If you want a pure game system, the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 are in a dead heat. As a media streamer , though, especially if you subscribe to cable or satellite service, the Xbox One is a better bet.

New interface is intuitive and accessible; Powerful hardware; Incorporates live television with OneGuide, HDMI passthrough, and USB tuner supports; Limited Xbox 360 backward compatibility

Kinect integration and voice commands have been de-emphasized to the point of almost being completely dropped; Current backward compatibility list is very small

With E3 2015 safely in the rearview mirror and the Xbox One's second anniversary fast approaching, we're diving back in the home console pond to take the temperature of the current landscape of videogame consoles.

Microsoft's Xbox One offers impressive graphics and a solid list of exclusive 2015 titles; The Microsoft console currently edges ahead of the PS4 with a better selection of media apps; The console's fall-2015 dashboard update is a noticeable improvement.

The Xbox One's new interface is still more convoluted than the PS4's; In general, the PS4 delivers slightly better installation times, graphics and performance on cross-platform games; The Xbox One also lags behind the PS4 in its selection of indie games; The Kinect's legacy is still a blemish

It's been a long time coming but we finally have our review wrapped up for Microsoft's new Xbox One. I had to stop myself short there from calling it a "video game system" because Microsoft has a grand vision for their not-so-little black box.

Positives Nice launch lineup of games; Kinect voice commands when they work; great SmartGlass support; intuitive game DVR and editing tools; Snap multitask; ability to play while installing

Negatives Unappealing hardware design; poorly designed tile menus; lack of built-in battery on gamepad; lack of info on hard drive or battery usage; mandatory Xbox Live subscription for even basic functionality; finicky Kinect motion detection and rigid voice commands; many features like Twitch and...

It's fair to say the Xbox One hasn't had the easiest introduction to the world. At its announcement it was derided for a host of deficiencies compared to its big competitor, the . It required an always-on internet connection, you couldn't sell on games once you'd finished with them, it had seemingly...

Xbox One is Microsoft's all-in-one gaming and entertainment system that puts you at the center of all your games, TV, movies, music, sports and Skype.

The Xbox One is built using an impressive set of technology to provide next-generation gaming, while also promising to be at the centre of the home entertainment experience in your living room.

If there's one word that defined Microsoft's approach with its Xbox One when it launched in 2013, it was "disruptive." The new hardware challenged our notion of what a video game console could and should be, for better and for worse.

Powerful OS is user-friendly and built for seamless multitasking; Kinect v2's well-implemented voice recognition is a new "button" for your controller; Improved internal hardware translates to smooth game performance; Cable box interconnectivity is great for TV watchers

Limited; occasionally non-intuitive voice commands; Bulky; hefty form factor; Snap same-screen multitasking is debatably useful

It's nearly impossible for the Xbox One not to be a substantial upgrade over the Xbox 360. The fact that Microsoft could ship a single integrated SoC instead of a multi-chip CPU+GPU solution this generation is telling enough.

One Box to Rule Them All

I got my Xbox One on launch day, so I've had about a while now to play with it and find out what I think about the system. It is an excellent follow-up to the Xbox 360, but not without some minor flaws. *What I like:* [+] The dashboard is integrated WAY better than the Xbox 360 and PS3.