At yesterday's Society of American Business Editors and Writers Bill Gates told the assembled journalists a few of his company's ideas for the upcoming console. Confirming what many have long believed to be Microsoft's intentions, Mr Gates outlined the goal of turning the into a household's media centre hub.

Gates talked about how the will be even more of a hybrid then its predecessors by acting as the central point for digital media entertainment in the home. While he was vague on specifics, he did mention that the Xbox 360's menu system > will be similar to that of the Media Centre edition of the XP operating system [which is rather slick if you've ever had a fiddle with one - Ed], "If you're used to that menu, when you use this Xenon you'll see a menu a lot like that that lets you get photos, TV, and all those different things."

Stressing that improved and streamlined communication was to be of paramount importance in the Xbox 360, Gates went on to focus on the expanded Live identities that gamers will assume when they subscribe to the revamped service. He also told the Society that he believes could beat in this round of the console wars.

"What we've got in this at some significant financial cost, was the right to play again with great credibility," Gates said. "So now people are looking at the two companies at a pretty much equal basis."

By Sam Gibson