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Week of November 26, 2006
New 360 DVD Mods: Xeno-360, Xeno 360 Lite, Infectus, All 360, Mod360 v1.1
>> Many new Xbox 360 DVD Mods have been released lately ... here's an overview of the new ones:
* 'Xeno 360' DVD Patchmod ... already announced previously, we now got a picture of this chip from Hitman43:
[QUOTE]
Listed Features:
- patchmod for XBox360 DVD Drive
- original Firmware stays unchanged
- no flashing or damaging of your firmware
- T/S drives 4 wires
- H/L drives 5 wires
- one chip for both drives
- supported drives: T/S MS25, T/S MS28, H/L DJ46, H/L DH46, H/L DJ47, H/L DH47, H/L DJ59, H/L DH59
- SS required at offset #FC021E (NME-Style)
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: http://www.xeno-360.com
* 'Xeno 360 Lite' DVD Patchmod, currently only available for Toshiba-Samsung drives afaik:
[QUOTE]
Listed Features:
- Auto boot NME360 type backups.
- Auto boot original games.
- Xeno 360 will disable patching if an original game is detected.
- Samsung drives: 4 wires
- Patchmod for XBox360 DVD Drive
- Original Firmware stays unchanged
- No flashing or damaging of your firmware
- Supported drives: T/S MS25, T/S MS28, (Samsung Loader)
- SS required at offset #FC021E (NME-Style)
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: http://www.xenogc.com
Buy Now ($16): Divineo.cn
* 'Infectus' Full Firmware Replacement Chip with Key-Patching for Xbox360 and also a PS2 modchip (?!)
[QUOTE]
Listed Features:
- NEW MODCHIP xbox360/ps2 USB2.0 ready by origa brother
- USB2.0 Ready
- Flash on board: 512KB
- Read and write from DVD flash
- Read and write from chip flash
- 100% Emulate O2MOD PS2 modchip (is in test atm)
- Test BSDL (to releave bad solder chip and flash)
- Double PinOut: xbox360 (addr0-18 e data 0-7) and for PS2 (MNOPQTUVRWJXYABGIF)
- Functions as a GLOBE360
More Pictures: 03 | 04 | 05 | 06
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: none yet (afaik)
* 'All 360' Full Replacement Firmware Chip with Key-Patching for Xbox 360:
[QUOTE]
Listed Features:
- PlugandPlay : You don't need to extract the drive-key from the original firmware of drive on your console, only install the chip and the "unsigned" firmware on-board will boot .
- Firmware-drive UPGRADE: you can use an upgraded firmware for better performance of your dvd-drive to reading dvd-r DL support( ex: you should use on LG/Hitachi the firmware vers. 059 instead your original 047D or 46D).
- Electronic Switch ON/OFF : enable or disable the chip when turn-on your console by power button, you can check the state of chip by a led-indicator.
- Easy to reprogram Flash eprom: the on-board flash eprom is mounted on a socket connector for an easy and clean remove in order to quickly reprogram it.
- COMPATIBLE with ALL DVD-drive on the market (LG and SAMSUNG).
[/QUOTE]
Note: The pictures doesn't really match the description/features here ... the flashchip isn't in a socket. I also doubt it'll work with the Hitachi-LG v0078 drive with the pre-flashed FW.
Official Site: none (afaik)
Buy Now ($25): divineo.cn
* Mod360 v1.1 DVD Patchmod, an update to the Mod360 v1.0 (NME clone) chip:
[QUOTE]
Listed Features:
- Low wire count, 4 or 5 wires
- one chip for Toshiba-Samsung drive
- one chip for Hitachi - LG drive
- Auto boot NME360 type backups.(*)
- Auto boot backups that is in dual format (xtreme/NME360).(*)
- Auto boot original games.(*)
- Mod360 will disable patching if an original game is detected. (perfect for xbox live)
(*) This is region specific. However, some games are region free
[/QUOTE]
Note: Supported drive versions are not listed. If patch code is same as NME-360 v1.1 it should work with Hitachi 46, 47, 58, 59 and Samsung ms25, ms28.
Official Site: none (afaik)
Buy Now ($24): Toshiba-Samsung | Hitachi-LG
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
(Japan) Xbox 360 Sold over 7000 units last week!
>> Here are the hardware sales in Japan for the week of November 20th to November 26th. The 360 sold over 7000 units ... which is a great performance for the 360 in the land of the rising sun. The +73% raise compared to the week before is probably thanks to the release of Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 and the upcoming release of Blue Dragon on December 7th (which will certainly/hopefully cause another boom in 360 sales over there).
The PS3 sold 32662 units (which is 22% down from its 2nd week ... but well, I guess PS3 sales are bound to the available stock):
* DS Lite: 201,378 (+56.57%)
* PLAYSTATION 3: 32,662 (-22.42%)
* PSP: 30,815 (+84.63%)
* PS2: 26,263 (+74.30%)
* Xbox 360: 7,007 (+73.01%)
* GBA SP: 1,264 (+5.42%)
* Game Boy Micro: 1,235 (+19.09%)
* Gamecube: 576 (+12.06%)
* DS Phat: 212 (+16.48%)
* GBA: 27 (-10.00%)
* Xbox: 0 (-100.00%)
News-Source: m-create.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Analyst: Xbox 360 Benefiting From PS3/Wii Shortages
>> From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
Analyst Colin Sebastian from Lazard Capital Markets has sent out details of an 'upbeat' analyst meeting with Microsoft's Xbox executive team, during which he notes that the Xbox 360 is benefiting from PS3 and Wii shortages this holiday season.
Sebastian particularly commented: "Management appeared to be upbeat regarding the current state of the business, particularly with progress made in establishing the Xbox 360 as the early leader among next generation consoles, and also with penetration and usage of Xbox Live services."
The analyst continues: "We also believe the Xbox 360 may be benefiting at retail this holiday from short supplies of PS3 and Wii consoles. Recently, Microsoft executives reaffirmed the company's goal of reaching 10 million Xbox 360 units installed worldwide by the end 2006."
He also notes that the company may be making better in-roads in Europe, after only a moderate start, though the Japanese problem still remains: "North America remains the strongest Xbox 360 market, however Microsoft appears to be making some strides in other geographies, most notably in the U.K. and northern Europe, while we believe sales are still weaker in Japan."
[/QUOTE]
Read More: gamasutra.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Halo 3 Alpha Now on Live?
>> From xbox360.ign.com:
[QUOTE]
The joys of obsessive game fans have turned up a nice surprise. IGN's own Violenj317 stumbled upon a handful of users playing "Pimps at Sea (Alpha)" on Xbox Live. Those who regularly read bungie.net know that "Pimps at See" has been a long-running Bungie joke.
New0001, one of the users playing Pimps at Sea, is also the default user name in the original Halo. While there is nothing to directly confirm Pimps is the Alpha version of Halo 3, we can confirm that a known Bungie employee was playing PAS at the same time.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: xbox360.ign.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
J Allard's Big PSP Bet - Lost
>> From newsweek.com:
[QUOTE]
In May 2004, Microsoft hosted a small dinner at Morton's steakhouse in downtown Los Angeles for a handful of journalists attending that year's E3 trade show in Los Angeles. The Xbox side included J Allard, Xbox Live marketing manager Aaron Greenberg, and PR maven David Hufford.
So fueled by the liquid courage of Morton's finest Cabernet, we gentlemen decided on a friendly wager. The bet: whether the PSP would reach worldwide shipments of 10 million units within the same 12 month span of time it had taken the PS2, give or take 3 months. We took the pro; Allard, the con. If we were correct and the PSP hit its mark, Allard would wear a dreadlock wig for the entire month of May, including the week of E3 2006. But if Allard were right and the PSP missed our agreed-upon milestone, he would get to shave our dreads. Onstage. During the Xbox E3 2006 press conference. In front of 1,500 attendees. (Did we mention that wine was involved?)
During a September 2004 interview with Kutaragi in his Tokyo offices, Molly Smith, then head of U.S. PR, asked us to tell her boss of our wager. We did. He chuckled. We asked him whether he thought our six-year-old dreads would be safe from the covetous Allard. He looked us dead in the eyes and said "Yes." And just ten months after the PSP's December launch in Japan, Kutaragi was proven correct, leaving our prized dreads intact.
You can imagine our surprise, then, when the month of May 2006--including E3--came and went with nary a sighting of Allard in the agreed-upon dread wig. Nevertheless, the hard-charging, mountain bike-riding, Whistler-snowboarding, hipster chic-sporting Allard has always struck us as an honorable fellow, and we have every confidence that he'll live up to the terms of his wager...eventually. In the meantime, we congratulate the elusive Allard on his Business Week cover.
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Read More: newsweek.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xbox360 Song: 'I'm bringing Xbox back...'
>> From Laura Foy on on10.net (FYI: Microsoft owned blog):
[QUOTE]
So with Sony and Nintendo both launching new consoles I began to worry that people might lose sight of their good old XBOX's. Does nobody remember Ground Zero? Where is the Love? My heart was truly beginning to break and I found myself racking up sleepless night after sleepless night. I decided I must do something...I must express my woe...and the only way I could express myself properly...was through song. Enjoy.
[/QUOTE]
Download/Stream the Video Clip on on10.net.
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Lite-On to make add-on HD DVD player for Xbox 360
>> From digitimes.com:
[QUOTE]
Lite-On IT next year will start making add-on an HD-DVD player for Microsoft's Xbox 360 game console, which is currently supplied by Toshiba, according to the Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN). The paper added that Lite-On's revenues for the fourth quarter will rise sequentially because of increases in half-height DVD-burner shipments.
[/QUOTE]
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft: We're Still on for 10M
>> From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
Speaking at a Credit Suisse conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, chief financial officer Chris Liddell said, "We're very happy going into the holiday season. We still feel very good about the 10 million target." Microsoft believes it can sell a further five million units by the middle of 2007. No targets have been set for the end of next year.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: next-gen.biz
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Exclusive Halo 3 Trailer Debuts - Halo3 Beta Sign-Up Opens Dec. 4th
>> From the press release:
[QUOTE]
Fans worldwide can experience a thrilling look at the most anticipated game of 2007 with a special 60-second "Halo 3" trailer; Microsoft announces first chance for North American gamers to participate in the Halo 3 Multiplayer Beta by entering at Halo3.com
Humanity is about to experience another exciting look at the world of "Halo 3," one of the most anticipated entertainment launches for 2007. Airing in North America, Monday, Dec. 4 on ESPN's Monday Night Football and Xbox.com in Europe, the new 60-second "Halo 3" trailer will offer viewers an exclusive look at the iconic "Halo" universe and provide telling, new hints as to what Bungie Studios has in store for the highly regarded game, which is published by Microsoft Game Studios and exclusive to Xbox 360.
Fans can tune in to ESPN on Monday, Dec. 4 between 5:50 and 6:20 p.m. PST to catch this stunning new look at "Halo 3." Additionally, the ad will be aired that same evening on Xbox.com at 8 p.m. PST /04.00 GMT/05.00 CET (Tuesday, Dec. 5).
The ad, created by McCann Worldgroup San Francisco, includes a mixture of live action and computer generated animation, will air one time only and will then be made available online worldwide through Xbox Live Marketplace and Xbox.com.
"Halo is a pop culture phenomenon! The Halo franchise has changed the face of interactive entertainment and it's only fitting that we take an innovative approach to how we market and advertise the brand," said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of global marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Corp. "This invites a new audience with a rich back story, and continues to galvanize gamers around the world for the launch of Halo 3 in 2007."
In conjunction with the ad, Microsoft today unveiled further details and an official call to entry for the "Halo 3" beta program. Beginning Monday, Dec. 4, by visiting http://www.halo3.com, gamers in North America will be able to register for the opportunity to be one of the select members to join the unprecedented "Halo 3" public beta program, scheduled to kick off in spring 2007. Today's announcement confirms the first path of entry for gamers to participate in the beta program and be among the first to experience the most anticipated game of 2007.
The Xbox Live multiplayer public beta, which is a pre-release version of the multiplayer experience of "Halo 3," is scheduled for availability in spring 2007 exclusively on Xbox 360. This beta also represents an opportunity for gamers to participate in the development of "Halo 3." Through the resulting feedback, Bungie Studios will be able to further refine and hone the end result of "Halo 3."
Unveiled earlier this year at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, "Halo 3" represents the third chapter in the "Halo" trilogy, an international award-winning action series that grew into a global entertainment phenomenon, selling more than 14.7 million units worldwide, which equals nearly $700 million in sales, and logging in excess of 800 million hours of multiplayer action on Xbox Live.
[/QUOTE]
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xbox360 Dashboard Update (aka the 1080p fix)
>> From majornelson.com:
[QUOTE]
The next time you sign into Xbox Live, you'll be prompted for a dashboard update. The update contains:
* Improved support for HD video output over VGA, including 1080p resolution
* Improved plug and play performance for wired headsets when being used with wireless controllers
* Changes made to recently played games list to improve accuracy
This update is being rolled out across the world, so you may not get it exactly at this moment, so be patient.
[/QUOTE]
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Encode360 v2.0 beta2
>> From happybeggar.com:
[QUOTE]
Encode360 is an application designed to take your DivX/XVID etc video files and convert them to high quality WMV's which can be played by the X-Box 360
Dan has just released beta 2 of his very good application encode360.
Dan fixed as many of the reported bugs as possible. This release has highly detailed debugging information in case of a problem or bug. If you encounter something, be sure to copy the debug log into the post so I have something to work with.
Added:
* x64 Support (untested, i don't have x64 :()
* Microsoft Zune screen resolution support (untested, i don't have a Zune :()
* Support for encoding VOB files (very very experimental!)
* Enable / Disable Explorer(info) Context Menu "Process with Encode360" (experimental)
* Default Settings can now be saved
* Debugging Information Window (With oooodles of debugging information)
* Minimize to System Tray
* Added PayPal link to the About Box. Please make a donation if you feel like it!
Changed:
* Major internal code restructuring and refactoring. Let's hope I fixed more than I broke eh? :)
* Dramatically improved encoding times
* Reduction in CPU overhead (more responsive system)
* Title no longer contains path where the file was originally encoded
Fixed:
* MKV file format wasn't recognised
* Changing the Audio / Video Bitrate quality did nothing. Was always 98%. Doh
* Not using auto-scale caused encoded videos to resize anyway, and badly
* Move processed files option failed
* Sometimes, clicking Stop on a batch encode wouldn't work
* Numerous other minor bugfixes
[/QUOTE]
Download: here
Read More/Install Notes/Donate: happybeggar.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Channel 9: Looking at XNA on Xbox 360
>> From channel9.msdn.com (Microsoft blog):
[QUOTE]
In Part One of this series, Boyd Multerer told us all about XNA.
Now, in Part Two, Frank Savage shows it all to us.
Frank will talk about XNA from his perspective, deploy an XNA project to an Xbox 360, modify the application, and also give a debugging demonstration.
All of this is done at 1080p, showing off both the 360's recently acquired ability to support this resolution, as well as the power of XNA. It's really quite amazing: High frame rates at 1080p under managed code using only a single core of the three available.
I think it's reasonable to say that XNA is going to change the way people do homebrew games.
It's going to be interesting to see what kind of crazy stuff people dream up with these tools.
In addition to the nifty XNA bits, Frank and I also chitted and chatted about the good old days of gaming - he worked on Wing Commander III (one of my favorites in the series), as well as other games that I loved in my childhood.
Never thought I'd get to meet one of the people who worked on Wing Commander, so, for me, it was a thoroughly enjoyable geeky event
[/QUOTE]
Go download the video on channel9.msdn.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
DTS Sound Output is Coming to the Xbox 360 HD-DVD?
>> From amirm (Microsoft HD-DVD insider) on avsforum.com:
[QUOTE]
Just a quick FYI that we are looking at this problem. I don't have an update on it because I was on vacation for a while. But for now, wanted to let you know that we are finalizing our DTS encoder which once done, should produce the same experience as the Toshiba player which everyone was happy with...
[/QUOTE]
News-Source: avsforum.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xecuter Blaster360 FAQ
>> From Team Xecuter:
[QUOTE]
First we would like to thank you all for sending us your questions. We have answered the most popular ones for now and the rest that are not listed will be posted soon.
Any more questions are welcome:
* Q: What is it ?
A: The Blaster 360(more info) is switching tool that enables you to plug in your SATA cable or X360USB externally to the Xbox 360 to be able to flash update your firmware without openeing the case again.
* Q: Do I have to open up the case to install this?
A: Yes, just once.
* Q: How long does it take to install?
A: In our experience about 5 minutes.
* Q: Do I need any special tools to open up the case.
A: We recommend the Xecuter Unlocking Kit V2. This includes a tool to open up the case itself and a Torx10 screwdriver. This is available at all Xecuter stockists.
* Q: Can I flash my Samsung with USB with the Blaster 360.
A: Nope. The Blaster is an external switching device, it does not give any flash update capabilities. You have to use SATA for Samsung or the X360USB for Hitachi.
* Q: Can I use this on an Hitachi 078 model?
A: Two part answer. First no as you cannot flash update the 078 model. Second Part however is that we are working on something nice so that you can flash update your 078.
* Q: Wow FANSTASTIC (to the above question) what is it? where is it? how much? when can I buy? etc etc
A: Like we said its a work in progress and another product - you'll see soon
* Q: Do I have to solder anything?
A: There is absolutley no soldering required. There is simply a couple of plug sockets.
* Q: Do I have to cut the case?
A: There is absolutley no physical damage to the exterior of the case.
* Q: What is the mode switch for?
A: To switch between Modeb and standard (Modeb for Hitachi, Standard forSamsung)
* Q: Does the Blaster360 use the Xbox power supply?
A: Nope. You use an external Molex power supply (or PSU). This isolates the Blaster360 function to be completley safe and seperate from the Xbox 360 itself.
* Q: How does the Blaster360 turn on ?
A: When you connect the external Molex PSU the Blaster360 auto switches to "External Mode". When you disconnect the Molex PSU it auto switches to Xbox360 mode. Of course you must NEVER plug in the molex psu and the xbox360 psu at the same time. Lots of smoke (probably)
* Q: How much is it?
A: We are currently optimizing costs and will announce a retail price shortly. It won't be cheap but won't be expensive either. Bear in mind we operate a high quality design and r&d policy which is expensive for us. No cheap china knock offs here.
* Q: Where can I pre-order?
A: We will announce stockists in the next few days.
* Q: Can I dump game data to my PC using this?
A: Yes you can
* Q: What is the LED Glow feature ?
A: Simply put its a strip of green light that pulses. Gimmick? Yes. Required? No. Cool. Absolutley
* Q: Can you disable the LED - cus I hate LEDS?
A: Yes you can You can also set the LED to be permanently on if you don't like the glow feature.
* Q: Can you flash the Samsung MS28 drive as it requires some switching on and off to get it to work with SATA ?
A: Yes you can. We have included an MS28 on/off switch to make it very simple. (It is essentially a power on / off switch as on the connectivity kit v2)
* Q: Do I need the connectivity kit?
A: Nope. All those functions are built into the Blaster 360.
* Q: Where can I find install instructions?
A: We will post detailed instructions shortly.
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: http://www.team-xecuter.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
XFPS 360 Logo Announced
(PR - EU) Xbox Makes It An Exclusive Christmas
>> From the Microsoft press release:
[QUOTE]
Saturday, 2nd December, is the one year anniversary of Xbox 360 in Europe and its second Christmas season promises to be a booming success for Xbox 360, with consoles readily available at retail along with a host of new accessories such as the Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel, Xbox Live Vision camera and Xbox 360 HD DVD Player.
In addition to that, some of the best games on any platform anywhere are available only on Xbox 360. Viva Pinata offers the unique opportunity to create a pet paradise and nurture more than 60 different candy-filled pinata animals, while Gears of War casts players as Marcus Fenix as he struggles against all the odds to subdue the Locust Horde on a visually glorious battlefield. Test Drive Unlimited offers players the unique opportunity to race some of the most exotic sportscars ever built on 1000m of equally exotic Hawaiian road. Saints Row throws players onto the mean streets of Stilwater tackling rival gangs in a bid to conquer the city, while Dead Rising takes survival horror to new heights teeming with undead swarms.
Viva Pinata (MGS), Gears of War (MGS), Test Drive Unlimited (Atari), Saints Row (THQ), Dead Rising (Capcom) and Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 (MGS/Tecmo) which transports the cast of the popular Dead or Alive 4 to the idyllic location of New Zack Island, - are all available exclusively on Xbox 360.
"Xbox 360 offers the broadest and deepest selection of mind-blowing experiences this Christmas. We're excited, just one year after launch, to be able to offer such a diverse games line-up offering exclusive new titles and established blockbusters," said Chris Lewis, Regional Vice President, EMEA, Home and Entertainment Division, Microsoft.
[/QUOTE]
Read the whole press release here.
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Major Nelson Confirms Xbox LIVE Country Check
>> From Major Nelson's Blog (Microsoft's Xbox Live Director of Programming):
[QUOTE]
A recent security change to the Xbox Live service may have impacted users online purchase experience. Currently the video marketplace service and related content is only available to consumers in the United States. Although we will continue to work on providing content and rolling out the service in other markets, US Marketplace offers will be restricted to the US only. This means that the credit card associated with your account is required to match the billing address and country your account is set up in. Note that we are not banning any of these Xbox Live accounts, as they can continue to use pre-paid subscription cards and Microsoft Points cards.
Customers wanting to check the billing information on their account can do this on their console or by signing into Xbox.com with your account and then go to MY XBOX-> MY PROFILE then to BILLING AND CONTACT INFORMATION.
We also realize that there may be a small number of international users that were impacted by this change that have a legitimate reason for why their billing location does not match their account location. We are working to deal with these exceptions on a case by case basis and are working on a solution for these consumers.
[/QUOTE]
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xecuter X78 DVD Patchmod Chip and Blaster 360 Final
>> Team Xecuter announced a new product (X78 - a DVD Patchmod for Hitachi v0078) and more details about the Blaster 360:
[QUOTE]
* Xecuter X78
After a LOT of emails asking us to do this we finally got around to making a simple to install modchip for the pain in the ass 078 Hitachi drive. Not bad for 2 days work :-)
We're still tweaking a few features but will offer fast media detection etc.
Only 11 wires and not very difficult to solder and will be pretty cheap compared to other mods available - more news shortly.
* Blaster 360 Final
The main problem for so many users is that every time a new firmware is released they have to open up their Xbox, take the drive out, update the firmware, put it all back together again. There have been 30+ firmware updates in recent months so you can imagine how labourious this can get. It is also a problem for those who wish to hook up their Xbox 360 DVD drive to their PC to perform game backups on a regular basis. Xecuter have now solved this problem.
We are pleased to offer the most exciting add-on available to all Xbox 360 firmware modders - the Blaster360. The Xecuter Blaster360 is an external switching device when, once fitted, allows you to flash your DVD Firmware without ever having to open up your Xbox 360 case ever again. In the era of constant firmware updates (30+ so far) this is an absolutley essential tool saving both time and effort, making the firmware update process a walk in the park. Also dumping your game backup to your PC is now a fast and simple process. A perfect ergonomic design maeans there is no soldering & no cutting of the external case - just plug 'n' go. You only ever have to open up your case once! No longer will you have to have your Xbox 360 in pieces all the time, no longer will you have to take the Xbox apart every time you need to update new features and functions or essential bug fixes, no longer do you have to have your Xbox 360 in bits every time you want to dump a game backup to your PC.
We have designed this to be as ergonomically sound as the Xbox 360 itself. Its functionally perfect and works so good that we believe all firmware modders will be using this as standard by the end of the year, it just makes life SO MUCH EASIER !
Imagine using this along with the X360 USB - Firmware modding has never been so simple !
Feature List:
* Once installed never open up the case again to update firmware
* Works with ALL firmware updateable drives (Hitachi & Samsung)
* High Quality Digital Sata Exchange Switching
* No soldering, no external damage, no problem !
* 5 minute install
* Auto switches to PC mode when Blaster360 is connected to molex PSU
* Auto switches to Xbox 360 default mode when not connected to Molex PSU
* Modeb switch for Hitachi
* Eject Button
* High quality Sata Port (to connect to SATA or X360USB externally)
* Samsung MS28 / Power On-Off Switch
* Molex Power connector (no lugging around the 360 PSU plus electrical safety is ensured)
* Superior quality design - no cheap China manufacturing
* Ergonomically matched to the 360 case
* LED Glow feature
* LED Glow Off / Led Perm On / LED Off switch
Top 9 questions answered...
1. Once fitted the device allows you to switch your DVD drive to flashing mode and to be flashed externally without ever having to open up your Xbox360 cases again. (This is NOT a flashing device - it is an external switching unit. To flash you need SATA or X360USB which connects to the Blaster360 EXTERNALLY!)
2. It has a seperate molex power connector. This is for electrical safety and security. It resolves any short or grounding issues and keeps the Xbox360 PSU and any external flashing procedure seperate.
3. You can switch between Hitachi (Modeb) and Samsung Mode (for Flashing / Game Dumping).
4. For flashing you can connect direct to SATA (for Samsung) or use the X360USB (for Hitachi).
5. There is no cutting of any of the outer case whatsoever - it is a clean install with no visible damage.
6. We have included a switch to disable the LED glow or to disable the LED alltogether (for those that don't like LED's).
7. We have included an Samsung MS28 Power on/off switch to make flashing simple.
8. We have optimized the design so it fits flush to the case and so you can also remove the hard drive with ease.
9. No price as yet as we are still optimizing costs, we will announce as soon as shipping begins in the next couple of weeks.
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: http://www.team-xecuter.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Frosty's v1.0 5101 BIOS
>> FrostyTheSnowman has released a retail edited bios for 1.0 xbox users
* This BIOS is ONLY for v1.0 XBOXes. DO NOT USE ON v1.1-v1.6 CONSOLES!
* 100% Compatible with v1.0 EEPROMs/TSOPs, and PAL/NTSC/JAP regions.
* Contains an uneditted, ORIGINAL v1.1 5101 kernel.
* 100% Compatible with NKPatcher v10 and higher.
* This BIOS has NOT been tested on XBOX Live.
This BIOS was created so that v1.0 XBOX owners could utilize the updated GPU code that resides within all kernels above 5101. The original v1.0 BIOSes (3944 and 4034) had some bugs in the GPU code that would occasionally cause strange texture errors in some games such as Halo 2 (Flickering walls, and some lighting issues.), and these bugs were corrected by Microsoft in kernels 5101 and above. Using this BIOS on a v1.0 console will allow your v1.0 XBOX to utilize the new GPU code, and therefore the GPU bugs will be resolved.
This BIOS contains a completely original, uneditted 5101 kernel, and a v1.0 bootloader so that the 5101 kernel is able to boot properly on v1.0 XBOXes. It has been extensively tested on v1.0 EEPROMs/TSOPs and is also fully compatible with PAL/NTSC/JAP regions.
This BIOS is only useful to people that still use retail v1.0 BIOSes. (Softmodders)Most current hacked BIOSes (X2, X3, etc.) are already based on more recent kernels and therefore already have the updated GPU code. If you are using a modchip with a current modchip BIOS, then this BIOS is not necessary.
Official Site: n/a (By FrostyTheSnowman)
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
News-Source: xbins.org
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
XFPS 360 to be Released end December
>> From Team XTender:
[QUOTE]
We are proud to annouce that we plan to release the first batch of XFPS 360 at the end of December. Please contact our official resellers for detailed release information.
Reminder of the features:
1. Auto Fire function
2. Compatible with PS 2 Dual shock 2 (you can use PS 2 Dual shock 2 controller on Xbox 360 console)
3. Compatible with PC mouse and keyboard (You can use it on the new Halo 3 comming out)
[/QUOTE]
Prototype Pictures: here
Official Site: http://www.teamxtender.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Next-Gen.boz Opinion: Xbox 360’s Price Cut
>> From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
Next-Gen looks at the likely timing and nature of an Xbox 360 price-cut, and gauges opinion from leading analysts.
Just because Microsoft can drop the price, it does not follow that it will do so. Bach's division is under enormous pressure to deliver profitability. Cutting prices, and therefore eliminating margins, is rarely a good way to make money.
Ultimately, if Microsoft has to choose between market leadership and profitability, it will plump for profitability. Michael Pachter at Wedbush Morgan Securities says, "Notwithstanding Robbie's comments to the contrary, Microsoft is not a charity, and they won't cut price just because they can. Rather, I think Microsoft is a price taker, and they will cut only when Sony does."
There is another problem here. Microsoft's dilemma is that a price cut will be interpreted as an admission that its machine is next-gen lite; that it does not quite have the rocks of PS3. And although there is little factual evidence of this, PS's later launch gives it that lustre of ultra-modernity. This is where Xbox 360's one-year lead begins to lose its shine.
Perhaps the last word should go to Paul-Jon McNealy at American Technology Research, who takes a definite view on all this, "Our position has been that an Xbox 360 price drop is likely in the second half of CY07. No change there."
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Read More: next-gen.biz (2 pages)
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft Blocks Downloads From 'Dummy' Xbox Live Accounts *Updated*
>> From gamespot.com:
[QUOTE]
It didn't take gamers long to figure out they didn't have to live in a certain country to get access to that country's content. Xbox Live users could simply set up a dummy Xbox Live account, put in a false address from abroad, and download what regional agreements said they couldn't.
That loophole may not be exploitable for too long. Soon, according to Xbox-Archiv, Microsoft will begin policing Xbox Live accounts and deleting "dummy" accounts. The reason stems largely from the recent addition of on-demand video content to Xbox Live and the multitude of regional restrictions movies and televisions have.
Xboxic has posted a rough translation from Xbox-Archiv, which claims to have known about the plan for weeks but is only reporting on this now as other sites have written about it. The site claims that Microsoft will shut down Xbox Live accounts with IP addresses that do not match the user's information.
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Read More: gamespot.com via xboxic.com via xbox-archiv.de
*UPDATE* According to gamasutra.com Microsoft will not be banning the accounts, but rather block the non-allowed downloads:
[QUOTE]
Despite earlier reports, the dummy accounts are not being banned, but exclusive content downloads are being blocked to European users. According to a brief statement from Microsoft's Chris Paladino on the Gaming-Age fan messageboards: "Details aren't all in yet - but I do know for a fact that we are not banning the accounts. We are blocking downloads in cases where gold accounts are being used to gain U.S. content in foreign marketplaces."
Any Xbox Live account being accessed from an IP address not corresponding to the indicated country for a given account is in danger of having content downloads restrictions.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: gamasutra.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
How to sign up for the 'Shadowrun' Beta
>> From majornelson.com:
[QUOTE]
The fine folks over at FASA Studios have just opened up a public beta for 'Shadowrun' and they asked me to spread the word.
This is for the Xbox 360 version, and since it is a Multiplayer Beta you will need to be a Gold member subscriber to participate.
Ready to apply? Here ya go:
1. Visit the beta Web site at http://connect.microsoft.com.
2. Click on "Invitations" on the left-side menu.
3. You will need to sign in using a valid Windows Live ID before you can continue to the "Invitations" page. (If you have already registered for the Connect site, skip to Step 5.)
4. Please read and accept the Terms of Use Agreement then follow the instructions to register for the Connect site.
5. Enter your Invitation ID in the blank field. Your invitation ID is: SHBS-6YMT-YKHC
6. Click "Go."
7. Complete and submit the short questionnaire. Please enter MAJOR1 for the beta code when asked at the beginning of the questionnaire.
8. If you are not redirected immediately to the Shadowrun Beta Selection homepage after completing the questionnaire, click the My Participations link on the left hand navigation bar and then click the Shadowrun program link. This will redirect you to the Shadowrun Beta Selection Homepage.
9. Once you are on the Shadowrun Beta Selection Homepage, you will need to complete the rest of the registration process by signing up for the forums by clicking the Join the Forums button then click the Welcome to the Official Shadowrun Community Forum Sign In button.
10. Wait patiently for us to contact you with further instructions. Check back at http://connect.microsoft.com for further beta announcements.
[/QUOTE]
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
TVersity Media Server v0.9.9.1
>> We already posted last week that a patch was released for TVersity Media Server that added support for on-the-fly WMV transcoding ... to allow you to stream pretty much any video format to your Xbox 360 from a Windows 2000/XP machine.
Today they released a new beta of the TVersity Media Server that includes this patch and more ...
[QUOTE]
The TVersity Media Server 0.9.9 (beta) is out, featuring on the fly transcoding to WMV. Finally Xbox 360 users need not do any manual conversion! (MCE is NOT required)
* On the fly transcoding to WMV for the Xbox 360
+Xbox 360 users can now play their entire media library with no need for MCE.
+Users of other devices that can play WMV can use this target format as an alternative to MPEG. While this will require faster machines to achieve the same quality, it allow for a higher quality per bitrate meaning that a slower home network can be used. This is important mainly for HD content streamed over wireless connections.
+Upconversion of videos to WMV HD can be done (on a fast machine) by tweaking the minVideoInfo in config.xml.
+It is highly recommended to upgrade to Windows Media Player 11 as it includes more recent and more stable encoders, this is especially important if you experience crashes in qasf.dll.
* Improved GUI
+The GUI is now an exe file (as opposed to the HTML Application (HTA) it used to be). This should solve the DEP errors on Vista Beta 2.
+The GUI is now functional even when the sharing is stopped and the sharing can be both started and stopped from the GUI (only starting and restarting was supported in the past).
+A tray icon has been added with a tray icon menu for starting and stopping the sharing service .
+Drag and drop is now supported for sharing media. Simply drag files/folders to the GUI and even XML feed URLs and they will be added to the librray.
+Multi select is now supported in the list of shared items and the play, refresh and delete operations can now be invoked on multiple items in one operation.
+Scroll wheel support was added throughout the GUI.
+Right click menu was added for items in the sharing tab.
+When the server is down the connection error dialog box is no longer displayed and instead a connection error icon is displayed at the top right corner of the window.
+The sharing tab now allows files/folders to be opened (as opposed to the past behavior where this was enabled only for URLs).
+The settings tab can now open the cache area folder.
+A preview of our new media library graphical user interface is included, this is provided in addition to the web based interface. This interface will come in two versions the first is AJAX and the second is Macormedia Flash based (only this version is currently being provided). This new interface will be the basis for our upcoming support for the Sony PS3 and will be used for any web browser enabled device that can handle AJAX or Macromedia flash to provide a better user experience than the simpler web based interface (which will remain the interface of choice for limited resource devices such as mobile phones, the Sony PSP, etc.). Future releases will add support for playback inside this new interface as opposed to the current behavior where an external player is invoked.
+ The new media library gui can be opened in a separate browser windows via the URL http://localhost:41952/flashlib, or http://localhost:41952/flash6.swf for devices that support only Macromedia Flash version 6.
* Misc.
+Windows can now discover TVersity and display it in "My Network Places", if the UPnP discovery components are installed.
+The server accepts now the mime type video/flv (this is in addition to video/x-flv that was already there). This solves issues with YouTube flv videos that the server refused to add due to an unknown mime type.
* Bug Fixes
+Bad Internet URLs no longer cause the server to hang for a long period of time (during which no other media could be played).
+UPnP connections from different networks or different subnets are now accepted when the server is configured to accept remote connections. This is as opposed to the past behavior where this configuration only affected the web based interface.
+The XML results returned by the server are now guaranteed to place the item/container title first as required by the UPnP standard.
+Some issues related to playing flash video files (FLV) that were downloaded by the server automaticaly were fixed.
+Temporary files that were mistakenly placed in the wrong folder are now stored in the Windows temporary folder.
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: http://www.tversity.com
Download: here
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft's Bach Ready for Price War
>> From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
Robbie Bach, president of Entertainment and Devices at Microsoft, believes a future hardware price battle will decide the outcome of Xbox 360's struggle with PlayStation 3.
In an interview with San Joe Mercury News, he said that the company is seeking to bring down Xbox 360's costs in preparation for a price initiative that he believes Sony will be unable to follow.
Responding to a question on the hardware wars, he said, "You have look at the economics. You have to ask the question, over the life cycle, who has the cost advantage? Who can price most effectively? Who can reach the price points quicker? That has a huge impact on what gets driven."
He added, "Because we were out there first, we have a bigger installed base of consoles. We can drive down the manufacturing curve sooner and faster. And because we designed a box that was fundamentally easier to manage on costs, we're going to have that advantage."
[/QUOTE]
Read More: next-gen.biz and mercurynews.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
BusinessWeek: MS's new Soul, J Allard and How MS wanted to buy Nintendo
>> From businessweek.com:
[QUOTE]
But maybe the point is that Microsoft needs to find its un-Vista. Several of them, in fact. The software giant is entering perhaps the greatest upheaval in its 30-year history. New business models are emerging--from low-cost "open-source" software to advertising-supported Web services--that threaten Microsoft's core business like never before. For investors to care about the company, it needs to find new growth markets. Its $44.3 billion in annual sales are puttering along at an 11% growth pace. Its shares, which soared 9,560% throughout the 1990s, sunk 63% in 2000 when the Internet bubble burst, and they have yet to fully recover.
The soul of the new Microsoft, though--its Geek 2.0--may just be Allard, the vice-president for design and development at its Entertainment & Devices unit. Allard looks and acts nothing like the prototypical Microsofty. Over the years he's swapped his plaid shirt and khakis--something of a Microsoft uniform--for edgy jackets made by Mark Ecko and other designer wear. He loads up his nine iPods, and now his Zune, with songs from hardcore bands like A.R.E. Weapons. And he's a downhill mountain biking maniac who has broken several bones after flying off his bike.
More important than his cool quotient, though, is that Allard gets things done--fast. Zune is only the latest example. At the turn of the decade, he led the software giant into the video game business with Xbox, a risky gambit that's just starting to pay off.
Just like the pre-Internet days, Microsoft was stuck thinking conventionally. Allard's bosses wanted to develop a video game version of Windows and get computer makers, such as Dell Inc., to build the device. But the industry didn't work that way. Hardware makers lose money on console sales and make it back from royalties on games. When it became clear that Microsoft had to enter the console business, building from scratch wasn't his superior's first choice. "I wanted to acquire Nintendo," recalls Rick Thompson, a vice-president who then ran the hardware business. Allard pushed to do the whole project in-house, and Microsoft ultimately vaulted ahead of Nintendo.
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Read the whole article on businessweek.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Analysis: Did Consoles Kill the PC as a Gaming Platform?
>> From playfuls.com:
[QUOTE]
During the last month, the launch of Sony's PS3 and Nintendo's Wii consoles and the upgrades the Xbox 360 received, have conquered the attention of the entire mass-media. So how grim is the future of the PC as a gaming platform?
It was somehow normal to ask myself that, since not only did the gaming consoles receive all the attention, but the games for them too. I learned recently that Gears of War sold more than 1 million copies in less than a month (way to go, Microsoft!) and that Zelda for Wii (and other games for it too, like Wii Sports or Red Steel) are also registering stellar sells. Although major titles were also launched for PC this fall (FEAR Extraction Point, Splinter Cell Double Agent, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, Need for Speed Carbon, PES 6, Call of Juarez or Gothic 3...OMG, and I have not even finished Dark Messiah!...) they did not get so much publicity as before (publishers' strategy to boost sales for consoles?).
This, and other factors that I will mention further on, made me think that maybe the PC as a gaming platform is dying.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: playfuls.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
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