Microsoft buys Skype, plans to add support to Kinect and Xbox Live

 Microsoft just entered into an agreement to purchase Skype for "$8.5 billion in cash." There's good news involved, even if you're not a Skype investor: "Skype will support Microsoft devices like Xbox and Kinect, Windows Phone and a wide array of Windows devices," Microsoft announced, "and Microsoft will connect Skype users with Lync, Outlook, Xbox Live and other communities." You won't be stuck exclusively using Skype with Kinect, either, as the company plans to continue supporting Skype clients on platforms other than its own (which means Microsoft is now in control of a PSP app). Microsoft did not provide a timeframe for the debut of these Xbox and Windows Phone services, but I'd be very surprised if there weren't a staged Skype call during Microsoft's E3 presentation next month.

PSA: Fake Battlefield 3 'beta keys' offered

Don't let the excitement of the upcoming Battlefield 3 beta cause a serious error in judgment. Community site BF3blog points out that the "beta keys" on the site BF3nation are a scam -- also noting that the site's owners were also involved in a previous phishing scheme. EA has allegedly been trying to shut down the site, but has so far been unsuccessful. When the Battlefield 3 beta is upon us, trust that you'll definitely hear about it from your buddies at Joystiq ... oh yeah, and the rest of the internet. It won't be something that'll fly under the radar. In the meantime, assume anything that involves BF3 beta keys is a scam.

Modern Warfare 3 Beta, Confirmed?

Seem's like Steve Fukada had a little score to settle before he left Infinity Ward in April 2010. Although this is not officially confirmed, we can't help but look at the screenshot that he has leaked in suspense. Will we soon be playing Modern Warfare 3 Beta? Only time will tell.

Workers in Apple iPad factories forced to sign anti-suicide contracts

Do you think you have a difficult job? Try working for Foxconn in an Apple iPad/iPhone factory in China. As reported by The Daily Mail, in addition to working nearly 100 hours of overtime in a month, standing on their feet for 12 hours at a time, and not being allowed to say a word while working, employees are now also forced to sign “anti-suicide” contracts. This was in response to a large number of deaths the previous year. The main impetus of this requirement appears to be legal in nature. If an employee violates the contract by killing themselves, the binding document states that the family of the deceased is allowed only the legal minimum in damages. In addition to signing the pact, the company has also put up “anti-suicide nets” around the living facilities to help prevent employees from jumping off of the building to their death. These measures were implemented after last year’s plan of hiring monks to exorcise evil spirits had failed. The popularity of the iPad has put tremendous pressure on suppliers to deliver parts to Apple in a timely manner. To meet this demand, workers are forced to put in long hours, live in dorms with up to 24 other people in the same room, and not say a word to each other while working. These working conditions put a strain on the workers’ mental health, but don’t expect many changes until consumers are willing to pay higher prices for the products they want.

Microsoft Readying New Xbox?

This is absolutely huge if it can be believed. Develop, who are usually very reliable, are quoting an anonymous source as saying that EA have a new Microsoft console on some desks and are preparing first wave software for the machine already. The suggestion is that Microsoft might be preparing an announcement at E3, just in time to steal Nintendo’s thunder on their Project Café (Wii 2) announcement. According to Develop’s source, the new console is so early in its development that it doesn’t even have proper housing yet – it’s been delivered inside PC casing. We assume that this is indeed normal procedure for the development stages of any new hardware of this type. This new rumour, coupled with the Microsoft job advertisements for hardware engineers from earlier in the year, would seem to indicate that new hardware development is well and truly underway. Just how early in that development we are is another matter but large publishing partners would presumably get access only when the final specification and build blueprints are locked and there’s only testing and refinement to go. E3, then… That’ll be worth keeping an eye on.

Black Ops Escalation

Troll Dad