Maxim, Napster, karaoke apps now available on Xbox Live
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Microsoft to launch more than 40 new apps on Xbox Live across the world by spring; men's channel, music-streaming, and free-to-play singing apps now available.
Microsoft will roll out more than 40 new applications on Xbox Live across the world between today and spring 2013, the company announced today. New apps available today include Maxim (United States), the previously announced free-to-play karaoke game (all regions except Japan and United Arab Emirates), SkyDrive (all regions), CNET (United States and Canada), and Napster (Germany, United Kingdom).
The Maxim app for Xbox Live includes "what guys want," according to its official announcement. Content available through the app includes behind-the-scenes looks into the magazine's "sexiest photoshoots," original comedy, and sports-related video.
The karaoke app features a library of more than 8,000 songs spanning numerous genres, including pop, rock, country, hip-hop, and others. Songs will be available by streaming, with no download required. Though the app is free to download, players will need to redeem Microsoft points for full access to the song library in blocks of 2-, 6-, or 24-hour periods. Microsoft did not announce what it plans to charge for these increments.
The CNET app for Xbox Live includes the site's product reviews, technology shows, and event coverage. CNET and GameSpot are sister sites, both owned by CBS Interactive.
Lastly, the Napster app allows subscribers to access millions of songs, while the SkyDrive app lets users view their saved content like photos and video through the Xbox 360.
The full list of new applications headed to Xbox Live, along with region-specific availability information, is below.
1. All3M (United Kingdom, United States)
2. Ameba TV (Canada, United States)
3. ARTE (Germany, France)
4. Azteca (Mexico)
5. Canalplay Infinity (France)
6. CBC's Hockey Night (Canada)
7. CrunchyRoll (Majority of Live Regions)
8. Deezer (Majority of Live Regions)
9. Eredivisie Live (Netherlands)
10. Fightbox (Austria, Germany, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, United Kingdom)
11. Flixster (United States)
12. GameTrailers (Australia, Canada, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Japan, Mexico, United Kingdom, United States)
13. Globosat Muu (Brazil)
14. Gulli Replay (France)
15. HBO Nordics (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden)
16. IndieFlix (Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States)
17. Livesport.tv (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Sweden, United Kingdom)
18. Machinima (Majority of Live Regions)
19. Maxim (United States)
20. MTV (United States)
21. MyTF1 (France)
22. MyTF1VOD (France)
23. Napster (Germany, United Kingdom)
24. Pathe Thuis (Netherlands)
25. PBS (United States)
26. PopcornFlix (United States)
27. Rai TV (Italy)
28. Sainsbury (United Kingdom)
29. Saraiva (Brazil)
30. SBS (Netherlands)
31. SF Anytime (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden)
32. Slacker Radio (Canada, United States)
33. SPORT1 (Austria, Germany)
34. The CW Network (United States)
35. Televisa (Mexico)
36. TV3 (Spain)
37. Viaplay (Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden)
38. Vidéo à la Demande d'Orange (France)
39. Vimeo (United States)
40. VIVO Play (Brazil)
41. Watchever (Austria, Germany)
42. Zattoo (Germany)
43. Ziggo (Netherlands)
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
53 comments
WOW. That's incredible!!! Makes psn look more like crap than it is already!!!! The ONLY reason to own a ps3 is for blu ray movie playback. FACT. As a gaming machine it sucks, and psn is a JOKE!!!!! BANG!!! The over priced internet ready blu ray player is sinking fast!!!!! Hell, it's already in THIRD place, where it's been since it's launch!!! LMFAO
The Xbox 360 is the BEST console EVER made. --John Carmack
I gotta say I just bought a PS3 so that I can play with close friends that have PS3, but the apps on PS store are an absolute joke. XBL, although costs money, is worth it
1 Like Yay! More non gaming related stuff to contribute to the game console identity crisis which the 360 has!
I wish they would remember that the 360 is a gaming console.
Call me crazy, but I'm way excited to try the Karaoke App. Now I wont have to get sloshed and make a donkey out of myself at the bar.
"New apps available today include Maxim (United States), the previously announced free-to-play karaoke game ... . Though the app is free to download, players will need to redeem Microsoft points for full access to the song library in blocks of 2-, 6-, or 24-hour periods. Microsoft did not announce what it plans to charge for these increments."
How does that work ? If you can't rent the songs what's the point in releasing the app yet? If the APP is released and you CAN rent songs, then it's just lazy journalism to not try it and report how much it costs.
This is the way they add value to Xbox Live Gold member. Wake up Sony!!! Do something about it. It'll be nice if I could fully utilize Google Chrome on PS3, or I might just wait until one day Google unite the big 3 by creating killer console. High end gaming platform that allow full integration of both official hardware and software from the big three. That will mark the turning point in gaming industry if it ever happen.
1 Like there is a story behind this reprinting of a press release...
"Statistics show members of [Xbox Live] its paid online subscription service spend more time on it watching video than they do playing multiplayer games over the Internet" source - AP (The Register)
Microsoft didnt expect this, and have adapted their product to suit it.
The big question not mentioned in the above article, is *why* people are using Live for non multi player shooting frenzies. Maybe we are all bored of being shouted at by the 'professional' unemployed and foul mouthed 12 year olds, and just want some fun?
@MrHatnClogs Yup :P
Then they got sued and came back in corporate form. Then you could BUY the same music you used to *cough* get for free. What a deal right ;)
Televisa hmmm... right, because I probably want to watch stupid telenovelas (soap opera) on my XB360... f**k that!!!
remember folks all this can be your if you only give Microsoft your $60 a year and your credit card number. This is bad move on their part IMO. There wanting to blur the line between smart phone and console. Heck Microsoft is learning first hand how consumers don't want a computer that looks like a tablet. It says ALOT when people are hacking Windows 8 JUST to add a start menu.
1 Like @Someguy1212 Xbox Live can generally be purchased for $39. The prepaid cards are always on sale via various online retailers. There's no need to hand over your credit card info. If you're still paying the full $60 and handing over your cc info, you're a sad person.
2 Like I'm liking the CW app for Arrow (which is awesome!!!) and the karaoke app may be used for parties someday depending on how much it costs for the chunks of time. Other than that, may check out some of the indie movies.
Not sure why a bunch of people hate these new apps. If you don't want them, you don't have to get them. It's not like Microsoft forces you to download them or anything. Although, I've gotta say, the second Xbox's start getting bloatware like smartphones, I'm gonna be pissed lol.
the bloatware apps are already there but they are disguised as Indie Games... Personally I don't mind them, the user rating system works pretty well in order to promote only the best/most interesting one and I simply ignore the other...
What is the point of apps now now that we have an internet explorer browser? The only worthwhile apps other than internet explorer is netflix and hulu.
2 Like All those Apps.........
and i could'nt care less!
i'd much rather MS invest in AAA 1st Party games!!
*Edit*
Although i could'nt care less about 99.9% of those Apps, i would actually use the 'Skydrive' App'.
Oi!! GS wheres the damn 'Edit' button!???
Adding stuff to my two 360s doesn't bother me so much as knowing that adding this stuff is taking away from the creation of more core games. It's clear they slap out a Halo, Forza, Fable, or GeoW and the offer these things. I would much rather they back away from this effort and go back to creating more great 1st party games.
Napster still EXIST?! Oh well, I'll check the hot chicks photos when I get a new 360. Can't wait to see the "sexism" banther here.
CBC's Hockey Night. That's a laugh.
Perhaps if the NHL got their act together, then I'd care more about this app.
3 Like Hold the phone?!? No free online gaming for Silver accounts...then all this stuff is borderline useless. Paying to go online to use mostly free apps, is bad enough but getting charged twice is freaking ridiculous. MS keep your koolaid, paying to play games online, then paying to use my blasted Netflix through your system? Is it making my Netflix run error free and faster than what is available through the PC or any other entertainment products...NOPE! Ahh Microsoft, relieving fools of their money day in day out.
How the hell no gaming site actually calls MS on this BS? Never see a story on it damning the whole BS practice of paying for party chat because that is all Live has over any other online service.
Why not allow people the ability to create their own apps? More importantly, WHY WOULD ANYONE ON GAMESPOT GIVE A DAMN?I've been over this before Eddie, Gamespot is for games, you're a games journalist! Do your damn job and report on games, mods and their developers.
@gatsbythepig Gaming consoles these days were designed to be multimedia home entertainment system in order to provide better value, reach more potential consumers, or become competitive. That's why it's not like the old days.
2 Like @gatsbythepig NONE of the above apps will be on your games tab, so actually no, it will not make finding your games any harder.
Nice try though.
@Landsharkk How about I start up my machine and find all of my games without having to find the right tab? It makes the entire metro UI even more convoluted. I remember a time when you could turn on the power to your console and then play a few seconds later. With all the advancement in technology it has actually gotten slower.
1 Like @gatsbythepig So, you want your console to start up with a huge list of games as your first/main screen? Not even the PS3 or PC has that.
All it takes is two button clicks on your controller to get to all of your xbox 360 games.
If it takes you longer than a 3 seconds to find your games on your xbox 360 then you are doing something wrong.
3 Like @gatsbythepig How is it any harder? Go to the Games tab for your games, go to the Apps tab for the apps.
Meh, 43 more items I will never use.....
I use Netflix on PS3, that's it. I use the PS3 for games and movies and 360 for games only.
2 Like My 360 went from being used as a gaming console to being used as a coaster for my drinks and food.
PS3, PC and Wii U gaming is where it's at now
2 Like @sinn_exit You'll notice that nothing is being taken away from the xbox 360, meaning all of the previous and future xbox 360 games will still work 100%. In fact, none of the above apps will even show up unless you download them specifically.
@nini200 @DrTrafalgarLaw You can't underestimate Microsoft. They're always full of surprises. The proof is that they are still making money from me on exclusive Kinect games (Dance Central 3, Disneyland Adventure <don't judge this game until you play it, Kinect Sports as examples).
@DrTrafalgarLaw That was my first thought.... Focus more on games and less on APPs I don't care about.
Conversation powered by Livefyre
Content you might like…
-
Pay-by-hour karaoke game coming to Xbox Live
The Karaoke Channel and Microsoft Studios partner for new singing game that streams music for charge in 2, 6, and 24 hour intervals.
- Nov 20, 2012
Users who looked at this article also looked at these content items.
Hot Stories
Newsmakers
-
EA and Disney team up for Star Wars games
As part of multiyear exclusive arrangement, DICE and Visceral will work on new "core" Star Wars games. Full Story
- Posted May 7, 2013 4:28 am SST
-
Assassin's Creed creator claims he was fired
[UPDATE] Patrice Desilets says Ubisoft terminated his position today and did not allow him to collect personal belongings. Full Story
- Posted May 8, 2013 1:44 am SST
Featured Stories
-
Study: Violent games can desensitize players
New research finds frequent exposure to violent games can have numbing effect on teenagers, though no cause-and-effect relationship proven. Full Story
- Posted May 10, 2013 9:17 pm SST
-
World of Warcraft subs fall to 8.3 million
Subscriber base for aging MMO dips 1.3 million in three months; Activision Blizzard posts $456 million profit on $1.32 billion in revenue for Q1. Full Story
- Posted May 9, 2013 4:18 am SST
-
EA extends FIFA licensing agreement to 2022
"FIFA continues to be very strong," says EA, which has been making FIFA games since 1993. Full Story
- Posted May 8, 2013 5:19 pm SST
-
No multiplayer in new Wolfenstein
MachineGames' upcoming shooter will be single-player-only experience. Full Story
- Posted May 8, 2013 9:49 pm SST
-
Ubisoft: PlayStation 4 like a 'perfect jewel'
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag producer says Sony has created a compelling piece of technology and it is up to designers to make most of it. Full Story
- Posted May 10, 2013 12:37 am SST
Submit News
Related Game
Recent News
-
NPD: Injustice: Gods Among Us April's top seller in US
NetherRealm's DC brawler the best-selling title in region last month; overall industry sales slide 25 percent; Xbox 360 sales hit 130,000.
