Xbox One Photo Gallery: A Close-Up Look At Microsoft's Shiny, Shiny Future Of Gaming

Today in Redmond, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox One, its vision for the future of home entertainment. The Xbox One will expand Microsoft's Xbox agenda well beyond gaming, blurring the boundaries of gaming and interactive TV further than ever.

Let's take a look.

The Xbox One isn't much of a departure when it comes to design — but the tech under the hood is on steroids and then some.

With integrated Blu-Ray, Kinect and a whole new batch of hyper-responsive voice and gesture controls, Microsoft is angling for casual gamers and the hardcore set alike.

Microsoft's "futureproof" Xbox One features a reimagined (but not wholly reinvented) controller with developer-programmable buttons and "vibrating impulse triggers" that provide tactile feedback.

The Xbox One soaking up the spotlight... literally.

Don Mattrick takes the stage for the biggest reveal moment of the day: the name of Microsoft's new console.

If the Today Show is any indication, the Xbox ain't just for l33t gamers these days — it's a console designed for the whole family.

Microsoft's new Xbox Live design takes after the successful formula of its predecessor rather than reinventing the wheel.

The Xbox One's multitasking chops on display, featuring a live Skype video chat demo.

With a demo of Call of Duty: Ghosts for the Xbox One, FPS fans are in understandable throes of ecstasy today. The new shooter will take the hit franchise in a new direction, setting the player up as the underdog in a ragtag team of post-apocalyptic warriors, who are presumably ghost-like in some capacity.

Since we can only assume that a handful of gamers out there won't be so into the Today Show thing, Forza Motorsport 5 will launch with the Xbox One.

The Xbox One may have made its photo op, but one big question remains: price. With so many advanced features on board, it's hard to imagine that the console will be able to match the $299 bill of its predecessor's base model. If Microsoft really wants to stave off the competition when the console becomes available—"later this year," executives said—the Xbox One's price tag needs to be as impressive as its spec sheet.

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The Epic Battle Between Apple & Google Is All But Over - Who Won?

Guest author Derek Brown is a technology executive and analyst who blogs at One Blind Squirrel.

Android, it seems, is the worm that eats away at Apple's core.

According to Gartner, Android-based handsets outsold iOS-based handsets 4-to-1 on a worldwide basis in the first quarter of 2013, up from a ratio of about 2.5-to-1 in the same period of 2012. As such, Android accounted for 74% of global smartphone sales last quarter, up from 57% in the first quarter of 2012, while iOS accounted for just 18%, down from approximately 23% last year.

Apple's Strengths Irrelevant Going Forward

Apple bulls/fans (and even some critics) will likely race to highlight such defenses as:

• Apple didn't have a major new release last quarter.
• Tablet sales should be weighed in this discussion.
• The installed base of iOS devices should be taken into account.
• Developers still generate more revenue through iOS than Android.
• Apple continues to generate the majority of the industry's profit.

Blah. Blah. Blah.

Those points are all very true. Unfortunately for Apple, though, they're also largely irrelevant going forward, given the alarming rate at which consumers worldwide are speaking with their wallets and selecting Android handsets over iOS handsets. With just a few more quarters like this, coupled with the cumulative effect of similar sales data over the past 2-3 years and the likely coming wave of Android-based tablets, it is a given (to me, anyway) that Android will be soon be effectively ubiquitous around the globe.

In the world of technology platforms, ubiquity matters (a lot) when developers, manufacturers, etc., are considering future products/solutions.

The Mobile Battle Is Over - And Google Won

And, so, I will reiterate the view I've held for some time now: The mobile battle that Apple started, first with the launch of iPod in 2001 and then moved into hyperdrive with the introduction of iPhone and iPad in 2007 and 2010, respectively, is over (or, will be over shortly), and Google/Android is the victor.

Make no mistake, Apple will clearly continue to play a prominent role in the industry and maintain leadership in some respects. It will also continue to boast a large installed base and a substantial number of loyalists and devotees. But the company's days of dominance, let alone an effective monopolist, are behind it.

Apple's Success Was A Once-In-A-Generation Event

Pundits, analysts and investors need to wrap their heads around one simple notion: Apple's product cycle and performance between 2001-2012 was a once-in-a-generation event. In my view, no company in history has had (or, likely, will soon have agin) so many successive "grand slams" as did Apple with iPod, iTunes, Mac, iOS, iPhone and, finally, iPad. The company's hardware, software and "it-just-works" approach to integration absolutely annihilated existing competition and ignited massive new markets in which Apple had a multiyear near-monopoly and from which Apple was able to generate once-in-a-generation revenue growth and profitability.

As unfair as it may be, the inevitable comparisons to those days will not look good for Apple for some time. The hard reality is that the company's future — even under the best of circumstances — will likely reflect diminished influence and declining revenue (perhaps substantially so), with the prospect of shrinking margins to boot.

Apple Stuck At Square One In The Cloud

To make matters worse for Apple, I think the company is poorly positioned for the battleground of tomorrow: Web (or cloud) services that function like utilities — seamlessly, across all devices, across all operating systems, all the time — at low or no incremental cost.

As I discussed in a previous post, Welcome to Google’s Playground, Apple, the increasing importance of Web services substantially diminishes the value of Apple’s closed-loop hardware/software core, while simultaneously highlighting the strengths of Google’s business. Web services are Google's lifeblood, and the company prints money, either directly or indirectly, from use of many of these cloud-based services, even if those services are accessed via an Apple device (e.g., Maps or Gmail for iOS).

Apple, on the other hand, is almost at square one and, as a result, may be forced to spend big to acquire services that have proven themselves in the hands of consumers at scale.

Fun days for Apple, I know. But, hey, at least it’s not Dell!

Why the Man UTD -turn, Fergie? Alex ferguson leave manchaster united.

- Sir Alex quits as United boss after 27 years
- Shock retirement sparks health fears
- Programme notes said he was staying

SIR Alex Ferguson pulled off the biggest shock in world football yesterday — and then sparked serious fears for his health.

The 71-year-old announced he was retiring as Manchester United manager just days after insisting he had no intention of leaving.

The fiery Scot — famed for his “hairdryer” dressing downs — only told United’s directors of his bombshell decision on Tuesday night.

Fergie had revealed last week that he was undergoing a hip op in the summer but ex-players and fellow managers were left staggered at his shock U-turn.

Former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel said: “He’s always said the day would come when something in his life wasn’t right. Is it his hip operation? I can’t see him retiring over that.

“Until he explains why, we can guess and guess. There is something there we don’t know about.

“He won’t retire for the sake of retiring — it is difficult to make sense of it. I’m shocked — I just can’t make sense of the timing.

“It has come as a bombshell. I’m disappointed and very sad.”

Manchester United won this season’s Premier League at a canter and Sir Alex’s programme notes last Sunday suggested he would be STAYING after 26 years at the club. He told supporters: “I don’t have any plans at the moment to walk away from what I believe will be something special and worth being around to see.

“It’s always difficult in football to be absolutely sure of the future because the game has a habit of tripping you up, but I don’t live in a fantasy world and believe we have every reason to feel confident about the future of Manchester United.”

But, in the space of just three days, Manchester United’ s world has been turned upside down.

Sir Alex — known for meticulous planning and attention to detail — went public after rumours of him leaving on Tuesday night sent the net into meltdown.

He arrived as usual at the club’s Carrington training ground yesterday morning. But at 9.15am came the extraordinary Twitter message from United: “Sir Alex Ferguson retires. #thankyousir-alex.” In a statement 45 minutes later, the man himself said: “The decision to retire is one I’ve thought a great deal about and one I have not taken lightly. It is the right time.”

Fellow Scot Moyes was immediately installed as bookies’ favourite to take over, with Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho second.

However, we can reveal Mourinho and ex-Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola had both been told by Sir Alex he was definitely staying on. Sir Alex met Guardiola in New York at Christmas and also led Mourinho to believe he’d be in charge until at least 2015.

His reassurances prompted Guardiola to accept the post as Bayern Munich’s new boss for next season while Mourinho began making moves to return to Chelsea.

A source close to Guardiola and Mourinho said: “This just doesn’t make sense. Alex Ferguson was really clear to Pep and Jose that he would be staying at United for at least a couple of years. It is a job he knew both wanted and he thought it best to let them know what was happening.”

In an interview just three months ago, Sir Alex had claimed his health was “hunky dory”.

He said: “As you get older, you are not guaranteed your health, no one is when they get into their 70s. I just touch wood my health remains for a long time yet. At the moment, it remains hunky dory. You never know. We are all vulnerable to age. That is the question. How will I be in a year, two years, three, whatever.” Sir Alex had a pacemaker fitted in 2004 to regulate his heartbeat. But after his side sealed the Premier League title with a 3-0 thumping of Aston Villa on April 23, he said: “Look at me — it’s taken ten years off me. It’s these tablets, they’re great!”

United legend and club director Sir Bobby Charlton revealed he was told only the night before the decision was made public.

He said: “I heard the news on Tuesday evening. Maybe with him having a little bit of ill health, maybe that on top of not seeing the family as well, he’s decided maybe this is the time to do it.”

Sir Alex even kept the news from his family. His brother Martin, 69, was only told on Tuesday night. Martin — who is also retiring as chief scout at Old Trafford — said: “It came right out of the blue. It wasn’t anything he’d discussed with family or friends.”

Shock ... The Sun's story

Our exclusive picture shows Sir Alex arriving at Carrington at 6.50am yesterday.

He then made a heartfelt speech to the players in the changing rooms which left him “choked up”, according to club insiders.

Sir Alex — who won a staggering 49 trophies in management, including 13 Premier League titles — then spoke to the rest of his staff, with many in tears.

United will be presented with the Premier League trophy at their final home game of the season on Sunday against Swansea.

The match will be the last time Sir Alex takes charge at Old Trafford — and it promises to be an emotional occasion.

He will also address tens of thousands of supporters on Monday evening as United stage their victory parade in Manchester.

Their final match of the season — at West Bromwich Albion on May 19 — will be Sir Alex’s 1,500TH as United manager.

In his statement, he paid tribute to Cathy, his wife of 47 years. He said: “She has been the key figure throughout my career, providing a bedrock of both stability and encouragement. Words are not enough to express what this has meant to me.

“As for my players and staff, past and present, I would like to thank them all for a staggering level of professional conduct and dedication that has helped to deliver so many memorable triumphs. Without their contribution the history of this great club would not be as rich.

“To the fans, thank you. The support you’ve provided over the years has been truly humbling.”

- BOOKIES Paddy Power took more than £100,000 worth of bets in a matter of hours yesterday on Sir Alex’s replacement.

Second chance for Moyes

DAVID Moyes missed out on the chance to become Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Man United 15 years ago — because he reckoned his fellow Glaswegian found him “too intense”.

Future England boss Steve McClaren was appointed instead while Moyes remained manager of Preston.

Moyes, 50, said last year: “When I went to speak to him about becoming his assistant years ago he thought me a little too intense. But I remember sitting on the bench at Celtic and watching him at Aberdeen with his veins bulging out of his neck!”

However, when Moyes arrived at Everton in 2002 he really caught Sir Alex’s eye. His fierce personality and ability to get the best out of his players marked him down long ago as a potential successor.

His first full season saw Everton finish seventh, an achievement that earned him the first of three manager-of-the-year accolades.

He also had an eye for raw talent — and his decision to unleash a 16-year-old Wayne Rooney on to the Premier League stage proved a masterstroke.

It looks like he may finally follow the teenage wonderkid to Old Trafford.

The greatest

SIR Alex’s glittering triumphs with Manchester United include:

13 Premier League titles: 1992-93, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2012-13;

Five FA Cup wins: 1989-90, 1993-94, 1995-96, 1998-99, 2003-04;

Four League Cups: 1991-92, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10;

Ten Charity/Community Shield titles: 1990 (shared), 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011;

Two Champions League wins: 1998-99, 2007-08;

One European Cup Winners’ Cup: 1990-91;

One European Super Cup: 1991;

One Intercontinental Cup: 1999;

One FIFA Club World Cup: 2008