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Week of December 17, 2006
XBMC Skin MC360 v1.0 WIP Update
>> From Team Blackbolt:
[QUOTE]
Firstly and most importantly, no, no MC360 release yet. While predicting a pre-Christmas day release, lets say I was a slight bit merry ;). I didn't take into account the holiday period and that all the team members would be away with family's. So what we have decided to do, is leave it till after Christmas and finish up then. Again, I won't say an exact date, but those of you have all been using MC360 for so long, you already know the drill. So not long to go now.
What I can tell you about MC360 1.0 is that its looking great. We have made so many fixes and improvements to animations, menu navigation, texture quality and the HD resolutions. I now own myself a HDTV and I am able to test our HD resolutions first hand. Might I say, XBMC using MC360 in 720p is fantastic. 1080i is too glitchy and laggy, but its to be expected, the xbox 1 is dated hardware.
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Official Site: blackbolt.x-scene.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Google 'Tech Talks' Mist on Xbox1 Security - 360 Presentation Next Week
>> Michael Steil (alias 'mist') of the Xbox-Linux Project made a presentation for Google's "Tech Talks" on the 1st of December 2006. The video of the presentation has now been published online.
He talked in details about the Xbox(1) security, how it was hacked and what Microsoft tried to stop it. The presentation is similar to last year's 22C3 presentation (also by mist) and will explain the mistakes Microsoft made:
[QUOTE]
In late 2001, Microsoft released the Xbox, their first gaming console, to compete against Sony and Nintendo in the living room. As the real money is made with the games and not the consoles, Microsoft had to make sure (as much as they could) that nobody could play pirated games or use the machine for anything other than games. Although the original security design idea was a good one and has been copied a lot since then, Microsoft's inexperienced team made a variety of design, implementation, and policy mistakes. This talk first (re)constructs the design of the Xbox security system from Microsoft's point of view, and then deconstructs it from the hacker's point of view. As a bonus, the talk will feature some insights in the security system of the Xbox successor, the Xbox 360.
Michael Steil is the founder and maintainer of the Xbox-Linux Project. He oversaw most of the Xbox hacks and also contributed to hacking, reverse engineering and porting Linux on the Xbox.
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In the last 2-3 minutes of the conference they mention the Xbox 360 too. No new information here ... except the announcement there will be a presentation on the 23C3 (23rd Chaos Communication Congress in Berlin, Germany) about hacking the Xbox360, PS3 and Wii.
After a bit of searching we can tell you the presentation will be held on December 28th 2006 at 20h30 local time at the 'Berliner Congress Center'. The 1-hour presentation called 'Console Hacking 2006' will be hosted by Felix Domke (alias tmbinc):
[QUOTE]
"Next Generation" gaming consoles should not be limited to games, they have powerful hardware which we want to exploit for our needs. The talk gives a hardware overview of each of the 3 consoles, an overview of their security systems, as well as an update on hacking the Xbox 360, which has been on the market for about a year.
The Microsoft Xbox 360, the Sony Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii belong to the seventh generation of gaming consoles, having GHz-class CPUs and hundreds of megabytes of RAM. While the Xbox 360 has been released roughly a year ago, and some hacking has already gone on, the Playstation 3 and the Wii will only be released in November 2006, so they will be brand-new at the time of the talk.
Usual news sources focus on the features useful for gaming - this talk of course will focus on what we hackers really need. It evaluates possible attack points to execute homebrew code and professional operating systems. For the two systems that have just been released, you certainly cannot expect a working hack, but the basics of the security system will be explained, and it will be compared to existing systems implemented by previous consoles.
Download: Console Hacking 2006 (PDF file - 67.0 KB)
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Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
GamesIndustry.biz: The Phoney War
>> From gamesindustry.biz:
[QUOTE]
Looking back over the last 12 months in the videogames industry, this has also been the year of a Phoney War. Plenty of sabres have been rattled; propoganda campaigns have been launched, and relaunched; some wild shots have gone over the bows, but as the year comes to a close, it's increasingly clear that the war we expected in 2006 has taken a rain-check. Instead, we've been left with a messy year, a year more beset by rumour and hyperbole than fact, and a year where the winners and losers in this industry are as indistinct as the accomplishments or failures which elevate them to that status.
During that period of time, Microsoft ramped up shipments of the Xbox 360 to the point where we're reportedy looking at 10 million units in the next couple of weeks. Some senior industry figures will tell you that that figure is a stunning accomplishment and an almost cast-iron guarantee of future success. Other, equally senior, industry figures will tell you that it's a worryingly low figure which Microsoft has struggled towards, suggesting that the company has still failed to break out of the hardcore niche which the original Xbox occupied. Fanboys will make up their own minds, of course, regarding which interpretation they prefer - informed observers really have no idea where the truth lies.
In a few years' time, if Microsoft has done well in this generation of consoles, 2006 will be seen as a pivotal year in that success, and we'll write things like "Microsoft's strategy of launching a year in advance of its rivals proved decisive, as it built up a significant head-start which convinced third-parties to weigh in behind the system." On the other hand, if Microsoft fails to build on its market share over the coming years, we'll regard 2006 as equally pivotal - except that in that case, we'll write things like "Despite giving itself a full year head-start, Microsoft failed to exploit this opportunity - and a dearth of AAA software for the Xbox 360 during 2006, including a period of over six months with no first-party releases and a Christmas with only one major title on the shelves, negated much of the company's effort in delivering its system to market early."
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Read More: gamesindustry.biz
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
New CyberLink PowerDVD Ultra Plays HD-DVDs and Blu-ray Discs
>> CyberLink launched a new version of their PowerDVD Ultra video playback software for Windows that has now support for HD-DVD and Blu-ray movies. As far as I know this is the first commercially available English software to playback these HD discs (InterVideo's WinDVD 8 did, but only the Japanese version for some reason). At 99.95usd/99,95eur the software doesn't come very cheap, but with the Xbox 360 HD-DVD Addon at 'just' 200usd/200eur that means you can now get next-gen HD movie playback in your home for 'only' ~300usd/300eur.
As you know from earlier news, the Xbox360 HD-DVD Addon connects just fine with Windows XP (need extra drivers) or Windows Vista (nothing needed).
Keep in mind that in order to play movies in full resolution, you might need a PC with HDCP-enabled gfxcard and HDCP-enabled display.
From the press release:
[QUOTE]
CyberLink Corp., a world leader in digital home solutions, today launched the HD DVD and Blu-ray version of its industry-defining movie player software, PowerDVD. Featuring optimized hardware acceleration for graphics processors, and compatibility with leading HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc drives, PowerDVD Ultra delivers the ultimate high-definition movie experience on both desktop and notebook computers.
New features for PowerDVD Ultra include:
* Support for HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc playback on leading drives, including the Microsoft Xbox 360 HD DVD external drive
* Playback of high-definition Hollywood movie content
* Optimized performance for playback of high-definition video content on graphics cards featuring NVIDIA PureVideo, ATI Avivo, and Intel Clear Video technology
* Support for new next-generation disc features, like Picture-in-Picture movie mode, networking, interactive BD-J and iHD features, bookmarks, and advanced disc navigation
* High-definition audio with support for Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD technologies
* 6.1-channel surround sound, ensuring compatibility with home theater audio systems, and audio expansion of up to 8 channels
* Support for double-layer HD DVDs and Blu-ray Discs
* Conformance to the High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) specifications for the playback of premium content through DVI and HDMI connectors
* Support for BUS Protection ensures premium content protection via VGA systems.
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Official Site: http://www.cyberlink.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
(USA/CAN) Microsoft Extends Xbox 360 Warranty to One Year
>> From the Microsoft PressRelease:
[QUOTE]
In a move to benefit customers, Microsoft Corp. announced today that it will change the Xbox 360 warranty from 90 days to one year from the date of purchase in the United States and Canada. Microsoft extended the warranty in these territories to be consistent with the standard one-year Xbox 360 warranty that is available throughout most of the world. The news is reason to celebrate this holiday season; it applies to both would-be purchasers and those who already have Xbox 360 and are still within their first year of ownership.
Effective today, the one-year warranty is now the standard for the Xbox 360 console. Customers who experience hardware issues with their Xbox 360 within one year of purchase can have their consoles repaired at no cost. Moreover, the new warranty policy is retroactive, so consumers who may have already paid for an out-of-warranty Xbox 360 repair within one year of purchase will be eligible for reimbursement of their console repair charges.
"Customer satisfaction is a central focus and priority for the Xbox 360 system," said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of Global Marketing for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. "In addition to jaw-dropping features such as high-definition graphics, an amazing variety with a catalog of over 160 games, and social online and entertainment experiences on Xbox Live, the Xbox 360 system now offers this extended warranty upgrade. It is truly the industry's most compelling home entertainment offering."
Customers who have already paid out-of-warranty repair charges within their first year of ownership can expect reimbursement checks for the amount of their console repair in approximately 10 weeks. Reimbursements will be automatically distributed, so customers need not contact Microsoft. Customers who have questions regarding this policy change or experience any hardware issues should visit http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/contact where they can check their warranty status, find troubleshooting information for common issues and find Xbox support contact information.
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Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
XFPS 360 In Action Videos
>> Three videos about the XFPS 360 (pre-order: USA/CAN|Europe|World) have been uploaded; it shows the connecting process, the device in action and how to configure the keys if you wish to go beyond the default:
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Due to the many request from you fans out there regarding the XFPS 360 in action, we have taken the time to take several videos:
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Buy Now (79.99usd/75eur/50gbp): USA/CAN | Europe | World
Official Site: www.xcmlive.com and www.teamxtender.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
TalisMoon: PSU Energyser and Solderless 8164 DVD Adapter
>> Talismoon released 2 new products: one for the 360 (PSU Energyser) and one for the original Xbox (Solderless 8164 DVD Adapter).
[QUOTE]
* PSU ENERGYSER FOR XBOX 360 (Buy for $21: USA/CAN | Rest World)
Replace your original power supply with a standard ATX Computer power supply of your choice. Now you can have an inexpensive replacement, or, opt for more power, less noise, or both! The PSU Energyzer requires no assembly or wiring - just plug it in, turn on your PC power supply, and turn on your Xbox 360.
The PSU Energyzer is a special cable with an OEM Xbox 360 power plug on one end, and a 20 pin ATX connector on the other.
Please note that the original Xbox 360 Power Supply provides 203 watts, and 12v DC current at 16.5 amps, and 5v DC at 1 Amp. For the PSU energyzer to work, your PC power supply must provide this much SUSTAINED power at a minimum. Many PC power supplies are rated for PEAK power instead of sustained power, so you must check the label of your power supply to see if it provides enough sustained power.
* 8164 DVD ADAPTER *SOLDERLESS* (Buy for $24: USA/CAN | Rest World)
Replacing your failed DVD drive just got easier, with Talismoon's 8164 solderless adapter. This device allows you to use an LG-8164 DVD drive with your original Xbox. Repairing your Xbox just got cheaper and easier! In addition, the LG-8164 drive reads CDs at 52x and DVDs at 16x, which means that you will also experience faster read speeds (up to 8 times faster than OEM). Fast read speeds means faster load speeds, which is less time waiting when you could be playing.
Installation consists of using 2 PCBs to reroute the signals to pass through Xbox connectors. It takes less than 5 minutes to use the included ribbon cables to accomplish this, and no special tools are required to install the adapter.
The LG-8164 has native support for reading the following disc types: CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R
The LG-8164 (with adapter installed) will work with Xbox versions 1.0-1.6. Your Xbox must already be modded to take advantage of the full features of this item.
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Buy Now PSU Energyser ($21): USA/CAN | Rest World
Buy Now Solderless 8164 DVD Adapter ($24): USA/CAN | Rest World
Official Site: http://www.talismoon.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
pSlax v2.1 - Linux Bootdisc to get HLG drive in modeB
>> Probutus released a new version of pSlax(info), a specially adapted Slax PC linux-bootdisc that allows you to switch any version of the Xbox360 Hitachi-LG GDR-3120L DVD-drive to 'mode-B' without connectivity kit (crossed-wire trick - which doesn't work with the new v78), so you can flash the DVD FW and dump discs in Windows:
[QUOTE]
I did an update of the slax cd because in the last time there are more and more people having problems with the 2.0 version.
There is now the most recent 2.6.19.1 kernel used since there are several bugfixes and new sata-controllers supported (see www.kernel.org for details on controllers/bugfixes)
Additionally I removed the framebuffer support and keep the original text console since there are sometimes problems with a black screen while booting when more than one video card is installed; I also increased the size of the initial ramdisk to 16MB sinc there were some problems noticed in the past; thanks to xboxto)
All sata controllers which are supported by Linux should work with this CD but be sure to DISABLE the RAID feature in BIOS and check if your controller can handle SATA-ATAPI devices (some sil3112/3114 don't).
If you connect your hitachi drive via USB you normally don't need the fix_inq_* parameters anymore (the drive should be detected and switched automatically; however you can still use these parameters if you run into problems)
If slax1 or slax2.0 works for you you don't need this version since all it does is putting the 3120 in mode_b!
This CD is completely untested! I currently do not have my drive at hand so feel free to test it and post problems and suggestions.
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News-Source: xboxhacker.net
Download (54MB): here[rapidshare] (mirrors: zupload | divshare | dwl.xbox-scene.com)
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
(Japan) Week2 of Blue Dragon ... 17k Xbox360s Sold
>> The new M-Create numbers are in for the week of December 11-17. The Xbox 360 sold 17168 units (35343 last week - the Blue Dragon launch week). Blue Dragon ranked 46th this week (down from 4th) and is the only 360 title in the top50.
The Sony PS3 sold 70942 units (50171 last week), the Nintendo Wii sold 108237 units (85439 last week) and the Xbox360 is beaten by the PS2 again with its 37730 units sold (30460 last week).
If my calculations are right this bring the installment base of the Xbox 360 to ~230k, PS3 to ~308.8k and Wii to ~521.2k in Japan.
On a WorldWide scale it's much harder to get numbers. However the nexgenwars estimates have proven to be not far from the truth usually, just keep in mind these are no official numbers.
Worldwide installment base for the next-gen consoles:
Xbox 360: 8,874,211
PS3: 503,254
Wii: 1,877,329
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
MojoPlay's Monitor Makes Your Xbox 360 Mobile
>> From iyiz.com:
[QUOTE]
Now you can play your xBox 360 anywhere you want, even during your visits to your friends and relatives. No more hassle in attaching the console to the TV, as MojoPlay gives you this MP-920XB screen. This 9.2-inch widescreen monitor is designed for your gaming pleasure, and with the 800×480 screen resolution, a built-in audio stereo speakers, and dual headphone jacks, this US$170 piece is a definite must-buy item!
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Read More: iyiz.com and mojoplay.com (via digg.com)
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Next-Gen.biz's Top 50 Games of the Year - Xbox Brand Dominates
>> From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
Next Generation has picked and ranked the 50 games we believe made 2006 such a stand-out year in game quality. Click through for the definitive 'Best of Year' round-up....
43. Scarface: The World is Yours - Xbox
42. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance - Xbox360
41. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Double Agent - Xbox360
38. Tony Hawk's Project 8 - Xbox360
37. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas - Xbox360
33. Saints Row - Xbox360
32. NCAA Football '07 - Xbox
31. Tomb Raider: Legend - Xbox360
30. Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis - Xbox360
29. Call of Duty 3 - Xbox360
28. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 - Xbox
25. F.E.A.R. - Xbox360
22. Burnout Revenge - Xbox360
19. World Soccer Winning Eleven 9 - Xbox
16. NBA 2K7 - Xbox360
15. Lego star wars II: The Original Trilogy - Xbox360
14. Viva Piņata - Xbox360
10. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter - Xbox360
07. Dead Rising - Xbox360
03. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - PC/Xbox360
01. Gears of War - Xbox360
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Full Story: next-gen.biz (6 pages)
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Virtua Fighter 5 Heads to Xbox 360
>> From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
Turns out Virtua Fighter 5 isn't a PlayStation 3 exclusive, as Sega announced today that the title is also headed to Xbox 360.
Sega said that the title will hit Microsoft's console in late summer 2007 in North America and Europe. The arcade-native fighter is scheduled to arrive on PS3 on February 20 in North America.
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Read More: next-gen.biz
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Zoozen Protector: Prevent your Discs from Scratching
>> From the press release:
[QUOTE]
Prevent your Xbox 360 Discs from Scratching with Zoozen Protector (pre-order: USA/CAN | World)!
Three expertly created easy to install soft foam pads which prevent Xbox 360 discs from scratching, even while tilting the console during play!
Next generation gaming comes at a greater cost which results in greater valued being placed on the protection of video game discs. The Xbox 360 has been no stranger to owners witnessing the console scratching game discs in particular reference to when the console is moved. The Zoozen 'protector' provides a simple and effective solution which ensures that no discs will be scratched while in play. Gamers can now shift the Xbox 360 from a horizontal to vertical position and vice versa without fear of disc scratching. Better yet, the installation of the 'protector' will not void the warranty of the console.
The Zoozen protector includes three innovatively created easy to install soft foam pads which attach to the top of the optical drive tray. The pads can be installed by even the most amateur of gamers within two minutes and will ensure the security of any disc media while in play. Gamers can now rest assured that their expensive games will not be susceptible to any form of scratching even under the most dynamic of conditions.
The Zoozen 'Protector' is now shipping and retails for a price of $7.45. Retail and distribution inquiries are welcome, and media samples are available upon request. For further information on the Zoozen 'Protector' please contact press -AT- zoozen.com.
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Official Site: http://www.zoozen.com
Pre-Order Now: USA/CAN | World
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Next-Gen.biz: Gaffes and Blunders in 2006
>> From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
It's that time again. The videogame industry has commenced its end of year back-patting ritual, congratulating itself for another year of fine games and good business. While it's true that some good things did happen, we should also recall those dubious achievements that set new standards for failure.
10. Phantom: Four Years of Nada
09. Microsoft's Non-Exclusive Exclusive
With third parties granting fewer platform exclusives, Microsoft scored big. The two primary soccer franchises, Pro Evolution Soccer from Konami and FIFA from Electronic Arts, would be found only on the Microsoft Xbox 360 for an entire year. Industry analysts were impressed that the Xbox 360 was proving so attractive. Sony fans were in deep shock that the PlayStation 3 had been passed over before it had even been properly born. And Konami executives were similarly floored that Microsoft had a lock on their game without cutting them in on the deal.
Konami put out a short press release to set the record straight, and confirmed to reporters that Microsoft had in no way secured a next-gen exclusivity deal. Microsoft with the own goal. Well played.
08. Jack Hits Gulf States
07. Nintendo Says 'when hand gets sweaty, simply wipe 'em'
06. When Hollywood Schemers Attack
Microsoft is a big and sometimes implacably nasty company, but it could not beat the wiles of Hollywood's deal-makers. The Halo movie looks to be dead, done under by dirty deals.
05. Gizmondo Crashes, Exec Follows Suit
04. How much do you want for Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A?
Sales of nothingness -- virtual items and downloadable games -- are booming this year. However, consumer frustration with the evolving system may be increasing at an even greater rate, and that's bad business.
Really, can you blame the poor videogame consumer? Here we have Electronic Arts trying to sell cheat codes, Bethesda asking $2.50 to put virtual armor on a virtual horse. Consumers can already see where this is headed: publishers lure players in with a low fee up front and then bleed the wallet dry with a thousand tiny downloads.
03. Bill of Rights -- Void Where Prohibited by Law
The state governments of Michigan, Minnesota, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and of course Illinois each passed a law restricting the sales of videogames, and each has been stopped by the courts. Apparently there are things called "constitutions" which grant "rights" like "free speech" which "activist judges" are using to strike down the very laws which will protect our children from rock and r...videogames.
02. E3 'Really Not Dead' Say Chumps
01. Headline Writers Conjoin 'Sony' and 'Woes'
Sony's 2006 was mainly about an absence of things to sell, which the company said would be there but which weren't even though lots of people wanted to buy them. Oooof.
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Read More: next-gen.biz (3 pages)
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft Hints At Zune Games Content
>> From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
Xbox European boss Chris Lewis has admitted for the first time that Microsoft is considering games content for the recently released portable multimedia player Zune.
Speaking to consumer website Total Video Games, Lewis stated, "You can already plug your Zune device into your Xbox 360 to stream music, pictures and video content. Looking ahead, the vision for connected entertainment provides a number of consumer scenarios and with our heritage in Xbox and Games For Windows, gaming is certainly something we're considering for the device."
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Read More: gamasutra.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
KeyDriveXtractor (KDX) Ultimate for Xtreme 5.0
>> SC3N3R of F360TEAM released a new version of KeyDrive Xtractor/Patcher(info) (KDX) Ultimate updated with C4E's Xtreme v5.0 TS-H943 FW:
[QUOTE]
KDX Ultimate is a software capable to correct the E66 error induced by the last XBOX 360 dashboard update. The best advantage for this version it's capable to create an Xtreme 5.0A/B firmware with MS25 validation, avoiding this error.
To create this firmware, you don't need to download the Xtreme firmware. KDX Ultimate have built-in code capable to work directly with your original firmware making all the process a child game.
All this is only to make all more easy to join us to the Scene of the 360.
Features:
* KDX Ultimate for Xtreme 5.0 can create Xtreme 5.0A/B firmwares patching your dumped firmware.
* KDX Ultimate for Xtreme 5.0 is very easy to use, only follow the steps.
* KDX Ultimate for Xtreme 5.0 DON'T CONTAIN illegal software. It uses build-in software to patch firmwares (like a ppf file).
* You don't need to have Xtreme 5.0 pack in your PC.
Before using:
* You need dump your original firmware with MTKFLASH
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Official Site: http://www.foros360.com
Download: n/a (may be illegal under DMCA/EUCD)
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Trailer: Halo 3 ViDoc 'Et Tu, Brute?'
>> From Major Nelson's Blog:
[QUOTE]
Name: Halo 3 ViDoc "Et Tu, Brute?" Trailer (480p/720p)
Price: Free
NOT Available in: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Republic Of, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan
Dash Details: In the second Bungie "Vidoc" we take a long hard look at the ferocious new antagonist for Master Chief, the Brute. Now that a tentative alliance has formed between Humans and Elites, the fighting focus of Halo 3 switches to the monstrous Brutes. These tenacious foes have improved graphically with the advent of the Halo 3 engine and the power of the Xbox 360, but more importantly, their tactics, weapons, vehicles and AI have all followed suit, making the Brutes the worthiest opponents the Chief has ever faced. See how the designers, artists and programmers set about the herculean task of replacing a fan favorite - the mighty Elite - with an unforgettably ferocious adversary. See how Brutes behave in packs and as individuals with brilliant new animation and AI. Take a first look at the new Brute graphics, weapon and armor designs and finally, get the first ever public glimpse at Halo's legendary Campaign.
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For those who can't get it from LIVE ... here's the video from gamevideos.com:
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
XFPS 360 Final testing complete and User manual available!
>> From the press release:
[QUOTE]
We're delighted to launch the official website for the XFPS 360 (buy now: USA/CAN | World) at www.xcmlive.com. This must have keyboard and mouse adapter for Xbox 360 on top of every gamers wish list, and soon fragging abilities will reach an all time high! The XFPS 360 is not merely a 'one trick pony', it even allows the use of conventional PS2 controllers and peripherals (on Xbox 360) as well as adding turbo fire function to the Xbox 360 control set. We have just made a new informative post regarding the XFPS 360 at www.xcmlive.com.
Latest News: XFPS 360 Final testing complete & User manual available!
It is with great pleasure that we announce final testing of the XFPS 360 has been completed successfully! Please refer to the image below as a testament to the completion of the XFPS 360 and one of our engineering staff happily firing away. Full stock of the XFPS 360 will be shipping to retailers very soon, but until that time comes we'd like to quench your thirst with an important announcement: The XFPS 360 is fully customizable!
We've been literally inundated with masses of e-mails inquiring whether users can create their own custom button configurations in addition to the default setting. The answer is a resounding yes! Feel free to view the text-based manual for the XFPS 360 which denotes almost everything you need to know about the magical device.
On a final note, review samples will be available but in limited supplies only. If you as a member of the gaming media wish to feature the XFPS 360 in your publication, then we'd be grateful if you could register your interest as soon as possible.
Stay tuned over the coming days as more announcements will be made here regarding the XFPS 360.
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Buy Now ($79.99): USA/CAN | World
Official Site: www.teamxtender.com and www.xcmlive.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
XbeFix
>> A new command prompt tool for patching non-booting xbe's (for c4a's Xtreme v5.0)
This will attempt to fix a patched xbe file so that it's signature and hashes are valid again. It checks the signature and hashes and tries different values for commonly patched parts of an xbe file until the expected signature and hashes are reached.
If something such as the game title string is patched, then it is basically impossible to guess what it orignially was, so try patching this back to its original string before running this tool. This also applies for other non-generic patches that this tool would not be likely to know.
Official Site: n/a (by xorloser)
Download: n/a (May be illegal under EULA/DMCA)
News-Source: xbins.org
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Team Xecuter Blaster360 Update
>> From Team Xecuter:
[QUOTE]
First off all we know the Blaster360(pre-order now: USA/CAN | World) is taking longer than expected, we can only go as fast as the desired end result dictates.
OK, after we had a final version manufactured to beta a few weeks ago, we have embarked on an exhaustive testing process (and jees am I glad we did too!). When I say tested, I mean I had guys knock the shit out of this product and tried to break it anyway they could. Of course the answer is yes they did break it, many times, and we have fixed/solved every problem so it REALLY is now ready to roll out of the factory. No one is more down about the fact it's not ready for Xmas season than we are, however of course no one is going to argue that we wanted to get this right - because you have NO idea how accurate this thing has to be (initially we thought it would be MUCH easier/simpler than this - boy were we wrong)
Just for referance these are some of the main points highlighted by our hardcore beta testers with all their analysis hardware (along with the result from the factory)
1. Cross talk interferance issue on SATA bus (ODD on rare occassions can not be detected by PC) : Fixed by complete new re-layout of PCB to split low-frequence and high-frequence layer and traces, and modify layout of ground panel (2nd layer) and vcc panel (3rd layer) to eliminate interferance.
Beta tester Result: No longer has the cross talk interferance problem
2. Timing diagram of modeb signal delayed output to ODD (it would switch ODD into wrong mode) : Fixed by changing IC XXXXXXX to IC XXXXXXX, because we found XXXXXX has faster timing of Tpd-HL than XXXXXXX to avoid the timing delay problem, and XXXXX can now work on 3.3V so reduced components.
Beta tester Result: No longer has any Modeb problems
3. Occassional ground issue (leaks when reading from ODD) : Improve ground return trace and connection to have better quality of signal of SATA.
Beta tester Result: No longer has any Ground leaks
4. Power input auto-switching function improved (for those that don't know the Blaster360 lies idle until the Molex PSU is plugged into - then it auto switches in Blaster360 mode - no manual setting up whatsoever. The only thing you must do is make sure your Xbox360 PSU is unplugged (of course) or youll be having fireworks for Xmas...probably (haven't really had the nerve to try that one myself - maybe someone is daring and will post on YouTube )
5. PCB construction and installation improved: No cutting of the metal case of the XB360 whatsoever, even easier to install than before.
6. LED Green/Blue/Glow function improved.
We polled our Beta testers with a Q&A to give us an idea of a BETA/RTF(*) image....
On average the Beta Blaster scored an 8.5/10
After all the fixes applied EVERY single tester gave it a Double Thumbs Up 10/10!
We are now very very happy with this product. Please understand we have put a LOT of development and testing into this and can only say sorry to those who have waited so long to get their hands on one. I can now estimate that the release will be in the next 2 weeks. Im talking to retailers about RRP - It will probably be around $70 (and before anyone bitches about the price we only make about $15 from that - and of course you dont HAVE to buy it. We spent a lot of money developing this - that kind of effort doesnt come cheap and it certainley doesnt come free - the mould alone cost us $35k).
(*) btw RTF is what we term as RELEASE TO FACTORY (thats when our dev team gives a final GO on a product design)
PS many congrats to c4e - Xtreme v5.0 really is outstanding work
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: http://www.team-xecuter.com
Pre-Order ($70): USA/CAN | World
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Next-Gen.biz: Japan's Best Games of the Year
>> From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
Offering a personal and entertaining view, our Tokyo-based columnist Tim Rogers offers up his favorite 20 games of the year from Japan.
14. Earth Defense Force 3 / Xbox 360 / D3 Publisher
13. Lost Planet / Xbox 360 / Capcom
03. Blue Dragon / Xbox 360 / Microsoft
01. Dead Rising / Xbox 360 / Capcom
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: next-gen.biz
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
UK University Trials XNA Game Studio Express
>> From teamxbox.com:
[QUOTE]
The University of Bradford announced today it has been giving suggestions and advice for Microsoft's XNA Game Studio Express, a new set of applications that allow video game enthusiasts the chance to create their own games for the Xbox 360.
Head of Electronic Imaging and Media Communications (EIMC) at the University of Bradford, Dr Ian Palmer, said: "We're very pleased to be part of the initial launch of Microsoft's XNA Game Studio Express. The software will provide our students with the opportunity to easily experiment with their ideas with the knowledge that they will be able to see their invention in reality.
[/QUOTE]
Read More: teamxbox.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Encode360 v2.0 beta4
>> Dan released a new version of Encode360(info) - an application which will convert virtually any video format to high quality WMV's which can be played by the X-Box 360 or the Microsoft Zune device.
What's new/fixed:
Added:
* Force Quality Based Audio option
* Force 2-Channel Downmix option
Changed:
* Lots of audio encoding changes. You don't need to know the technical details, except for that 2-pass audio encoding modes use CBR audio, unless forced to Quality based VBR. These are the only two encoding options that don't cause an overwhelming amount of problems.
* Audio bitrates are now validated to ensure that the encoding mode / codec supports them
* Reverted back to configuring AC3Filter when using 5.1 audio (main culprit of the Invalid Media Format errors)
* Moving a processed file no longer fails if the file is in use (ie, being seeding by a torrent application). Will write a warning to the log instead
Fixed:
* Monitor / Create / Move files options couldn't be removed if you had saved settings
* Deleting or moving a file in a monitored folder would cause an error
* Component checks could cause an error if a specific component wasn't found
Official Site: http://www.dcunningham.net
Downloads + Instructions: here
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xtreme firmware 5.0A and 5.0B for TS-H943
>> A New firmware for the Toshiba-Samsung TS-H943 drive released by commodore4eva!
Whats new:
(V5.0) Single Layer DVD disc support(+/-R) for both Xbox1 and 360
(V5.0) Xbox1 file ISO support - burn just game files to disk in ISO format
(V5.0) Xbox1 file ISO capacity increase to utilise full disk space for single layer
(v5.0) 360 file ISO support (Work in progress. New QWIX tool to come)
(V5.0) Supports older style XBox1 disk format (just burn game.iso)
(v5.0) Enable0800 disk now supported on single layer disk
(v5.0) New 5.0a (fast always) and 5.0b (slow always) read speed option (Originals unaffected)
A Few side notes:
This release will play previously burnt (if supported) xbox 1 games, but only if they are built with gdfimage or another builder based on it. Qwix(info) built images have different header information and will not boot! A new version will be out soon enough to fix these issues. Also, xbe's that are patched/modifed will also not boot, due to the signature being broke.
360 iso based Single Layer images are still being worked on. The support is there in v5, but the protection must be figured out on the disc structure. Qwix should be the first program to do this, and there is no ETA.
Official Site: (n/a by commodore4eva)
Download: n/a (May be illegal under EULA/DMCA)
News-Source: xbins.org
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
XboxMediaCenter (XBMC) 2006-12-17 SVN rev7377 build - T3CH
>> T3CH released a new SVN compile of XboxMediaCenter(info), the 3rd since the v2.0.1 point-release.
This T3CH-compile is a complete snapshot of what is in SVN at the time the build was compiled, with just a few small additions.
Special Notes and Noteworthy/XML/Script changes:
* Since I haven't seen any newer version of AMT than 0.93.5, I applied the fix floating around so atleast it works now.
* I also tweaked the win32 'run_me_first.bat' so it runs and then unmounts the virtual drives when you exit.
* I'm also including the 'XBMC Win32 PC environment' .exe that is meant for skinners & python developers, read more about the concept here. It was built using Microsoft DirectX Summer 2004 SDK.
Here's the added stuff since the 2006-12-10 SVN Rev7340 Build:
* added: music db function to get primary album artists only
* added: missing file formats for cube codec.
For the full changelog (fixed/changed/updated stuff) click here.
Keep in mind this is a SVN snapshot of the current development tree. It's not an official (stable) point release. Use only if you know what you are doing.
Official Site: www.xboxmediacenter.com (manual and FAQ)
Download Binaries: n/a (built with XDK) | Download SourceCode: here
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Encode360 v2.0 beta3a
>> Dan released a new version of Encode360(info) - an application which will convert virtually any video format to high quality WMV's which can be played by the X-Box 360 or the Microsoft Zune device:
[QUOTE]
Finally, Beta 3 is now available! This has turned into a fairly hefty project for me and one of the reasons it's taken quite a while to get it out the door. I'm extremely pleased to say though, that it's been worth the wait.
I've spent a huge amount of time developing this app for you good people. If you feel it's made you a better person, improved your sex life, or just plain made you happier, please donate something to keep the project going.
Here's the full changelog since beta 2:
Added:
- Total UI Overhaul. Too many changes to list
- Pre-Processing Scriptlets - expand Encode360 with community developed pre-processing scripts. See the new PPS forum for details
- Video Postview (shows what the encoded file will be like, i.e. Shows subtitles, cropping etc)
- Monitoring and automatic processing/encoding of files in a particular folder
- TS Filetype support
- MOV Filetype Support
- Full support for Zune (bitrate recommendations from Microsoft)
- 2 Pass Encoding
- CBR, Peak based VBR and Bitrate based VBR Modes
- Predefined bitrates for best streaming quality on CBR & Peak VBR modes
- Automatic Content Analysis and Video Optimisation for Standard, Interlace, Deinterlace and Inverse Telecine
- UI culture independance. Should now work regardless of your regional settings
- Proper About Box featuring a Donation button! (hint hint)
Changed:
- AC3Filter now gets configured to bypass audio AS IS, instead of setting to 1, 2, or 5.1 chanels. This saves us a lot of problems, and because we're bypassing the audio mixer, it should also re-encode at the same volume as the input file
- Audio quality is now limited to conform to WMA codec standards
- Files are removed from the encode list as they are successfully encoded
- You can no longer accidentally close the UI if encoding is in progress
- Stopping an encode no longer gives a Cancelled error
- Improved FFMpeg parsing
- Better status messages
- Better definitions on logging
Fixed:
- Selecting Zune as output resolution while using a Bitrate mode resulted in a "SelectedIndex" error (beta3a)
- Using the /Auto commandline switch with Monitor mode resulted in a "No files selected" error (beta3a)
- Minimise to System Tray didn't minimise the PostView and Advanced Settings windows if they were open (beta3a)
- Not auto-scaling outputted the file at a weird resolution
- If the video bitrate can't be discovered with FFMpeg, you can still continue
- Stopping an encode and then doing a batch encode afterwards was fail after the first file
- x64 FFDShow wasn't being recognised correctly
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: http://www.dcunningham.net
Downloads + Instructions: here
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Maximus 360 Firmware Toolbox v3.0 - Flash HLG v78!
>> Maximus published the official release of the new version of his 360 Firmware Toolbox(info) - a graphical tool to handle several common dvd-drive firmware tasks. This new version comes with support to flash Hitachi-LG drives including the new v78 and more!
What's new/fixed (since v2.0):
* Added: Direct Dumping of GDR3120L drives attached to PC. Also features a new RAW memdump wich is not fooled by the stealth method on currently hacked drives. Even can dump the nasty 78 drives all by software.
* Added: Direct Flashing of Keys, Spoof data and also Direct flash of hacked firmwares over all hitachi drive models attached to the PC. Even flash the 0078FK drives and newer (I hope). So forgot epoxy removal for now. See video tutorial here
* Added: Option to do a Smart hack on those "Rolling Code" Firmwares like 78 and surely newer ones
* Added: Option to create multibank fw
* Added: Option to split multibank fw
* Added: Option to Spoof a firmware, you can spoof a Hitachi XX version to a Hitachi YY version, you can even spoof a hitachi Fw to report as a samsung drive.
* Added: Option validate checksum, this will allow detect proper and bad dumps before flashing
Known Issues:
* If the context menu is not shown when you right-click over a file just open the application and do Options-Disable Windows Menu and then Options-Enable Windows Context Menu.
* RAWDUMP does not work fine with SIL chipsets, be aware of use the validate checksum feature to avoid bad dumps and bricks.
Donations:
For support and sponsorship donations look under 'Help'>'Donations' in the application.
Official Site: n/a, by Maximus
Download: here
News-Source/Full Readme: xbins.org
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Blu-ray HD-DVD Stalemate may Boost Dual-Format Devices
>> From digitimes.com:
[QUOTE]
The stalemate in the Blu-ray Disc (BD) and HD DVD battle to become the mainstream blue-laser DVD standard may encourage makers to offer dual-format optical disc devices compatible with both formats, according to Taiwanese makers concerned.
Samsung Electronics has planned to offer dual-format recorders that can record and play back BD and HD DVD movies, the sources pointed out. Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS), a member of the Blu-ray Disc Association, is considering production of dual-format devices, the sources indicated, noting that a dual-format device would be more expensive than a single-format device.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: digitimes.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
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