AfterDawn: News

Xbox handheld coming eventually

According to Microsoft corporate vice president Shane Kim, speaking to Kikizo, an Xbox handheld is coming eventually, and will rival the PSP, Nintendo DSi and even the iPod Touch/iPhone.

"For us, it's a matter of focusing on 'when', because if we chased after a mobile or handheld opportunity, we would not have the resources and ability to do things like... Project Natal. So we've chosen to focus on the living room experience from a hardware standpoint, if you will, but we're building a service in Live that will... will extend to other platforms. No question about it."

"So the question will be, how do we enter into that market - do we do our own device, do we create our own phone - that's a question for the company itself - do we continue to go down the Windows Mobile path which is that path that we're on today, etcetera, etcetera," says Kim.

Undoubetldy, the handheld will take aspects of the upcoming Zune HD and if includes phone capabilities, should be able to take the fight right to Apple, and possibly force Sony to come out with their long-rumored "PSP Phone."

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 20 Jul 2009 20:36

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• 21 comments

• hendrix04

  have we not already tried a cell phone / game device that failed miserably?

  20.7.2009 21:13 #1

• D00mer

  Originally posted by hendrix04: have we not already tried a cell phone / game device that failed miserably?
  yes for n-gage, no for n-gage 2.0, though 2.0 is kinda fail, sine theres not too many good games, as well some of them are crappy j2me(java) ports :(

  20.7.2009 21:15 #2

• Mysttic

  I think MS is smart to hold off tho, the longer a company waits the better chance of success. I think if anyone has the means to tackle DS and I-Phone it's MS *no I not a fan, but let's face it, they have enough $ to take the time needed to get things right the first time*.
  
  How I could see it fail tho is if they decide to incorporate windows mobile. What would be nice to see is a way to incorporate the device similar with their 360 dash and maybe bring unique uses of Natal into the picture as well. Natal could be, after all, a good substitute to the video phone; and taking your Gamer Tags on the go and getting access to Xbox live through wi-fi on a hand held device, may be interesting. Add achievements from hand held games to your gamer tag score on 360 using a sync feature.
  
  Now I just babbling, point is, if they spend time listening to what the fans want, and take their time developing, it could do better than we think.

  20.7.2009 21:26 #3

• jookycola

  Originally posted by Mysttic: I think if anyone has the means to tackle DS and I-Phone it's MSNot really, if the Zune failed to comete with the ipod/ipod touch, it's doubful a gaming device will be able to. And th PSP has proven that no matter how awesome the hardware is without good software it's worthless.

  20.7.2009 22:59 #4

• scorpNZ

  They couldn't get the 360 right,gawd only knows what a mash they'd make of a handheld,in any case do we really need more gimmick handhelds in the market

  21.7.2009 00:27 #5

• ZippyDSM

  All MS has to do is let you convert your Xbox titles to it and play live content on it, then allow live users to play mobile games designed for it off their 360s and PCs(since putting live fully on PC is full of win).
  
  The mobile hardware is just icing on the cake.

  21.7.2009 10:05 #6

• Josherrr

  this is great i have always wanted a pocket size red ring of death

  21.7.2009 11:17 #7

• Morreale

  I doubt this would have many games that the PSP and DS already don't have, therefore stupid.

  21.7.2009 11:20 #8

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by Morreale: I doubt this would have many games that the PSP and DS already don't have, therefore stupid.Not really you see make it a mobile live where you can use it online/offline, its prefect really but it would only work if they put live fully on the PC, and then put the games(which would be sold threw live) on 360s and the PC, if the software is drove home as a must the hardware will lag behind it as a on the go accessory thus they don't have to compete with the DS and the PSP .

  21.7.2009 11:25 #9

• scorpNZ

  zippy gets my vote to be head of ms & as for Ballmer just put him in a corner with a pancake on his head

  21.7.2009 15:05 #10

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by scorpNZ: zippy gets my vote to be head of ms & as for Ballmer just put him in a corner with a pancake on his headThe trouble comes at pricing it so you don't make a loss, it would have to be in the 300-400 range, but like I said the software sales on PC and 360 eaqaully so it becomes a fancy all in one device, you can even phase out the zune devices at above 200, as this device will play music/media easily and it will use SD memory for storage(coems with 32GB SDHC) and something more premenat memory wise for account into perhaps 64MB-512MB SSD tech? unless you can get away with using separate flash mem for account info then again I might be over thinking it, when you connect to your live account the device is setup so there's no real vital information on it that can not be re gotten from live.
  
  MS did well in exclusivity for the Xbox/360 but I think individual sales linked to the hardware and service are more important moving forward.

  21.7.2009 15:17 #11

• j_e_c

  @ mystic
  
  When has microsoft ever done anything 'right the first time'?
  Windows ME?
  XP?
  Vista?
  
  Seriously though without a dedicated base (i.e. current windows users having to upgrade their windows) they might be barking up the wrong tree. You knowyou'll end up with a years worth of crap (at least) from the release date before it works right...
  
  Dont get me wrong, I'd like to see a well thought out and implemented handheld from M$, but ,(like my 2nd gen 360 and keeping Win 2k till XP's SP2 came out and downgrading my Vista laptop to XP after trying to like it for 2 or 3 months), I just might wait till they get it 'fixed' before spending my $$ on one..

  21.7.2009 16:58 #12

• DXR88

  They already own half of the portable market anyway with Windows CE and Windows Mobile.

  22.7.2009 00:43 #13

• KillerBug

  Sounds like we might see a PS2P before the XBP. I hope this gets released soon; I am sure that will be enough to force sony erickson to make the PSP phone.

  22.7.2009 01:18 #14

• Mysttic

  In response to j_e_c:
  
  Where in my statement did I ever say MS did get anything right? All I said was, they have the resources and the funding to do so. Whether or not they will put those to use when it comes to ability, time will only tell.
  
  My general point was, it could be a good idea in their favor if they look at avenues in gaming not only that 360 fans want, but the vast consumers; while keeping in mind that they can't please everyone so it's best not to try.
  
  That's also why I said in my statement for them to AVOID adding Windows Mobile; they aren't going to put on 2k, XP, Vista, or even 7, it would likely be a half assed mobile version as was said in the article. However, even if they did add a half assed version of Winblows, chances are it will be easy to hack so therefor someone out there would find uses for it beyond the practical sell point making it yet again another interesting device attempt from MS.

  22.7.2009 05:52 #15

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by Mysttic: In response to j_e_c:
  
  Where in my statement did I ever say MS did get anything right? All I said was, they have the resources and the funding to do so. Whether or not they will put those to use when it comes to ability, time will only tell.
  
  My general point was, it could be a good idea in their favor if they look at avenues in gaming not only that 360 fans want, but the vast consumers; while keeping in mind that they can't please everyone so it's best not to try.
  
  That's also why I said in my statement for them to AVOID adding Windows Mobile; they aren't going to put on 2k, XP, Vista, or even 7, it would likely be a half assed mobile version as was said in the article. However, even if they did add a half assed version of Winblows, chances are it will be easy to hack so therefor someone out there would find uses for it beyond the practical sell point making it yet again another interesting device attempt from MS.Translation(in and glum and monotone voice) just another game portable that has to fight to make itself stand out amongst a saturated market, ala Xbox.
  
  Meh they'd be better off not to unless they can offer wireless broadband for live authentication and MPing(everything else costs money).
  
  I just don't see it happening, even they have hit a wall spending money on vister and the fail60 issues another child to feed is not going to help them any.

  22.7.2009 10:30 #16

• emugamer

  Just a few thoughts I had - the only people who may initially jump on the bandwagon would probably be 360 owners. Others outside that realm may be curious, but as Zippy said, the market is saturated. iPod Touch is already coming on it's 3rd generation, so it already has a firmly establised user base. With the newer features, you can basically turn it into a phone with Skype. And it is highly likely that it will also be jailbroken, opening up the doors to thousands of free games and apps, just as the 1G and 2G were. Also IMO, if someone spent more money purchasing a PS3 over a 360, it's a possibility that they will not be intersted a handheld that will possibly be incorporated as an extension of the rival service, Live.
  
  How many devices do people really want anyway? Aren't we pushing the limit here? Cell phone, portable gaming device, portable music player, camera, a hybrid of those 4......and MS wants to add another one to the mix that really can't possibly off anything more than a different service? By the time they get into the game, people will already have picked their poison. How often do you want to spend $250-$400 for a pocket device? I think they should leave it alone. Focus on the 360 and OS and stop trying to get their fingers into every pot.

  22.7.2009 12:12 #17

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by emugamer: Just a few thoughts I had - the only people who may initially jump on the bandwagon would probably be 360 owners. Others outside that realm may be curious, but as Zippy said, the market is saturated. iPod Touch is already coming on it's 3rd generation, so it already has a firmly establised user base. With the newer features, you can basically turn it into a phone with Skype. And it is highly likely that it will also be jailbroken, opening up the doors to thousands of free games and apps, just as the 1G and 2G were. Also IMO, if someone spent more money purchasing a PS3 over a 360, it's a possibility that they will not be intersted a handheld that will possibly be incorporated as an extension of the rival service, Live.
  
  How many devices do people really want anyway? Aren't we pushing the limit here? Cell phone, portable gaming device, portable music player, camera, a hybrid of those 4......and MS wants to add another one to the mix that really can't possibly off anything more than a different service? By the time they get into the game, people will already have picked their poison. How often do you want to spend $250-$400 for a pocket device? I think they should leave it alone. Focus on the 360 and OS and stop trying to get their fingers into every pot.Ya I mean I could see it as a add on to the 360 that can do media as a bonus to gaming off live, and I think as that it could work however I think the next console maker made portable will be a phone+game +?device?+ camera thing becuse we are over saturated with single use and wonky multi use devices.
  
  A more polished multi use device say take a Ipod touch and do a slide setup(PSPgo) on it for the controls with a 6 or 10MP camera with MP4 or so video option using SD/MSD cards complete with wifi and or Blue tooth. Its DRM enabled but can run unprotected items easily.
  
  A no fuss no muss setup all for under 500$ perhaps make it 200$ with a 2 year subscription that starts at 20$ a month for limited data transfers(basically the console makers cover the majority of game and media bandwdith but not downloads that's extra ) and 100 minutes a month of phone. At 50$ a month you get 5GB a month of game downloads and 5GB of extra non game data downloads(IE net surfing) once you use up your 5GB game DLs you may use your general DL for it.
  And to make this idiot proof use a DL credit system while on the cell based wireless network you spend credits when you are on a land or wifi connection you get infinite.
  
  The 50$ a month would also cover things like live but I suppose nin and sony will conteunie their free online service, I really think something like that could work.

  22.7.2009 12:28 #18

• gmontalc

  The beginning of the end of the "PSP"... per saidSony is being forced to release the PSP Phone.

  24.7.2009 21:36 #19

• homesick

  Originally posted by Mysttic: *no I not a fan, but let's face it, they have enough $ to take the time needed to get things right the first time*.hmmmm.... maybe all of that stuff about RROD was just a dream last night...oh boy, oh boy, i sure hope so!
  

  
  

  1.8.2009 10:43 #20

• st1kyH4nD

  Quote:an Xbox handheld is coming eventually, and will rival the PSP, Nintendo DSi and even the iPod Touch/iPhone. PSP FOR THE WIN!

  8.8.2009 22:46 #21