Filed under: Gaming, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Cookie cutter gadget? Passe. It’s all about skins, even the kind that may or may not ruin the shiny new finish on your valued consumer electronics. Submitted for your approval: tons of skins for your rare and lustworthy devices. Ok, so the 360 isn’t much of a skin, but we find the literal use of the term rather amusing, and when was the last time you saw a fake-fur faceplate?

P.S. -Big ups on the Xbox 360 and Eames-inspired PS3 and Wii skins above.

[Via Joystiq, thanks Craig]

Read - PS3 skins
Read - Wii skins
Read - Zune skins
Read - PSP, Xbox, etc. “skins”

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment

We realize the fall update’s only been out a few weeks, but it seems like an eternity for those of us that have been waiting since last November to stream media to our Xbox 360s without the need for a Media Center PC. A new TVersity patch allows users to transcode video to WMV — now in real time — for immediate distribution to their 360 over Windows Media Connect without the pain of duped files and finding a good WMV encoder. A little fuss, a little muss, and a few minor niggles to keep this from being a prime time solution, but still, there isn’t exactly a plethora of ways to get your DivX onto your Xbox, so be grateful you’ve got at least something for now as the hardworking hacker front actually gives the people what the people want, whether or not it fits into Microsoft’s digital media business plan.

[Via Joystiq]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Gaming, HDTV

The two biggest questions since Microsoft announced its Xbox Live Video Marketplace have been: 1. does anyone still has enough space on their Xbox 360’s 20GB hard drive for movie downloads in high definition? and 2. does anyone — even the guys at Redmond — have enough bandwidth to feed the HDTVs of millions of Xbox Live subscribers? Since launching two days ago those questions have been answered with a yes and resounding no, respectively. Users have complained of slow downloads that time out, receiving different files than the ones they requested and being charged twice when trying to complete timed-out rental downloads. Major Nelson has chimed in on the issue, letting us know that the company is aware of the problem and will refund Microsoft Points to all those who call 1-800-4MYXBOX for assistance. Good luck with that, though, as at least one person was told there aren’t any managers available to refund customers until after the holiday weekend. So while network engineers and management sleep off yesterday’s turkey and camp out for cheap plasmas, you may want to hold off trying to download Clash of the Titans in 720p ’till things get straightened out.

[Thanks, WiFiSpy]

Read - My Xbox 360 video rental nightmare
Read - Video Marketplace Status

 

Permalink | Email this | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Gaming

Well, here we are. 2006, and perhaps the last console launch of the decade. And here they are, all decked out n’ pretty. Go ahead, debate it. Just be nice, ok? At the end of the day the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, they’re only video game consoles, and we love our babies the same. Oh, catch some more flame-stoking conversation-inspiring pics after the break.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Features, Gaming, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Peripherals

Well looky looky here, we landed an Xbox HD DVD drive. We’re already all well aware of what it can and can’t do; we just know you want the pics of the unboxing, it sitting next to the Xbox, and maybe a few bonus shots next to a real life HD DVD player. Hell, we’ll even throw in some pics of it next to the competition (you know what we’re talking about). Click on, enjoy!

Ah, that familiar sight.

There we go, that’s what we were looking for.

The back.

The top, sorta.

Crack that one open, too!

Remote! Adapter! USB cable!

Stacked up on top.

The hardware in the box, unpacked.

Okay! Now, we’re SO not taking responsibility for that sticker up on the back. Normally we just leave stickers on while photographing (unless it’s on the facade, like that white one) but for whatever reason our unit came with the remnants of some badge, torn off and sticky gross, unable to be removed. We’d assume your retail unit probably won’t have the same issue.

Flipped.

USB ports and WiFi adapter groove.

Facade sticker removed.

Ruh roh!

That’s a big HD DVD player.

The shot we know you’ve been waiting for.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Features, Gaming, HDTV, Home Entertainment

There are wild rumors, and there are interesting rumors, but here’s a doozy for ya: Xbox Live could soon start vending HD movie content, according to one freshly minted Wordpress blog (take that for what it’s worth). According to Shsibae (huh?), over 1000+ hours of video will make its way onto Live for rental at about $4 a go, or for purchase (at an unstated price). Hard to imagine Xbox 360 doing for PC-free online movie downloads what all the other companies couldn’t or haven’t (we’re looking at you TiVo, Netflix, iTV, etc.), but then again Microsoft did start up with that Xbox Live music video download thing last year. Seriously though, what a coup would that be if Microsoft swooped in to make the Xbox 360 the premier digital content hub — with or without HD DVD — right underneath Sony’s nose at the eve of their PlayStation 3 launch? We just hope Microsoft would have a larger drive waiting in the wings if this one turns up roses though, our 20GB is already packed to the gills with game demos.

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Gaming

Ah, Wintel. The mere convergence of the words “Windows” and “Intel” harkens back to a simpler time (call it the 1980s and 1990s), when Microsoft and Intel were literally joined at the hip. Microsoft provided the software, and Intel brought the brains. Today in the aught decade, everything’s all whacked — Apple has partnered with Intel, dumping IBM. Meanwhile, Microsoft is in the video game business, and now powers its Xbox with IBM chips. Well, get ready for yet another change in the who’s-in-bed-with-whom story: Microsoft is leaving IBM. Who’s the lucky bride? Itself! Yes, that’s right, according to a report in yesterday’s Gray Lady, Microsoft will be starting its own chip design division, with the ultra-creative name: “The Computer Architecture Group,” and will be split between Redmond, Washington and Mountain View, California. The venerable NYT adds that Microsoft will use the lab to beef up chips in the next-generation Xbox (the Xbox 720?), and will be headed by Charles P. Thacker (pictured here working on the CAG gang sign). He’s formerly of the legendary Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, where he helped work on the original Alto and the invention of Ethernet. All that aside, we’re kinda concerned that IBM doesn’t get too depressed over this development, and hope that Big Blue will at least get the kids, the car, and the house.

[Via TG Daily]

 

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

---

BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time

Filed under: Announcements

Just because it’s the weekend doesn’t mean you can’t win more kit from Engadget. Check it out, today we’re throwing up an Xbox 360 Premium bundle. Just in case you haven’t been reading Engadget for the last year or so, here’s what it comes with:

• Xbox 360 console (soon with 1080p output!)
• 20GB drive add-on
• Wireless controller
• Xbox headset
• Component high def AV cable
• Ethernet cable

You’ll have until Thursday the 28th to enter; we’ll pick somebody at random who tells us in the comments what their favorite 360 game is, and who follows these rules:

• You may enter other Engadget contests, however…
• You may only enter this contest once; if you enter more than once on this particular contest post you’ll be automatically disqualified and barred from all future giveaways. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.) You may enter future Engadget relaunch giveaway contests!
• You can only win once. (If you win and then try to go for a second prize during our relaunch giveaways, you’ll be automatically disqualified, etc.)
• Contest is open to everybody!
• You will be shipped your Xbox in a few weeks when all our contests are over. Thanks for your patience!

Ok everybody, good luck! Oh, by the way, check out our other contests going on right now!

• Be the first to win a Zune!
• We got two Slingboxes for ya, too!
• And a Philips 42PF9631D 42-inch plasma!

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

---

SPONSORED BY: BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time.

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Peripherals, Storage

Xbox wasn’t showing up to TGS empty-handed, nosiree. They’ve finally stepped up with a couple of interesting, albeit expected, announcements. First up: the Xbox 360 HD DVD drive finally has a price and date of launch — for Japan. The land that forgot the Xbox are first to have their HD DVD add-on announced, due to hit overseas streets on November 17th for ¥19,800. That’s about $170 US, which is not only an awesomely and unexepectedly low price for an HD DVD device (especially when bundled with a Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote), but it’s also a good indication that the US version of the device should be around the $200 range when released in the US, as we’ve been predicting. Part two: a software update this year will enable 1080p output on the friggin’ Xbox 360! Your rig will finally benefit by pushing the full 60 megapixels per second of visuals to your compatible HDTV. Sorry, no HDMI cable yet (or ever?), though, this is only over component and VGA. Users can expect 1080p upscaling immediately on current games and DVDs and native 1080p on compatible HD DVD titles, but Microsoft hasn’t yet announced future games that will rock 1080p natively. Watch out Sony, that whole 1080p song and dance isn’t such a marketing edge for you guys anymore.

P.S. -Just to sate your curiosity, we were chatting with Shane Kim about this stuff and asked specifically about 360s with an internal HD DVD. Microsoft’s answer is and continues to be a staunch no. That whole thing about paying for what you need, etc.

Update: It would appear there’s some contradictory information already — Reuters is reporting that it’ll be November 22nd for ¥20,790 (about $180 US). Our press release and conversation with Shane Kim are both pretty straight up about November 17th for ¥19,800, so we’ll see how it unfurls. Ultimately it shouldn’t matter too much to those reading this post, we’re still talking about the Japanese release of the device.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

---

SPONSORED BY: BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time.

Filed under: Gaming

It’s one of the principles of supply and demand that as supply goes up while demand is down, the great equalizer is lowering the price; well, Microsoft finally has the supply they were after with the Xbox 360, but the demand sure as hell isn’t there in Japan. So what’s Redmond to do? Dump ‘em off for about ¥29,800, or about $255, a solid $86 US off its current retail price and $45 less than in the US. First the UK, now Japan — what’s America got to do to catch a break with the 360, play hard to get and stop buying the damned things?

[Thanks, theburn16]

Update: Well wouldn’t you know it, our Japanese bureau informed us that they aren’t actually slashing the price, but are just introducing the Core system to the Japanese market. Still, it’s at a price far less than that of its US counterparts — and it kind of makes you wonder why they didn’t launch the more affordable version over in the Japanese market to begin with. Japanese 360 buyers: it’s coming your way November 2nd!

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

If you’re one of the few hardcore folks that have been getting by with a hacked Street Fighter joystick on your Xbox 360, Mad Catz is (hopefully) coming to the rescue. All signs are currently pointing towards the impending release of a retro-styled Xbox Live Arcade Stick that not only adds an entirely new dimension to those immensely addicting HD Xbox Live arcade titles, but is rumored to actually include a few with the purchase of the ’stick. While things aren’t set in stone quite yet, a few internet sleuths nabbed a screen cap (hit the read link for a peek) of the pre-order page — which was quickly yanked, of course — that shows an awkwardly high $69.99 price and an October ship date. Our friends over at Joystiq have claimed that the yankage occurred because Mad Catz still hasn’t finalized which games it’ll toss in, and for reasons beyond our understanding, have suggested that we’ll see a $49.99 pricetag when the pre-order (really) officially starts. Whatever the holdup, we’re glad to see someone stepping up and offering us retro gamers a controller that feels a bit more natural, and we’ll consider this kit a much more worthwhile purchase should it actually drop for under 50 bucks.

[Via Joystiq]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Gaming

A few juicy hints were dropped by Microsoft’s Robert Walker on Monday in regards to a special FPS controller in the works for the Xbox 360. His comments were made at Gamefest in Seattle, and he was quick to clarify that Microsoft has no concrete plans for the device, but that it’s more of a long term exploration. Sadly, it’s no replacement for the tried-and-true keyboard/mouse combination: Microsoft is merely working on a new right analog stick that would be better with the precise movements required for FPS and game types. The controller wouldn’t replace the current, well-praised offering, but would merely be an option for enthusiasts and competitive types. Microsoft is also dropping more hints about some sort of motion sensing technology implementation in a future 360 controller, stating that their experiments with joysticks weren’t well promoted to developers, but playing it safe by dissing the sensitivity of the tech for FPS and racing use. The main question seems to be: will it rumble?

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Gaming

Following the horrific incident in 2004 in which four dim-witted individuals perpetrated a home invasion and mass murder in order to “reclaim” their repo’ed Xbox, comes another tale of disputed console ownership leading to tragic consequences. A 20-year-old Seattle man returned to his former residence on Thursday in an attempt to take possession of an Xbox that he had supposedly purchased, and in a classic example of “if I can’t play with this toy then no one can,” tossed the ‘Box right through a window and into the front yard. Not content with destroying what may have been his own property, the young man returned later that night and set fire to home’s back porch, and although no injuries were reported, the structure was apparently completely gutted. Making the suspect even more eligible for the “Stupid Criminals’ Hall of Fame” was the fact that he called the house from a payphone (while it was still burning, presumably) to brag of his crime and make additional threats. The lesson here: videogames may or may not incite folks to violence, but fighting over them sure does.

[Via Joystiq]

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Gaming, HDTV, Home Entertainment

For Microsoft to demo their forthcoming Xbox 360 HD DVD isn’t that surprising; to see them show off some UI mockups, ok, maybe a teensy bit surprising; to hear them give a price? Pretty shocking — but they didn’t, they gave a price range, and a nebulous one at that. HD Beat has it that during Microsoft’s presentation at the North America DVD Forum Conference, the 360’s HD DVD drive was said to “be the cheapest HD DVD player on the market for consumers who already own an Xbox 360 console.” In other words, means it’ll cost you less than a half a grand — which is even less encouraging than what we heard before. Gee, thanks; playing this one close to the chest, are you Microsoft? Don’t make us consult inside sources, because you know what happens when we do.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

From the looks of it our own Stephen Speicher was on to something in his latest edition of The Clicker. We've received word from a trusted insider (no, not Mr. Speicher) that the shape everyone's been expecting the Zune to take may not be the approach most people (including us) assumed. Here's what we learned:

• The Zune name isn't being kicked around with Microsoft; so as far as we know that's still a project codename, but probably will not be the device's final title. This is no surprise.
• Microsoft's forthcoming portable will not use Microsoft's established media platforms. This includes Windows Media, Windows Media Player, URGE, PlaysForSure DRM, and probably also Portable Media Center. Instead it will use its own software, music store, and DRM that will be incompatible with all the major stores, systems, and device out there right now. Yes, this will piss off the industry (and some of the Microsoft faithful) to no end.
  
• Due to this approach, the system is being referred to as the "Integrated Experience." This, we can assume, is not going to be positioned as the final name for the device, but the implications of the description and MO are clear.
  
• It will be wireless and not flash-based, so large storage capacities are to be expected; wireless music trading is an important part of the device's feature set and marking presence. This we all already knew.
  
• All this information does not conflict with information we've received from our other trusted sources.

We know, we know, this raises more questions than it answers. When Microsoft has already invested millions in establishing their software and DRM platforms, hooking up with huge names like Napster, Yahoo, Real, and MTV, and encouraging hardware partners to get Microsoft-centric devices on the market, now they're going to throw all that away and compete with everyone else (and themselves)? Well, the answer is very simple. In order to fight fire with fire against Apple, it's obvious a music service + device ecosystem like what Microsoft offers now can't compare to the user experience of an incredibly tight vertical integration. Microsoft can't take on the iPod without taking on its own platforms and partners -- they have to fight fire with fire.

If J. Allard and his crew at Microsoft really are behind this project, these details make perfect sense. The corporate culture of the company is such that Allard's team is expected to work outside the confines of Microsoft's typical boundaries, which might otherwise hinder the company getting a foothold in previously unentered markets. Does anyone actually think the Xbox 360 is anything like the normal Microsoft product and marketing experience? No. But it's definitely shaping up so Microsoft's media player is going to be more media player than Microsoft.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Filed under: Features, Portable Audio, Porta