablets and games consoles. Becoming an Xbox LIVE integrated film service provider is another milestone in LOVEFiLM’s ambition to bring the service to as many homes as possible.
Simon Calver, CEO of Amazon’s LOVEFiLM, said:
“It is an exciting day for LOVEFiLM customers and an auspicious day for the TV entertainment industry as a whole. Launching LOVEFiLM Instant on Xbox 360 and Kinect means bringing the service to a million more living rooms – a huge achievement.
“LOVEFiLM members in the UK can access our content in another exciting, innovative way and all for one straightforward price. The simplicity of our pricing and the ease with which customers can use LOVEFiLM Instant should make us the first choice for those customers who want fantastic entertainment at great value for money, anytime, anywhere.”
Stephen McGill, Director of Xbox & Entertainment for Microsoft UK said:
“It’s very exciting to see the launch of Amazon’s LOVEFiLM on Xbox LIVE. Xbox owners will be eager to get started, using their Kinect-enabled consoles to interact with LOVEFiLM’s extensive catalogue of movies in ways that will only be available on Xbox 360.”
So as soon as the update is released you will be able to use the service.
I had the opportunity to test the Western Digital WD Sentinel DX4000 Small Office Storage Server over the last few months and have been impressed with the performance and storage capacity of this great compact server. For those of you with large storage needs, limited space or small businesses, this Small Office Storage Server might be the device you need. Read on to find out more about the WD Sentinel DX4000.
Mental Note: Upfront, please understand that since the Windows Storage Server OS is so similar to WHS 2011, for this short review I will not be covering common areas to both OS such as Users, Add-Ins, backups and Client set up. I will spend more time on those features in a follow-up article.
The new WD Sentinel DX4000 is a small office storage sever that offers data protection, client PC back ups, easy administration and is user serviceable. In addition, the WD Sentinel gives you remote access, gigabit network speeds and DLNA support for media streaming. This server is good looking, has horsepower under the hood and has storage capability beyond anything we have seen in this size!
WD just released the 4TB and 8TB models with 6TB and 12TB models to be released in Q1 of 2012. Yes you read that right, 12TB! Leave it to industry leader WD to offer such a massive storage device!
Out of the box the WD Sentinel is heavy. I like heavy. Heavy is good. Heavy means it has good quality drives and components inside. Outside, the form factor is very professional and the size is just right. At about 8’”x9”x6” the server will look good on your desk or be small enough to hide on a shelf. The front LCD is a little bright for my needs but shows the status of the server at all times.
The WD Sentinel has four drive bays. With the two drive model it will run RAID 1 and with the 4 drive model it will run RAID 5.
The back of the WD Sentinel is clean and functional. It has two Ethernet ports, two USB 3.0 ports and two power supply connections. You can purchase and additional power supply from WD for about $60 but I would suggest a single UPS instead.
All of full details are available at WD but here are some of the basics:
The WD Sentinel is powered by an Intel Atom D525 1.8 Ghz Dual Core Processor with 2GB of RAM and runs Windows Storage Server (WSS) 2008 R2 Essentials. This OS is the same code base as Windows Home Server 2011 so the interface and Dashboard will feel very familiar. WSS is a more robust and expandable OS from Microsoft so this is part of what added to the higher cost.
The Xbox 360 Dashboard Update was supposed to be released today. It seems there might be a delay….
Here was the first tweet from Major Nelson:
And this from a few minutes ago:
Let’s hope it still comes out today!
