Early Xbox One Impressions

I have had the Xbox One (i'll use the term X1 on this "blog") for about a day now.  So what do I think.

Overall, kind of a mediocre start.  i was expecting less load times - it seems load times in Forza 5 (seems longer than Forza 4) and Zoo Tycoon are a bit long.  Dead Rising 3 and Ryse have ok load times. 

Yes things can and will get better. 

Controller
* i kind of like the controller, it is pretty much like the Xbox 360 controller but a little better.  The triggers and bumpers feel a little different.  A huge improvement for me was doing away with the uncomfortable "battery bump"
- the D-pad feels a little better, but how much better is debatable.

New Kinect:
* Inconclusive:
- in theory it seems better on voice commands, but I'm still having issues getting it to do what i say.  i said "Xbox Off" and it tried to pause instead.  A few times i said one command and it was so far off it was amazing (not even remotely close to what i said).  Stuff like that happens all of the time for me.  Maybe i need to recalibrate the thing. i might  have a 70% success rate.
- Gesture controls: in my limited experience, this seems like a step backwards from the original Kinect.  Of course, there is virtually nothing to try it on (especially since i can't get Kinect Sports Rivals Preseason to work). 
- Kinect command list: there is not one in the box.  It would be nice to know what all of the voice commands are.  There is a rumor that MSFT will release a cheat sheet for Kinect online soon.

OS:
* In some ways, the OS is kind of a mess.  Commands that were easy to find on the 360 are more obscured here.  Some setting commands seen absent (or well hidden)
- i don't even know if it is possible to eject a disk without pressing the button. 
- There obviously is a bit of a learning curve here (especially if you like to use the controller to navigate). 

Micro Transactions:
* Last generation seemed to be the generation of the DLC.  This generation seems to take its cue from mobile games and have a subtle (or not so subtle) emphasis on micro-transactions (like real money boosts or unlocks in game).  This, apparently is the new trend and i fully expect it to continue (you'd think we'd get cheaper games if this were the case). 

Games:
* New this generation: games don't have manuals anymore (highly annoying), sometimes it may be difficult to tell how to do things in game - because they don't really tell you.  There really doesn't seem to be a massive difference to me over last generations

- Favorite so far: Ryse (i really like this game so far)
- Ok: Forza 5, it's Forza with drivatars (like Forza 4, but with less content and micro-transactions)
         Powerstar Golf: Other than the fact i suck at putting in the game, it's ok
- Not really feeling it: Dead Rising 3, Zoo Tycoon (though i haven't played it past a few tutorials), Killer Instinct (free version, it seems too fast to me and i suck at fighting games)

Miscellaneous:
- TV: i can't try this because my Comcast cable box uses component instead of HDMI
- Record That: the game DVR seems like a kind of useless thing to me.  However, maybe if i can figure it out (and how to put it on SkyDrive i can link a few here). 
- Skype: i am not sure what you can do with Skype.  Are Skype to Skype calls free or pay.  What could i actually do with this?