I'm not sure what to think of unifying all your media needs (movie services, gaming etc.) into one walled-garden box, as if that's the last thing you'd ever need.

In theory that sounds nice, less clutter and possibly cheaper too than getting more specialized items, but then I feel that still works only for some time. After a few years you anyway feel some part of that "unified machine" is lacking behind, and you want to buy some new box on the side to complement its weaknesses. So once again you are moving away from the "unified experience" to more clutter anyway.

Of course they like to market it as a be-all end-all unified solution now, a bit similarly like MSX computers were also meant to be the new universal standard for home computers, and 3DO an universal standard for console gaming machines.

I still feel a PC is overall better suited for such "jack of all trades"-unit, as it is not a walled garden so it is much easier to upgrade some part of it, or use new services on it (without extra charges). In practise, I see XBone a bit similar as all the various Smart TV implementations that try to cram all kinds of functionality and support for services into the TV unit itself, which becomes outdated or even obsolete in no time. E.g. my 2012 Philips Smart TV doesn't support Netflix; the 2013 versions do (not necessarily that well though, e.g. lacking full HD support with Netflix), but then they don't support newer services that are and will be competing with Netflix. I guess you'd have to buy a 2014 Philips SmartTV for them then.

I guess it wouldn't be that bad on XBone as it would receive SW updates more often and longer, adding support for newer services (unless MS is offering some competing service themselves already :))... but the walled-garden approach still suppresses that. For example, can I subscribe to Filmnet, Viaplay or the forthcoming Netflix-competitors with the current XBox360 and PS3? With PC I can, as the providers of the new service have no obstacles to offer their service through PC, so they appear on PC day one.

That said, PC can be a bit too much hassle to be an universal multimedia box for common people, unless it is some kind of specialized PC. So there is a market for non-PC solutions as well... but I just feel they may start lagging behind quite fast, and competition between services keeps it all still quite fragmented.

ive just had a though and wondered if anyone else had has it.

The whole lack of backwards compatibility thing (and we all know how i feel about that). i wonder if they will sell an addon of the physical type sort of like how the connect is a physical piece of hardware that connects and adds on to the 360. but after the initial release? or just provide a newer version of the XBOne later down the line with full compatibility.
im going to assume the easiest and laziest way of doing so (for an add on) would be to create a uber small 360 that connects into the XBOne via usb perhaps? its just a 360 no faffing around easy money maker for them, and happy(er) fans! its win win (for them and well begrudgingly accept it - after all pay more for it so we can have it means we can have it).
*as this little ray of hope dissipates the feeling of impending doom and sadness resumes*

now i cant fix the other issues (i mentioned) but i did have an idea for our troups and the always on internet / 24 hour checkin requirement.- military personal are exempt upon provision of valid service number to xbox support staff who disable the internet requirement for game play.

just a few thoughts of mine.

My solution suggestion is to go to some piratey-types and say "bet you can't crack this system".

I bet they'll go for option three (four?): not bothering at all with backwards compatibility.

Would Microsoft send XBox support personel to the military bases and fix their XBoxes, or would this be a server-side check to see if you need to connect to a server? (I'll let you figure out the viability of the first and usability of the latter).

My idea over the military personal "solution" - server side, needs to be performed at home i.e. before deployment (whilst connected to internet - some sort of dash update / or add on or something). so ms servers have the xbox identified as military personal, and the xbox itself has something that just identifies the xbox as internet checked verified so it just works hand in hand with the 24 hour verification system. or just disable it. better yet have both systems - local and server side work hand in hand that is why i maintain that it would need to be authorised prior to deployment. oh and have the personal enlistment still valid checked every 24 months or something. and before you ask actually there is already a system in place to check if a person is a member of the armed forces, it would just be piggy-backed onto that.

yes it is unlikely but it would gain them a lot of positive press in the wake of the mess they have made so far.

and yes i expect them to not bother with BC but i can only desperately hope and the above ideas allow it to be added at a later date thus not invalidating the announcement that the XBOne will not be BC. again these after launch ideas would also allow them to salvage the mess they have made whilst saving face.

The fallout from this reveal is 1000x times better than the reveal itself

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyT8cwwUomA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbWgUO-Rqcw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tn9mlvMxq8

My favourites

Comments = gold.
- What good are dogs, they are colorblind.
-- I've played Modern Warfare 2, they are not missing out.

Hilarious, if it wasn't so sad :D

Very important points here. I've been talking about this since way before the Xbox reveal. The future of device consolidation will be in the mobile market. The Xbox is pointless on that front. It will be a while, if ever, before mobile tech can actually compete with the power that a stationary unit like a PC or a console can dish out for graphics and gaming. So consoles should really stick to what they can do that mobile tech really can't, which is to try and provide an unmatched gaming experience.

I'll just leave this image here.

Mobile doesn't need to compete in power, it just needs to be good enough. Consoles are underpowered compared to high end PC's for most of their life cycle, yet their games sell very well. There's a point at which the difference isn't major enough that it stops the device from being viable.

I think that mobile mainly needs the ecosystem and the hardware (controllers, TV connection) to become a platform for hardcore gamers. It's already starting to happen. Several Android consoles will arrive this year, and Android now provides API's for achievements, multiplayer, etc. In terms of hardware, we're also closing in on the power of the current gen. Still not there, but the hardware is much better than the Wii and we're already seeing 2GB RAM, which trumps current gen consoles.

I think we'll see mobile gaming become more hardcore over the next couple of years.

DRM is absolute poison.

I want nothing to do with any of it, reeks of greed and hatred towards the customer.

At 33 years of age, it's easy for me to ignore most games that come out these days as I have a lot of other responsibilities and my spare time is carefully spent on games worthy of attention. That's why I appreciate GOG so much, they're bringing back quality, DRM free games that I missed out on as a kid. I will actively support other companies that don't punish their paying customers and fans.

Iron Tower Studio is one such developer worthy of support. They're about to unleash an epic RPG called Age of Decadence. Check it out:

http://www.irontowerstudio.com/

"DRM: None. If you feel that the game is worth paying for and, most importantly, you want to help us stay in business and make more games, support us. If not…"

Yeah my sentiments exactly (but probably not a PS4 either). Yep, pretty cool technology for interfacing...but perhaps it's just my paranoia, but this is getting a little to close to "Big Brother is Watching" to me. That, and this:

;-)