What soft of devices could use the Xbox system software, and would it encourage wide-spread Xbox/Xbox 360 adoption?Microsoft chairman Bill Gates reveals that his company isn't ruling out the option of licensing their Xbox operation system software (possibly including the Xbox 360's much-touted "Dashboard") to interested third parties, much like how they currently license their Windows series OS.?This is hardly an official confirmation from the company however, so Gates did not see fit to clarify just who exactly these third parties could include.
As things are now, it's difficult to say whether it's truly in Microsoft's favor to allow companies to release PC systems or consumer electronic devices that are compatible with current Xbox (and possibly even Xbox 360) games and products.?Whatever the direction Microsoft could take with this, Gate's suggestion was not entirely groundless:
"Microsoft has invested significant cash and resources in developing the operating system and user interface for the Xbox 360, which are designed not only to play games but also to provide for communications between Xbox Live users, content downloads, music, movie and photo management and playback, and interfacing with portable devices, Windows Media Centre PCs and possibly even online music and movie stores.That same functionality, or a sub-set of it, would be very attractive in a large range of consumer devices - and this is an area where Microsoft's existing Windows XP embedded product is currently facing strong competition from systems based on the free Linux operating system, while rival Apple is also thought to be planning an entry to this market."
Article Link: GamesIndustry.biz
