Fact of life: South African TV services are a bigger waste of cash than the Joburg highway robbery tolls. After all, doesn’t it just burn you up when you realise that your TV license fees are funding Top Billing? No, the more savvy gamer knows that digital services are far better. And it looks like the Next-Box is going to take advantage of that fact when it watches you while you sleep.
While Sony seems to be going with a pure gaming device for the Playstation 4, it looks like Microsoft is going to continue to expand their Durango console as a Jack of all trades entertainment hub. Step one of that plan, involves getting more TV services on the console in order to keep butts planted in the living room.
Sources over at The Verge say that the console will be able to take over televisions, much like what Google TV already does. This of course, will require that always-online connection, but it should be easy to deal with. By taking the signal from a decoder box through the HDMI port, the Next-Box will then theoretically be able to offer you that same content, but with a Microsoft user interface.
And that’s where things get interesting.
By using the upgraded Kinect sensor, the console will then be able to detect several people in a room, as well as eye movement. What that means, is that the second you take your eyes off the screen and turn your head, the action will pause.
Which is actually a pretty decent idea. Nobody likes adverts, but we live in an age where we are pretty much too easy to pause the action ourselves just so that we can hit the loo and evacuate our bowels. But it’s the potential to expand on that idea, that is present.
It sounds tiny, but if Microsoft can create a console that features a vastly improved user interface, then arm-waggling could be a viable draw here. Also, screw the SABC and DSTV, because I’m sick of throwing cash at them every year that gets spent on soapies where people frown and stare hard as the camera fades out.
Give me digital TV, give me more Netflix and make it easier for me to hit pause by doing sweet buggerall. I’m ready for the batin’ future of Idiocracy anyway.
Last Updated: April 11, 2013
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 11, 2013 at 13:38
Lol “…frown and stare hard as the camera fades out.”
Cracked me up!
Does this feature also pause if you close your eyes?
Mark Treloar
April 11, 2013 at 14:27
If 2 people are in the room and one falls asleep?
Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew
April 11, 2013 at 14:32
Oh dear. Imagine the trolling. Good part of the movie… Look away… Piss of everyone in the room
Mark Treloar
April 11, 2013 at 15:38
If you piss them off enough and they punch you in the eye, does that mean the end of the evening?
matthurstrsa
April 11, 2013 at 13:39
*not available in South Africa
Ultimo_Cleric_N7
April 11, 2013 at 13:44
My thoughts exactly
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 11, 2013 at 13:40
Well if the NextBox watches Brenda it will explode.
(The ‘box, not Brenda)
Major Commodore 64 Darryn B
April 11, 2013 at 14:04
BADUMTISH!
OVG
April 11, 2013 at 13:42
Nintendo – Sony – Nintendo – Sony – Nintendo – Microsoft ,
looks like Ill be going over to – Nin… Sony next gen 🙂
Im in it for the GAMES, VIDEOGAMES, TVGAMES, INTERACTIVE MOVIES or whatever you call those things that have kept us entertained for the last 35 years.
NOT KUCKING CABLE TV!!!! OR EYE TOY 2!!!!! Where are the fcking kick ass exclusives??????? Stop fcking around with Apples market.
LordCaptainAwesomeness
April 11, 2013 at 13:49
You Tell them Boyo….
OVG
April 11, 2013 at 13:55
They never listen 🙁 They just get fired, after filling their wallets off of dumb ass gamers.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
April 11, 2013 at 13:59
This OVG has his fingers on the pulse of TRUTH!
OVG
April 11, 2013 at 14:03
They are using us HIPSTER TECH NERDS as their Trojan Horse. Its sick.
Matthew Holliday
April 11, 2013 at 14:18
I dunno, I use my ps3 as a media station more than a gaming console.
although i dont care much for this auto pause gimmick and share button. Im rather capable of hitting pause myself and dont particularly care for posting my latest dota or cod score to facebook.
I would much prefer voice recognition stuff to auto stuff.
but optimised netflix or youtube stuff, i would quite appreciate, although the PS3 has that already.
auto stuff is shit stuff.
Tbone187
April 11, 2013 at 14:49
Angriest post of the week…Think LG needs to add it to their already legendary polls… 🙂
Edwin le Roux
April 11, 2013 at 13:43
Netflix in SA would be nice
Rincethis: Spellalicious
April 11, 2013 at 13:50
Does that mean if I DON’T want to watch a fucking ad, and turn my head in disgust, it will pause the omo ad?
Admiral Chief Erwin
April 11, 2013 at 14:00
Oooohh eh eh
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
April 11, 2013 at 14:00
Yes! And then it’ll rewind, and while you loose your mind, and throw things around, it’ll record your ranting and raving for youtube, facebook and twitter. All will know… the day Rincethis went postal 😀
OVG
April 11, 2013 at 14:07
LOL The PC is in for a treat and a huge revival while the console massives who invested in the console since 1988 because they just wanted to press start, are going to cross the Dead Sea. If we are forced to buy a Multi media HUB then I would rathers go PC and upgrade when I fcking want to.
The Console died when the first fool brought that Horse Armor.
VIVA LE PC!!!!
Rincethis: Spellalicious
April 11, 2013 at 14:12
RAAAAAAGE! RAAAAAG! You do NOT want to see Rincethis go postal. Where do you think the name comes from? Rince… THE BLOOD OFF MY KINETIC!
OVG
April 11, 2013 at 14:02
It will turn off if it… its only built for one thing and one thing only. ONE EYE BAD
Carl Angus
April 11, 2013 at 14:58
Fixed
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
April 11, 2013 at 13:59
Sucking your soul out of your eyes….
Slade Boender
April 11, 2013 at 14:00
Still waiting for the day when TV licence bullshit will stop. I havent watched TV in almost 4 years yet I still have to pay for the damned thing. I dont have an aerial or even a coax cable. You think I really wanna pay for anything like isidingo or “the news” to spew out over airwaves? Negative. Hell I dont even listen to radio. #rantover
Khulani Ndlovu
April 11, 2013 at 14:03
That will definitely be cool but the question is will it be available in South Africa?, 🙂
CaptainNemo42
April 11, 2013 at 14:12
Awesome Header!
We’re watching you.
Rincethis: Spellalicious
April 11, 2013 at 14:16
So if I want to teach my child anatomy by playing the Walking Dead, Microsoft will watch this, email child services, and I’ll be told off? (future tense, I have no minions… YET)
Carl Angus
April 11, 2013 at 14:54
I prefer to use Sniper V2 for teaching my kids anatomy. The bonus is they automatically run from cover to cover wherever we go. So cute I tell ya.
Rincethis: Spellalicious
April 11, 2013 at 16:10
Haha! They must know how to sort out headaches 🙂
Carl Angus
April 11, 2013 at 14:54
I prefer to use Sniper V2 for teaching my kids anatomy. The bonus is they automatically run from cover to cover wherever we go. So cute I tell ya.
Rincethis: Spellalicious
April 11, 2013 at 14:18
Kinetic can have my sock…
Martin du preez
April 11, 2013 at 14:44
Fuck this soul stealing shit. Your xbox will probably stop working when you cover the camera and some “Something is obstructing the camera” error comes up. And when you remove it a puppy dies.
OVG
April 11, 2013 at 16:37
Or you have not paid for the other person who is standing behind the sofa but is not there… or is she? spooky
Tbone187
April 11, 2013 at 16:17
Not sure hey. This jack of all trade thing will push me to Sony instead I reckon…Remember : Jacks of all trades, specialise in none…
Purple_Dragon
April 12, 2013 at 15:26
I usually love your headers but I don’t really find this one appropriate. Really?
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
April 12, 2013 at 15:42
Because of the Coptic girl (actually she’s a grandmother now)? Yeah her story is kind of tragic. National Geographic did a follow-up on her, and they posted a picture of her now, and you can tell she’s had a hard life.
But those eyes… THOSE EYES!!