We seriously hope Microsoft does not name their next-generation Xbox console as Xbox 720 but its a debate for another day coz a new report claims Microsoft is working on two different variants of the new Xbox.

One would be a cheaper “along the lines of a set-top box” with Kinect that will be targeted at users who want to use Xbox as a streaming platform. Another SKU will be a premium model loaded with all the goodies you’d expect from a gaming console like an optical drive, hard disk and backward compatibility.

Needless to say the premium model, if true, will be priced higher than the feature SKU.

Xbox 720 is rumored to show its face at CES 2012 early next year.

[Via OXM]

This year’s E3 is still fresh in our minds and BGR is chalking up some info that is expected at next year’s E3. According to the site, Microsoft will have a special show to unveil the next-generation Xbox. Intrinsic details are a mystery but apparently the new Xbox is under development since 2006. That’s about 5 years in development, which means we can expect something special from the Redmond giant.

The current Xbox 360 is the ninth most popular gaming console and has sold around 54.4 million units.

Kinect’s way of making ‘user as the controller’ has worked for Microsoft. The Redmond giant has confirmed that its revolution gaming sensor has sold more than 10m units worldwide also driving Kinect-standalone games to more than 10m.

Another interesting thing about this milestone is that it has bagged the award for becoming fastest selling consumer electronics device by Guinness World Records. Microsoft managed to sell an average of 133,333 units per day, for a total of 8 million units in its first 60 days, which is more an iPhone or iPad for the equivalent period.

Gaz Deaves, Editor of Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition, said: “The sales figures here speak for themselves. We can confirm that no other consumer electronics device sold faster within a 60-day time span, an incredible achievement considering the strength of the sector.”

[Via Xbox]

Here’s a fact that recently released Kinect is doing better than Sony’s PlayStation Move. Microsoft has announced that Kinect for Xbox 360 has sold more than 1 million units worldwide in just 10 days. With the holiday season arriving soon, Microsoft has also upped its sales forecast for this year from 3 million to at least 5 million units.

Kinect went on sale in North America and Europe whereas Asian countries will get it tomorrow and Japan on November 20.

Kinect for Xbox 360 can be bought as a standalone unit or bundled with the console.

Press Release

The Xbox 360 dashboard update that was made available to previewers couple of months back is now available to all. Users signing into the LIVE service will be prompted to update. The update brings lots of new features like Kinect support, live and on-demand streaming of sporting events from ESPN3.com, Zune music support, improved Netflix UI, improved voice quality, easy gamertag creation, in-dash virtual keyboard, improved Marketplace UI and more.

[Via MajorNelson]

Microsoft today made available its new Xbox LIVE update to members who had signed up for the preview. The new update makes the Xbox 360 more entertainment-friendly and interactive. The update now adds more than 3,500 live and on-demand sporting events via ESPN3.com and about 11 million tracks from Zune, allowing members to stream songs on the Xbox and even on PC and Windows Phone 7 device.

Additionally, the new update will be compatible with Kinect, which means users will be able to navigate all these features with their voice or wave of their hands.

Press Release

[Via Winsupersite]

Microsoft has announced to bring Xbox LIVE to Windows Phone 7 devices. The gaming service will run out-of-the-box when first Windows Phone 7 hits before holiday season. In addition to huge number of titles announced for the launch, Xbox LIVE on WP7 will bring additional features like tracking achievements, Gamerscore, create Avatars, access to Spotlight feeds, trial demos and multiplayer gaming with other WP7 phones as well as PCs.

Head over here to check out the all 63 games that will be released in the launch portfolio.

Press Release

Red Ring of Death (RRoD) is one issue that has caused many Xbox 360s to break down. With the launch of a revamped console, Microsoft did think about the issue and has a workaround rather than a proper solution. Instead, now whenever the Xbox 360 will go beyond its stated temperature limit, a red dot will be displayed on the console and the above screen will be flashed on the screen to notify about the auto shutdown until the unit cools down.

In other words, the new Xbox 360 still has a chance to be bricked due to overheating but the frequency would be less considering it will warn every time the temperature goes off limit.

[Via Geeky-Gadgets]

Microsoft will reveal Project Natal’s price and availability details at the E3 Premiere in couple of weeks but if you want an estimation about how much you’ll be shelling out when it comes to the market, Edge Online claims to have got it from their trustworthy source. Provided its true, the standalone Project Natal accessory will cost $150 and $300 if we’re looking to buy it with Xbox 360 Arcade. The previously rumored price for the standalone kit was around $80.

Moreover, the source also chimed in with the global release date, which he claims to be around October 26.

[Via Joystiq]

Microsoft’s been vague when it comes to the launch date of Project Natal but thanks to a MS marketing manager for Entertainment & Devices in Saudi Arabia, we know the release month now.

According to the executive, the exact date is still unknown but we’ll “definitely” see Xbox 360’s Project Natal sometime in October.

I do have great news to share with everybody – that Project Natal will be launched in Saudi Arabia on the [inaudible] that it will be launched in the world – that is going to be somewhere in October.

Microsoft is holding a “Premiere” at the E3 next month where it’s expected to unveil the exact release date.

[Via Eurogamer]