Microsoft has launched the newly redesigned MSDN site. For those developers out there, this may be of interest. I do have to admit it looks a lot better than it did previously.

There were a few things we targeted in the Microsoft Developer Network:

• Simple:   We designed the site to help developers get started with Microsoft more easily, and get them to the information that they need.  We heard from the community that finding the right information, often spread between different locations, could be challenging.  The Microsoft Developer Network addresses that feedback by providing a single point of entry for all developers.
• Relevant: We want to meet developers where they are and talk with them on their terms.  With the Microsoft Developer Network, an iOS developer, for example, can quickly understand the opportunity available from our platform and then easily navigate to the educational or technical content he needs to get started.
• Community Driven: Microsoft has an incredible developer ecosystem, and we wanted to provide even more opportunity for the community to engage with us and with each other.  We designed the Microsoft Developer Network with that in mind creating a “Perspectives” section with community blogs, an integrated social feed, and a “Connect” area that allows developers to tell their stories, get advice and connect with us directly.

First it was Metro that was renamed Modern UI due to trademark issues. Now, it is coming to SkyDrive. A UK court ruled earlier that SkyDrive infringed on a trademarked owned by British Sky Broadcasting Group and Microsoft is forced to change the name of their cloud based storage service. Of course, they get some time to transition to the new name. What’s odd is that Microsoft didn’t fight the rules, nor do they have plans to (publically, of course).

So long, SkyDrive, hello —-? Lots of possibilities there. With Microsoft putting a lot of effort into SkyDrive lately, with my phone and PC automatically syncing to my SkyDrive folders (easy backup), it’ll be weird to see it under a different name.

For those still using Office 2010, Microsoft has released Service Pack 2. It is available via Windows Update, so most will get updated automatically. For those with Windows Update disabled (or for admins using SCCM), the download is available at the information page.

Microsoft Office 2010 Service Pack 2 (SP2) provides the latest updates for Office 2010. This service pack includes two kinds of fixes:

• Previously unreleased fixes that are included in this service pack. In addition to general product fixes, these fixes include improvements in stability, performance, and security.
• All the public updates that were released through May 2013, and all the cumulative updates that were released through April 2013.

Bill Gates suggests that Microsoft Bob may make a comeback. Not in the dog incarnation, but a digital assistant, similar to Siri but on a larger scale. I like the concept, but the implementation so far has been horrible. I want HAL, or even JARVIS (2001 & Iron Man references). With voice recognition doing better, and some voice playback (Siri is good, but still not the best) being pretty good, I think it’s getting very close.

I’d be very interested to see what the new Microsoft Bob would be like. Maybe pull something from the ‘very innovative but usually stays in the lab’ Microsoft Research labs. And I definitely cannot disagree with Gates with his quotes. Many of Microsoft failures were due to bad timing. Too far ahead of the curve and either the hardware wasn’t quite mature or the market wasn’t ready.

Speaking Monday at the Microsoft Research Faculty Summit at the company’s Redmond, Wash., headquarters, the chairman said Microsoft Bob didn’t get it right, but he thinks the concept will reemerge with a bit more sophistication. "We were just ahead of our time, like most of our mistakes," he said.

Windows 8 users can look forward to the highly popular Flipboard application on their tablet or other device. I have been a user of Flipboard on my iPad for a long time, and it is one of the better applications that I use daily. I may end up looking for a smaller tablet (currently using a Lenovo Twist) to use with these upcoming apps. It’s nice to see Windows 8 getting more app support.

Small teaser video from Flipboard (very small teaser!)

The Preview for Windows 8.1 is available to those that want it.

A caveat, though:

Are there risks to installing Windows 8.1 Preview?

Yes. Windows 8.1 Preview and Windows RT 8.1 Preview are stable and have been thoroughly tested, but aren’t the finished product. Your PC could crash and you could lose important files. You should back up your data and you shouldn’t test the preview on your primary home or business PC. You might also encounter problems like:

• Software that doesn’t install or work correctly, including antivirus or security programs.

• Printers, video cards, or other hardware that doesn’t work.

• Difficulty accessing corporate or home networks.

• Damage to some of your files.

You should carefully balance the risks and rewards of trying out the preview before you install it.

With all the recent criticism from many, many gamers, Microsoft has done a 180 with the new Xbox One in regards to the always on internet connection and their used games stance. Now, after a one time set up online, when using physical disc media you will no longer be required to check in at least every 24 hours. Second – you can loan, trade, resell, give away your games as you want. No more restrictions there.

Did this make me reconsider an Xbox One purchase? It took me from a “probably not” to a “I’ll definitely consider it”. My last concern – Kinect. As an owner of the original Kinect, I can say that it’s a hell of a great device. Or, it was. For the first month I used it extensively. After that, it’s use waned and eventually gathered so much dust I am unsure if it even still works. You can’t deny that it’s a great accessory to the Xbox. But, I just don’t use it. I probably won’t use it on the Xbox One, either. I won’t be talking to my Xbox (unless it responds in a Jarvis-esque voice, ala Iron Man), I’ll continue to use the controller.

This is a GREAT move for Microsoft. They saw the huge backlash of their customer, they saw the reaction to the competition, and the moved. They admitted their mistake and corrected it.

The last thing I hear people bringing up – price. If Microsoft could hit the $400 price tag, that’d be great. But, it won’t be the deciding factor for me. $500 is a lot of money, but the Xbox One is a lot of machine. As far as media capabilities go, it could replace my HTPC. I am still waiting to hear if it supports various HD codec’s.

So, my PS4 preorder may get moved to something else. Thank you Microsoft for listening to your customers on this one. You made at least one Xbox fan very happy today!

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.

Now, in a contradiction to the story yesterday which said that Xbox Support said that an Xbox Live ban removed access to your downloaded games, Major Nelson has said there is nothing to worry about. Although… As these are tied to your Xbox Live account, you do give up multiplayer access. Your account is banned, and your games are tied to your account. You can’t just set up a new account and pop in the DVD and play multiplayer again. So, I still hope they can offer some kind of retraction when it comes to bans that were not intended (rare, but it’s happened).

Major Nelson is usually the end-all when it comes to rumors. If he says it, it’s true.

Major Nelson, in a Reddit video interview, contradicted Xbox Support, stating, "Absolutely not, you will always have access to the games you purchase. Absolutely not." According to him, you only have to worry about losing multiplayer features through an Xbox Live ban.

And my response, courtesy of Penn & Teller – BULLSHIT!

I may be passing on Microsoft’s console now, for other reasons, but this has to be the biggest FUD ever. There have been some rumors and some information that Microsoft themselves had confirmed, but others like this are complete BS.

Due to the way Microsoft has handled the Xbox One console policies, games can not be activated if you live in an unsupported region. This also appears to be true within the US where only certain states will be able to enjoy the Xbox One at launch. We spoke with a Microsoft representative about this decision.

I’ve heard people get banned from Xbox Live for many reasons. Some are deserved, while others were either very minor or not a legitimate reason. But, to ban a user and remove access to all the games that he/she had tied to their account? Bad move. One in many that Microsoft has made lately. Alienating your users, even those that deserve a ban?

Not cool. I have never been banned, nor do I want to, but this a bit overboard. Terms of Use? Is there a limit to how much the Terms of Use can really apply? Forfeit all the licenses if you are banned? Of course, with the always online requirement, this is easily obtainable.