The new year has begun and been in full swing for some time now, and so has the Microsoft news… and yet, nothing displayed on Zunited. That’s probably because we lost our groove.
But we’re gaining it back. How? By posting a roundup of all the top news and tidbits from each division from Microsoft that we’ve missed of which you should take note.
Zune
- Zune HD syncs with Mac! It was discovered that the WP7 Connector for Mac was quietly supporting the Zune HD, as well. So Mac and Zune ill-fated lovers, your love is no longer cross-starred. Download the tool and get to syncin’!
Windows Phone 7
- Microsoft will be fully supporting homebrew apps! The guys from ChevronWP7 had a meeting with Microsoft last week where they reached an understanding. A future update will close the exploit that ChevronWP7 took advantage of and in the near future, they will be working with Microsoft to support homebrew.
- 6,000 apps in the Marketplace.
Xbox
- 2010 was the Xbox’s biggest year in history! The software giant saw a huge growth in sales and sold 1.9 units in December alone and had the best revenue from all of the major players in the game console market. Xbox 360 topped charts in hardware and software revenue. Besides that, rumors circulated that the Kinect will see a new wave of games this Spring. (And I promise that will be the first and last time I shamelessly plug myself. Maybe.)
Windows 7 and 8
- Windows 8 will be released January 2013! …well, according to rumors. Rumor mill also says Windows 7 SP1 will be released this Spring and SP2 in 2012.
CES 2011
- Xbox update in the Spring will bring Kinect technology to Netflix among other nice features.
- WP7 going to Verizon and Sprint in “the first half of 2011.”
Other tidbits
- Bing will be making a splash at the Super Bowl this year… but not in a multi-million dollar ad. Nope, instead Bing will be tailgating with live interactive guerilla-type promotion.
- Microsoft.com is undergoing a Metro redesign.
- Microsoft might be prepping SDKs for Kinect for Windows.
- Microsoft OneNote has become an iPhone app.
- Microsoft doesn’t think Apple or anyone should hold a trademark for “App Store” and has filed a motion to remove that trademark from them.
