Weekly Tech News: Microsoft wants to sell us Games, AT&T is learning, and more!

To be honest, I have been pretty slack this week in keeping up with the news.  So, in advance I apologize.

-Microsoft wants to sell us Games...Online
Well, looks like Microsoft still has plans to grow their online commerce presence by opening selling games via the Games for Windows Marketplace.  This site has in fact been around for a while, but in a state of choas.  Personally, I have yet to buy any software from Microsoft online.  I have purchased titles via Xbox Live for my Xbox 360, which all in all works pretty well.

This following line is for Microsoft: why are you reinventing the wheel?  We already have digital distribution sites that specialize in selling PC games.  For example: Direct2Drive, sites like GoG.com (Good Old Games), and Steam (except Steam requires a standalone client be installed).  These sites are successful, in part because they specialize only in gaming.  They aren't also selling Office, Windows, or various other Windows products.  Personally, I wish them the best of luck.  But unless they are willing to deliver an experience similar to Steam or the ease of use when purchasing via Direct2Drive, I'll probably stick with the services I use and trust.  Once again, Microsoft seems to be on a path of conquest.
Source: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/10/22/businessinsider-microsoft-to-sell-windows-games-online-2010-10.DTL




-AT&T is learning...How to cope beyond the iPhone.
What does this mean?  Simple, since the launch of the iPhone, AT&T has pretty much had it made.  Due to the exclusivity of the iPhone from AT&T, if you wanted one (unless it was jailbroken and unlocked) you had to use AT&T service.  With all of the buzz over the last couple of weeks, and the future of iPhone a jump to Verizon in 2011; what will become of AT&T?  What is their new 'trump card'?  What phone will they be able to offer that can compete with the iPhone? 

Apparently, they are bringing in Windows Phone 7 compatible handsets and Android based phones to try to offset the 'hardware shock' they will probably experience.  In my area, I have heard more than one iPhone user complain about their AT&T service.  How will AT&T fair if these user's jump ship to Verizon, and decide not to part with their beloved iPhone?  Let's face it, people use the devices they care about.  And they aren't always willing to make a move to another device; especially once they learn to use what they currently have.

I was able to break my wife of her Blackberry about a month and a half ago.  She adored her Blackberry, and she was looking for a new phone (since we could upgrade hardware).  She played with Sprints HTC Evo and absolutely fell in love.  This isn't always the case with people.  She was open for a change, AT&T better pull off some magic, because at least around my town the only reason to have AT&T cell coverage is for iPhone use.


In other quick news for the the December issue of PC Gamer hit, and it covers a huge section on Guild Wars 2.  So, until next week.  Happy surfing!