Xbox Live - Wikipedia. Xbox Live is an onlinemultiplayer gaming and digital media delivery service created and operated by Microsoft. It was first made available to the Xbox system in November 2. An updated version of the service became available for the Xbox 3. November 2. 00. 5, and a further enhanced version was released in 2.

Looking for information on NBA live stream options? Here's the complete guide to legal ways to watch the NBA online for the 2017-2018 season. FULL EPISODES: Watch full episodes of current* and classic ABC hit shows, from Quantico and Fresh Off The Boat to our Throwback classics including My So-Called Life. Hulu wants to help you cut the cord for good. Cutting the cord has never been easier thanks to online streaming TV options. Both Sling TV and FuboTV provide great.

Xbox One.[citation needed]The service was extended in 2. Windows platform, named Games for Windows – Live, which makes most aspects of the system available on Windows computers. Microsoft has announced plans to extend Live to other platforms such as handhelds and mobile phones as part of the Live Anywhere initiative.[7] With Microsoft's mobile operating system, Windows Phone, full Xbox Live functionality is integrated into new Windows Phones that launched since late 2. The service shut down for the original Xbox on April 1. Xbox Games are now only playable online through local area network (LAN) tunneling applications such as XLink Kai.[1]The Xbox Live service is available as both a free and subscription- based service, known as Xbox Live Free and Xbox Live Gold, respectively, with most features such as online gaming restricted to the Gold service.[9]History[edit].

The 5 Best TV Apps for Streaming Your Shows and Sports Live So You Never Miss Out. Ready to cut the cord completely? You can still watch all your shows and sports. Hulu’s entry to the live TV game comes after nearly a decade of letting people watch reruns of old TV shows, recent episodes of current programs, and various movies.

The second Xbox Live logo, used from 2. As Microsoft developed the original Xbox console, online gaming was designated as one of the key pillars for the greater Xbox strategy. Sega had made an attempt to capitalize on the ever- growing online gaming scene when it launched the Dreamcast video game console in 1. Sega. Net and Dreamarena. Nevertheless, due to lack of widespread broadband adoption at the time, the Dreamcast shipped with only a dial- up modem while a later- released broadband adapter was neither widely supported nor widely available. Downloadable content was available, though limited in size due to the narrowband connection and the size limitations of a memory card.

The online features, while praised as innovative, were largely considered a failure,[citation needed] and the Dreamcast's immediate competitor, the Play. Station 2, did not initially ship with built- in networking capabilities. Microsoft, however, hoped that the Xbox would succeed where the Dreamcast had failed. The company determined that intense online gaming required the throughput of a broadband connection and the storage space of a hard disk drive, and thus these features would be vital to the new platform. This would allow not only for significant downloadable content, such as new levels, maps, weapons, challenges and characters, to be downloaded quickly and stored, but also would make it possible to standardize bandwidth intensive features such as voice communication. Steve Ballmer and Bill Gates both had a vision of making premium download content and add- ons that would attract many new customers.

Based on this reasoning, the console included a standard Ethernet port (1. Critics scoffed at it, citing poor broadband adoption at the turn of the century.[1.

When the Xbox launched on November 1. Summer 2. 00. 2 deployment.[1. Xbox Live was finally given a name at E3 2. Sound- dampened booths and broadband- connected Xbox consoles—featuring an early version of Unreal Championship—demonstrated the service on the show floor. The Epic title was one of the flagship titles for the service, which was slated for a debut on November 1. Xbox launch. Microsoft announced that 5. Xbox Live titles would be available by the end of 2.

Utilizing the required broadband bandwidth, Xbox Live featured a unified gaming "Friends List", as well as a single identity across all titles (regardless of the publisher), and standardized voice chat with a headset and communication, a feature that was still in its infancy. Leading up to the launch, Microsoft enlisted several waves of beta testers to improve the service and receive feature feedback. The first wave of beta testers were given Revolt!

NFL Fever to beta test. Once beta testing concluded, Microsoft sent these beta testers a translucent orange memory card, a headset carrying case, and a beta tester tshirt with the slogan "I have great hands". When the service debuted, it lacked much of the functionality that later titles included, but Xbox Live grew and evolved on the Xbox and many aspects of the service were included with the Xbox 3. Microsoft's 5. 00. Live- related and gave Xbox 3.

Xbox Live.[1. 3]The packaging for playable Xbox Live titles on the original Xbox console featured the trademark gold bar underneath the Xbox header. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell and Brute Force sported a Live "bubble" design, as they only featured downloadable content. It was changed later, wherein all Xbox Live titles included the universal gold Live bar. By the time of the Xbox 3. Xbox Live "awareness".[clarification needed] In July 2.

Xbox Live had reached 1 million online users.[1. In July 2. 00. 5, Xbox Live had reached 2 million online users.[1.

On November 1. 5, 2. Microsoft celebrated Xbox Live's 5th anniversary by offering its then over 8 million subscribers the title Carcassonne free of charge and awarding gamers who had subscribed to Live since its inception 5. Microsoft Points. Due to intermittent service interruptions during late December 2. January 2. 00. 8, Microsoft promised to offer a free Xbox Live Arcade game to all Xbox Live users as compensation, in an open letter to all Xbox Live members from Mark Whitten, Xbox LIVE General Manager.[1. Increased demand from Xbox 3.

Xbox Live) was given as the reason for the downtime.[1. On January 1. 8, 2. Microsoft announced Undertow would be offered free to both Gold and Free members for the week starting January 2. January 2. 7 as compensation.[1. On November 1. 2, 2. Dennis Durkin, COO of Microsoft's interactive entertainment business, announced that November 1.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 marked the busiest day ever on Xbox Live, with over two million active users simultaneously.[1. On February 5, 2. Marc Whitten announced that Xbox Live had reached 2. On the same day, Larry Hyrb, Xbox Live's Major Nelson, announced on his blog that Xbox Live support for the original Xbox would be discontinued on April 1. Xbox 3. 60 and all downloadable content for original Xbox games.[2.

In August 2. 01. 0, Microsoft announced an increase to the cost of Xbox Live Gold in several countries by 2. The basic service was also renamed. Prior to October 2.

Xbox Live Silver.[9]It was announced on June 1. Microsoft's Windows 8.[2. In October 2. 01.

Microsoft announced live streaming cable television with various providers.[2.

The Best Video Streaming Services of 2. Which Video Streaming Service Is Right for You? Streaming services started as an add- on to DVD and digital download offerings with a trickle of second- run movies and TV shows.

But speedier internet connections, an abundance of dedicated streaming video devices, and an explosion of mobile video has allowed services like Netflix and Amazon to bulk up streaming libraries, invest millions in original content, and give traditional pay TV providers a run for their money. Telecom giants are not blind to the threat; Comcast has its standalone Comcast Stream service and Watchable online TV app, Verizon has go. AT& T has Direc. TV Now. This comes as networks that were once only available with a pay TV subscription—HBO, Showtime, and Starz—introduce only- online alternatives. Differentiation is the name of the game when it comes to streaming success. Netflix is the leader in original programming, from the addictive and award- winning House of Cards to the binge hit Stranger Things. But Amazon is catching up with shows like Transparent, Man in the High Castle, and Mozart in the Jungle.

Both have also saved previously dead broadcast shows, as has Hulu, which picked up The Mindy Project. Amazon went one step further in taking on Netflix last year by offering Prime Video as a standalone service for $8.

It's an especially canny move for Amazon because longtime Netflix customers had their $7. Smaller and sometimes cheaper options abound.

Crackle, for example, is still a reliable spot to find a movie or TV show to watch, particularly since content is refreshed weekly. Mubi also has an avid fan base of film buffs who are disappointed by the selection on rival services. There are also niche options, like these anime- streaming sites. But if you want to cut the cord, these are the most popular services. Which one is best for you? Here's our rundown of what you can expect from each. Netflix (from $7.

Netflix is the standard- bearer of streaming. There's a solid selection at all times, with new titles exchanged for older ones monthly. And there's Netflix original programming to take into account, too. It's the only place to get your fix of shows like Orange is the New Black, House of Cards, and Luke Cage. The $7. 9. 9- per- month plan is for one standard- definition stream. For two concurrent HD streams (two people watching from the same account at the same time), it's now $9.

For $1. 1. 9. 9, you can get up to four concurrent streams and support for 4. K content. Netflix is available on a variety of devices, from your PC and tablet to the Chromecast and game consoles. Showtime Full Antisocial Behavior Online Free more.

And you can now download content for offline viewing. The company's DVD service still exists if you want newer releases, but Netflix has long said that streaming is its primary focus going forward.(Available on Android, i. OS, and Web)Amazon Video (from $8. Standalone Amazon Video will set you back $8. Amazon Prime, which includes Amazon Video—not to mention Amazon Photos, Amazon Music, and a number of other Amazon- centric perks—for $9.

Amazon has about 4. Prime streaming. Look for the "Prime" banner atop selections that stream for free. Everything else is available to purchase or rent (for Prime and non- Prime members).

Amazon also enables offline downloads, so if you haven't finished watching Transparent or want to catch up on some older HBO shows for your next flight, just download to your tablet and get watching. In 2. 01. 5, Amazon also launched the Streaming Partners Program, which lets you add networks like Showtime and Starz to your Prime account for a slight discount (save $2 per month on Showtime via Amazon vs. Amazon Video does not work with Google's Chromecast, but it's available on Roku, as well as Amazon's own Fire TV devices, smart TVs, and more. At WWDC, Apple announced it will soon arrive on Apple TV, too. Prime Video supports two concurrent streams, as long as you're watching different videos.(Available on Android, i. OS, and Web)Hulu (from $7.

Hulu has done away with its free, ad- supported tier. For full seasons of current and classic TV series, as well as original content, you'll have to subscribe for $7.

Unlike Netflix and Amazon, which typically get new TV series months or even a year after their TV debuts, Hulu gets content almost immediately after airing on TV thanks to its big studio backers. One of the drawbacks, however, is that Hulu still includes ads. An ad- free tier costs $1. If you're on the fence, you can get Showtime for $8. Hulu bundle and save $2 per month.

You can also add HBO or Showtime to your Hulu account for $1. Hulu is supported on a number of gadgets, but you can only stream to one device at a time. You can't yet download content for offline viewing, though that is reportedly in the works. Hulu recently released a live TV option, named simply Hulu With Live TV. It starts at $3. 9.

Editors' Choice for live streaming TV services. Watch on two screens simultaneously or upgrade to unlimited streams for another $1. Available on Android, i. OS, and Web)HBO Now (from $1. The first major premium channel to go out on its own was HBO.

The network's content has been available online for awhile via HBO GO, but that requires a pay TV login to watch. For several years, HBO didn't want to rock the boat with its cable partners, but it eventually acquiesced to fans' demands and released an online- only version, dubbed HBO Now, for $1. Sign up and get a free trial via apps from Amazon, Google Play, and the App Store, or add the HBO Now channel to your Roku player.

Those with internet service from Frontier, Google Fiber, Liberty, Optimum, Service Electric, and Verizon can also add HBO Now to their web package. Once you're signed up, you can watch on your PC and other devices. New episodes appear several minutes to an hour after they begin on live TV, and everything on HBO GO is also on HBO Now.(Available on Android, i. OS, and Web)Sling TV (from $2. Sling TV is probably as close to the traditional TV experience as you can get online. For $2. 0 per month, Sling TV offers live access to channels like AMC, TBS, The Food Network, CNN, TNT, and more.

As you add more services, though, Sling TV can add up. There's the basic Sling Orange plan with support for one stream at $2. Sling Blue with support for three simultaneous streams for $2.

Why would you want both? Some channels on Sling Orange are not available on Sling Blue and vice versa (here's a breakdown).