Creator of Xbox dashboard ads is sorry for all the Mountain Dew tiles
You know all those annoying ads cluttering the Xbox 360 and Xbox One dashboards? Well, one of their creators has issued an apology. Former Microsoft employee Allen Murray writes on Gamasutra just how his noble intent to get digital games noticed on the Xbox 360 got away from him, and, as he tells it, Redmond initially opposed the idea. Prior to joining the Xbox team Murray worked at Amazon, which he says gave him a keen insight into how tech can be used to enhance retail sales. His idea was to highlight titles like Hexic HD on the dashboard and allow users to purchase them directly from the dash almost effortlessly. So, with the encouragement of Larry “Major Nelson” Hyrb, Murray pitched the idea to his bosses and was immediately shot down. Eventually the higher-ups relented and, clearly, the results speak for themselves. “If you hate the Mountain Dew ads, I truly am sorry,” he says. Well, at least we have a target for our fist shaking now.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Via: Gamasutra
Source: The Illuminated Squid
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The US’ first Chief Privacy Officer has left after one year
The White House gave hope to critics of US government surveillance when it nominated its first Chief Privacy Officer last year, but it appears that those privacy reform efforts just hit a snag. Nicole Wong has left the CPO position (which also made her the Deputy Chief Technology Officer) after a little over a year. Neither Wong nor the Office of Science and Technology Policy have explained the departure, although the former official will be returning to her family in California. We’ve reached out for more details, including the prospects for a replacement.
While her stay was brief, it may have had a lasting impact on the US approach to privacy. Wong was one of the key authors behind the Obama administration’s giant privacy review, which advocated for both a privacy bill of rights, sweeping legal reforms and policies that would give more protections to foreigners. She also implemented at least some other policies during her stint. Wong’s exit hasn’t necessarily derailed any long-term plans to protect your data from prying eyes, but there’s no certainty that a successor will carry the torch for her ideas.
Filed under: Internet
Source: Washington Post
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The death of the Boeing 747, NVIDIA Shield review and other stories you might’ve missed
This week, we reviewed NVIDIA’s Shield tablet, toured a graveyard of Boeing 747s, discussed the future of Xbox One, visited the new Sky Sports News HQ and more! Read on for Engadget’s news highlights from the last seven days. Oh, and be sure to subscribe to our Flipboard magazine!
Filed under: Misc
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Virgin America passes out Nexus 7s to crew members
Nexus 7 tablets will soon be a common sight on Virgin America planes, but unlike other airlines that lend passengers tablets for entertainment, you can only use them if you’re part the crew. On a VA plane, you can easily order grub by pressing a special “food button” on an in-flight entertainment system’s touchscreen panel or on a seat’s armrest remote control. When you do press the button, the order’s relayed to (you guessed it) a tablet connected to the system. Well, the company felt that it was time to replace its old tablets, so its employees took the Nexus 7 for an obviously successful 30-day test run. Branson and his cohorts (who’ve decided to call the modified 7-inch device the CrewPad) have already begun handing out new tablets to flight crew members. But, with a 9-inch entertainment system in front of them and several programming options to keep them occupied, it’s not like passengers have any reason to feel envious.
Filed under: Tablets, Mobile, Google
Source: Virgin America
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Feedback Loop: Favorite keyboards, dash cam options and podcasts
Happy Saturday! Here’s a fresh edition of Feedback Loop, so grab your coffee and dive in! This week we’re talking about our favorite keyboards, which dash cams are the best, the podcasts we’re currently listening to and USB cables.
Let’s talk keyboards
Keyboards have been a standard feature on computers for decades, and over that time we’ve seen some pretty wild ones. Remember the Art. Lebedev Studio Optimus Maximus? I was curious what our users were using at home, or work, and if they have made the jump to mechanical keyboards. Head on over and let us know!
What is the best dash cam to buy?
ekorek is looking for the best dash cam option that’s currently available. Garmin has the Dash Cam, which we checked out during CES, but perhaps there is a better solution. If you’re using a dash cam, or getting creative with an old cellphone, why don’t you let ekorek know what’s working best for you.
What are your favorite podcasts?
Dave is a fan of podcasts for when he’s running or at the gym. He shares some of his current favorites, which range from tech to sports and even history. If you’re an avid podcast fan, head over here to share what you’re currently digging. And maybe you’ll even find some new ones to check out!
Where is USB Type-C?
The Type-C connector for USB 3.1 devices was announced not too long ago and was recently finalized. Cod3rror is really excited for Type-C and USB 3.1, and thinks it could finally mean the end of micro- and mini-USB cables for our gadgets. Even better, they’re finally going to be reversible! Head on over and share your opinions on the upcoming connector.
Other discussions you may also like:
- The most important thing you’ll vote on all day
- This is Jony Ive’s master bedroom
- OpenStreetMap as an alternative to Google Maps
That’s all this week! Want to talk about your favorite gadget or have a burning question about technology? Register for an Engadget account today, visit the Engadget forums and start a new discussion!
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