Welcome to the Morning Briefing for the 21st of May, 2012, where we highlight the tech stories from across the web that broke while you were sleeping and what we are watching here at TECHGEEK.com.au.
Topic: Microsoft
Halo 4 Limited Edition Details
Available for pre-order today comes the Halo 4 Limited Edition, packed with additional content to maximise your multiplayer experience, the Limited Edition will surely drop the jaws of many Halo fans.
Microsoft unveils “Halo Infinity Multiplayer” for Halo 4
Looks very cinematic, doesn’t it? Microsoft has unveiled the multiplayer hub for Halo 4, called Halo Infinity Multiplayer. The entire hub is based around the UNSC Infinity, and you’ll be able to create your own custom super-soldier, and progress your carrier throughout its own story.
Halo 4 Official Box Art + New Enemies
343 Industries had recently sent to Halo fans, 32 small images which in fact were ‘pieces to the Halo 4 puzzle’. Shortly after receiving the images, Halo fans were able to put them together, which turned out to be artwork for the game.
Bing gets a redesign, adds Facebook support – and only available in the US
Bing, for some reason, has a different look for its search results when you switch to the US version. It has a more ‘Metro’ look with plenty of whitespace and not that horrible gradient at the top – like every other international version of the search engine. Well, now, it’s getting some new things – and like usual, will only be available to the United States.
Xbox to stream E3 Briefing on Xbox LIVE for first time
I’m more surprised by the fact that this was its ‘first time’ ever, but users on Xbox Live will be soon able to watch Microsoft’s E3 briefing LIVE when the big gaming event happens in June. The briefing will also be broadcast on television on US channel SPIKE.
Xbox 360, Windows 7 banned in Germany in patent dispute
This is banned in Germany – with Windows 7
A patent dispute between Motorola and Microsoft has now escalated with a German court ruling that the Xbox 360 cannot be sold within the country. Also included in the banned list include Windows 7, Internet Explorer and the Windows Media Player.
Microsoft, Apple to be asked by Parliament on why they charge so much in Australia
Image: Mark Pegrum/OzMark17 via Flickr (Creative Commons)
Apple and Microsoft, among other tech companies, have been called to Canberra to explain why Australians are being charged much more on software, music and games in comparison to other nations, according to a new report.
SkyDrive vs Google Drive: the definitive guide to documents and files in the cloud
Google Drive officially launches with 5GB free storage
Google Drive has finally officially launched, after years of speculation, and is available now or, for some users, very soon.
The service, which has literally been rumoured, and then reportedly killed, over 4 years ago has finally arrived with Google Docs, Google+ and Gmail integration, a better API, 5GB of free storage and native file-syncing, basically like DropBox or SkyDrive offers.
Windows 8 Consumer Release Preview to come in “first week of June”
Excited about Windows 8? Well, the Consumer Release Preview – the ‘almost completed’ version of the operating system – has a release date. Microsoft has taken to Twitter to say announce that it will be released in the first week of June.
Motorola gets victory in Xbox 360 lawsuit – ITC finds Microsoft infringed patents
This could be banned in the US by Motorola
Motorola appears to have an early win with the US’ International Trade Commission against Microsoft and its Xbox 360 console. The ITC has issued a preliminary report that has said that the Xbox 360 did infringe five of Motorola’s patents.
Microsoft decreases SkyDrive storage to 7GB for new users, introduces DropBox-style clients for Windows and Mac
Microsoft has today added a sync client to SkyDrive that works with Mac and Windows. Similar to DropBox, the new SkyDrive apps create a folder, called SkyDrive, which provides a native syncing functionality.
Microsoft cuts version confusion, offers three consumer flavours of Windows 8
Microsoft has today announced the editions for Windows 8; and has basically dumped the “Home Basic”, “Home Premium”, “Business” and “Ultimate” editions found on Windows Vista and 7, replacing them with the much more defined “Windows 8″ and “Windows 8 Pro”.
AOL strikes US$1 billion patent deal with Microsoft
Microsoft has agreed to buy over 800 patents from AOL, and license the remainder still with the company, in a deal that is worth US$1.056 billion. And since the payment is in cash – this will give AOL a much needed cash injection for its long-term strategy to become a huge online media player.