Microsoft News

Microsoft's Xbox Live update will boost its video streaming content, as the company turns its home console into a universal entertainment system.

Microsoft announced plans to increase its streaming movie and television presence on its Xbox platform, in a move to keep consumers interested in video game consoles.

Google's YouTube is still far and away the leader in online video watching, but Microsoft soared to the number-two spot last month as it successfully pushed to increase traffic to its Bing search engine.

Microsoft today said that owners of its Kinect motion-gaming system will be able to watch online videos from Internet-streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, revealing yet another way the software giant is bringing Web content into the living room.

Television makers are looking to "smart TVs" to invigorate their businesses after 3D TV sets failed to seduce increasingly demanding consumers last year.

Microsoft is planning to launch a new set-top box, venturing into the Internet-connected TV market and competing with rivals Google and Apple to combine Web access with regular television programming.

Microsoft is in discussions with media companies for a new online pay TV subscription service that will stream content through devices such as its Xbox video game console.