Microsoft next-generation machine code-named "Durango". That name was partially verified on Feb,28 but its market Name is rumored to be "Xbox 720", when a senior technical artist at Crytek tweeted that he was "enjoying the Durango developers summit in London. So far, great swag and interesting talks." He then deleted the tweet and his account. In meetings, Microsoft reportedly showed details of the new console hardware.

Now Xbox World magazine is reporting that development kits for the new console were shipped to developers in March. Those kits include an IBM PowerPC central processing unit (CPU) with 16 cores, compared to just three cores on the Xbox 360 CPU. The graphics chip is equivalent to an Advanced Micro Devices AMD Radeon HD 7000-series graphics card, and the machine has a Blu-ray optical drive. The report mentioned that Kinect 2 will chow up as many as four cores tracking multiple players.

Windows users can now enjoy the benefits of high quality video, granted they have a webcam capable of recording HD video, as well as a fast enough internet connection.

This update also finally sees the integration of group screen share, which enables sharing your screen in conference calls, rather than with just one person at a time. Group screen share is currently only available to Skype Premium members, however.

Features and improvements of Skype 5.8 for Windows are:

• Full HD video-calling

• Support for Facebook audio and video-calling (beta)

• Group screen sharing

• Hide offline Facebook contacts

• Push to Talk

• Skype updater service

• Bing Toolbar integration

Microsoft is testing prototypes of Kinect-enabled notebooks using motion-sensing as an interface forWindows 8, it is been revealed, ahead of what are believed to be plans to license the technology to laptop vendors.

Specially modified ASUS netbooks are being used to demonstrate the system, which builds on Microsoft freshly-announced Kinect for Windows hardware, The Daily reports the ultraportables replace the single webcam above the screen with a row of sensors that can track movement.

Android app virtualization specialists BlueStacks have announced a version of its cross-platform software support for Windows 8, adding titles created for Android phones and tablets to the Metro UI of Microsoft upcoming OS.

The new version of BlueStacks App Player software will come preloaded on some new Windows 8 PCs later in the year, the company has confirmed.

Microsoft has released two new apps for the iOS platform, Microsoft Lync 2010 for iPhone and Lync 2010 for iPad, targeted at enterprise users with an Apple gadget in their pocket or bag. Both free downloads though requiring a Lync Server or Office365/Lync Online account in order to actually function the two apps offer instant messaging, audio conferencing and VoIP calls while on the move.

Real-time availability updates are given, as well as single-touch Lync conference call participation to avoid having to punch in lengthy passcodes. There is also transport layer security (TLS) and perimeter/internal network protection, neither of which demand a VPN, for increased data security.