E3 happened last week, and dozens of amazing games were shown for the forthcoming Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The technology and gaming press were far more interested in talking about which console would win the next generation than discussing new games. This was because Microsoft had decided to take a very different approach to game licensing and distribution with the Xbox One, while Sony stuck with the current model.

Last week Microsoft was providing more details about how game sharing would work with the Xbox One. They reiterated that the new console was about moving forward into a constantly connected future. That vision of always-on internet connected consoles brought with it some great new experiences, but it also required a change to business-as-usual. As usual, the internet, for as much as it likes to proclaim the opposite, really doesn’t like change. Most tech sites, and the members of their communities, railed against Microsoft for changing the way game sharing would work. No longer would you easily be able to buy and sell used game discs. That wasn’t entirely true, but forums and comments threads never let silly things like the truth get in the way of a good rant.  In the end, the negative press was too much for Microsoft to handle. There was a serious risk that they might not actually sell as many Xbox One consoles as they had hoped. Microsoft crushed Sony this generation. They didn’t want the opposite to happen with the next generation just because they were having a hard time convincing people of the benefits of their proposed ideas.

So today Microsoft reversed course. On the official Xbox news site, Don Mattrick, President of the Interactive Entertainment Business, announced that they are going back to the old way of doing things. The Xbox One won’t need to connect every 24 hours to ensure that you’re playing a legally purchased copy of a game. You’ll also simply be able to lend your game disc to as many friends and you like. It also means that our current rental models will still work. On the surface this all sounds great, but there are downsides too.

If you can lend a game to anyone that means that Microsoft needs another way to check that you’re playing a legally purchased copy. Since they already said they wouldn’t check every 24 hours anymore they needed a different strategy. Instead, they’ll just require you to have the game disc in the console whenever you want to play it. That means you won’t be able to instantly switch from one game to another, because you’ll have to get up to swap discs. The vision of installing all your games one time, then putting the discs away for good is a beautiful idea that died before it was even born.

There is another feature that has been put to death by all of this, and it is possibly an even bigger one. It is definitely the more innovative feature to be sacrificed at the hands of the internet. Microsoft had announced last week that you would be able to share your game library with up to 10 “family members.” Details were a little murky about this feature, but it sounded like you might have been able to let your friends play your games without even needing to give them a disc. That sounded even easier, and more convenient, than physically sharing a disc. This 10-person sharing plan is almost definitely dead now that disc sharing is the strategy that will be implemented.

Microsoft is calling this a “best of both worlds” approach. To me it seems like Microsoft has just delayed the future that we all know is coming, to satisfy the demands of those who wish to stay chained to the current model. In an attempt to not sound overly negative about Microsoft’s reversal, I will say that there is obviously plenty of time for Microsoft to further modify their plans for the Xbox One. It only took them a week to make this radical change, and the console’s release is still five months away. I’m hoping Microsoft can find a way to still implement some of their innovative new ideas, but keep some form of used game sales and game rental services a reality.

Source: Xbox Wire

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It’s finally the week of the E3, and that means that the Microsoft, Sony, and all of the other giants of the video game industry are parading their new products. It also means that we finally get most of the rest of the details on the Xbox One and Sony PlayStation 4. While Josh loves gaming, and Richard loves gadgets, they just didn’t think they could do the topic justice on their own, so this week they are joined by Matt Paprocki from DoBlu and the Seen in HD podcast. There was also plenty of Windows and Windows Phone news to cover. Josh and Richard cover all that and more on episode 231 of the Entertainment 2.0 podcast. If you’re not listening live you’re missing a lot of fun, so make sure to join Josh and Richard for the live recording of episode 232 Tuesday, June 18th at 8:00pm ET!

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• First look at Windows 8.1
• Complete list of new features in Windows 8.1
• June 2013 Surface firmware update includes new LifeCam driver and keyboard update
• Leaked Windows Phone 8.x dev build screenshots reveal notification center and more
• Alleged photos of Nokia EOS 41MP PureView Windows Phone leaked with slight camera hump to boot
• Xbox One Priced, Dated, and Available for Pre-Order
• Disney Launches Digital Copy Plus – But Where’s the Plus?
• Using Pandora on an HTPC

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Continuing the Windows 8 vision with Windows 8.1

Pandora recently released a brand new HTML5 10-foot interface targeted at the Xbox 360.  HTML5 works everywhere, right?  Surely it it would work on any PC including Windows Media Center PCs…. Guess again.  It was massively disappointing to discover that, for whatever reason, it is not open to any browser.  If you go to https://tv.pandora.com/ like their blog post suggests, you will be met with an advertisement for how awesome Pandora is on the Xbox.  That is decidedly not awesome for the rest of us.  Luckily, there is a workaround!  At least for now, if the URL specifies a few parameters, Pandora can be fooled into thinking the browser is an Xbox.  Try this out:

https://tv.pandora.com/?mouseEnabled=true&dPadEnabled=true&vendor=microsoft&model=xbox&type=console&modelYear=2013

Oddly enough this workaround seems to only work in Chrome and Opera.  Windows Media Center and home theater PC users rejoice! Of course, integrating this with Media Center takes a little work (or a tool like Relaunch), so expect an update from us soon on that. Happy streaming.

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Here’s the rundown of this week’s show:

It’s time for our annual extended episode to talk about E3. This year was different than many previous shows, since both Sony and Microsoft had already had events to showcase their new consoles in the previous few months. Questions surrounding used games, connectivity, and many things were swirling leading up to the event, and that’s before we get to the games. We take the entire show this week to look at Microsoft, Sony, and to a smaller extent, Nintendo’s news coming from the biggest gaming conference. Be sure to jump back next week when Matt and I take a deeper dive at the whole idea of digital DRM. It’s sure to be fun.       

Blu-ray releases for June 11/18.

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It sounds like such a small and almost meaningless item, but using a headset is practically required for a quality multi-player experience. Good luck playing a team game successfully if you can’t hear what your teammates are planning. What fun is it to play a sports game if you can’t gloat a little over the touchdown you just scored? In short, playing multi-player games without voice communication with the other players can almost make some games completely pointless.

Microsoft knew this back in the early days of the Xbox 360. That’s why they included a headset with every console they shipped. Granted, that headset wasn’t very great, but it’s unique design (plugging it directly into the controller, not the console) was incredibly functional. While it might have been frustrating that they broke easily, at least you got one for free, and if you needed to replace it you could do so for under $20 typically. So even if it wasn’t the greatest headset ever, at least you knew that most people you were going to play online with actually had one. Sony didn’t bundle a headset with the PlayStation 3. Sony’s console supported Bluetooth headsets, so they assumed everyone would just use the headsets they already had for their phones. Turns out Sony was wrong, and multi-player gaming suffered drastically on the PlayStation as a result.

Now we can pre-order the Xbox One prior to it’s November launch, but no where does it state that it includes a headset. To make matters worse, the new headset that they showed at E3 looks like a rather nice upgrade to the device it replaces. So while Xbox Live continues to improve, and Sony joins the club in terms of charging for the ability to play multi-player games, one has to wonder if Microsoft will still hold such a dominant position in the online multi-player space of the next generation.

What do you think? Will it matter at all if the Xbox One doesn’t include a headset? Will it only matter if Sony does include one? If neither Microsoft nor Sony include headsets are we headed toward a less immersive multi-player experience on both consoles? Let us know in the comments!

Wrong. Digital Copy Plus is different from Digital Copy, but not significantly, and for the most part, not in a good way.

Disney debuted Digital Copy Plus with the Oz: The Great and Powerful release. So how is it different? Let’s add up the plusses and minuses:

You don’t need to insert a disc to redeem Digital Copy Plus. This is nice, but it’s hardly a plus, since many studios had already moved from the model of including a digital copy on the packaged media and simply allow you to download a copy from iTunes.

You can redeem your “Magic Code” [ugh] on a mobile device. Arguably, this is a plus since you can then access the video in your chosen mobile format.

You redeem your code at a special web site—not in iTunes. This is a minus, not a plus. Consumers are used to going to one place (or in the case of UltraViolet one of two places) to redeem codes. Disney just added yet another place. Result: confusion. Many consumers will still try to redeem the codes in iTunes.

You can redeem a digital copy at iTunes, Amazon, or VUDU. While this adds flexibility, it’s actually more limited than what some other studios are offering. Paramount and Universal, for example, offer both an iTunes copy and an UltraViolet copy. And choosing a Digital Copy Plus format is like an exercise in hieroglyphics (see below). So plus…minus? This one’s a wash.

This handy chart helps you choose a redemption option.

…and this handy chart is the cypher to decode the first chart.

VUDU titles are not added to your UltraViolet library. Don’t be fooled by the fact that VUDU is one of the redemption options. Not all VUDU titles are created equal. Even if you only use VUDU for UltraViolet, Disney’s VUDU titles are only good in VUDU and will not show up in your UltraViolet library. This ultimately limits the portability of your VUDU titles—for example, you can’t play them offline on your iPad—and the devices on which you can play them. Even if you’re not a huge fan of UltraViolet, this is clearly a minus. If nothing else, it’s confusing since most other VUDU titles are UltraViolet-ready.

So…where’s the plus? Basically there is no plus. It’s more confusing than traditional digital copy, it’s less flexible than UltraViolet, and it’s not on par with what a lot of other studios are offering today. Disney’s new digital service might be more accurately labeled “Digital Copy Minus”—or at least something more honest like “Digital Copy Different” or “Disney Digital Copy” (harkening to Disney’s self-branded Blu-ray and DVD brands). Oh, but they can’t call it that since they’ve somehow also roped Dreamworks into this approach, too.

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Click here to download episode #137

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Top News

• MacBook Air refreshed with Intel Haswell processors and all-day battery life, available today starting at $999 via theVerge
• Apple brings 802.11ac Wi-Fi to AirPort networking hardware via Ars Technica
• Apple unveils its latest desktop operating system: OS X Mavericks, coming this fall via Engadget
• WWDC leftovers: Now you can read iBooks on your Mac via Ars Technica
• Apple Unveils iTunes Radio, A Streaming Music Service With The Full Power Of The iTunes Library via TechCrunch
• Apple announces iOS 7, ‘biggest change’ since the introduction of the iPhone, coming this fall via theVerge
• Apple announces a slew of updates to iCloud via Ars Technica
• Apple announces ‘iOS in the Car,’ letting you access Maps, messages, and more via theVerge
• Siri for iOS 7 updated with Twitter, Wikipedia and Bing integration via Engadget
• Apple announces ‘Activation Lock’ theft deterrent feature for iOS 7 ahead of gov’t meeting on rising smartphone crime via 9to5Mac
• Apple previews a completely new Mac Pro: 12 core Xeon CPU, PCIe flash storage, externally expandable via theNextWeb
• Microsoft announces Xbox One price: $499, launches in 21 countries in November via Engadget
• Explosions and exclusives: Microsoft’s E3 press conference wrap-up via PCWorld
• Ryse: Son of Rome via IGN

Afterburner

• Apple Offers In-Store iPhone Display Replacements for $149 via Lifehacker
• Samsung announces the Galaxy Ace 3; LTE, Android 4.2, 4-inch screen, 1 GHz dual-core processor via theNextWeb
• Samsung Galaxy S 4 Active is official and ready when you are via Ars Technica
• AT&T ends 20-month early upgrades, forces customers to wait two years via Ars Technica
• Microsoft clarifies always-on, game licensing policies for Xbox One via Electronista
• Fujitsu unveils 14-inch ultrabook with 3,200×1,800 display via cnet
• Acer shows 21-inch Android desktop via PCWorld

thEndUsr Stories

• PRISM: We are shocked, shocked… via David Simon
• First US Floating Turbine Launched via EcoGeek

App Pick: Death Worm for Windows Phone 8, devour and destroy everything in sight via WPCentral

Perhaps the information that was craved the most was provided today, or at least it was mostly provided. We’ve been waiting for confirmation of a price and a ship date. Today they announced that the Xbox One will be priced at $499, and it will be made available in November. It will be launched initially in 21 countries. In the UK the Xbox One will be available for £429. While that price may seem high, Microsoft is most likely banking on the fact that the console includes the next-generation Kinect sensor and a Blu-ray drive. If you’re already planning to buy one it can be pre-ordered right now, and comes with a special controller (pictured) in addition to the Kinect sensor and an HDMI cable.

In addition to the refreshed Xbox 360, and a slew of new game announcements, Microsoft also discussed some of the Xbox One’s features and a cool promotion. If you’re a current Xbox Live Gold subscriber you’ll be receiving two free games per month until the launch of the Xbox One. Also, when purchasing content through the store all prices will be in local currency, instead of Microsoft Points. Finally, with regard to Xbox Live Gold, they are going to be making account sharing easier. They said that you’ll only need one Xbox Live Gold account to access most features (including multiplayer gaming) with other accounts in your household. For those of you who love to share your gaming exploits Microsoft detailed its Upload Studio feature which gives you the ability customize game videos that you create on the fly, and then upload straight to the web. They also showed off integration with Twitch.TV that looked incredibly simply and powerful, and basically decimated what Sony showed with their Ustream integration.

If you weren’t able to watch the keynote live you can still watch it on demand right here.

Our favorite Media Center add-in gets a year’s worth of beta updates, Microsoft refuses to call the new Start Button a Start Button, and If you buy a Surface RT in the month of June, you’ll get a Touch cover or Type cover with it for free! Josh and Richard cover all that and more on episode 230 of the Entertainment 2.0 podcast. If you’re not listening live you’re missing a lot of fun, so make sure to join Josh and Richard for the live recording of episode 231 Tuesday, June 9th at 8:00pm ET!

Click here to download episode #230

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Show Links:

• SSD Setup and Optimizing
• Recorded TV HD v1.8.0
• Continuing the Windows 8 vision with Windows 8.1
• Windows 8.1 to include native Miracast wireless display support and internet sharing
• Eight inches of Windows 8: hands on with Acer’s Iconia W3 tablet
• Buy a Surface RT Get a free Touch or Type Cover
• Improved Windows Phone App for Desktop now available
• Halo: Spartan Assault coming to Windows Phone 8 and Windows 8 in July!

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The intro music is a song called Rogue by Raw Stiles

Continuing the Windows 8 vision with Windows 8.1

Click here to download episode #136

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Top News

• ASUS Zenbook Infinity official with a Gorilla Glass 3 lid, touchscreen and backlit keyboard via Engadget
• Asus announces new Transformer Pad Infinity with 2560 x 1600 display, coming this fall via theVerge
• ASUS Transformer Book Trio: a hybrid laptop running Windows and Android via Engadget
• Asus brings 4K to your desktop with massive 31.5” 3840×2160 monitor via ArsTechnica
• Asus unveils VivoMouse, ‘world’s first’ mouse and touchpad combination for Windows 8 via theVerge
• Samsung announces new 8” and 10.1” Galaxy Tab 3 Android tablets, launching globally in June via theNextWeb
• Dell XPS 11 combines the best of Lenovo’s Yoga and Microsoft’s Surface via theVerge
• Xbox One Revealed via theDigitalMediaZone

Afterburner

• Asus launches Memo Pad HD7, a Nexus 7 with a rear camera for $129 via theVerge
• ASUS reveals FonePad Note: 6-inch 1080p display, dual-core 1.6GHz CPU, 2GB RAM via Engadget
• Samsung Galaxy S 4 mini announced with 4.3-inch screen via Ars Technica
• Twitter, Evernote, LinkedIn, and Dashlane have all added two-factor authentication
• Surface RT buyers in the U.S. now get a free cover via cnet
• Wii U Basic price slashed by 20 percent at Target via cnet
• Apple quietly kills iPod touch 4, intros camera-less $229 fifth-gen model via Ars Technica
• Intel launches Haswell processors: here’s what you need to know via theVerge
• Google reveals updated Gmail interface for web, iOS, Android via Electronista
• HTC One with stock Android announced, launching June 26th for $599 in the US via theVerge

thEndUsr Stories

• GIF creator: It’s a soft ‘g’, Mr. President via cnet
• Windows 8.1 given first official outing, and yes, the Start button is back via ArsTechnica
• Twitter Releases Vine For Android Smartphones As It Tops 13M Users via TechCrunch
• A Small Wind Turbine You Can Make Yourself via EcoGeek

Tip of the Week: Keeeb Organizes Web Clippings From Any Browser vial Lifehacker

Meet the 23-ton X-Wing, the world’s largest Lego model via cnet

 Introducing Home: On via theDigitalMediaZone

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If you’re interested in any of the products mentioned in this show, consider using our affiliate links, below, to view or purchase them on Amazon.com. Don’t worry…nobody’s getting rich off of this; but it does help us keep the lights on (so to speak) at The DMZ.

Now that Xbox One has been revealed Richard has skipped town, but have no fear! Chris Barnes returns to the show to fill in for Richard. One might think that with all of the coverage of the Xbox One from last week that there would be no need to discuss it further. Unfortunately the internet has found plenty to get upset about, and Josh and Chris needed to weigh on it. Fortunately there were plenty of other things to cover, like Media Browser 3, Microsoft and Google [amazingly] working together, a .NET-based Smartwatch, and much more. Josh and Chris cover all that and more on episode 229 of the Entertainment 2.0 podcast. If you’re not listening live you’re missing a lot of fun, so make sure to join Josh and Richard for the live recording of episode 230 Tuesday, May 4th at 8:00pm ET!

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Show Links:

• IvyBridge Review with Screen Flickering
• MediaBrowser 3 Public Beta
• My Memories Interactive Slideshow
• Microsoft adds a Windows key to its newest mice
• Splashtop Remote Desktop launched for Windows Phone
• Microsoft and Google working together on new YouTube Windows Phone app
• Xbox One: One Device To Control Them All?
• DMZ Counterpoint: What Do You Think of the Xbox One?
• Q&A: Microsoft Veep Phil Harrison Talks Xbox One, Used Games, Always-On, and More
• Secret Labs takes a crack at a new .Net watch
• Yahoo’s Bid for Hulu in $600M to $800M Range
• Introducing Home: On

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The intro music is a song called Rogue by Raw Stiles