backtop

Print 49 comment(s) - last by hergieburbur.. on Mar 23 at 3:03 PM

This may not be an official image from Microsoft, but we sure hope it's real!
Possible pictures of black Xbox reportedly fishy

Assuming that we’ve heard thus far about the black Xbox 360 “Elite” is true, existing Xbox 360 owners who want HDMI output will have no other choice but to buy a completely new console. For the 120GB hard disk drive, however, all Xbox 360 owners should be able to enjoy the added roominess when Microsoft releases it as an additional peripheral.

The question on all Xbox 360 owners’ minds is how they are going to transfer all their saves, videos, XBLA games and other junk over to the bigger drive. Without a specific solution from Microsoft, the only feasible way to transfer data from drives is to use a memory card—and even then, even the newly announced 512MB unit isn’t big enough for some files.

Adding to the pile of recent rumors is one from Ars Technica, citing a source saying that there will be a dedicated data transfer cable for the very purpose of Xbox 360 hard disk drive migration. He writes:

I work for a large game distributor. MS disclosed this SKU to us a few weeks ago—definitely not a fake story. Price, features, color are all correct. MS has told us that the data will be transferred via some sort of cable that will be included with the unit. The cable will also be included w/ the 120GB drive that will be sold separately (price TBD).

Also new for today are supposed artwork for the black Xbox 360 Elite along with matching black accessories, which look convincing, but Engadget’s source is calling them fishy. Of course, official artwork may be regional, but we won’t really know the facts until Microsoft speaks.

Comments     Threshold


This article is over a month old, voting and posting comments is disabled
By Kefner on 3/22/2007 7:19:20 PM , Rating: 1
The pics at that link are a photoshop job. You can see the light reflected off the white controller around the buttons, analog stick, Guide Button and d-pad.




By KaiserCSS on 3/22/2007 8:09:03 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
"This looks shopped. I can tell from some of the pixels and having seen quite a few shops in my time."


Also...

quote:
"Update: Our trusted source that confirmed the Elite let us know that these shots are quite fishy; they don't have the same plastics details as the real Elite, nor does the retail box match up. Sorry folks, chalk this one up to the usual group of bored, fanatical photoshoppers."


Taken from http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/22/first-xbox-360-...

Tell you what though. My money is on this being real. Perhaps not the pictures, but the product itself. I really wouldn't be surprised, although, suffice to say, I would be pretty damn pissed off. I got my 360 about 4 months ago; there had better some sort of upgrade plan or reduced price for current 360 owners, or there are going to be a lot of angry customers.

Personally, I am extremely interested in the larger hard drive and the HDMI cable. It just irks me that I may need to dish out another $480 to get it. Inevitable comparisons to the PS3 are sure to follow.


By jkresh on 3/23/2007 12:13:31 AM , Rating: 2
I also hope they offer some kind of reasonable upgrade option as hdmi should have been included at the beginning or at least made as an option without a hardware revision, its not like blueray or hdvd when they weren't available whne the console was released, hdmi was available before the 360 and already used on a fair number of devices and dvi with hdcp was around even longer. However even if they don't offer an upgrade hdmi and the extra drive wont mean much to most people so the older premium units should resell fairly well and the new unit probably will be less then $250 and maybe less then $200 after selling the old one.


By Munkles on 3/23/2007 8:59:56 AM , Rating: 2
OK, I would like someone smarter than me to explain why MS cant just release a cable that utilizes the current 360's proprietary output and convert that to HDMI? I thought the reason for using that kind of a connection was exactly so that you could have multiple types of connections possible with just one port on the back. ??


By Wolfpup on 3/23/2007 10:33:39 AM , Rating: 2
I'm guessing that port is analog only. Technically they could make an expensive analog-digital adapter, but that would defeat the point of having a digital connection.


By Kefner on 3/23/2007 10:25:31 AM , Rating: 2
Yea, I am not doubting that this is a real version coming out, but those pics are most obviously fake.


By bozilla on 3/23/2007 12:55:14 PM , Rating: 3
I think it's your own fault to be honest. The news of new XBox 360 coming out have been active since the release of PS3, meaning you already had a hint it's coming. Yet, you decided to get an existing XBox 360. People should start taking responsibilities for actions they take in life, really and not blame everything and everyone else and how they are working to screw them over. Understand, world keeps moving and it ain't waiting for you only.

People who already have an XBox 360 already have pretty much a great way of connecting XBox 360 to their displays in 2 ways, through VGA and composite with optical audio.

The quality of the output will be the same as on HDMI with only a difference that HDMI gives you less cables. Wow, so if that bothers me that much I might spend $480 for just an HDMI option, but in all honesty I don't see it as a huge thing.

My current 360 setup does 1080p, upscales regular DVDs and games to 1080i and I have full digital surround sound. I don't really see the need for hdmi anyways, like it's gonna give me something so different that it's a must to have.

I will however buy a 120gb addon like RIGHT away as soon as it comes out..that's something that was way over-due.


By PrezWeezy on 3/23/2007 2:21:04 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
there had better some sort of upgrade plan or reduced price for current 360 owners, or there are going to be a lot of angry customers.


Yeah and Intel and AMD should buy back all their old CPU's and give you a discount on the new stuff. Come on, that's ludacrise to think that you should be afforded some special deal because you got a console a few months ago. New stuff comes out, if you want it, buy it. If you don't stop complaining about it.


Keyboard and mouse.
By Harkonnen on 3/22/2007 8:09:30 PM , Rating: 2
Just offer a keyboard and mouse option already MS!

I'd buy a x360 the moment it let me use a keyboard and mouse to play games. Since I am one of those people that just cannot play a FPS with dual analog sticks.

Plus I'm sure it wouldn't hurt MS to have the option of having world of warcraft on on x360. Would make RTS games easier too.




RE: Keyboard and mouse.
By KaiserCSS on 3/22/2007 8:21:06 PM , Rating: 1
This is actually a very good idea; I can't understand why they haven't released said peripherals either. A keyboard and mouse sure would alleviate the headache of having to tap out individual characters with the analog sticks. It would also streamline Live messages and just about any MMO with text chat. Plus, PC gamers would be more willing to give the 360 a try.

Then again, it might be that Microsoft is trying to redraw the blurred line between gaming PCs and gaming consoles, seeing as consoles are becoming more like PCs with each release. Adding PC peripherals to the 360 will serve to blur that line even further (but on that same train of thought I won't be able to explain the "Live Anywhere" initiative. Quite perplexing). But hell, I wouldn't complain if they did, and I know many more gamers would appreciate it!


RE: Keyboard and mouse.
By Panurge on 3/22/2007 10:29:02 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
A keyboard and mouse sure would alleviate the headache of having to tap out individual characters with the analog sticks. It would also streamline Live messages and just about any MMO with text chat.


As an FYI, you can plug any standard USB keyboard into the 360 and use it to type things in any place where the "virtual keyboard" appears.

Unfortunately, this is the extent of things you can do with the keyboard. It does mean that you can get past the typing problem.

Source to confirm this with a quick search: http://xboxelle.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!1pUP4M-J1...


RE: Keyboard and mouse.
By otispunkmeyer on 3/23/2007 5:07:53 AM , Rating: 1
they dont even have to make it a full keyboard

just some kind of finger board with enough keys to assign group numbers to units in RTS's and the like.

i see no reason why they cant make a mouse, MS make some cracking laser mice, all thats needed is to swap the BT module for one that works with the 360's wireless system...it honestly cant be that hard.

take their wireless laser 8000, paint it white, add a splash of lime green lighting and a RF module, release a OS update and bobs yer uncle

with RTS's like command and conquer 3 also being on the PC, i fail to see how coding in a mouse for control is out of the question.

who knows, maybe sony will answer these calls, their PS3 is touted as a be all end all media hub pc replacement, they could only re-enforce that by making a compatible KB and Mouse.


RE: Keyboard and mouse.
By hergieburbur on 3/22/2007 8:38:45 PM , Rating: 2
Uhh, considering how close they already are, isn't an XBox 360 with a keyboard and mouse basically just a PC that you don't have to install the games on?


RE: Keyboard and mouse.
By spartan014 on 3/22/2007 11:34:51 PM , Rating: 2
MS may give support for MMORPGs developed in-house under the Game Studios title.. But WoW? Thats very unlikely. I don't think Blizzard will be ready for that.


RE: Keyboard and mouse.
Wow, I'm waiting
By ComatoseDelirium on 3/22/2007 6:45:07 PM , Rating: 4
Weird, I assumed this article would already be filled with angry Xbox 360 users, pissed off that their " P O S " Xbox360 didn't come with the 120 GB HDD and HDMI port.

People these days are never happy with what they got, BUY something for the features it has, and don't regret it, because something better is always over the horizon.




RE: Wow, I'm waiting
By Le Québécois on 3/22/2007 6:56:40 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
BUY something for the features it has, and don't regret it, because something better is always over the horizon.


To this I would add : especially when it's computers or electronics.


RE: Wow, I'm waiting
By tuteja1986 on 3/22/2007 7:54:22 PM , Rating: 2
Well i don't have a big fuss over this pack as it will retail in Australia for $750AUD which alright since PS3 retails in Australia for $1000AUD. You can just buy a elite pack + HD-DVD for $1000AUD and be satisfied.


RE: Wow, I'm waiting
By cobaltb on 3/23/2007 11:46:50 AM , Rating: 2
I agree with ComatoseDelirium. "People these days are never happy with what they got"

I own an Xbox 360 as of November 06'. I think it would be great for Microsoft to release another version. I may sell mine to upgrade if they do, I may not. It really doesn't matter. What matters is that I am playing the Xbox 360 now, not 3 months from now, not a year from now. So there is value there.

I am thankful there is an Xbox 360 out there to compete in the market and also thankful Microsoft didn't wait around to add every conceivable feature, or add everything they could think of at the time to have it priced higher than it already is.

If you sit around waiting for the stars to align you will miss out on a lot of things. Go ahead and sit around being angry at a companies decision that didn't meet your personal agenda. You are wasting your time in my opinion.

Given there is small part of the population that actually thinks reasonably one might expect reasonable responses every now and then.


RE: Wow, I'm waiting
By ToeCutter on 3/23/2007 12:22:49 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Weird, I assumed this article would already be filled with angry Xbox 360 users, pissed off that their " P O S " Xbox360 didn't come with the 120 GB HDD and HDMI port.


Yeah, I don't get this either.

I have been waiting (and waiting, and waiting) for an HDMI equipped XBox360 for well over a year while current owners have been using their Xboxen.

Waiting around for rumors to come true isn't very fun either, folks.


Transferring Purchased Items
By Behlal on 3/22/2007 7:51:28 PM , Rating: 2
What I'd like to know is, will they also support transferring purchased items that are protected? That would be the main requirement for me. The protected content (e.g. games from the Live services, etc.) is locked to the console it was purchased on. Obviously, they are not going to want to give people a mechanism to copy stuff they purchased onto multiple consoles. So I assume they will have to implement a transfer mechanism, where it gets removed from the old console as part of the process.




RE: Transferring Purchased Items
By chrisg22 on 3/22/2007 10:17:17 PM , Rating: 2
It's actually attached to your Xbox Live account, not your console. No problems there.


RE: Transferring Purchased Items
By jkresh on 3/23/2007 12:14:58 AM , Rating: 2
not entirely true, it is attached to your live account and you can redownload on the new console without rebuying but some (maybe all) of the redownloaded items will only work when the new console is online (ie if you are not on live they will revert to demos instead of full versions), Microsoft may fix that but for the moment thats how it works.


RE: Transferring Purchased Items
By Wolfpup on 3/23/2007 10:37:45 AM , Rating: 2
I've been wanting this since the 360 came out. I won't buy anything on Live (or Nintendo's Virtual Console, or the Sony equivalent) until we can transfer content whenever we want to a new unit.

The obvious model here is Apple's iTunes store. That ties the content to a particular system, but whenever you want you can easily deauthorize so that a new system can be authorized.

That's fair for the content provider, and more or less fair for us too-at least a lot more fair than tying content to a single box like Microsoft, Nintendo (and apparently) Sony do now.

Hopefully Microsoft will set this up at some point soon, if there's a large enough backlash from people buying new 360's.

I'm completely amazed that NONE of the three companies copied Apple's model (which has existed for YEARS prior to the launch of the 360!).


what kind of cable?
By ilmdba on 3/22/2007 9:18:22 PM , Rating: 2
are there multiple exposed SATA connectors or firewire or something on the 360? how would you hook up 2 of their attachment drives and transfer the data?




RE: what kind of cable?
By KaiserCSS on 3/22/2007 9:28:18 PM , Rating: 2
It might be USB. That seems logical to me.


RE: what kind of cable?
By Munkles on 3/23/2007 8:44:40 AM , Rating: 2
I would put my money on a firmware update that allows the use of file shareing via crossover cable.

I would imagine that would be the fastest, most cost effective route. In order to use USB they would have to bundle in USB A-A cables which are quite difficult to find (not necessarily by MS but for consumers) or would require some other sort of attachment.

All in all the elite sounds like a great product, but like almost everyone else here I do wish that they would gaurantee a 65nm chip with the "Elites".


RE: what kind of cable?
By hpdeskjet697c on 3/23/2007 8:51:27 AM , Rating: 2
would be my guess too


Adaptor
By Ghost Simmo on 3/22/2007 9:50:35 PM , Rating: 2
I would like it if they could just make an adaptor to turn the current connection into HDMI. I don't know if it is possible, but it would make all current Xbox owners happy. Well, it would make me happy anyway.




RE: Adaptor
By Noya on 3/22/2007 10:49:32 PM , Rating: 2
I'm pretty sure that would degrade the signal even more.


RE: Adaptor
By Munkles on 3/23/2007 8:53:18 AM , Rating: 2
Im pretty certain thats not possible. The biggest reason for the switch from DVI to HDMI wasnt data bandwidth but copy protection. To the best of my knowlege Component it totally open and unprotected and generally so is DVI. It MIGHT be possible to make a device to make the conversion but I can feel reasonably certain that type of connection wouldnt play HDCP content. It would probably work for a general purpose 720p/1080i connection for gameplay but almost certainly wouldnt play back full 1080p HDCP material.

Again Im no genius with this stuff, so I maybe wrong (and probably am) just offering my thoughts on the topic at hand.


RE: Adaptor
By Zirconium on 3/23/2007 11:54:27 AM , Rating: 1
quote:
The biggest reason for the switch from DVI to HDMI wasnt data bandwidth but copy protection.
You can have HDCP over DVI, so I don't think that's it. The issue is that the Xbox 360 has no digital video output. While this isn't official, and I haven't seen anything that positively confirms that, I think it is fairly self-evident. If the 360 could output to DVI, why wouldn't Microsoft make a cable for it?


I wouldn't be surprised...
By Goty on 3/22/2007 7:24:13 PM , Rating: 2
...if someone over at MS is reading this article thinking, "Oh... that's a good idea!"




RE: I wouldn't be surprised...
By Pitbulll0669 on 3/22/2007 11:44:53 PM , Rating: 2
Ok Just so you all know there is a Periferal that alows a Mouse keyboard to work on the 360 look on Ebay youll find it.and I dont mean Vertual I mean REALY WORKING.


RE: I wouldn't be surprised...
By Pitbulll0669 on 3/22/2007 11:46:41 PM , Rating: 2
oh and WOW is comming out I read that a week or so ago. it will be the cross platform games for windows thing.


April Fool's?
By jlanders646 on 3/22/2007 10:21:23 PM , Rating: 2
It's getting too close.....




RE: April Fool's?
By CaptainAdmiralKeyes on 3/22/2007 10:31:55 PM , Rating: 2
lol, I am actually fairly sure that this is an April fools joke by some bored photoshoppers. Although if its not I must appraise Microsoft for the clever way of spreading their new product. The larger hard drive was definately a must, and if they add a nice HDMI add-on for thier original 360's I think that would add a great deal more value.

I am not even sure if this is possible, but I really think that Microsoft should (Again if it is possible, no clue if it is) create an Xbox 360-advanced or something like that, that includes a Blu-Ray drive. Or make a Blu-Ray add-on. Or (Which would likely be the most intelligent thing to do) create an add-on that supports blu-ray AND hd-dvd, thus allowing people to have no worry of thier format becoming unused.

So this is just my little rant about this Xbox 360 Elite (Although I can't help wondering how many customers they are losing by not calling it the Xbox 360 313373 :P)


RE: April Fool's?
By Noya on 3/22/2007 10:47:47 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
lol, I am actually fairly sure that this is an April fools joke by some bored photoshoppers.


Isn't it still March?

quote:
create an Xbox 360-advanced or something like that, that includes a Blu-Ray drive. Or make a Blu-Ray add-on. Or (Which would likely be the most intelligent thing to do) create an add-on that supports blu-ray AND hd-dvd, thus allowing people to have no worry of thier format becoming unused.


How would stabbing their own back be the most intelligent thing to do? They're here to make massive amounts of money...period.

Microsoft is a backer of HD-DVD, they would never include anything to accomodate Blu-Ray on the 360.


Smart move, but not totally unexpected
By Alexvrb on 3/22/2007 7:01:35 PM , Rating: 2
If this turns out to be true, it is a good move for them to include a data transfer cable. Even in the case of a new 360 "Elite", the cable would make life easier and more convenient, although I suppose it isn't 100% vital. They could have software on the new box to make transfer possible over a network or USB. However, for those upgrading just the HD, a special cable is necessary, unless the new HD doubles as a USB unit. Either way, it certainly answers that particular question about upgrading.

As for HDMI, I'm not currently that interested myself. Maybe if my HDTV was a bigger, higher end model and supported 1080p, I'd reconsider. Currently component is doing quite well for me. With that said, a lot of people might pick one up, particularly if they have the HD-DVD unit or plan on getting one. Speaking of which, if they DO include an HDMI cable, you can actually use its HDMI functionality out of the box, and that needs to be factored in. As it stands, I myself am more interested in the larger HD, depending on how much it retails for.




RE: Smart move, but not totally unexpected
By Zirconium on 3/22/2007 7:37:12 PM , Rating: 1
I think there are a fair number of people interested in HDMI. I was considering buying a 360 after getting a TV in November, and with some of the rebates it was quite tempting, but after seeing the difference in quality between VGA/DVI from my computer and component/DVI from the cable box, I decided that I could wait for an Xbox with HDMI output. Maybe it is my TV, or maybe it is the output from my graphics card/cable box, but things look better when the connection is straight digital.


By Alexvrb on 3/22/2007 10:53:05 PM , Rating: 2
Yes, I believe I said that a lot of people may buy it, because of the HDMI. I was just saying that I will not currently be one of them, because the difference would be marginal for me.

If you want to have an apple-apple comparison, use an HD-DVD player connected to your HDMI input, and then switch to your component input with an Xbox 360 + HD-DVD add-on connected via MS or better component cables running the same movie sequence. Kind of hard for your average joe (myself included) to piece together such a comparison! I'd wager that most people, on your typical 1080i-capable HDTVs, would not see much of a difference. Especially if you could cover up the "HDMI" and "Component" boxes that pop up and make it a blind test.

Anyway, just a minor rant. HDMI is obviously better, especially in the long term, and it is also better in the audio department over toslink. I just can't take much advantage of it yet. Heck, many people still can't take advantage of HD resolutions period.


By rlandess on 3/23/2007 9:48:47 AM , Rating: 2
I'd avoid using high def cable to compare image quality. try hooking your high def tv to your computer for a better "apples to apples" comparison.

HD cable is so compressed it should hardly count as HD anymore. This is the cause of lousy image quality in low contrast regions of an HD image. For a good example of this put a nice picture in photoshop and save as a jpg. click the preview box and pull the quality slider down to the low end. HD cable...

I'd doubt that you'd see any real difference between component and HDMI. The real advantage is lack of cable clutter




Where are all the Sony haters?
By hergieburbur on 3/22/07, Rating: -1
RE: Where are all the Sony haters?
By KaiserCSS on 3/22/2007 8:15:15 PM , Rating: 2
Well, seeing as this article was posted about a mere two hours before yours, I understand why they haven't "jumped" on it yet: they haven't seen it. Contrary to popular belief, DailyTech is not the most visited site on the Internet, especially among the gaming/flaming community. But do not fear! In due time, I'm sure the "Sony haters" will arrive to bash the PS3 into oblivion yet again. Because goodness knows the PS3 is by far the superior product. So much so that certain people are willing to pay $1,200 for every PS3 found on store shelves!


By hergieburbur on 3/22/2007 8:34:30 PM , Rating: 1
Most of the other Sony/XBox 360 articles are jumped on much faster than 2 hours.

Further, I never made any comparison between the two, OR supported one console or the other. I merely stated my surprise, since frankly, the rampant Sony bashing and resultant flame wars on this site are getting old.


RE: Where are all the Sony haters?
By Malhavoc on 3/22/2007 9:43:06 PM , Rating: 2
Wait until rev. 3 PS3 comes out! Muah.

/sarcasm off


RE: Where are all the Sony haters?
By deeznuts on 3/22/2007 11:41:10 PM , Rating: 2
You mean this isn't the rev. 3 PS3? ;-)


RE: Where are all the Sony haters?
By Malhavoc on 3/23/2007 2:11:42 AM , Rating: 2
I don't know to be honest, I just pulled it out of my 'hat'.


By hergieburbur on 3/23/2007 3:03:48 PM , Rating: 2
HAHA! Down rated for that?? That pretty much proves my point. Though this is probably the tamest discussion I've seen here about either of the two consoles.


"Nowadays, security guys break the Mac every single day. Every single day, they come out with a total exploit, your machine can be taken over totally. I dare anybody to do that once a month on the Windows machine." -- Bill Gates











botimage
Copyright 2012 DailyTech LLC. - RSS Feed | Advertise | About Us | Ethics | FAQ | Terms, Conditions & Privacy Information | Kristopher Kubicki