Joystiq

Xbox Live's Sky Player to support Kinect voice commands

David Hinkle — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Hey, you UK folks may not have Netflix over there, but you've got the next best thing: Sky Player. Eurogamer reports that Kinect voice commands -- one of the most lauded pieces of functionality in the upcoming Microsoft peripheral -- are coming to the Sky Player streaming service. Even better, the two will play nice right at Kinect launch in Europe, on November 10.

According to Eurogamer, users will be able to use voice commands to pause, rewind, fast-forward, play and stop, much like the integration detailed back during E3, though there's currently no official word from Sky Player. We're currently reaching out and will let you know what we hear back.

Xbox Live's Sky Player to support Kinect voice commands originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox 360 Sky Player down, relaunching 'in phases' today

JC Fletcher — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST

While the Xbox 360 Sky Player apparently launched in the UK yesterday as planned, things veered away from the plan almost immediately thereafter. The service was "suspended" shortly after launch, for what must be the best possible problem in Microsoft's eyes: too many subscribers.

"Unfortunately due to the unprecedented levels of simultaneous demand," a statement on Xbox.com reads, "we did not have the capacity to satisfy all service requests and therefore temporarily suspended all access to the service." The service is being reinstated in phases today, presumably with some upgrades in place to deal with the demand. An earlier statement (reproduced on Engadget) specified tomorrow as the target date for the relaunch -- it seems likely that all users will be returned to their regularly scheduled programming then.

Xbox 360 Sky Player down, relaunching 'in phases' today originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Eight minutes of footage of the Xbox's Sky Player

JC Fletcher — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST

Even though the Sky Player is headed to Xbox 360s in the UK next week (October 27 to be exact), we have yet to see any kind of demonstration of the streaming television service. TechTV101 came across what looks like some footage (after the break), given to the site by an anonymous tipster. However, without any known source and with the ominous disclaimer "This is only representative of what Tuesday's launch could look like" on the site, we're going to call this a rumor just in case.

The demo shows the channel selection displayed not only in the familiar NXE interface, but also in a "guide" format like those used by cable and satellite boxes. Another NXE-type menu allows for choosing TV shows and movies by category. And yes, you are treated to an ad for Batman: The Brave and the Bold, along with other footage of the actual watching TV part in action.

Continue reading Rumor: Eight minutes of footage of the Xbox's Sky Player

Rumor: Eight minutes of footage of the Xbox's Sky Player originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xbox Sky Player arrives in the UK on Oct. 27

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST

Microsoft has announced that the UK's Xbox 360 Sky Player -- revealed earlier this year -- will finally be released starting October 27. The application will allow users to stream both live television and on demand programming, including sports, movies and popular shows. Gamers will also be able to watch programs together with Xbox Live friends using Party Mode, which acts similarly to the Netflix Party Mode available in the US. The programming line-up and pricing will be announced alongside the release on the 27th.

[Update: We just spotted the above Sky bundle on Wonderwallweb, featuring an Xbox 360 media remote, a 3-month Xbox Live Gold subscription, and a 1-month subscription to Sky Player. No word on the price, though we expect it to be measured in "quids" or some such nonsense.]

[Thanks, Dan C]

Xbox Sky Player arrives in the UK on Oct. 27 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sky Player coming to Xbox 360 in the UK [update]

Jem Alexander — Thu, 28 May 2009 18:00:00 EST

UK broadsheet The Guardian may have leaked confirmation of a content partnership between Microsoft and Sky to allow TV access through Xbox 360 in the UK. Essentially, the Sky Player will work like the BBC's own iPlayer, offering video on demand and live TV, this according to a screenshot of the Guardian's story taken before it was pulled. The story is backed up by a tweet from the BBC's technology correspondent who says he was at a Microsoft event "where the firm is unveiling a TV content partner."

Emphasis seems to be on sport, as Sky has arguably the best sports coverage in the country. The story states 360 owners will also be able to access interactive leaderboards and news through the service. Unfortunately, users will need a Sky subscription, which for sports is around £34 a month. Clearly this is Microsoft's way of combating the fact that the 360 -- unlike the PS3 and Wii -- cannot access services like the free iPlayer due to the lack of a web browser. Not to mention the brilliant PlayTV for PS3.

~~No doubt we'll hear confirmation within the next few days if this is true but, judging from the evidence, all signs point to "real."~~

[Update] Reuters confirms it. Apparently the service will go live this autumn, though no pricing or channel details were given by either Sky or Microsoft.

[Thanks, Liam]

Sky Player coming to Xbox 360 in the UK [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 May 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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