Is YouTube’s Ad Pitch Working?

YouTube is trying to convince advertisers to spend big dollars on its upgraded content. They seem receptive.
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Microsoft’s Sneaky Success: The Xbox Is the Most Popular Video Player in the U.S.

New data says the game player serves up more video than the iPad, iPhone or Android. Google TV or Apple TV are so far behind they don’t even make the cut.
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EA Says Digital Will Offset New Console Investments for the First Time

Despite having to sink $80 million into new console game development this year, EA’s CEO John Riccitiello is upbeat, saying that “we are absolutely a different company in a different spot.”
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News Byte

Get Yer Subscription Xbox for $99 (And $15 a Month)

Microsoft will sell the Xbox 360 game and media console, with the Kinect sensor, for $99 as part of a two-year, $15 per month “Gold” contract. The news was first reported last week by The Verge. Interested takers, however, will have to live near one of the 21 Microsoft stores across the U.S. to opt in to the deal.

News Byte

Microsoft Preparing to Sell Cellphone-Like Subscriptions for the Xbox?

The Verge is reporting that next week Microsoft is planning to sell subscriptions for the Xbox, similarly to how wireless carriers sell phones. Under the plan, the Xbox plus Kinect will cost $99 plus $15 a month for two years, including access to the Xbox Live Gold service and its streaming TV and music. Right now, the package appears to be cheaper than paying upfront for the console, though that doesn’t factor in any future price discounts for the aging hardware.

Motorola Scores Initial ITC Ruling Against Microsoft Over Xbox

An administrative law judge found that Microsoft infringed on four Motorola patents, but did not infringe on one other.
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Reed Hastings Goes After Comcast, Again, on Facebook. Again.

What better place to accuse the cable guys of violating Net neutrality?
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Xbox Grows, With Users, Beyond Videogames

Apps for Microsoft System Feed Gamers Hungry for Other Entertainment.
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Xbox Users Clocking More Hours Gobbling Media Than Gaming Online

Microsoft said today that for the first time, Xbox Live users are now consuming more movies, TV and music than using the service to play multiplayer games.
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Smithsonian Brings Classic Arcade Games to Life (Video)

Festivities highlighted the opening of a videogame art exhibit at the Smithsonian.
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Jon Stewart and Siri Debate Foxconn

Microsoft Phoning In Its Last CES Keynote