Filed under: Gaming, Software, iPhone, App Review
Xbox Live app for iPhone
There is one issue: it's $1.99. Technically, that's not bad -- an app like this is probably worth the $2 especially if browsing your friends' games is something you do often. But the catch is that Microsoft recently stated that all apps that tag in to Xbox 360's online service must be sold for the low, low price of free. So one of two things will probably happen here -- either the app will drop down to free (in which case, you might as well save your $2), or Microsoft might end up blocking it, either on the App Store or in the actual Xbox Live connection. Hopefully, whatever happens, we'll end up with a solution
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joanna D said 8:33AM on 12-01-2009
Strange to see an Xbox Live app on here considering Apple ripped the entire App Store idea from Microsoft's XNA project.
Does this one allow you to do everything without jumping into a web browser? I know leetpwn did a lot of stuff non-natively using a browser.
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gnoboa83 said 9:27AM on 12-01-2009
yes it does!
utterer said 9:58AM on 12-01-2009
Wow it's only 10 in the morning and Joanna D has delivered the stupidest comment of the day. Can you please make it stupider by actually trying to back up your claim.
mike said 10:19AM on 12-01-2009
uh... XNA...? did that thing go anywhere?
MS seems to have a lot of failed side projects... you got some nerve claiming MS deserves a pat on the back for the success of the App Store.
You know they should have done? They should have done the App Store like 10 years ago on ... Windows Mobile. I know I know, they have something like it. It's just got like 500 apps, that all look like Windows 3.1.
Any MS, I hope you enjoy the next 10 years writing iPhone apps.
Aaron Brown said 11:07AM on 12-01-2009
seriously XNA????
I don't know how you can justify saying that Apple ripped XNA off.
XNA is for games, on the xbox (and the Zune, but MS has yet to allow devs to sell their apps for the Zune, though the XNA platform has been available for the Zune since the original Zune 30 at 2.0). The App Store is for apps (which include games, but also many many other things). XNA is an afterthought compared to the app store. Who even cares about XNA on the xbox?
SO basically what you are saying that Apple took an idea like giving developers a set of tools to make developing on their platform easier (which is not an original idea that MS created) and then Apple made it better by giving them an easy, accessible, and lucrative way to sell their apps to all iphone users. Yeah, then you are right...Apple also did that with the ipod and the laptop and the desktop. What's the big deal?
HazyCloud said 9:34AM on 12-01-2009
Do not download this app. It requires you to sign in to pull your friends list and is in no way affiliated with Microsoft. This will get pulled.
1337pwn's app is still the best Xbox app hands down. It does not require you to sign in at all. You simply add what friends you want to follow.
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Kevlar said 11:15AM on 12-01-2009
Uhh... so you wouldn't download a Twitter app because you have to sign in?
Or a Windows Live app because you have to enter your e-mail and password, and then it's stored on some 3rd party server while they maintain your online status while the app is closed?
The additional functionality this offers over 1337pwn, primarily, not having to add all your friends manually (very helpful if you have a full list of friends) makes it worth having to enter your credentials.
Apple has strict TOS when it comes to personal information through Apps. If someone's account is compromised through this, then I suspect it'll get a lot of bad reviews exposing it, and it will get reported and pulled pretty quickly.
It's in a company's best interest to make an App as secure and private as possible -- because that means more sales over a longer period of time.
There's my $2 (that this App is getting!)
HazyCloud said 2:05PM on 12-01-2009
@ Kevlar
Last time I checked my credit card info wasn't tied to my Twitter account.
I'm assuming you haven't tried the 1337pwn app as it does have an "import" tool while still not requiring you to login to anywhere other than Xbox.com. Give it a try. It works, it's free and it's safe. Can't say that much about this app.
http://1337pwn.com/import/
HazyCloud said 9:38AM on 12-01-2009
Do not download this. If you do you are putting your personal information at risk. This app requires you to sign in with your Windows Live ID to pull your friends list and is in no way affiliated with Microsoft. It will get pulled. MS does not allow third parties like this to use their Live service.
If you want a friends list app, download one of 1337pwn's apps. Neither one of their apps require your Microsoft or Windows info. You simply add what friends you'd like to follow.
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Andy Dahl said 11:34AM on 12-01-2009
Looks like it's pulled already.
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Athtart said 11:53AM on 12-01-2009
Nope. Still selling here in US for $2...
Stone Soldier said 1:00PM on 12-01-2009
It's funny that MS requires that all apps that access Xbox Live must be free, yet they require that all Publishers charge for the DL content on Xbox Live. MS loves to make money from Xbox Live but absolutely forbids anyone else from doing the same unless they get a cut.
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Nick said 2:40PM on 12-01-2009
Right, because the older Halo 3 maps aren't free and they're definitely in business for charity rather than profit.
MRBlue said 1:30PM on 12-01-2009
Looks like a really cool app but I think something like this should come directly from MS to make sure your information is secure (as HazyCloud keeps pointing out).
I don't have an XBL account so I'll never download this but it would be cool if the avatars were actually animated.
I would say Sony should follow suit with a Home iPhone app but that would mean people actually using Home.
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crazypenguin said 7:42PM on 12-02-2009
i'd wait, because this developer is going to definintly give this away for free, why would this just become blocked if they can do something about it?
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Ole said 5:33AM on 12-03-2009
Looks like from the comments on the store that it has been blocked now, i would really like something like this though, with the possibility of messaging my friends ingame, because that feature blows from the controller...
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