Xbox One? Playstation 4?

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When the next generation gaming consoles were announced back in June, my focus lied squarely on the PS4. I have been a happy PS3 user for many years and this would be the natural upgrade. But recently, I have begun to wonder "What about the Xbox One?"

After some research, I came away with these specific features that attract me to the Xbox One:

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Watch TV/Apps and play a game at the same time. 

• I really like the ability to multi-task on my Samsung Galaxy Note 2.  To have that functionality on my TV would be ridiculous. There are few things in life better than watching a game of baseball while playing a game of baseball. 

Use Internet Explorer on the TV

• Who wouldn't want to shop Amazon or research the leader in steals for the National League in 2013 (ehem, Eric Young Jr.) on their big screen TV? I'm sure you can't watch Hulu shows through the Internet Explorer app, but this is still a nifty feature which supports the Xbox One as an "All Entertainment" device. 

Voice Command to turn on Xbox

• If I could turn on my Xbox with my voice, I feel like a super wizard Gandolf warlord....so there's that.

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Kinect

• Sony has hinted in the past they do not need to compete on the same level as Microsoft when it comes to motion control gaming. This makes a lot of sense when you consider the more comfortable form factor of the Playstation controller and the precision needed for hardcore gaming. Sony is not trying to make the PS4 and All-In-One device, which helps to differentiate the consoles.  If you have ever been interested in Kinect gaming, this is the best time to immerse yourself in the ecosystem.

Cable TV connected to the system

• It might be a minor nuisance, but I despise needing to switch inputs on the television to switch between cable and gaming. By having the cable input connected to the Xbox instead of the television directly, seamless transitions between entertainment and media becomes a reality. 

The similarities between Xbox One and Playstation 4

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To say these consoles are completely different is foolish. There are many new and advanced features which can be found on both devices. Both PS4 and Xbox One allow downloading in the background while playing the same game. Both have many of the same games available (although there are exclusives to both). Both automatically record video of your game play so you can share epic boss battles instantly to social media. 

One of the lesser known common features is the second screen capability of both systems. Xbox has SmartGlass, an app for any smartphone, tablet or computer which lets you navigate the Xbox, use phone/tablet keyboard to operate Xbox, browse the internet, and play music/movies on your Xbox from your device.  Sony has the Playstation Vita for all these features, but there is also an application you can download for much of the same functionality. 

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Important Notes

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My attraction to Sony's system is two-fold. First, there is no yearly fee to use any of the Playstation services, like Netflix.  You pay for anything from the Playstation Store a la carte.  But Microsoft is now offering two free games each month with an Xbox Live Gold Membership, so paying $60 a year doesn't look so bad anymore.

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Secondly, the features of the Playstation controller appears better: touchpad, enhanced vibration, Share button, built-in speaker and headset jack, etc. Many people have argued the Xbox One controller is basically the Xbox 360 controller, and they wouldn't be wrong. In addition, the form factor of the Playstation controller allows for a tighter, narrow grip to prevent fatigue from a more open grip, as with the thicker controller of the Xbox One.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Playstation Camera appears to be completely inferior Kinect, as if Sony just wanted to find an easy way to appease critics who wanted some sort of motion control.  The Sony website is very vague about the full extent of the Playstation Camera capabilities, as if they themselves have no idea what to expect when it is released.

I haven't made any final decisions, but it has become clear, at least for me, that this will not be an easy choice in the end.