Archive for category: Tech News

Samsung has acquired the media software (and now hardware maker) startup Boxee for $30 million.

The Israeli company had been looking for a buyer for the last few months after it appeared raising for money would be tougher than expected.

“We can confirm that Boxee will be joining Samsung. We’ll have a formal statement on our website later this week,” a Boxee spokesperson said, leaving out any other vital information. Boxee’s 40 employees are expected to keep their jobs.

Since founding in 2007, the company has raised $30 million, so investors will at least get their initial investments back.

Boxee creates media software for desktops and also offers a set-top box that connects to many streaming services and includes the company’s own software for playing local content. Samsung will most likely integrate the software into their Internet-connected Smart TVs into the future.

Microsoft has caved to criticism from gamers and others in the industry, killing plans to require Internet connection for Offline play and limiting the ability to play used games.

The announcement has come from Microsoft just one week after E3, where the new Xbox One system was unveiled by the company, before the PS4 was shown off to the world. Microsoft’s policies toward playing used games and a requirement of regularly connecting to the Internet were heavily criticized, handing a huge advantage to Sony’s console.

Don Mattrick, President of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft, said that company listened to gamers’ reactions to the new console, and has decided to make some changes.

• An internet connection will not be required to play offline Xbox One games –
  After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360.
• Trade-in, lend, resell, gift, and rent disc based games just like you do today –
  There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360.

In addition to buying a disc from a retailer, you can also download games from Xbox Live on day of release. If you choose to download your games, you will be able to play them offline just like you do today. Xbox One games will be playable on any Xbox One console — there will be no regional restrictions.

“We appreciate your passion, support and willingness to challenge the assumptions of digital licensing and connectivity. While we believe that the majority of people will play games online and access the cloud for both games and entertainment, we will give consumers the choice of both physical and digital content. We have listened and we have heard loud and clear from your feedback that you want the best of both worlds,” Mattrick wrote.