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superchunk on 06 November 2012
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disolitude said:
superchunk said:
disolitude said:
superchunk said:
I don't see how this is different than the other Surface tablets, aside from being 7"?

Seems to me they'd simply incorporate Live into all their Win products as they already are. What would a "Xbox" branded tablet even mean unless it had some form of controller add-on for real controls. Then in reality, it should just be an "Xbox controller" add-on for Win8/RT based tablets utilizing some standard connection.

I have Microsoft employed people on my messenger...and I don't mean people that fax things and deliver coffee but people that are executives and very involved with Xbox Canada.  And they have no clue what this will be like or what it is. First they hear of it...

But I'm glad we got the inside scoop from you about what the final product here is going to be and look like.

So, making assumptions and taking a guess on what it may or may not be is out of the question then? Didn't realize my posts were so official to you.

Well sorry then, I didn't see hints of "this is purely my guess at what this thing will do". It was more like "in my professional opinion...".

Well, let's look at this rumor in the full scope of what MS has been actually doing.

1) We know a neXtBox is in development.
2) We know MS has incorporated Live and its Xbox gaming into its full Windows8 product.
3) We know MS will have Win8 as a base for its neXtBox OS/UI.
4) We know MS has built tablets called Surface.
5) We know MS has pushed a "smartglass" system that allows inconnectivity with ANY tablet/phone and Xbox. Likely to continue with neXtBox as well.
6) We know that there was a rumor from a while back (that GAF related image) that said Surface might be a controller piece for the neXtBox in similar fashion as WiiU's gamepad. (even if parts of that rumor seem to great to be real)

So, to me this means there are a few things this rumor could be.

A) A 7" tablet designed with gaming in mind. Runs Win8 or RT, Live and digital games. Like has some sort of controls (otherwise it would just be a smaller RT tablet vs a 'gaming tablet'). 7" size makes sense for portability and cost cutting on various items.

B) A 7" tablet like item to be a companion to the neXtBox in the same fashion as WiiU, but likely more tablet features like a "real" tablet whereas the Gamepad is not quite that.

C) A 7" tablet designed with gaming in mind, BUT runs winphone OS and its being tested to see the next evolution of Live on mobile.

These only really makes sense if it has dedicated controls. Otherwise why brand it Xbox? Why brand it with your "gaming" centric brand?

Then there is the consideration of smartglass. Why have a "Xbox" branded tablet when ANY tablet can already interface with Xbox? Again suggestign they are taking it further as a dedicated tablet for gaming (kinda like Vita? but with better tablet style features) OR as a secondary/alternate controller similar to the Gamepad.

Then there is the consideration that Live/Xbox gaming is already heavily connected with Win8. Meanign all Win8 tablets should have a solid touch based gaming application as well as utilizing Xbox controllers via wireles technology. This also suggest they must want to take it a step further with a more integrated device.

So my thoughts are:

This is likely something far closer to what I suggested Vita should have been. It could be a true smart OS style device with dedicated controls, so it properly marries what a gamer wants with dedicated gaming and what the 18 to 25 mass consumer wants in a portable device. (though smartphone is still better IMO)

However, I think that type of situation is better served if its just a robust 7" tablet that has some sort of detacheable controls like that lower-end Android tablet shown off not too long ago. This type of connection could also become a standard for Win8 tablets as they should have the standard Win8 Xbox/Live integration already.

OR there is the distinct possibility that MS will go for a more directly interconnected tablet device for neXtBox that would address the holes in the smartglass idea with a gamepad style layout allowing it to be the real controller option along with the potential for lag-free connections.