Infinity Ward working 2 map packs for the near future. New COD “Action/ Adventure” game announced. Another game in 2011. No word if this is the action/ adventure game. More info at IGN.

Microsoft today announced its Windows Phone Series 7 software for phones. Please don’t let the name fool you, from everything I’ve seen so far this is a game changer. Why? Despite what you may think Windows Mobile is the number 3 handset OS behind iPhone and Blackberry and yet Microsoft knows they have much ground to gain. To do so they’re starting from scratch and taking a big leap of faith, and I would bet it will pay off. If I had to sum up what I’ve seen so far in word, it would be “SMART.” MS seems to be truly integrating not only their products but the information people use today. It’s hard to describe what they’re doing here so I would strongly suggest you look at the videos (pics don’t do it  justice) or better yet, try the interactive demo. http://www.windowsphone7series.com/

An attempt to summarize…

• No MS Hardware, partners build hardware under strict guidelines
• WVGA Screens
• 4 point capacitive touch
• > 1ghz processor (Qualcomm Snapdragon)
• > 5mp camera
• accelerometer
• FM radio
• GPS
• hardware keyboard optional
• probably more
• Live tiles
• aggregates data from multiple sources right on the home screen, extremely customizable
• Similar to what the MSN Preview does. www.msn.com/preview.aspx
• 6 Hubs
• People
• Pictures
• Games
• Music + Video
• Marketplace
• Office
• Xbox live integration (more to come)
• Zune HD (they say this is a Zune HD, except I’ve only heard FM radio so far, not HD radio)
• Zune stream wirelessly (from cell provider, its going to rock with a Zune pass)
• All major US service providers, with ATT being premier US Partner
• Launches Holiday 2010 (I can’t wait!)

Check out this site. http://www.jumpman23mosaic.com/ Its a representation of what Silverlight and Azure can do and it’s pretty impressive. Try it out for yourself, especially if you have a multi touch device. Notice how fast it reacts (zoom in/ out). That’s apparently the power of the cloud, it’s even impressive on my netbook.

So this post has been a long time coming. Late last year I was lucky enough to be able to visit the first ever Microsoft store in Scottsdale, AZ.

The store itself is pretty slick with Microsoft folks giving product demos, training classes, answering questions, and of course selling devices, software and games. There is a series of video screens (or one big screen actually) that wraps around the 3 non glass walls of the store (you can see this in the picture). The screen shows one giant integrated pictures (think of a living background) in addition to having individual video Windows near kiosks along the wall showing PC screens, Zune software and XBOX 360. But what really stole the show for me were the 4 Microsoft Surface tables in each corner of the store. I walked in the store I saw a few folks sitting in seats gathered around these tables, at first I was thinking they were simply coffee tables, but then I saw people interact with them. I started to get excited and went to the one Surface table that didn’t have a crowd around it. I walked up and saw the virtual water app running. I stroked my fingers across the surface and the water reacted exactly as you’d expect. I was almost surprised that my fingers weren’t wet. Yet, i knew there had to be more to play with and noticed a virtual button in one corner of the screen. I pressed it and my jaw just dropped. What appears before you is a table top with various apps, but using them is hard to describe. The words multitouch, speed and performance just don’t do this justice, it’s something you have to use. Even the videos on the Surface website don’t do it justice (except the ones showing object interaction…INSANE!!!) All ten of my fingers affected the water demo, in Bing maps i was able to zoom, rotate, etc, faster than I ever though possible. The virtual photo books worked just as you’d expect, actually even easier than I’d expect and I think that’s what caught me off guard the most. This thing is intuitive and it just works. I honestly think my grandparents would figure it out once they realized you could interact with a table top. I’ve used touch devices and multitouch devices before and there is simply no comparison to this. After watching some of the tech videos on the Surface site I understand why. Regardless, this tech is a really exciting possibility for the future and I can’t wait to see it in more places. Please go watch the videos, and if you have the chance actually use a device, do it, it’s a life changing experience.

With all the recent privacy concerns @ Facebook would you trust them with an email account? Looks like they’ll be offering one soon. http://bit.ly/agUPHX

http://bit.ly/50FRzP This is a longer article but filled with goodies (if they end up being true). This should get you really excited about the next version of Windows Phone (aka just “7”). Again..all rumors right now but 2 versions, cloud syncing, office online integration, super sexy and powerful phones silverlight, mediaroom,, Xbox live game play, Zune, social apps. IF all this is true it looks like I’ll have to hang on to my ATT TILT just a bit longer.

Have a question about Windows, Office, Security essentials etc? Don’t want to randomly Bing around the internet or call MS? Try out the new Microsoft Answers, http://answers.microsoft.com, a community based support site. It’s well organized and a good start, let us hope they continue to add products here.

It’s the last of the consoles to get the service but in the upcoming months you will be able to stream Netflix shows to your Wii. The setup will be similar to the PS3, requiring a free Netflix disc to be loaded into the Wii prior to streaming. More info @ IGN http://bit.ly/6sHa5a