live

While none of us hip kids get to play with them just yet, Microsoft has gone ahead and flipped the switch on for those Xbox games for Windows Phone 7. Well, for two of them at least: 'Flowerz' and 'Hexic Rush'

It's basically a milestone for the company since this is the first time, as Michael Klucher tweets above, that achievements are being counted towards your Xbox gamer-tag.

Klucher also notes on his blog that this is still a test-phase:

I did want to let everyone know who might have access to these games through pre-release hardware that they should be considered test games and not early launch titles. You can and should expect that everything about the game is subject to change or be disabled at any time.

Finally, Paul Thurrott has also has a write up on this happening with some screenshots of the games in the Zune software and his achievements. Cool stuff and it means we're inching closer and closer to that big day.

There are three types of people who visit this site:

1. Those with Xbox, LIVE & want Windows Phone 7
2. Those who are planning to get an Xbox + LIVE for Windows Phone 7
3. Those who never plan on getting an Xbox because you "don't game"

This post is for #1 and #2--we're cool. As for you number three'ers, you're dead to me, feel free to scroll down and read another blog entry.

Anyways, it costs something like $49.99 for the Gold membership, which allows access to all the cool online stuff, gaming, online multiplayer, Netflix, Last.FM, etc. (For those who don't have one, the Xbox is just as much a media center as a gaming machine--my usage for instance is probably 70% media e.g. Netflix/TV torrents, 30% actual gaming, usually Star Wars related.)

While not a bad deal, it's going up on November 1st to $59.99, which seems to be a curious time right when a certain mobile OS launches and Microsoft will see an influx of new customers. Oh and that Kinect thing is launching too.

The good news is that you can renew now for $39.99 to tap in that extra year and save 30%, which we suppose is a good deal (unless you membership just auto-renewed like 2 weeks ago, grrr).

Read up on the details and renew here.

[via WinSuperSite]

For those of you who remember when Windows Phone 7 debuted, you may recall that the Xbox gaming hub was not 'live' at the time--the personal avatar didn't do the little jig  as it was just a place-holder, as well as not updating all the gaming achievements that you may have won.

As we approach RTM, we knew of course that would change and we're getting word now that, indeed the Xbox hub is now live and ready to go. From Michael Klucher, a WP7 developer:

My Windows Phone 7 device has really become my phone. I keep it updated with the latest builds and use it as I would any phone I’ve ever owned. I play games(from App Week), check my email, listen to music, and surf the web. This week started out like most others, I flashed my phone, entered my Windows Live ID, and went into the Games Hub…

Whoa! That’s me! By me of course I mean my Gamertag, Avatar, and latest Achievement in the Games Hub! I couldn’t believe it, we’ve had the Games Hub working for a while, but up until now it’s been on internal networks inside Microsoft. This week was the first time I really got to see my “true” gamer identity on the phone.

... It’s an incredible experience to see something that many of us have been working on really come together and shine

We can't be the only ones who are excited about this Xbox integration and we're pretty psyched to see this all in person at some point. Combined with the re-launch of XBox & Zune in the fall, Microsoft has a great opportunity for synergy here, lets hope they deliver.

[via Deranged Shaman ; Thanks, Sergio F., for the tip!]

How popular is Qik, you ask? Put it this way: The mobile streaming video service just secured about $5.5 million dollars in funding, as noted in a recent SEC filing, which you can read after the break, if you're so inclined. [via mocoNews]

Among the investors throwing in this time around are Quest Venture Parterners, some private investors and CampVentures.

If you haven't played with Qik yet, definitely give it a shot. It's a simple way to livestream video from your phone. We demoed it way back in the beta stages, and it's cool to see just how much it's grown since then.

Microsoft Live Mesh is the new hotness -- you can register your PC (and soon, your Windows Mobile device and even a Mac) with the network and then select whatever folders you'd like to sync. Cloud-based storage For The Win. It had been in preview mode, but now it's live (get it?) to anybody with a Live ID. Looks like the they'll start you with 5 gigs of storage synced across multiple PCs.

You can also share your Mesh-synced folders with others, post comments, and so on. You are almost surely going to want this -- check it at http://www.mesh.com

Can't wait for Windows Mobile support for this -- syncing files just by dragging to a folder on a PC (or even a Mac)? Sign me up.

via channel 10

Update: Whoops, maybe not. LiveSide notes that what's really happened here is they've simplified the signup process and lifted their cap for the # of users they'll allow in the Tech Preview. Best go sign up now, kiddos.