Microsoft releases Kinectimals game, SkyDrive storage for iOS
Microsoft on Tuesday released a pair of new applications for the iPhone, with "Kinectimals" representing the first iOS game from the company, and SkyDrive offering users the ability to access their cloud storage.
Kinectimals
Microsoft debuted the Kinectimals brand in 2010 with the launch of its Kinect peripheral for the Xbox 360. With its release on Tuesday, the iOS verison of Kinectimals is Microsoft's first game for Apple's mobile platform.
The company has, however, recently released other gaming-related applications for iOS, including one option that connects to its Xbox Live online service, and another that ties into its Halo franchise of games. But the "Halo Waypoint" application is a companion to the series, and is not an actual game.
Kinectimals is a universal application designed for both iPhone and iPad, and is available on the App Store for $2.99 (iTunes link). The 178MB download is available in English, Japanese and Korean, and requires iOS 4.2 or later.
"This irresistible mobile experience gives you the chance to use your phone to visit the island of Lemuria and play with, care for and fall in love with your very own cub," the official description reads. "Bring your pet with you wherever you go! If you?ve already experienced Kinectimals on Kinect for Xbox 360, your phone becomes the key to unlocking five new cubs on your console. Stand-alone mobile game features Kinectimals' signature visual quality, delightful animation and brand new ways to play with your cub!"
SkyDrive
Also released on Tuesday by Microsoft was "SkyDrive," which gives users access to Microsoft's free cloud storage service. With SkyDrive, users can upload 25 gigabytes worth of files, with a maximum individual file size of 100 megabytes.
The free iPhone application (iTunes link) is a 4.4 megabyte download compatible with the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. It requires iOS 4.0 or later. Features of the software, according to Microsoft, are:
Access all of your SkyDrive content including files shared with you
View recently used documents
Upload photos or videos from your phone
Share a link to any file using email
Create folders. Delete files or folders
Microsoft's flurry of iOS applications in recent weeks comes as the company is rumored to be working to bring its Office suite to the iPad in the near future. Previous iOS applications from Microsoft include "Bing," "OneNote," and "Windows Live Messenger."
Kinectimals
Microsoft debuted the Kinectimals brand in 2010 with the launch of its Kinect peripheral for the Xbox 360. With its release on Tuesday, the iOS verison of Kinectimals is Microsoft's first game for Apple's mobile platform.
The company has, however, recently released other gaming-related applications for iOS, including one option that connects to its Xbox Live online service, and another that ties into its Halo franchise of games. But the "Halo Waypoint" application is a companion to the series, and is not an actual game.
Kinectimals is a universal application designed for both iPhone and iPad, and is available on the App Store for $2.99 (iTunes link). The 178MB download is available in English, Japanese and Korean, and requires iOS 4.2 or later.
"This irresistible mobile experience gives you the chance to use your phone to visit the island of Lemuria and play with, care for and fall in love with your very own cub," the official description reads. "Bring your pet with you wherever you go! If you?ve already experienced Kinectimals on Kinect for Xbox 360, your phone becomes the key to unlocking five new cubs on your console. Stand-alone mobile game features Kinectimals' signature visual quality, delightful animation and brand new ways to play with your cub!"
SkyDrive
Also released on Tuesday by Microsoft was "SkyDrive," which gives users access to Microsoft's free cloud storage service. With SkyDrive, users can upload 25 gigabytes worth of files, with a maximum individual file size of 100 megabytes.
The free iPhone application (iTunes link) is a 4.4 megabyte download compatible with the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. It requires iOS 4.0 or later. Features of the software, according to Microsoft, are:
Access all of your SkyDrive content including files shared with you
View recently used documents
Upload photos or videos from your phone
Share a link to any file using email
Create folders. Delete files or folders
Microsoft's flurry of iOS applications in recent weeks comes as the company is rumored to be working to bring its Office suite to the iPad in the near future. Previous iOS applications from Microsoft include "Bing," "OneNote," and "Windows Live Messenger."
Comments
"No. Kinectimals."
the iOS Department and WP7 departments.
Microsoft on Tuesday released a pair of new applications for the iPhone, with "Kinectimals" representing the first iOS game from the company, and SkyDrive offering users the ability to access their cloud storage.]
The absolute LAST applications I want on my iOS products are majorcrap ones. Putting out the orange barrels and giving these wide berth.
The absolute LAST applications I want on my iOS products are majorcrap ones. Putting out the orange barrels and giving these wide berth.
That's fine. As with the software MS makes available for the Mac, you're not being forced to use it.
Microsoft on Tuesday released a pair of new applications for the iPhone, with "Kinectimals" representing the first iOS game from the company, and SkyDrive offering users the ability to access their cloud storage.
Kinectimals...
Of course this had to be their first iOS game. It's clearly an homage to OS X . . .
Let's see if they've covered all of the OS X's in the game:
Cheetah - check
Puma - not yet
Jaguar - check
Panther - check
Tiger - check
Leopard - check
Snow Leopard - check (clouded leopard)
Lion - check
Seven out of eight . . . not bad. :-)
Hm... I have to admit I'm a big fan of Microsoft's Photosynth app. Very cool tool for creating "full globe" panoramas. Don't think I'll be bothering with either of these, though.
Works crappy for me
Kinect thing, might be good for the kids
Where the hell is my one note, microsoft? Dont tell me its just USA only, again. theres a wide world out there microsoft - where over six and a half billion people live.
Sheesh, even I managed to get an iOS app (and not a simple one either) out there.......
Where the hell is my one note, microsoft? Dont tell me its just USA only, again. theres a wide world out there microsoft - where over six and a half billion people live.
I thought they released it world wide for iPad and iPhone?
It looks likes theres two departments of Microsoft that hate each other. The iOS Department and WP7 departments.
I think this decision cam from higher up.
With how quickly these iOS apps are coming out I have to think Microsoft had already written them and they were just sitting there waiting for a "business decision" to be made about releasing stuff on iOS.
For the record I think they made the right choice. IMO they should bring Office, more Xbox Live stuff and Zune Pass next.
It looks likes theres two departments of Microsoft that hate each other.
the iOS Department and WP7 departments.
They released the exact same WP7 skydrive app at the same time. The game was already on wp7.
For SkyDrive this is the perfect idea. To succeed in cloud services you have to support all platforms, people don't own just one these days so you have to do all of them. Hence why people by kindles.
It looks likes theres two departments of Microsoft that hate each other.
the iOS Department and WP7 departments.
As Steve joked, they're all customers of Apple. Plus, with a sales marketshare under 2% and dropping, they need a little brand recognition.
I try to avoid all ms, adobe and google products (except Google for search).
That's kind of pointless.
I try to avoid all ms, adobe and google products (except Google for search).
Firefly seems to think that is kind of "pointless" but I am with you! Why bring mediocrity to my Apple devices. And why reward companies that have no clue what consumers actually want - brilliantly designed, easy to use, technologically transparent products that enrich our lives, and not frustrate them. Just say no to mediocrity.
I thought they released it world wide for iPad and iPhone?
Musta taken time to show up (days) as I searched when they announced, and just before my post, and it didnt show up. Now it does. Bstds set me up.
Now if they only would release one for Windows Phone 7