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Microsofts new Smartglass technology, due Friday, combined with a new update to the Xbox, puts the company clearly in the drivers seat to control the evolution of the living room.

Microsoft said Tuesday that its Smartglass technology, which makes tablets and phones a second screen to complement the Xbox game console, will be available on Friday, the same day the company plans to release Windows 8. At the same time, a scheduled Xbox update adds Windows Explorer to the TV screen - along with a key addition: recommended content.

We are bringing the Web to the TV like never before with Internet Explorer, launching a brand new music service, and making it even easier to find the entertainment you love using Kinect and Bing voice search, said Yusuf Mehdi, chief marketing officer for Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Division, in a blog post. This release is the next step in our journey to transform Xbox 360 from a games console to an all-in-one entertainment system.

According to Nielsens first-quarter Cross-Platform Report, (PDF), Americans spend 1 hour 38

minutes per week on gaming devices. But consoles with the power to stream video (now, virtually all of them), the average time spent is 2 hours and 48 minutes a week. The conclusion? Game consoles arent just a console, theyre a set-top box, a front-end gateway to entertainment content that the traditional cable or satellite box just doesnt provide.

The same report also notes that DVR viewing continues to increase. With the exception of live sports, viewers are caring less about watching live TV as it happens, instead time-shifting it to when its most convenient. That, in turn, blurs the line between the recorded shows available on Netflix, Hulu and other sources of content and the linear streams of content presented on network and cable TV that we can dip into with our DVRs.

One of the most important additions to the Xbox update, then, is the release of recommendations. Recommendations will allow you to discover new movies, TV shows and games, generated based on a number of variables including the content you previously viewed, what your friends are consuming and what is most relevant and popular with our Xbox community, said Larry Hyrb, Microsofts Xbox community spokesman, in a related blog post. You can now rate content yourself and also see Rotten Tomatoes ratings.

According to ABI Research, the number of videos and TV shows available to watch numbers somewhere north of 100,000, although the total varies widely according to how theyre defined. (Amazon and Google, for example, are suspected to equate a single episode of a TV show as equivalent to a movie, putting South Park on the scale of Captain America.) However you count, though, theres an overwhelming amount of content out there, and recommendations help narrow it down based on your preferences and what your friends like.

There are essentially three methods of rating content:

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Microsoft Updates Xbox To Cement Hold On Living Room

BALTIMORE, MD--(Marketwire - Oct 19, 2012) - Sometimes travel isn't about business or vacation, it's about your well-being. With a location near Johns Hopkins Hospital and the University of Maryland Medical Center, the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront is a top choice for visiting patients and their families who are looking for hotels in Baltimore's Inner Harbor.

What sets this Baltimore Inner Harbor hotel apart from others, however, is its private consultation room, available for guests who need "home" visits. The room, equipped with routine medical equipment, allows guests to meet with a local physician or specialist in a natural setting without having to leave the hotel.

The consultation room is just another way this Baltimore convention center hotel makes its guests feel at home. Guestrooms offer luxurious bedding packages, beautiful views of the waterfront and city, high-speed Internet access, coffee/tea service, room service and HDTVs with premium cable channels.

In addition to elegant rooms and suites in Baltimore, MD, this Inner Harbor hotel also offers resort-like amenities such as a fitness center, indoor pool and sauna. Onsite dining includes fresh, seasonal Maryland cuisine at Grille 700; creative martinis, fine wines and light fare at Kozmo's Lounge and snacks, sandwiches and Starbucks coffee at Rigano's Bakery and Deli. There is also more than 80,000 sq. ft. of modern meeting and event space at this conference center hotel, perfect for exhibitions, weddings, social functions and business meetings.

Exploring the best the city has to offer is easy from this waterfront hotel; don't miss the Maryland Science Center, Baltimore Zoo, National Aquarium, Fell's Point, Baltimore Museum of Art, or Oriole Park at Camden Yards. You can also combine dining and entertainment in the Inner Harbor on a Spirit Cruise.

About the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Sitting on the water's edge in the Inner Harbor, the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront offers spectacular views and access to the city's top shopping, dining and attractions. Just a short drive away from BWI airport, the Amtrak station and the convention center, this Inner Harbor hotel is the ideal destination for meetings and events with more than 80,000 sq. ft. of event space, including the Grand Ballroom with a capacity of 2,800, and easy online group booking with QuickGroup. Guestrooms offer flexible spaces with water and city views, high-speed Internet access, Marriott's signature Revive bedding package and plug-in panels to connect all your devices to the HDTV. The surrounding area is filled with the city's top attractions including the National Aquarium, Maryland Science Center, Oriole Park at Camden Yards and Baltimore Ravens stadium. You're also just minutes from Johns Hopkins Hospital and the University of Maryland Medical Center. On property you can unwind at the fitness center, indoor pool and sauna. Treat yourself to fine dining at Grille 700, featuring a stunning view and fresh, seasonal Maryland cuisine, or spend an evening sipping fine wines, beers and creative martinis at the elegant Kozmo's Lounge. For something quick and easy, grab snacks and Starbucks coffee at Rigano's Bakery and Deli.

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Hotel in Baltimore Inner Harbor Offers Private Consultation Room for Medical Visitors

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) A jail inmate suspected of drug use was shot and killed Thursday by a Los Angeles County deputy after the man grabbed a gun from another deputy in a hospital emergency room, authorities said.

The 27-year-old man, whose name was not immediately released, was pronounced dead at Centinela Hospital Medical Center. No one else was hurt.

The man had one wrist handcuffed to a gurney in a private triage room with two deputies when he suddenly grabbed the gun from one officer's belt and "tried to gain possession of it," sheriff's Lt. Holly Francisco said. The other deputy fired the shot that killed the inmate, she said.

The man had been arrested Wednesday for investigation of possessing a controlled substance. While jailed at the South Los Angeles station, the man complained of feeling ill and responding firefighters took him to the hospital.

It was unclear if the man was under the influence at the time of the shooting.

Ken Cobb, who was in a wheelchair, said he heard one of the deputies tell the man he was going take off the handcuff to sign some paperwork.

"It happened so fast it was like a quick flash reaction," Cobb said.

There were roughly 20 hospital employees working at the time of the shooting, but no one was in the area where the shooting occurred, hospital spokesman Steven Brand said.

Centinela Hospital, which had about 60,000 emergency room visits last year, does not have an inmate ward like some other medical facilities but routinely treats suspected criminals who have injuries or illnesses, Brand said.

In addition, the hospital provides safety training for its staff and employs security guards who are not armed, he said.

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Deputy shoots suspect in hospital emergency room

BLOOMINGTON, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Grant Street Inn has opened a new 16-room addition. The new building was designed and constructed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification requirements. The facility will be the fourth LEED-certified building in Bloomington, and the first privately owned LEED-certified building in town. Certification, which is based on energy usage, sustainability and indoor air quality, will be completed upon review of energy and water consumption.

The Grant Street Inns new addition was built to match the 1890s style of the original inn. It is a part of CFCs larger effort toward sustainable living. The addition includes green elements such as energy-saving light fixtures, low-flow showers, solar panel water heaters and a system to capture rainwater and use it to irrigate the lawn and solar panel water heaters.

We are so excited about this addition to the Grant Street Inn, said Jim Murphy, president of CFC Properties. Guests can enjoy the usual comforts of our bed and breakfast as we work to reduce our carbon footprint.

This summer, guests of the inn were given gift cards to the local farmers market and encouraged to bring a plant back to the inn to be planted in the guest garden. The items they brought back were incorporated into the days meals. These efforts, and others designed to get people thinking about things they can do to help the environment, will continue.

About CFC Properties

For more than 35 years, CFC Properties has been a leader in the historic restoration, promotion and revitalization of downtown Bloomington, Indiana. This includes the citys largest bed and breakfast, the Grant Street Inn. CFC also recently expanded to Canton, Illinois, hometown of former president and CEO of Cook Group, Bill Cook. For more information, visit http://www.cfcproperties.com. Follow The Grant Street Inn on Twitter and Facebook.

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Grant Street Inn Goes Green