Microsoft opens in-house chip lab for Xbox 720

(this is not an April Fools joke since the original article is from
Oct 2006)

http://playsquad.commongate.com/post...b_for_Xbox_720

The NY Times reports that Microsoft is ending its partnership with IBM
to found it's own chip design lab to work on chips for a planned third
generation Xbox:

The design effort will initially be split between research labs at the
company's headquarters in Redmond, Wash., and its Silicon Valley
campus here. Tentatively named the Computer Architecture Group, the
project underscores sweeping changes in the industry.

One reason for the effort is that Microsoft needs to begin thinking
about the next-generation design of its Xbox game console, said
Charles P. Thacker, a veteran engineer and Microsoft engineer who will
head the Silicon Valley group. Voice recognition may also be an area
where the research could play a significant role.

http://tinyurl.com/2ky96u