Xbox One, internet connectivity and Sony's expensive Blu-ray player known as the PS4

It is amusing to me that the people who have been truly vocal about the feature the Xbox One will have to, at least for now, require you to connect to the internet at least once in a 24 hour window of time, not only to validate your install rights but to also receive updates related to the games themselves, cloud based updates related to, for example, your Drivatar in Forza 5, are miraculously able to connect to the "internet" multiple times a day to post comments via Facebook, twitter, Reddit and other social media sites just fine.

I have also been entertained by the extreme examples being given related to soldiers in the field, someone climbing Mt. Everest or an individual who has intermittent internet access out in the middle of some rural area or farm while milking cows that may not be able to connect to Xbox Live within a 24 period. If you think for one minute Microsoft hasn't or won't address the exaggerated and sometimes fabricated concerns about policies that are still in flux for a device that has yet to hit the consumer market then there isn't much value in trying to convince you otherwise.

There is little doubt in my mind that PS4 will be a great piece of hardware that will also be a very good Blu-ray player allowing you to enjoy higher resolution versions of games that will also be available on the Xbox One. Microsoft, however, has truly worked to take gaming beyond just those "higher resolution graphics" by leveraging the "cloud" and moving towards faster digital content distribution models expanding your gaming experience outside of the confines of your console. Sony will also have to invest a tremendous amount of resources, money and time without the promise of making their online services come even close to what Microsoft and Xbox Live has to offer.

In the short term the PS4 will enjoy greater sales success but in the long term the Xbox One will provide a far more enriching, forward thinking and truly "next generation" gaming experience leaving Sony users with with a high priced Blu-ray player that has an online experience far below what Microsoft is delivering even today.

It is clear that fans of the Sony Playstation line and for those who love to be critical of Microsoft, most of the time without any basis in real fact, will enjoy their short lived victories while they continue to create their shortsighted memes. In the long run they will be left far behind in the race for the better next generation console.

Trust me on this one.

Xbox One, PS4, hardware backwards compatibility and why don't my Sony BetaMax tapes play in my Sony Blu-ray player!

Given my belief that as a society at large we feel that we are entitled to so many things without necessarily having to work for them I am not surprised people are complaining (again) that next generation video game consoles are not fully backwards compatible with previous hardware releases by that same manufacturer.

Should I be angry with Sony that my BetaMax movies don't play on my Sony 3D Blu-ray movie player?  I mean, seriously, I bought a movie that worked on my BetaMax unit that Sony built so shouldn't they ensure backwards compatibility exists on all future hardware devices they manufacture that also play movies?!

The notion that innovation should be stifled in order to allow for older versions of a game, film, or piece of software to remain compatible with all future iterations of a device is ludicrous to me and indicative of a sentiment where we want everything, or as much as possible, for almost nothing.  Or that at the very least not having to possibly pay for it again. 

We pirate films, music, and games trading them among friends yet complain when one of those mediums or intellectual properties doesn't live up to our expectations. Artists and studios need to be compensated for their work and we as individuals should pay for the amazing creative work we enjoy.  Period. 

I also want to throw in this last thought for those who are in an uproar about Microsoft's presentation not featuring enough actual video game detail in it as several of the memes and posts floating around the web/Facebook are indicating.  If you didn't know that the XBOX ONE video game system will play video games then I would suggest you stick to buying board games from your local hobby shop. With E3 being just a few weeks away and I am sure Microsoft will show off some of the 15 new launch titles that includes 8 new franchises during that event.

In my opinion if you want to play your current games, watch your purchased (or most likely pirated) films and in the format you purchased them in nothing will keep from retaining the piece of hardware you have that will allow you to enjoy those pieces of media. 

It is really that simple.