Microsoft's new games console: Is the Xbox One worth it? xbox.com.au Xbox unveil some of the amazing new features and graphics on their new console, Xbox One. MICROSOFT'S next-generation games console isn't all about games. This Xbox wants to be part of your family; an omnipresent, always-connected entertainment hub for all kinds of television, Blu-ray and streaming movies, video chats and social media. Games factor into that mix too, of course, but even they come with unusual, moving demands. In light of the impending release of the Xbox One, Microsoft has unveiled an imaginative new commercial showing off some key features of the console. This entertainment focus is the main difference between Microsoft's gaming machine and that of its major rival, and it's what the company hopes will make it the choice of next-generation players. Physically, the Xbox One is much bigger than its competitors, at 3.18kg, and just a little bigger than its predecessor, though shaped differently. Round edges have been replaced with a refined, modern aesthetic, sharp edges and a mix of glossy and matte black finishes. Microsoft's Xbox One games console, controller and Kinect unit. In a home-entertainment cabinet, the black box seems to disappear, with the exception of its glowing, white X. The Xbox One only comes in one model: a unit packed with 500GB storage and bundled with a headset for in-game chats, one controller and, importantly, the next-generation Kinect accessory. This movement-sensing addition has been overhauled in a number of smart ways. Microsoft Xbox One games console Kinect unit. Apart from a sharp, boxy look, Kinect 2.0 features a camera with a full high-definition sensor and a 60 per cent wider angle, an infra-red sensor, a microphone and the ability to track up to six bodies at once. This new hardware addresses major drawbacks of the last system, as it means Xbox One users can now stand closer or farther away from the console and still be seen, and can sit further to either side of it. Its light sensitivity is also vastly improved. The new Kinect can register movements in most lighting conditions, even the dimly lit lounge rooms which some game aficionados prefer. Microsoft Xbox One game console controller Kinect also recognises who is using it. Stand before the machine while you sign in to Xbox Live for the first time and Kinect will register your face with your gamertag. After this, the console will recognise you when you sit before it and automatically bring up your profile, complete with your favourite games, apps and background colour. The accuracy of its recognition is impressive, and it never failed to recognise our mug even from the furthest end of the lounge room. Another unusual Kinect application? It can monitor your heart rate just by looking at you. This bizarre feature comes into play when using Kinect Fitness, an app built into the system. Before you stream any fitness video, the machine assesses your health, capturing your heart rate by looking at the blood flow to your face. Creepy? Useful? That too. In addition to the new Kinect, the Xbox One is designed to deliver everyday entertainment. Two HDMI ports at its rear let users connect a free-to-air or even subscription TV box into it and back out to a television set, letting users watch TV through the games console. This allows the Xbox to deliver notifications while you watch TV, and to control the TV with your voice. To swap from the Xbox homescreen to the television feed, users simply announce "Xbox play TV." The feature is volume-sensitive but reliably accurate. Other commands include "Xbox Snap TV" that delivers a small split-screen with live TV, "Xbox go home," and commands such as "Xbox pause" and "Xbox play" while streaming movies from its store. Unfortunately, Microsoft has yet to add an Australian digital program guide for pay or free TV, severely limiting its abilities compared to our US counterparts. Microsoft promises this will change in future and, if so, it could make the console significantly more useful. Microsoft has also caved into market pressure and added a Blu-ray player to this machine, making it more entertainment-savvy than the last. But most early buyers will surely invest in the Xbox One for its gaming abilities and they're unlikely to be disappointed. This machine's eight-core processor, 8GB RAM and 853 MHz graphics processor is capable of stunningly realistic, high-resolution graphics, and Microsoft adds new shortcuts to gameplay, a new reputation system and ways to pin your favourites to your profile. While loading a hefty update for Dead Rising 3, for instance, the Xbox One alerted us when enough had been loaded to start playing the game, avoiding a lengthy wait. On the reputation front, Xbox now gives online players a ranking based on in-game actions. Annoy too many users, get kicked out of many matches, and your rating will dive, allowing you to be matched only with others who have similar problems. Gamers can also now 'pin' their favourite apps and games to the left side of their profile page for quick access. You will, of course, have to have the game disc inserted to load it. The Xbox One does have drawbacks, however. Its graphics hardware is not quite as well tweaked as that of the PlayStation 4, meaning some next-gen Xbox games will ship with slightly lower resolution. Players are unlikely to notice this without a side-by-side comparison, however. That the Xbox One cannot control television playback with Australian voice commands could dissuade users from feeding TV sources through it, and the revamped controller isn't noticeably better than the last model despite Microsoft's promises. Users will also notice there are no first-party first-person shooters in the Xbox One launch line-up - a glaring omission given its previous success with blockbuster titles like Halo. They're coming, but they're not here yet. With these caveats noted, the Xbox One is an obvious step up in gaming machinery. Kinect 2.0 offers the most advanced interactivity of any computer on the market to date, the console is well-equipped for many entertainment needs, and spotting animation from realism is that much harder with its cutting-edge graphics. There's room to improve, but this next-generation games console delivers. Kinect 2.0 movement and voice-sensing unit bundled with the console Next-generation graphics delivered by a powerful eight-core AMD chip and 853 MHz graphics unit Apps like Kinect Fitness included in the package Voice commands control many of its features, including pausing and sharing game content Ability to play free or pay TV through the console No Australian electronic program guide for use with voice commands Not as many apps in Australia as the US yet Slightly lower graphics performance than the PS4 Heavier and bulkier than its rivals No major controller revamp