We’ve long suspected that Microsoft’s development team is working on bringing a PSP-killing handheld Xbox into the world...



Rumours suggest the handheld will have a webcam and 5-inch touchscreen - that’s half an inch more than the PSP’s panel. And it will certainly be multitalented, as much at ease with movies, music and photos as it is with games. Heck, it needs to be in order to make people want it: in the words of Microsoft’s games bigwig, Peter Moore, “it can’t just be our version of the iPod.”


I will Try to keep you updated on this one...



Cheers,

__________________

it's gr8. thanks

i dont think that microsoft can beat psp ..because there are so many rival in hand held gaming ... Sony psp ,Nintendo Ds ,Nokia n-gage ,gizmondo ,etc but it would be better for business

Taken from T3...

Despite countless rumours, it would appear that Microsoft will leave Nintendo DS and PSP to duel for handheld supremacy. Yes, a pocket-sized Xbox isn’t on the cards, according to Neil Thompson, head of Xbox for Northern and Eastern Europe. We spoke to him earlier today, and asked whether he could categorically state that Microsoft is not currently developing a handheld gaming device.
“We’re not even thinking about that at the moment. Handhelds, in the way you would think about a handheld like a PSP? No.” Thompson stated. He went on to say, “the mobile phone market offers us a really good opportunity to capitalise on the hundreds of millions of handsets that are out there, and give people a chance to connect that with other entertainment experiences”.
Sadly our vision of an Xbox handheld dips back over the horizon. Although we can’t help but feel that the story isn’t over just yet.

__________________

Despite being told face-to-face that there was no truth in the story by a man from Microsoft, those handheld Xbox rumours just won't die.


Now a research collective called The Diffusion Group is predicting that Microsoft "will likely leverage its Xbox franchise to enter the portable games console market in late 2007 or early 2008", and is expected to "embed a portable multimedia player in a handheld gaming platform similar in many respects to a Sony PSP."


This part of the report isn't particularly surprising (apart from its use of "leverage" as a verb - those crazy Yanks), as Microsoft has worked on portable multimedia devices before, by licensing out its Windows Media Center software to other companies like Samsung and Creative. Creating its own device, perhaps with an Xbox 360-echoing design, isn't too much of a step up from this, particularly for a company with Microsoft's resources.


As ever, we'll keep an eye out for further news. In the meantime, take a look at our mock-up and imagine playing Halo 4 on the way to work.



Thanks T3

__________________

Article Taken From gamesindustry.biz
Article Written By paul loughrey

Microsoft could be planning to releasing a portable multimedia device designed to rival Apple's iPod as early as Christmas 2006, according to a new report from Bloomberg.

Rumours that the Redmond giant is working on a handheld machine have been circulating for some months now, with 'Xbox 360 Uncloaked' author Dean Takahashi adding fuel to the fire in spite of Microsoft's refusal to comment on speculation.

The report from Bloomberg suggests that Microsoft is planning to release a portable music and video player - making no mention of videogame functionality - with the intention of challenging Apple's massive 77 per cent market share of US digital music player market.

According to the report, Apple commands 72 per cent of music downloads with its iTunes music store; Microsoft's MSN music store accounts for just 3 per cent.

It's this huge hold on the digital music and video sector that MS wants to challenge, the report suggests - apparently the company has been negotiating content for a new digital download service from companies including EMI, Universal Music Group, Fox, CBS and NBC.

Sources claim the new device - allegedly created under the guidance and supervision of Xbox evangelist J Allard with entertainment and devices president Robbie Bach - will allow consumers to download music using Wi-Fi technology. It's said to offer better picture quality than Apple's iPod.

It's still unclear whether or not there will be any game-related functionality for the device, or if it is simply designed to compete with Microsoft's biggest rival in the digital music and video sector.

Given the alleged involvement of J. Allard and Robbie Bach, a handheld that also plays games would certainly seem possible. But, once again, speculation is likely to continue until Microsoft decides to disclose its plans.

Microsoft is hoping its new player will prove more popular than devices that used its Portable Media Center software


Microsoft guns for the iPod with new Wi-Fi enabled music and movie player

After sitting on the sidelines watching Apple dominate the music market, Microsoft is finally readying its own branded player to take on the iPod.

According to analysts that have been briefed by the company’s top executives, Microsoft is developing a new music and movie player that will hit stores in time for Christmas.

And one of the key features of the new device will be built-in support for Wi-Fi to let users download songs directly from a PC or the internet without the need to connect any wires.

Microsoft has tried its hand at this game before. Back in 2003 it came up with its own Portable Media Center software that it then licensed to hardware manufacturers.

Creative, Samsung and iRiver all produced multimedia devices using the software, but none of the players were particularly successful.

This time, however, Microsoft will produce both the hardware and software and sell the device under its own brand.

This combined with the fact that the MTV Urge online music store (which is part owned by Microsoft) will play a key part in the company’s new Vista operating system might give the new Microsoft music machine a bit more credibility.

__________________

Microsoft’s secret portable revealed!

Is it an iPod-killer? What about a portable Xbox? Whatever you call it, Microsoft’s mysterious Project Argo is gunning for every portable out there.

Could this be the fruit of Microsoft's mysterious Project Argo?...

Unearthed by The Seattle Times, details of the project have leaked into the open, and go some way towards joining the dots of Microsoft’s portable puzzle.
We’ve known for some time that Microsoft’s been working on a portable of sorts, but now it looks like that rumour, combined with murmurs of an ipod-killer are one and the same.

The Argo will reportedly pull double duty as a media player and communications device, as well as challenging portable consoles like the PSP and DS.

It’ll unite all of Microsoft’s media services under the Xbox brand too, as well as tying in with the company’s rumoured media store.

It’s an audacious move, but one that’s typical of Microsoft in hitting the competition hard and fast.

According to The Seattle Times, ex-Xbox boss J Allard has been working on the secret project, and today we got hold of a supposed picture of the new device.

Exciting stuff indeed, but could one little box really floor the ipod, iTunes, PSP and the DS?

The Drunken_Ninja will Keep you updated on any juicy Argo info as it unfolds.

__________________

Thanks for the info mate, good picture too

Now that the rumours seem to have been confirmed lets see if the Redmond Giant really does have the balls to enter the Portable market and make it stick

__________________

Article Taken From eurogamer.net
Article Written By tom bramwell

Microsoft's new digital music player is actually a complete line of Xbox-branded digital-media products, software and hardware, according to Seattle Times columnist Brier Dudley.

Pictures of the main device, codenamed Argo, are now circulating, and Dudley says that the device will be capable of playing games as well - something that would see Microsoft taking on Sony's PSP and Nintendo's DS as well as its most likely rival, Apple's iPod.

Last week, Bloomberg reported that the device would go on sale this Christmas and include Wi-Fi network connectivity - something that Apple's iPod range does not feature.

Microsoft has so far declined to comment on any of the reports, which have been widespread for several months and usually identify the Xbox division - headed by J Allard - as the principle architects of the device and now service.

In a column entitled "Argo aims guns at more than iPod" this week, Dudley cites "research, reporting and information from a source close to the project", and ultimately identifies not just a device that plays back media, but a software media player and an online media service - immediately drawing comparison to Apple's iTunes and Music Store respectively.

"This is more than just another MP3 player," says Dudley. "It will also compete with game players from Sony and Nintendo that have long had Wi-Fi and work as media players, Internet terminals and communication devices." He goes on to say that Argo will "likely" showcase XNA, Microsoft's multi-platform game development architecture.

__________________