If you’ve been wondering why Bill Gates didn’t make the number one slot as the richest person in the world this year (the first in a long time), it may have something to do with the financial mess his company’s Xbox 360 has gotten him into.
Microsoft announced just yesterday it will be getting hit with nearly a $1.15 billion (that’s billion with a B) charge and will have to extend its warranty on its video game console to a full three years because of complaints of many faults and problems with the system.
Robbie Bach is president of Microsoft’s entertainment and devices department. He is not happy with what has been rolling off the assembly line and has publically stated that “…the number of repairs to the consoles has been unacceptable to us.” The total number of repairs and replacements haven’t been made public but with this kind of forthright statement from Bach, it has to be significant.
Just what the heck is “Cloverfield – and is that its real name?”
That is the question patrons of movie theaters across the nation were asking themselves after viewing a mysterious trailer for the new J.J. Abrams produced shocker before the run of “Transformers.”
Abrams is mum, as is the production staff over at Bad Robot, but the way it is shot, it appears to be on the order of “The Blair Witch Project.” Set for a January 18, 2008 release, this as-yet-untitled flick will be directed by Abrams’ pal Matt Reeves. Did the trailer look like a cheap hand-held shoot and is it really set at a Gotham-like party? Only J.J. knows for sure and he isn’t saying…at least not right now.
Australian free-to-air webs will launch a free electronic program guide covering all free webs in the coming months, according to Variety.
For those not living in that great land down-under and may not be familiar with this program — “Free-to-View digital television is an open platform, available to every household in Australia,” says Julie Flynn, top dog for Free TV Australia. “In the same spirit, we believe all consumers should be able to access our electronic program information.”
John from Jersey says
This is becoming more than just an after-market cost for Microsoft…it’s affecting sales as well. Who wants to buy a console when there’s such a high probability of it dying right out of the box? I have a Wii and PS3, a DS and PSP, but I won’t touch the XBox 360, because I don’t want to deal with the production issues.
For all that the PS3 has been a slow starter, it has the capability of turning itself off before dying of heatstroke. With the era of exclusive games quickly coming to a close, I can’t help but think it’s going to come down to reliability.
tim and darcy low says
so that’s what the trailer was. here I thought i must have missed the title. please, please tell me they didn’t talk Matthew Brodrick into doing another Godzilla move. Natahn Lane in a large rubber suit, we don’t need.
Although a musical is about the only thing they have not done in that film series.
Tim and darcy low