Software is The New Hardware... Apparently

Thomcult: A few interesting announcements have come out of the back end of this week that seem to signify a change in emphasis from Nintendo and Microsoft in terms of how they expect to attract new customers and inspire loyalty in the coming months.

Central to Microsoft's announcement was the notion that the new firmware will essentially reinvent the console, providing a host of new services to expand the whole Xbox 360 experience. In one sense, this is just Microsoft dodging speculation of what's next for them in terms of hardware. It is almost a moot point that software platforms will define which console is the most appealing in an age where it is the services and continual relationship between consumer and manufacturer that defines success. However, throwing in a new interface and features coated in all the gloss in the world isn't really a reinvention of the platform.