Xbox 360 Console Adding DVR Controls?
A recent software patent filed by Microsoft points to the Xbox 360 game console incorporating DVR controls in the future.
On Dec. 27 of last year, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted the software giant a patent for an "integrated gaming and media experience." The patent revealed that this feature would work "in which content could be recorded on a gaming console."
The USPTO's patent No. 8,083,593 included this full excerpt about the company's plans for the Xbox 360: "A digital video recorder (DVR) application running alongside a television client component allows users to record media content on the gaming console. The DVR application also integrates itself with the console menu."
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"Once integrated, users can record media content while playing games. Alternatively, users can record content when the gaming console is turned off. The recorded content can include television programming, gaming experience (whether local or online), music, DVDs, and so on. When in the recording state, users can also switch between various other media modes, whether gaming, television, and so on."
This means the Xbox 360 console could become even more of a central entertainment device in one’s household. Whenever someone turns on their television to record their favorite show, they now have the option to do so through their gaming machine.
Microsoft has been updating its Xbox 360 console in the past few months for more entertainment purposes. The company rolled out a dashboard update in December of last year. Gamers not only got a new look for their home menu, but they also got access to more content services.
The Xbox 360 console now includes streaming content from Comedy Central, HBO, UFC and Nickelodeon. Music subscription services such as Zune are available alongside new internet integration from YouTube.
Access to the Bing online search engine through Kinect voice controls is also available.
These software options from Microsoft seem to take the Xbox 360 far past its "console" moniker. Jay Greene, writer for CNet.com spoke about the company’s goals for its gaming machine: "That's been Microsoft's long-term vision for Xbox from the day it dreamed up the console more than a decade ago. The company has always wanted a beachhead in living rooms around the world. The latest iteration of the Xbox interface isn't perfect. But it moves the company one step closer."
