Xbox Live

Comcast is apparently close to releasing their XFINITY TV app for the Xbox 360 as the company has lit up some new support pages for the app. There is no mention of the company's recently announced Streampix service, but there are a number of interesting details about how the app will work and tap into the XFINITY On Demand service. The detail that is likely to catch the most attention is that streaming to XFINITY TV on the Xbox 360 will not count against customers' data caps. Comcast's justification is based on the assertion that streaming to Xbox Live is done entirely over the company's private IP network, and not over the Internet. The company also points out that XFINITY access from a web browser or mobile device will continue to count against data caps because that traffic does go out over the Internet. Comcast's move is sure to generate a great deal of attention and is almost certain to renew the debate over net neutrality rules. Net neutrality was a political powder keg the last time round, and with election year politics in the mix, Comcast could end up igniting a full-fledged firestorm. Will flying the private network flag rally supporters to Comcast's cause, or make the company a target?

Comcast says the Xbox app gets special treatment because the video is "being delivered over our private IP network and not the public Internet." This gives the service a potentially large advantage over not just other video streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu Plus, but also over Comcast On Demand content streamed through the company's website and mobile apps, both of which count against the data limits.

Ars Technica

At the Microsoft CES 2012 keynote, Microsoft has announced a content partnership with Comcast which will bring the Xfinity TV services to the Xbox 360 dashboard. Additional partnerships include Newscorp partnership which will bring Fox News, Wall street Journal, Fox and IGN content as well. Not word on the exact time frame just yet but we're sure it is only a matter of time when it goes live.

Microsoft told us not to expect a heck of a lot of news from its 2012 CES keynote, but it just took the wraps off of a couple of content partnerships. For one, we're told that Comcast's Xfinity TV will soon be coming to Xbox 360 (FiOS users are finally getting a little company, as it were), and moreover, there's a new News Corporation partnership that'll bring Fox News, Wall Street Journal, Fox and IGN to the aforesaid console. Craig Davidson, Director of Xbox, also threw a verbal high-five to U-Verse, Telus and Telefonica. No word on launch dates, unfortunately, but we're guessing the parties involved will be making their own announcements on that.

Engadget

In what is beginning to feel like a weekly ritual, Microsoft has released another round of video apps in support of their new Xbox Live TV initiative. The UFC app is the heavyweight in this group, especially with the attention surrounding the big fight coming up New Year's Eve, but VUDU might be a popular addition for movie fans. DailyMotion fills the wide release category that YouTube filled in last week's video app collection with availability in more than 25 countries. There are also a couple of new channels specific to the UK, Australia, and France.

We are now a goodly part of the way through the list of content partners that Microsoft initially announced. On their current weekly release schedule, they should be just right to finish up the list during CES, which begs the question, then what? Might Microsoft be timing the releases so that the first wave of apps ends just in time for the announcement of another list of content partners at CES, or can we look forward to a big chunk of Ballmer's press conference being given over to a recap of what they have already released?

Xbox 360 is building on its expansive catalog of movies, sports, television and music and we’re happy to offer* the following new entertainment experiences starting today in various regions on Xbox LIVE:

· 4 on Demand (C4). United Kingdom 
· ABC iView (Australian Broadcasting Corp.). Australia 
· Dailymotion. Available in 34 countries globally** 
· Demand 5 (Five). United Kingdom 
· M6. France 
· MSN Video. France 
· UFC on Xbox LIVE (UFC). Canada, United States 
· VUDU (Wal-Mart). United States

Major Nelson

The long await Xbox Live fall update is just around the corner. For those lucky few who got in on the early release of the update, you will soon get access to apps, streaming and Xbox TV. In a few short weeks, on December 6th you will have access to the Xbox Live fall update.

I for one am looking forward to the ability to access additional content that the new dashboard update is going to provide, I am just hoping it doesn't disappoint.

The update is free to all Xbox 360 console owners and includes an overhauled Dashboard look, an expanded set of Kinect voice controls, integrated Facebook Sharing, and cloud storage for game saves. Starting from the 6th, the console will also include new entertainment options, such as live TV and streaming movies and music, though which particular new service you get will depend on where you live and what content agreements Microsoft has in place.

The Verge