Official Microsoft Policy: If You a Buy a Used Xbox 360 That's Banned From Xbox Live, You're Just Screwed

Major Nelson, updating us on a periodic Xbox Live purge—banhammering cheaters, pirates and other folks of ill-repute, though not 12-year-olds—reminds us of Microsoft's official policy that if you buy a used Xbox 360 that's been banned, you're screwed. More »

The iPhone's First Streaming Live Concert Starts Now

Apple's first-ever streaming live concert airs tonight for the iPhone, featuring British electronica group Underworld. Apple's keeping it a bit quiet, presumably to not destroy AT&T's feeble servers, but we've never been good at keeping secrets. More »

Xbox Live Full Retail Games on Demand: Download Mass Effect, Bioshock and More

Microsoft had too much news for the keynote, so they're taking care of the spillover now: First up, full Xbox Live games on demand. That's right, you can download Mass Effect, Bioshock and more. Using a real credit card—no Xbox Live points—with retail-like pricing. They're coming in August. More »

Facebook and Twitter Come to Xbox Live This Fall

For you social networking fiends who need to use Facebook or Twitter on every screen possible, Microsoft announced Facebook and Twitter integration will be arriving on Xbox Live this fall. More »

Watch the Hubble Repair Mission Live Video Feed Now

Astronauts are risking their lives, fixing the Hubble telescope right now. It's attached to the bay of the Atlantis, all big and shiny. You can see them working inside its guts here. More »

Space Shuttle Launch Live Video Coverage Here

Space week may be over, but the epic quest to reach the stars lives on. Atlantis is launching today in the riskiest shuttle mission ever. See the launch live. [Update: Atlantis is now in space] More »

Coldplay Giving Away Latest Live Album Because of Recession

LeftRightLeftRightLeft. That's the stupid name for Coldplay's upcoming live album recorded during their 2009 tour, still going on. The good news for fans? It is going to be completely free online this May 15: More »

Amazon Begins Selling XBLA Titles

Today, Amazon has opened an Xbox LIVE Arcade storefront through which Xbox 360 users can buy XBLA titles. You pay the cash for a redeemable code, and then you use said code on your 360. We were hoping that Amazon might shave a bit off the purchase price (as they do with LIVE Gold subscriptions), but sadly, such is not the case. Then again, Amazon should make it a lot easier for friends/family to buy you digital games, which is a nice perk. [Amazon via Kotaku]

Child For Sale on Xbox Live, Free Shipping Included

When Christa Manos began to receive dozens of calls one Saturday evening, cursing her for being a bad mother, she quickly realized that she'd been the victim of a prank. More »

Why Is There a Snow Leopard On Microsoft's Live Search?

Just wondering.

How to Follow Obama's Presidential Inauguration Online

Wondering how you're going to watch the inauguration of Barack Obama while at work tomorrow? Thanks to Lifehacker, we now have the rundown on ways to watch/stay updated without ever leaving our desks. More »

Dealzmodo: Xbox Live for 13 Months, Only $30

Crappy timing, since the biggest spike of Xbox Live renewals is probably in late December, but you can't hate on the deal itself: 13 months of Xbox Live for $30. Free shipping, too. [Amazon]

Microsoft Prohibits "Tibet" in Hotmail Addresses, But It's Not What You Are Thinking

David Gallagher at the New York Times had to do some rumor control when a reader wrote accusing Microsoft of prohibiting the word "Tibet" in Hotmail addresses to appease the Chinese government. No "freetibet@hotmail.com", no "tibetsmellsofwetmonks@hotmail.com", no "ilovetibet@hotmail.com." Is this another Chinese-Microsoft evil conspiracy? While there are some of those going on between China and companies like Microsoft, Google, or Yahoo, this is not the case. More »

Windows Live Updated For Windows Mobile Devices

Not content to just offer a new version of Windows Live Messenger for a competing platform, Microsoft today released an updated official version of the full Windows Live app for Windows Mobile that features contacts syncing, support for Live Spaces, Live Maps, and push email from HotMail, MSN, or Live accounts. It's a free mobile download, though you'll have to make sure you nuke the old version first lest you mess up your device. [Download, via JK On The Run]

The Night Before the 3G iPhone Launch at the 5th Ave Apple Store

The line outside of the Apple store on 59th street in NYC is definitely an event. There are about 100 people wrapped around the block, patiently waiting for the iPhone 3G. We'll be up all night checking out the scene and talking to the diehards who can't wait to get their hands on the new phone. We've got games, blankets, and provisions (liquid and food), so if you're in town, stop by and say "Hi". Otherwise, keep checking back to see all of the madness going on—you never know what could happen. Update: Greg Packer showed up! More »

Microsoft Xbox Live Anywhere Service Is Still Alive

Remember the Xbox Live Anywhere service that Microsoft demoed two years ago? It was pretty neat, the idea being that all your devices can be tied into the Live network we know and love. But it more or less fell off the radar earth, until today at the Electronic Gaming Summit, when Microsoft's Jeff Bell said it was still alive: "Live anywhere is not abandoned, it's just not easy to do." Hopefully that's not the last we hear of it for another year. [Kotaku] More »

Microsoft Wants You to Pay Monthly Subscription for Office and Services You Won't Use

Microsoft is testing a new bundle of fun codenamed "Albany" which rolls Office Home and Student, Windows Live OneCare, Office Live Workspace and some other Live services into a package that you'll pay a monthly fee for. It's this kind of thing, turning software into service you have to keep paying for and never actually own, that makes reports of Windows 7's modularity kinda scary. Here's what "Albany" will ask you to pony up for every month in real-world terms. More »

Meizu Adding Live Messenger to iPhone Vaporware Clone

The apparently incombustible Meizu CEO, Jack Wong, has just announced that they are going to add Live Messenger to their M8 cellphone, the rather pathetic and sad motherboard that wants to be an iPhone clone when it grows up (if it ever gets released). In other words: new vaporware announced for vaporware. The usual cynics are probably asking themselves "why should I care about this crap?" Which is exactly what we are asking ourselves right now. [Meizume—thanks Heartwork]

Is Microsoft Fixing Their Broken Xbox Live DRM?

By now you have probably heard about or experienced the issue Microsoft has with its broken Xbox Live DRM. Basically, gamers who purchased content on Live found that the downloads ceased to function properly after their original console bit the dust. If a tip from a Consumerist reader is correct, Microsoft may be in the process of fixing this issue. More »

GIzmodo Live at Macworld 2008

We got the Justin.tv cam ready to go and we're going to walk you through the latest offerings at Macworld 2008 between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. PST. In-depth looks at the MacBook Air, Time Capsule, Apple TV Take 2 and the new iPhone firmware can all be expected. Stay tuned. More »

Major Nelson Xbox Live Status Updates Silenced by BS Lawsuit

Alright, so even though Microsoft is giving everyone a free Xbox Live Arcade game because they feel bad about the outages—or want to stem a bubbling revolt—a trio of Texan greedmongers sued over it. Result: No more Xbox Live status updates from Major Nelson, whose mouth has now been covered with legal red tape. Guess we'll know it's fixed when it's fixed now. Thanks, assholes, we hope it's worth the fat pot of nothing you'll get out of it. [Major Nelson via Kotaku]

Hello Motorola Press Party

The Motorola Z10 multimedia phone. We open with a long demo of the Z10, which has built-in video edited tools and a wireless broadband video uplink via HSDPA quadband GSM. More »

Microsoft Says "I'm Sorry" for Xbox Live Outages With Free Live Arcade Game

Okay, hackers with Cheez Whiz in their veins apparently aren't behind the Xbox Live outages. We are. Record signups and numbers of people are online, so "as a result of this massive increase in usage," the service got all wonky, sez Live's General Manager Marc Whitten. But they're super sorry, and to make up for it they're "offering all of our Xbox LIVE members around the world access to a full Xbox LIVE Arcade game that will be available to download free of charge." More »

Rumors: Microsoft to Offer Refunds Over Xbox Live Downtime?

It's just a rumor, but bitbag got an unofficial quote from a Microsoft rep stating "...we will definitely be doing something for our Gold members that weren't able to get online over the last week." [Kotaku]

Microsoft Leaves Comments Open on YouTube (oops)

Microsoft's PR department are attempting new and innovative ways to get Windows products to the masses. Their latest effort involves the launch of a YouTube channel with various promotional content. Unfortunately for Microsoft, their PR team decided to leave the comments open. Bad move. More »

Windows Live Drops Out of Beta, @live.com Email Addresses Available

Microsoft's Windows Live package has just dropped out of beta development. The released package contains various desktop programs for email, IM, blogging and photo sharing. The Windows Live Mail app will allow for email account convergence between most popular email providers, including Gmail and AOL. Direct Flickr photo uploads and blog writing tools are also included within the software suite. Except for the mildly interesting new package, what else is on offer? Well, Microsoft is dropping brand spanking new email addresses with the @live.com domain. More »

Xbox 360 Parental Timer Rumors Solidifying

Rumors of the long-expected parental timer embedded in the Xbox 360's impending fall update have been picking up steam in the last week or so, with the latest sort-of confirmation supposedly coming from a Guitar Hero III keychain. The included pamphlet reportedly describes the timer thusly:

A simple tool that lets you manage how much time your kids spend on their Xbox 360. Manage in daily or weekly increments. Easy for parents to suspend and add time. Available in December 2007 only through Xbox Live.

More »

ESPN and NCAA Sports Hit Xbox Live Marketplace

Microsoft and ESPN have struck a deal to sell NCAA basketball and football games, the X Games and shows like Madden Nation in the Live Marketplace. Standard-def NCAA games are $3; HD versions run $4.50, and they go live "within 48 hours" of the end of the game. ESPN content is $2 for standard def and $3 for HD. [Yahoo!/AP]

$2 Plastic Pocket Shots (of Booze)

Pocket shots are like those little gel packs that marathoners use to go the extra mile. Except instead of energy-giving sugar, these are filled with vodka, rum, and whiskey. [Wired, Thanks Rob]

Live Helio Ocean Fin Grope [UPDATE: Archive Video Up]

Noah unboxed this baby this morning, but I'm looking forward to tearing the back out of my Fin's box right now. BTW I haven't showered, yet, so don't mind the bedhead. Hit the jump for the live video. UPDATE: Archive video of the hour-long grope is live. More »

Buy One, Get One Free Xbox LIVE Points (and Subsequently Games)

This Sunday's Circuit City ad is offering savings of $20 on the purchase of two Xbox LIVE accessories $19.99 and up. Constomers have double checked, and the deal applies to LIVE points, which means you can get a two-for-one special on 1600 point cards! Go forth, buy the cheap cards, and get future LIVE Arcade purchases for half price. Or just sell them on Ebay. [ad via joystiq]

iPhone Live Sizemodo

Here it is, the Sizemodo you've been waiting six months to see. The iPhone vs. other music devices (iPod, Zune) and smartphones (AT&T 8525, Helio Ocean, Sprint Mogul). Which one's the smallest and thinnest, and which one looks dirtier after months of use? Which do you think? More »