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Xbox 360
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gaming
rumor
Xbox 360 Spring Update Bringing 80 New Functions?
Our ground PONG-snorting buddies over at Kotaku have gotten their hands on a potentially legitimate list of new functions coming with the annual Xbox 360 Spring Update. In the list we see more confirmation of the Newton motion controller, as well as hints at a news/weather service, more hard drive game data caching and 4-person video conferencing. Microsoft has denied the list by saying, "We don't comment on rumors or speculation, but what we can tell you is we've never seen this list before." Honest denial or tricky word play? You can decide for yourself with the list after the jump. More »
gaming
Xbox 360 Slim Might Come in 2009?
TGDaily has a very interesting rumor about the Xbox 360 getting not just upgrade parts, but an entire redesign based on upcoming hardware. After the next 65nm chip upgrade, the next 45nm one won't just be a die shrink, but it'll be a complete redesign, integrating multiple components onto one chip (system-on-a-chip design). More »
gaming
Cymbals! That's what was missing from the Rock Band drum kit. Not missing, since some of the pads changed to cymbals whenever necessary, but it didn't have two upper pads dedicated explicitly to them. No more. Game Informer says the upcoming Guitar Hero IV will have a six-padded drum set, but a custom-designed guitar due to the legal problems Activision had with Gibson. You'll supposedly be able to create your own songs as well, but we're not sure if you can just import an existing MP3 and go from there, or if you have to create it from scratch. And by "scratch," we mean copying your favorite songs as best you can. [Primo Technology]
Guitar Hero IV's Drums Will Have Six Pads, Two For Cymbals
Cymbals! That's what was missing from the Rock Band drum kit. Not missing, since some of the pads changed to cymbals whenever necessary, but it didn't have two upper pads dedicated explicitly to them. No more. Game Informer says the upcoming Guitar Hero IV will have a six-padded drum set, but a custom-designed guitar due to the legal problems Activision had with Gibson. You'll supposedly be able to create your own songs as well, but we're not sure if you can just import an existing MP3 and go from there, or if you have to create it from scratch. And by "scratch," we mean copying your favorite songs as best you can. [Primo Technology]
rumor
Xbox 360 "Lips" Getting Announced Tomorrow?
8bitjoystick (a site known for some good Xbox 360 intel) has confirmed that Microsoft has been working on an Xbox 360 accessory known as "lips." What's "lips," you ask? No one knows for sure, though we know it's not the Wiimotesque Newton, and voice certainly comes to mind. As does kissing and some dirtier stuff. Meanwhile, major gaming forum NeoGAF spotted "lips" in the lineup of Microsoft Gamer's Day tomorrow. We'll keep you updated if the announcement hits. In the meantime, speculate away as to what "lips" could be in the comments. [8bitjoystick and NeoGAF via 360-HQ]
gaming
One-Eyed Alligator Eats an Xbox 360
It just goes to show you that a pissed off one-eyed alligator will eat just about anything in a pinch. All joking aside, this is actually a cool- looking casemod produced by a talented guy with the forum handle dfw monkie. The alligator effect was pulled off using hand-sculpted layers of Bondo coated with paint and clear coat along with a plastic alligator eyeball over the power switch. It's not a super-complicated mod, but the results speak for themselves. [Llamma Repair Forums via Technabob]
watching netflix on xbox 360
By installing the vmcNetflix plug-in to a Vista Premium Media Center computer, you can watch streamed Netflix content on an Xbox 360. It's buggy, but it's a lot better than watching Netflix on a laptop screen. (Providing you have Netflix, an Xbox 360 and a Vista Media Center.) Maybe Netflix should open up streaming to lots of devices, not just windows PCs as of today. I know Mac support is coming, but combining wide support for their online services with disc delivery, it could be a pretty sweet hybrid of the old and new. Video demo post jump. [vmcNetflix via Hacking Netflix and Thomas Hawk, thanks Mike]
More »
Watch Netflix Downloads On Your Xbox 360
By installing the vmcNetflix plug-in to a Vista Premium Media Center computer, you can watch streamed Netflix content on an Xbox 360. It's buggy, but it's a lot better than watching Netflix on a laptop screen. (Providing you have Netflix, an Xbox 360 and a Vista Media Center.) Maybe Netflix should open up streaming to lots of devices, not just windows PCs as of today. I know Mac support is coming, but combining wide support for their online services with disc delivery, it could be a pretty sweet hybrid of the old and new. Video demo post jump. [vmcNetflix via Hacking Netflix and Thomas Hawk, thanks Mike]
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microsoft surface
Stefano from onthetabletop attended CHI 2008, where several members of the Microsoft Surface team was there tossing around ideas. One of the more interesting ideas, besides slimming down the table so it could fit inside spaces smaller than bars and AT&T stores, was shoving an Xbox 360 inside. Why would you do this? To allow the 360 to become an additional control input mechanism, possibly making RTS games SO MUCH EASIER TO PLAY. Will it happen? Who knows. These guys could have just been just daydreaming possible features to impress female attendees. [On the Tabletop]
Microsoft Surface + Xbox 360 = What?
Stefano from onthetabletop attended CHI 2008, where several members of the Microsoft Surface team was there tossing around ideas. One of the more interesting ideas, besides slimming down the table so it could fit inside spaces smaller than bars and AT&T stores, was shoving an Xbox 360 inside. Why would you do this? To allow the 360 to become an additional control input mechanism, possibly making RTS games SO MUCH EASIER TO PLAY. Will it happen? Who knows. These guys could have just been just daydreaming possible features to impress female attendees. [On the Tabletop]
sales
PlayStation 3 Surpasses Xbox 360 In Europe
With 5 million PS3s sold on the continent, Sony has announced that they've overtaken the 360 in Europe. And not only that, but Sony has been outselling Microsoft in the market since October.More »
xbox 360
Behind the Xbox 360 Hard Drive's Insane Price
You might not know this, but 120GB hard drives don't actually cost $180. Unless they're for the Xbox 360. The teardown fanatics at iSuppli attempted to find some method to this madness. As you can guess, the numbers don't quite add up to $180, but it actually gets a lot closer than you'd think. More »
red ring
How To Repair Your Xbox 360 In 4 Easy Steps
1. Call 1-800-4-MY-XBOX
2. Demand your reference number ASAP.
3. Call escalated support at 866-506-3826.
4. Speak to someone who can actually help.
Make sure to write this down. You're gonna need it. [consumerist]
blu-ray xbox 360
Microsoft Hits Fresh Blu-ray Xbox 360 Rumor With a Fresh Denial
Either Microsoft really isn't doing a Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360, or Microsoft's PR are gonna be called out as gigantic liars in the near future. Their officials have just shot down the latest rumor saying that an Asus subsidiary was making Blu-ray hardware for Microsoft's console, saying "we have no plans to introduce a Blu-ray drive for Xbox 360." If this is true, Microsoft's really just letting the PS3 be the Blu-ray console, and shoving its stack of chips behind digital downloads. Is this smart? Consumers already half transitioned from CDs to digital music downloads, so we'll see in five years whether video will be the same. [Game Pro]
announcements
XNA Hits The Zune This May
Our wait for games on the Zune is slowly coming to an end, as Microsoft has announced that XNA (an Xbox 360-light game platform) will come to the Zune this month. Not every title will be supported—Microsoft only has four XNA titles running on the Zune at this very moment—but those that arrive will support up to 8-player ad-hoc wireless gaming (as we mentioned before). Also of note, developers can use the Xbox 360 controller with the XNA software development kit and to map Zune actions to the controller.
Developers only have a measly 16MB of RAM to work with, so don't expect to see anything currayzeee. But it's good to see the Zune and Xbox 360 finally swap some spit. This is just like the series finale of Friends!!
rumor
Asus Subsidiary Making Blu-ray Xbox 360
Despite repeated bashing and smashings, the Xbox 360 Blu-ray rumor is eternal like the sun god. Taiwanese rag Economic Times is reporting that Pegatron Technology—an Asus subsidiary, not a Decepticon as McWhertor points out—has received an order from Microsoft for a Blu-ray-equipped Xbox 360, due to be manufactured soon and shipped in time for the holidays. Weeks ago, Digitimes said Lite-On was going to make 'em. Let's assess. More »
deals
Xbox 360 HD DVD Player Now $29.99
Some day these Microsoft Xbox 360 HD DVD players might be worth something to someone. We can't really imagine who—maybe the technology museum of the 22nd century—but someone should want it. And with the limit of 12 per customer, you and your family can even stock up and make a fort out of these. A giant, obsolete fort. [Overstock Dealz via Kotaku]
microsoft
Windows Sales Way Down, Microsoft Makes Less Money (Vs. Last Year)
Here are the meaty bits in the cold platter of numbers that is Microsoft's quarterly earnings report. Windows sales are way down (the client division, which makes Windows, saw sales drop by 24 percent vs. last year). Office is doing alright, but they're losing their ass on online services. The entertainment division (Zune and Xbox) is balling, with revenue up 68 percent, making Xbox and Zune profitable for almost a year now. But bottom line, Microsoft's income was down 11 percent from last year. [Microsoft, WSJ via Valleywag]
rumor
Leigh over at Kotaku did some digging around about the rumored Xbox 360 Wiimote, questioning all the parties involved (Microsoft, Rare, Gyration) and discovered some interesting facts. The most important one is that Gyration isn't working on it, but Motus probably is—they already have a precursor to it called the "Darwin".
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Xbox 360 Wiimote Might Be Made By Motus, Not Gyration
Leigh over at Kotaku did some digging around about the rumored Xbox 360 Wiimote, questioning all the parties involved (Microsoft, Rare, Gyration) and discovered some interesting facts. The most important one is that Gyration isn't working on it, but Motus probably is—they already have a precursor to it called the "Darwin".
More »
software
