CNet wrote:

MTV outlets in North America, Europe and Asia will air a 30-minute program titled "MTV Presents: The Next Generation Xbox Revealed" on May 12 and May 13, the software giant announced Monday. . . .

"We didn't do Xbox just to do a video game; we did it to be part of our vision of the digital lifestyle, and with the next generation, we really get to go there," [Bill Gates] said. "In the first generation, we had one simple goal, which was to establish credibility as a great video game platform. We've done that.

"As we go into this next generation, it's much broader," he added. "So just for the games alone you'd go, 'wow,' but the concept now of bringing in your music, your media, connecting to the PC, connecting Xbox Live to Messenger--that just makes it a very big deal."

Microsoft had been expected to save the unveiling of the next Xbox for the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) trade show next month. But the TV event gives the company a head start of a few days and should ensure that Microsoft's news won't be lost among announcements regarding competing consoles . . .