The Microsoft Xbox may not be the integrated home automation dream that the incumbent 360 has been.

With the requirement for an always on Kinect 2.0 it may be more efficient and bright than the original bar but how will the consumer feel about a device that could be recording onto Microsoft’s servers personal data such as facial recognition, health information like heart rate and any other manner of intrusive data.

Microsoft’s vice president Phil Harrision has gone on record with the following statement; “Microsoft has very, very good policies around privacy,” he said. “We’re a leader in the world of privacy, I think you’ll find. We take it very seriously. We aren’t using Kinect to snoop on anybody at all. We listen for the word ‘Xbox on’ and then switch on the machine, but we don’t transmit personal data in any way, shape or form that could be personally identifiable to you, unless you explicitly opt into that.”

The last section “unless you explicitly opt into that” smacks of previous facebook and google mistakes, the general public have a tendency to reject anything that could capture personal data especially if you don’t tick the right box.

The used game scenario seems to be a total mess, it’s not just used games what about sharing? My son and I share games at home between two separate Xbox’s he most certainly doesn’t want me logging on to his account and trashing his credibility by playing under his gamer tag.

As to used games, it’s what has made the Xbox 360 gain the market share it has and the only thing that has helped keep games stores on the high street.

Microsoft has maybe missed a trick here, they should have either got rid of the physical media all together and reduced gaming prices dramatically or they create a system similar to the software on your PC and laptop, you can have a license to install on both but only run online on one concurrently.

Also without support for Xbox 360 games its going to be a huge purchasing decision and you can clearly see that many gamer’s will wait to see how many titles are available before committing the cash.

The jury is out we can only wait and see.

A