The new Mango update brings with it a few new features in the Games Hub. It looks different, and is easier to use.

I used to play games on my Xbox only on the weekends. Now that I work on and own a Windows Phone, I play them at least once a day. As a new “avid gamer” and one of the program managers behind the Games Hub, I’m excited to take you on a gamer’s tour of Mango, the next release of Windows Phone coming this fall.

One of the first things you’ll notice about the Games Hub in Mango is its new look: A cleaner and lighter design that emphasizes your game collection and Xbox LIVE info—the heart of the hub. Responding to your feedback, we also made tweaks to improve the overall performance and speed.

As it is tradition, Microsoft’s IE team sent Mozilla a cupcake for releasing a new edition of Firefox: Version 5 (Available to download here). I love friendly competition.

It seems that even the Mighty Microsoft isn’t immune to the cloud failures similar to Amazon. Apparently, Microsoft’s was due to a “hardware failure” rather than a network engineer’s mistake. Microsoft’s also lasted a lot shorter than Amazon’s cloudy day.

Users on the forum were also complaining that BPOS outages seem to be frequent. Writes Beverley Seche, "I contacted them and they told me they are experiencing sign on issue, i told them you not only experiencing that you also experiencing webaccess issue.. I’m very disspointed in bpos this is the 4 down in 2 months and this is supposed to be reliable. We went from in house groupwise to hosted Microsoft bpos not only we’re getting culture shock we’re getting down time.. :("

Nokia’s CEO has shown off the Windows Phone 7 to Nokia employees which “secretly” posted the video online. A 21 minute video shows the new phone. This means that in 3 years, Verizon will start selling the phone.

Here’s a shorter clip of the video showing the phone:

Cannes Lions explains how interactive advertising using the Kinect would work. Or wouldn’t work. Doesn’t really appeal to me. Of course, 99% of the advertising I know doesn’t even relate to me anyway. It looks like there might be a few ways I could use it, but very rarely. Does anyone else think they’d never use this?

After waiting patiently for Verizon to carry the Windows Phone 7 for nearly a year (or longer, perhaps), they finally got it in. Now, getting it is still difficult. After calling Verizon to upgrade to the new HTC Trophy, I was asked if I had looked at the Apple iPhone for purchase. I still think Verizon has a beef with Microsoft and their employees are to push the iPhone instead. Either that, or their love for the iPhone is just too strong. Needless to say I’m a month out from being offered an upgrade, anyway. Phooey.

An anonymous source (Voldemort, perhaps: “who shall remain nameless”) claims that Steve Ballmer will be leaving Microsoft after the release of Windows 8. Is this true or false? I seriously doubt it, although I wouldn’t rule it out.

The source indicates that whether or not Windows 8 is received as a success in the marketplace, Steve Ballmer sees it as his final accomplishment at Microsoft.

If it is successful, it will be the perfect time to leave on top and it will be his legacy – the successful reimagining and reinvention of Windows.

If it is not successful, the calls for his resignation will be deafening and it will be an appropriate time to hand the reigns over to someone else.

Here’s where it gets interesting.

The source also said that Steven Sinofsky is absolutely the number 1 pick to take over as CEO after Ballmer but there is one MAJOR caveat – also, the success of Windows 8.

Steven Sinofsky, more than any other Microsoft executive is associated with the development of Windows and it will be absolutely impossible for him to get the top job if Windows 8 is not successful.

For those out there that play Call of Duty: Black Ops online, they are coming out with a new content pack for Xbox Live on June 28th. Titled “Annihilation”, it will contain four new multiplayer maps and a new Zombie map.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Call of Duty®: Black Ops, the best selling game ever on the Xbox 360, is ready to blow fans away with the worldwide release of its third content pack on June 28th: Call of Duty®: Black Ops Annihilation.  Black Ops continues to draw millions of gamers online globally, logging billions of gameplay hours since its launch in November.  Fueled by the breakthrough First Strike and Escalation content packs, the blockbuster title is also already the highest selling add-on content in Xbox LIVE history, according to Microsoft.  In fact, more gamers play Call of Duty on Xbox LIVE than on any other platform. The newest offering, Annihilation, will launch first on Xbox LIVE and features four new multiplayer maps and a Zombie experience that’s sure to keep gamers coming back for more.

"With Annihilation, Black Ops fans will get four exciting and unique multiplayer settings with Hangar 18, Drive-In, Silo and Hazard," said Treyarch Studio Head, Mark Lamia. "Players will also enjoy an all-new Zombies experience, Shangri-La, an exotic and mysterious map filled with deadly traps, dark secrets and innovative gameplay that will challenge even the most daring Zombie hunters."

Developed by Treyarch and published by Activision Publishing, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), Call of Duty: Black Ops is rated "M" (Mature) by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence and Strong Language.  For additional Call of Duty® updates, visit www.callofduty.com/blackops and also via Twitter @Treyarch.

Additionally, to celebrate the upcoming release of Call of Duty®: Black Ops Annihilation, Treyarch will host a Double XP weekend beginning Friday, July 1st.

Microsoft is really stuck on the new Metro UI, giving the Xbox 360 dashboard the look. While I like the look, I don’t think it should be the default on every Microsoft OS. Windows Phone 7, Windows 8 and now the Xbox 360. I guess it’s time for me to move on, as well. I have to accept the new look and enjoy it. I just got used to the old one!

For some, the big news from Microsoft at E3 was the teaser and announcement of the upcoming Halo 4. While I’ve never been a Halo fan, it does have a huge following, and I see the release setting some new records!