WATCH VIDEO. Microsoft is planning to position its Xbox as a centre piece for the TV set in the living room.
Following the news that the company sold its Mediaroom division to Ericsson and the announcement that Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) will deliver the new processor for the box, rumours in the US press suggest that Microsoft is gearing up to launch a TV service.
The company itself fuelled the speculation by saying that Microsoft can now “commit 100 percent of its focus on consumer TV strategy with Xbox”, Full details are likely to be announced at a Microsoft Xbox press event, tentatively scheduled on May 21.
Multiple sources familiar with the company’s Xbox plans have revealed to US online publication The Verge that Microsoft will introduce a feature that lets its next-generation console take over a TV and set-top box in a similar way to Google TV.
The new hybrid service will combine broadcast or cable signals with internet delivered content. By passing the TV signal through the box, the Xbox can overlay an UI, which will also use the Kinect motion driven functionalities.
The new Xbox will also include the current Xbox Live TV and on-demand features available in a number of countries, such as Sky in the UK and Canal+ in France.
The video below from IGN shows a round-up of current facts and rumours around the next-generaion Xbox.
