Entertainment Business Archive

  • Microsoft’s J. Allard and Robbie Bach are leaving the company

    Microsoft’s J. Allard and Robbie Bach are leaving the company

    Posted on May 25, 2010 | No Comments
    Microsoft is losing two high-profile executives. Both J. Allard, "Chief Experience Offer" and Entertainment and Device Division's CTO, and Robbie Bach, President of Entertainment and Devices Division, are leaving the company per a Steve Ballmer email from this morning. These are the guys behind the Xbox, Zune, Project Natal, and the dead Courier project -- so basically all of Microsoft's hit entertainment projects from the last decade.
    From: Steve Ballmer Sent: Tuesday, May 25, 2010 11:01 AM To: Microsoft - All Employees (QBDG) Subject: Executive Leadership Transitions After almost 22 years with the company, Robbie Bach has decided to retire from Microsoft. I have worked with Robbie during his entire tenure at Microsoft, and count him as both a friend and a great business partner and leader. Robbie has always had great timing, and is going out on a high note - this has been a phenomenal year for E&D overall, and with the coming launches of both Windows Phone 7 and "Project Natal," the rest of the year looks stupendous as well. While we are announcing Robbie's retirement today, he will remain here through the fall, ensuring we have a smooth transition.

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  • Yet Another App Store. This Time, It’s Intel

    Yet Another App Store. This Time, It’s Intel

    Posted on January 8, 2010 | No Comments
    Intel CEO Paul Otellini at CES announced an app store for applications on netbooks. The store is called AppUp Center, and it's a place where users can purchase programs that cater to a netbooks’ unique screen size and mobility. Intel AppUp center launched today for Windows and will support Moblin-based open source operating systems and a number of runtime environments later this year. The first set of apps are now available for download, for free or to purchase, and more will be added as they are validated. App categories include entertainment, business, games, education, health and social media. Additionally, Acer, ASUS, Dell and Samsung have announced plans to collaborate with Intel on their own app stores.

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  • Microsoft *finally* confirms Xbox 360 price cut: Elite is $299, Arcade is still $199

    Microsoft *finally* confirms Xbox 360 price cut: Elite is $299, Arcade is still $199

    Posted on August 27, 2009 | No Comments
    Thank the Lord! Microsoft just confirmed that Xbox 360 price drop we've been bleating about for entirely too many days now. Yes, the Xbox 360 Elite goes down by $100 to $299; the Pro goes from $299 to $249 while supplies (which means it's being phased out entirely); and the Arcade stays at $199.

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