Microsoft Wants To Reward You For Watching TV

[Gutenberg]

Microsoft wants Xbox 'achievements' for watching ads

Yes, you read that right: Microsoft wants to reward your product-gazing time with a digital pat on the back, an icon on your Xbox Live profile that will show just how dedicated you are to completing all of your gaming goals, even if they have little to do with gaming itself.

[...]

Microsoft specifically mentions advertising as one of these goals:

... by tying the awards and achievements to particular items of video or advertising content, viewers may be encouraged to increase their viewership of the content, thus increasing advertising opportunities.

http://www.cnet.com.au/microsoft-wants- ... 344422.htm

[JuniorMan]

Wow this is depressing.


This is truly something out of 1984 now.


The XBox achievements are already insane. There are tons and tons of gamers that play those games just to rack them up since they are digital online trophies. I can actually picture them watching the ads to earn achievements.

[Gutenberg]

NSA Domestic Spying Program Makes Xbox One Even Scarier

[...]

Now that the NSA has apparently unlimited access to Microsoft servers, the notion of a camera in our homes watching us at all times and storing biometric data on Microsoft servers is downright appalling.

Microsoft has said that the Kinect can be turned off, but once it’s up and running how many consumers will actually turn the thing off?

Read more: http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/20 ... n-scarier/

[Gutenberg]

Xbox One to introduce “media achievements” for watching video

"In a description of the Xbox One's TV and media apps in a blog post this morning, Microsoft let slip that app makers will be able to include "Media Achievements... offering everybody the opportunity to achieve badges or rewards for the media they consume in addition to gaming." [...] Customers will be able to unlock achievements "for watching TV shows and movies or rating content" on apps including "Netflix, Hulu Plus, Crackle, Amazon Instant Video, and Redbox Instant."

read more: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/11/x ... ing-video/