Tons of news today out of Microsoft’s E3 keynote… The two primary themes revolve around enhanced social connectivity and expanded methods of physical interaction (Project Natal motion control, Tony Hawk skateboard controller) being deployed to Xbox 360 consoles over the next few months.

In addition to a rebranded and upgraded “Zune” video marketplace with instant 1080p streaming (see ya, Vudu?), the Netflix blade will soon allow for PC-free content browsing. There’s also a Last.FM blade on tap (which may or may not sell you out to the RIAA). And then we have the requisite Facebook and Twitter apps on tap, joining existing avatars, groups, and messaging.

Of course, the Xbox is also a powerful gaming platform. Select full game titles will optionally be available for download… perhaps speeding the demise of physical media should our broadband caps allow it. The Daleisphere has a rundown of Microsoft’s exclusive titles expected later this year. Of today’s game previews, I’m most eagerly awaiting (the non-exclusive) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 scheduled to arrive in November.

Click to enlarge these pics swiped from Gizmodo:

The Zune HD rumors have now been confirmed by Microsoft – it’s coming this Fall. And they are talking about a tie-in with Xbox Live services, too. Looks like the ZuneHD is targeted as a direct competitor to the iPod Touch. A press release by Microsoft gives us the following info about the new portable media player (PMP):

• Built-in HD Radio receiver – I like this idea although it’s not something I’d pay much extra for to get the feature. Still it’s a differentiater that should help.
• Comes with an OLED touch screen interface and a 16:9 widescreen format display (480 x 272 resolution)
• High-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) audiovisual docking station that connects direct to an HDTV in 720p is available at an additional cost
• Zune HD will include a full-screen Internet browser optimized for multitouch functionality.
• Zune HD is Wi-Fi enabled, allowing for instant streaming to the device from the more than 5 million-track Zune music store.
• “Zune will be a premium partner in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace.”  Meaning TV, movies and games could be accessible to the Zune through the Xbox Live Video Marketplace

I see a few things here with the Zune HD that are interesting and I definitely would love to see Apple get a little more competition on the iPod front.  But you know what I see glaringly missing from the Zune HD press release?  There is no mention of any Microsoft Media Center tie in – absolutely none. I hope I’m wrong on this, but this really sounds like once again MediaCenter is not going to get “connected” to another Microsoft hardware device.

Check out more of Brent’s reflections on tech, gadgets, software and media at Geek Tonic.

A periodic roundup of relevant news… from our friends at Last100:

Rivet 2.0, another Mac to PlayStation 3 streaming solution
Rivet 2.0 software enables users to browse and stream media from any folder on their Mac from their PS3, with support for all file types that Sony’s games console supports, including AAC, MP3, WMA, H.264 and DivX (AVI).

The numbers say it all: why Netflix went exclusive with XBox 360
n a joint announcement, Microsoft and Netflix have put out some numbers on the success of Netflix’s ‘Watch Instantly’ Internet TV service on Microsoft’s XBox 360 games console. 1.5 billion minutes of Netflix content has been streamed, with a total of one million Xbox Live Gold Members activating Netflix on their accounts.

Turn your iPhone into an Apple Remote
Another remote control application has hit the the iPhone’s App store. This time, the WiFi “Rowmote” emulates Apple’s own remote control, the Apple Remote, which used to ship for ‘free’ with the company’s consumer Macs.

Google Latitude shows what’s wrong with Nokia’s social location (SoLo) strategy
Latitude, the Google Map-powered software enables users to keep track of where their friends are and what they’re up to. Sort of like Twitter, IM and GPS rolled into one. If that sounds a lot like Nokia’s Friend View, that’s because it is.

Leaving comments across the blogosphere…

Can a projector really serve as my main HDTV?
For several years I ran a 720p projector as my main ‘HDTV’ – with a 10′ wide screen. Was pretty awesome for movies, sports, and Xbox/Dreamcast. But back then my main source was an HTPC that was a PITA to maintain. The HTPC situation is better these days and there are more ways to use a projector with exiting STBs (think HDMI) than there were back in 2001. However, you still probably need a dedicated or specialized room for maximum enjoyment.

Attention, Analog TV Holdouts: You Have Until June 12th
I believe the revised legislation still permits broadcasters to flip the switch prior to June 12th. And this would cause much more disruption than a true hard date. What’s Grandma going to do when some channels come in, but not all? Probably leads to more confusion. I hope all stations pulling the plug on a NTSC simulcast choose to run some sort of repeating PSA or video crawl, for a period of time, saying to go buy a converter and call your grandson to help install it.

Netflix movie downloads are a success on Xbox 360
While there’s no question these numbers are staggering and kudos are deserved, I wonder how we should define “success” (as stated in headline) of this service. Do we know if Xbox Gold subscriptions have increased? Do we know if Netflix subscriptions have increased? Licensing and serving all this video is expensive, and I’m not convinced Netflix’s current ‘unlimited video, no extra charge’ model is sustainable. Although, I think we can all agree the content selection is somewhat lacking… and that’s one way they’re saving money.

Allio Packs a PC Into Its TVs
The processor should be fine, but Vista is another story. Too bad Windows 7 isn’t ready yet. The bigger problem here is conceptual. Am I going to be able to see the text in my email when it’s a split screen from 10′ away on the couch? Do I even want to try? “WebTV” variations have repeatedly failed. Having said that, using this as an all-in-one Vista Media Center could be compelling. Does the PC have access to the tuner?

GeekTonic on the EngadgetHD Podcast
I wish all podcasts were automatically transcribed. I enjoy reading and I enjoy video, but I can’t sit still and just listen. Plus, I can’t multitask and listen while doing other things. I’m probably missing out on some good stuff. Perhaps if I resume commuting by car, I’ll re-engage.

Like Chris Lanier, I’ve been disappointed in Microsoft’s apparent inability to deliver an IPTV solution onto the Xbox 360 platform… As announced during Bill Gates’ 2007 CES keynote. We’ve heard relatively little regarding the fate of Xbox IPTV since then, and I imagine the lack of deployment is related to both technological challenges and carrier deals. So I cornered a Mediaroom rep today on the show floor.

Before handing me off to the PR team, she confirmed this initiative is still alive and well with multiple carrier field trials in progress. When asked if anything was going on in the US, she suggested I question AT&T. Now, I can’t really speculate if she said that because AT&T is considering the platform, or because AT&T is their primary partner for television services here in the US (with U-verse).

The PR woman was at once both more forthcoming and more secretive. She indicated BT will be deploying Xbox 360 IPTV in the UK. While that’s isn’t entirely recent news and she didn’t give any details on timing, I’m left with the sense it’s definitely happening this year. And she had no comment on other partners or regions.

The photo up top is the Mediaroom interface running on a Motorola set-top box, though I was told the experience will be the same on the Xbox 360 upon entering the television area. Below is another screenshot of what that menu item looked like (in 2007) within the Xbox 360’s original interface. Which, of course, has since been replaced.

Given the amount of first-person shooter online gaming I partake in these days, it was bound to happen… In a recent Call of Duty World at War online match with more than the usual amount of trash talking going on (guilty, as charged), one player who couldn’t hold his own in the virtual battle or in the verbal sparring took it to another level when he threatened me, saying “I’ll kill you in real life with a real gun.” Of course, it’s highly unlikely I’m in any danger. What we have here is a maladjusted individual with poor anger management and interpersonal skills.

However, this seemed like a good opportunity to change my Gamertag to something a bit more anonymous. You see, when I originally setup Xbox Live I had zero intention of gaming with others. It was all about downloading high definition movies. And I’ve never been shy about interacting online without a veil of anonymity. But, going forward, why tempt fate? So I gave the Xbox Live support folks a call… and it turns out a death threat doesn’t exempt you from the Gamertag change fee, which runs 800 Microsoft Points. As Microsoft doesn’t actually match Points to dollars or sell 800 Point bundles via Live, I ended up paying $12.50 for 1,000 Points to fund my new identity.

Death threats must come in regularly, because the support staff didn’t seem concerned. In fact, I’d say they were pretty dismissive. Which leads to the point of this post… Keep your kids away from Xbox Live, ensure they’re supervised by an adult, or get a Wii instead. There’s just way too much profanity, hate speech, and apparently threats going on.

The New Xbox Experience (NXE) has finally arrived. And I imagine many will be rushing home from work to check it out tonight. Some thoughts, after living with it a few weeks…

The most obvious changes you’ll see are to the interface. Microsoft blew up the “blades” and has pretty much started from scratch. While some organization and navigation conventions will feel vaguely familiar, the look & feel is vastly different. Some have said it’s more efficient and better organized, though I’m not so sure – perhaps a couple years of muscle memory is holding me back.

The first thing you’ll want to do is create an avatar. While I’ll still not entirely sold on the concept (or point), here’s my first, best, and only attempt at a virtual DZ. Once you’ve gotten past that, Netflix subscribers who have Xbox Live Gold membership should immediately download and sample the video player. (You’ll also want a remote.) It’s a pretty nice experience, other than the limited fast forward and rewind functionality, especially due to the introduction of select high definition movies and television programming. Though, competitor Sony (PS3) may be playing licensing hardball. Speaking of downloadable content, the Xbox Marketplace is now available on the web – view your history and purchase new stuff: videos, games, themes.

Last, but surely not least, of the notable new features is the ability to rip games to the hard drive. I highly recommend this for titles you plan to invest significant time in – Call of Duty World at War in my case. While you’ll still need to keep a game disc in the drive for authentication, it’s not going to spin up with considerable noise while you play. I assume it also reduces load times.

Once you’ve taken the New Xbox Experience for a spin, let us know in the comments what works for you and what MS muffed. And if you’re looking for a bit more guidance, check out Gizmodo’s Top Ten List or NewTeeVee’s summary of Netflix streaming.