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Enjoy a Free Xbox LIVE Gold Weekend

If you're on the fence about signing up for an Xbox LIVE Gold Membership, this weekend you can give the Gold Membership a try for free.

From Thursday, November 29th through December 2nd Microsoft is unlocking Xbox LIVE Gold in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chili, Colombia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan and the United States.

Xbox owners in these regions will have access to online multiplayer gaming, video Kinect, and the entire collection of entertainment apps for the weekend. You can find a complete listing of the Xbox LIVE Gold Membership features here at Xbox.com.

Source: Major Nelson

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Yesterday’s delisting of Turn N Run – literally the night before our review went live, and only six days after the game’s release – highlights a large and ongoing problem in the world of Xbox Windows Phone games. Since the debut of Windows Phone 8, incompatibility with the new OS has been discovered among a number of Xbox WP7 titles. Each of these games has been completely delisted from the web version of the Windows Phone Store, and either partially or fully removed from Store searches on actual Windows Phones.

Read on to learn what games have been affected so far, and how Microsoft may be mishandling the Windows Phone 8 incompatibility issues in more ways than one.

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Microsoft has pushed out a minor update to the Xbox SmartGlass app available for Windows Phone. Previously known as Xbox Companion, the app enables those who own an Xbox 360 console to connect and control content displayed on the big screen.

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Quick tip for Xbox Music on Windows Phone 8

This post started as a quick 30 second tutorial on how to make your music experience a bit better on your new device running Windows Phone 8. However, it kind of morphed into a bit of a rant about one aspect of Xbox Music. So sit back and read my thoughts and criticisms about the cloud collection or jump to the end for a quick tip that could save your sanity and help your wallet.

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Microsoft is planning its own 7" gaming tablet, according to a report over at The Verge. Sources familiar with Redmond plans have stated the company has already begun building said device. Specifications for an 'Xbox Surface tablet' were leaked back in June, before Microsoft's Surface family of tablets were announced.

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Xbox Music on Windows Phone 8


Microsoft has recently given its music services a much needed overhaul and the new service is called Xbox Music. It’s already available on the new Xbox dashboard update as well as on Windows 8.

Windows 8 has built in Xbox Music too and comes with some excellent local as well as cloud based features.

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Microsoft recently updated Xbox Extras but unfortunately it created a severe issue where the user was unable to log into Xbox live.

Good news is here for those that like to play with their mini-me while on the move, the app has now been bumped to version 1.5 and we’re back on track.

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An update is being pushed through for your Windows Phone Xbox Companion app that transforms things into the Xbox Smartglass app. You get a change in layout too boot.

Xbox Smartglass continues to allow you to interact with your Xbox 360 console through your Windows Phone. Not only will it allow you to control your console but it also delivers unique content about what you are watching or playing to your Windows Phone.

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With the operating system juggernaut called Windows 8 looming closer by the day it seems everyone is talking about Windows. Is the conversation going to include Windows Phone more frequently too now?

Samsung’s UK vice president has dropped a few encouraging words about where the company sees opportunity in the business sector for an end-to-end solution for tablets and smartphones based on Windows 8.

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Windows Phone brought with it Metro, the design principles that have gone on to reach every aspect of Microsoft’s product line up. For those who have a keen interest in Metro and UX (user experience) in general you may have been following the excellent series by Arturo Toledo that explores all things Metro.

Arturo is a former senior user experience designer at Microsoft, the series has been fascinating and well worth a look.

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Last year we reported on Microsoft’s Canadian initiative to spur on developers to create some great apps and in the process pick up some awesome stuff.

The system is based on points and from simply registering to publishing your app, you’ll be rewarded with some credits towards a long list of prizes. Read on past the break to see what you can get.

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Oh, looking very abstract indeed.

No, it's not an upcoming movie. A new article has been published on the Windows Experience Blog, which details something special that Microsoft has planned for New York. With the imminent release of both Windows 8 and Window Phone 8, as well as Xbox, Office and other product goodness, the company is going social. Literally.

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We wrote yesterday about the things to watch out for with the launch of Windows 8. One of those things was SmartGlass and Microsoft have now revealed more ahead of the launch. They have updated the Windows 8 apps and free streaming is now available for Xbox Music.

As part of a broader roll out of better entertainment services, SmartGlass aims to improve the ability to use tablets and smartphones to better control the experience with the Xbox 360.  The video goes on to show how internet sessions can be shared from Windows Phone 8 to the console, along with bouncing it back from the console to your tablet. It’s looking awesome, check out the video after the break.

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It’s never fun to take things too seriously, which is why we like this video of a purported Surface unboxing. Performed with a mock Russian accent, the video takes a jab at the “old” Microsoft (or rather what some people still perceive as being Redmond’s problem: clunky, non-working software and hardware).

We won’t say too much more on this because it speaks for itself. But we definitely got a chuckle out of it.

Source: Puppet Shed; Thanks, 47project in comments for the tip!

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Yes folks it’s finally here, the week that will see Microsoft launch Windows 8, spearheading its massive 2012 product launch schedule. It’s keystone of the ‘Three Screens & Cloud’ play and this is where we see how it’s all going to shake out.

The pre-orders for Surface have started and even run dry in some regions, invites to the various launch events have gone out and now it’s time to put all the cards on the table. With such a wide ranging spruce-up of the entire product line from Xbox to Windows Phone, we’re in for a wild ride. Windows 8 will be at the centre of these launches, not just because it’s Windows but because with it we will see a whole host of services light up to enable the entire eco system.

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As we move ever closer to the launch of Windows 8 we also near the relaunch of Microsoft’s music services. All traces of Zune branding are being replaced with the upcoming Xbox Music.

On trying to go to www.zune.net we now get a re-direct to Xbox.com to be told that Zune Music is now Xbox Music. We’re going to miss that crazy pink and white website but it's had its time.

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For those of you who weren't lucky enough to land a spot in the public beta test of the new Xbox 360 dashboard, fear not. The official version has begun rolling out to about 3 million consoles around the world and will continue for the next week. Once that first batch is finished, more and more LIVE subscribers will be added to the rollout over the next couple of weeks. Much like Windows Phone updates, the deployment was spread out over time and across different regions to make it go as smoothly as possible.

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Photos have been captured of what appears to be Surface ads in Paris. Taking on the same form of graffiti style as those seen in the US recently we’re wondering if this is the start of a concerted effort to get the message out to those in Europe.

These type of ads have been appearing in the US for some time but so far we haven’t had anything at all globally, leading many to begin to worry about availability across the pond.

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Microsoft have now officially unveiled their new music service. Simply called Xbox Music, it's going to begin rolling out tomorrow. 

Designed to replace the Zune services of old, Xbox Music will bring with it new capabilities and eventual availability on other platforms in the coming year.

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The next version of Windows Phone is just around the corner, with it comes some fantastic hardware and the promise of new features. But what about the next gen apps?

While we have spent a great deal of time looking at the coming phones and peeking at the new underlying operating system did we forget that it’s the apps that matter? While we know that existing apps will work fine on the new OS, what lays in store for those dedicated Windows Phone 8 apps?

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