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Week of November 9, 2008
XBMC for Xbox 'Atlantis' released
>> From xbmc.org:
[QUOTE]
Team-XBMC is proud to announce the cross-platform release of XBMC Media Center for Linux, Mac OS X (Leopard, Tiger, and Apple TV), Windows, and Xbox, code named 'Atlantis'.
We've reached the end of over 3 months of bug bashing, and have closed 425 tickets for this release and, while there are still some bugs outstanding, we feel that 'Atlantis' is reasonably stable, and thus it's time to move on and get cracking on new features. We've branched for release, and will maintain this branch with critical bug fixes while we move on and begin working on new features in the main linuxport trunk.
Thanks to all in the community who have made this possible by reporting bugs and suggesting improvements. In particular we'd like to recognise the sterling efforts of Sho who was our release manager for 'Atlantis', diligently handling the trac system on behalf of developers. We'd also like to thank our new QA team of Arnova, SandmanCL and ShortySco for their help verifying bug reports and making it easier for the devs to concentrate on fixing bugs.
Go grab XBMC 'Atlantis' and let us know how it goes!
[/QUOTE]
T3CH released a new SVN compile (rev16144 - Atlantis 8.10 Final) of XBMC for Xbox(info).
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 T3CH Notes and Noteworthy/XML/Script changes:
* Say Hi to XBMC Atlantis 8.10. It might be a while until next build, it all depends on the Xbox development activity.
* Team Razorfish's MediaStream skin updated to 0.97 see here, AMT upgraded to 0.99.7.1 rev2372, I changed to SVN Repo Installer thx to Nuka1195's suggestion and last but not least AMT II Plugin readded for this release.
Official XBMC Site: http://xbmc.org (manual and FAQ)
Official T3CH Site: http://t3ch.yi.se (release RSS feed)
Downloads: Xbox Bins (n/a - built with XDK) | other platforms | sourcecode
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Having Xbox LIVE Connection issues? *Update 5*
>> From majornelson.com:
[QUOTE]
In the past few hours, the Xbox Operations Center noticed that large number of members were disconnected from Xbox LIVE, some more than once. Our Engineering teams are actively working to determine the root cause of this issue and to prevent it from happening again. If you are disconneced, you should be able to reconnect after a few minutes. Thanks for your patience as we work quickly to solve the issue.
Update: I've learned that these issues have been resolved. Thanks for your patience.
Update1: From reading comments, I see that some folks are still having issues. The Operations center is investigating.
Update2: If you are having issues, I suggest you contact support. At this point LIVE members should have no problem connecting and staying connected to LIVE.
Update3: We're noticing a few members are still having issues. We're investigating. Thanks. Keep an eye on the official Xbox.com status page for updates.
If you are having connection issues, please let post the following:
Issue, Gamertag, XYZ code, your connection type, ISP and your regions. Thanks.
If you are having problems connecting or you are getting discconnected we're looking for additional information.
Email me Major @ Xbox.com with your gamertag AND your Public IP.
Update4: We have enough information now. If we need more we'll respond via email. thx
Final update5: I have been informed by e that these issues have been resolved. You should have no further problems.
[/QUOTE]
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
NXE - What You Want to Know: Final Countdown
>> From the Xbox PR Blog:
[QUOTE]
It all started with you providing us feedback and we thank you for it. You've waited patiently (most of you - ha ha), and we thank you for that, too. You've checked in with us every Friday for weeks to learn about all of the features coming with the New Xbox Experience, like how to create an Avatar and how you can play with your Avatars in games.
We've shown you how you will have your very own video library of more than 12,000 streaming films and TV episodes with Netflix and how searching for Themes, map packs, movies, TV shows and other downloadable content will be even easier in the all-new Xbox LIVE Marketplace (which you can now access from the web!).
We've talked about playing from the hard drive, decreasing load times and noise from the spinning disc in tray. We showed you the Community Games channel and talked about how everyone can become an Xbox 360 developer.
You've explored the new Premium Themes and Friends Channel and checked out how the Gamercard, Gamerscore and Achievements will look in the new interface. We let you ride along during an Xbox LIVE Party where we jumped in and out of games, with one push of the button, chatting the entire time, and we shared our personal pictures with you in a Photo Party.
There is only one thing we haven't showed you yet, and that is how to get the New Xbox Experience next Tuesday. It's easy but in case you're having panic attacks and want to know every detail of the prompts you go through, check out a video that our own Major Nelson created below:
Only a few more days to go. Enough of us feeding you information from our point of view. Now it's all about you - It's *your* new experience. Enjoy your weekend and maybe do some of the things you've been putting off. Remember to kiss your husband/wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/gerbil because once NXE hits, you may not have as much time for them - you'll be too busy using the new features.
[/QUOTE]
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xbox 360 Installed Base to Surpass Original Xbox This Month
>> From gamedaily.com:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft's Mindy Mount, CFO of the Entertainment and Devices Division, is confident that the Xbox 360 will overtake the original Xbox by the end of November. Speaking at the BMO Capital Markets conference, she said that Xbox 360 will reach 25 million sold this month, which shows the momentum of the Xbox brand. It took the original Xbox over five years to hit that mark, but the 360 is on track to reach this milestone in about three years.
Mount continued, saying that the 25 million mark is "only a start" because console sales typically fare even better once they've reached lower price points, such as the Arcade SKU's recent price cut down to $199. "History shows that more than three quarters of console sales come at a price of $199 or lower," she noted.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: gamedaily.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
NPD October: 360 371k, PS3 190k, Wii 803k
>> From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
As usual, Nintendo's two current hardware platforms took the top hardware slot -- and while most platforms stayed in roughly the same sales ballpark as last month, Wii sales jumped well over 100,000 units to 803,000 units.
Meanwhile, Microsoft missed its claimed two-to-one sales dominance over the PS3, but only by a slim 9,000 units, with the Xbox 360 at 371,000 and the PlayStation at 190,000 units sold.
This month's hardware sales chart is as follows:
Wii - 803,000
Nintendo DS - 491,000
Xbox 360 - 371,000
PSP - 193,000
PlayStation 3 - 190,000
PlayStation 2 - 136,000
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: gamasutra.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
NXE Preview: Third (and final) wave
>> From majornelson.com:
[QUOTE]
We did it twice before and we're going to do it again. We're adding more people to the NXE Preview Program. This time, over 10,000 more Xbox LIVE members are being added in this third and final stage of the New Xbox Experience Preview Program. If you are chosen, you will receive an email later tonight (be sure to check your spam folder or add msftconn@microsoft.com to you safe list) followed by the update tomorrow (November 14th) afternoon (PT). As before, we're only pulling names from those that originally signed up (there is no way to sign up if you missed it, sorry) and this selection process will be at random from those that previously filled out the Connect Program Survey from my original post. Again, this is final wave. All Xbox LIVE members will be getting the New Xbox Experience via Xbox LIVE November 19th.
[/QUOTE]
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Rumor: Zune to double as additional Xbox storage
>> From xbox360fanboy.com:
[QUOTE]
The rumor comes from the latest Zune newsletter that posts a link to this survey. After click "Yes" to the first question, question number two asks "Have you ever connected your Zune to your Xbox to do any of the following?" Not newsworthy, except for the fact that one of the possible answers is "Use my Zune hard drive for extra Xbox storage". Interesting ...
Just don't get too excited, because survey answer could have duel meanings. It could be referring to a Zune being used as official Xbox 360 storage allowing game saves and Marketplace downloads, which would be BIG news. Or the survey answer could be referring to the Zune being a portable media device and used as music and picture storage for use on the 360. If that's the case, this isn't news.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: xbox360fanboy.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
MS 'Pretty Comfortable' With Economy, Expects 2:1 Dominance Over PS3
>> From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
Speaking at today's annual BMO Capital Markets Interactive Entertainment Conference, the company's Entertainment and Devices Division corporate VP and CFO discussed the challenges confronting the industry in the current climate.
"In tough economic times, people tend to cut back on very high-ticket items like travel and automobiles, but they still want to be entertained. Video games already offer some of the most hours of entertainment per dollar than any other form of entertainment."
"It's not to suggest that video games are recession proof, but... even in hard times, people want entertainment more than ever, and video games offer a greater value for the money."
"But also, a lot of what the interactive games business is driven by is the cycle of the platform, where you are in the platform, where you are in price points, and the titles that are out in the market today," said Mount.
And consumers have responded; according to Mount, console sales increased 42 percent month over month, 62 percent in Europe and a hefty 500 percent in Japan. "Later today, NPD is going to release October sales... and we expect these numbers will show that we continue to outsell [PS3] by a ratio of two to one."
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: gamasutra.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Cygnos360 Dual NAND Chip for Xbox360
>> From an PR email of Team Cygnos:
[QUOTE]
Cygnos, a team of dedicated console "technicans" is proud to anounce the upcoming release of our first product called "Cygnos360". Cygnos360 is a modchip for the easy installation directly onto the underside of the xbox360 mainboard.
Cygnos360 is a dual kernel modchip which adds a secondary NAND flash to the xbox 360 mainboard. It allows switching between the onboard NAND flash and the Cygnos360 NAND flash. By doing so, users can have an exploitable kernel version such as "4532" or "4548" at the same time as the current kernel version required to play the latest games. Cygnos360 can also be used for switching between kernels patched with different region codes so that users can easily switch between US and EU games for example.
A quick summary of the features:
- adds secondary flash to hold an "alternative kernel" that users can switch to
- fits directly on the bottom side of the xbox360 mainboard
- needs only one wire running on the board
- easy to use "quicksolder pads" which at the same time make sure that the modchip is stuck to the mainboard and does not fall around.
- has solder pads for external switch
- comes with on PCB status LED
- comes with solder pads for external status LED (LED not included)
- Cygnos360 is delivered empty!
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: http://www.cygnos360.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xecuter CK3 Tool v1.0
>> From team-xecuter.com:
[QUOTE]
Connectivity Kit 3 (CK3) Tool v1.0
Released: 11/12/2008
Version: 1.0
Features:
Dump the key.bin and inquiry.bin from Liteon Drives
Dump the key.bin and inquiry.bin from Benq Drives
Hitachi Modeb (Including 078 and 079)
79 Unlock - Remove lock protection from Hitachi 079
Detect the complete range of IDE/SATA Devices/Ports
Detect IO port and Drive Name of any Xbox 360 drive
Auto Detect CK3 Pro
Compatible with CK3 Pro and CK3 Lite
Online Update Checker
Includes new PortIO32 drivers
Includes CK3 USB drivers for 98/ME/2K/XP/Vista
More To Come Soon !
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: http://team-xecuter.com
Download: here
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Original Xbox in Time's Top10 Microsoft Moments
>> From time.com:
[QUOTE]
At the turn of the century, Microsoft and Bill Gates realized that the company really, really wanted a piece of the video game market. Gates built buzz for the Xbox for over a year before unveiling the console at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January 2001. By the holiday shopping season, gamers all over America wanted them, launching a three-way battle for video-game dominance between the Xbox, Sony's PlayStation 2 and the Nintendo GameCube. More than 1,000 people lined up in Times Square to snag the first Xboxes at midnight on Nov. 15. Microsoft had a $500 million marketing budget for the game platform, which also contained a hard drive and Internet connectivity. The Xbox was more powerful and more expensive -- not to mention heavier -- than the PlayStation 2, but lacked Sony's stable of popular games -- it didn't take off as a platform until the stunning success of Halo, a mankind-vs-aliens space opera that helped redefine the first-person shooter genre. The next year, Microsoft launched Xbox Live, a paid subscription service allowing gamers to play with opponents all over the world. In 2005, Microsoft launched the Xbox 360, which sold out of countless stores before Christmas. But Xbox faces a challenge to its dominance from an old competitor: Nintendo's new Wii console. Earlier this fall, Microsoft cut the price of the Xbox 360 to $199 for the cheapest model to undercut Sony's latest PlayStation ($399) and the Wii ($249).
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: time.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft Confirms New Xbox 360 Console Banning
>> From majornelson.com:
[QUOTE]
I've gotten a few messages and seen some forum threads pop up on console bannings so I thought I'd post and let folks know what's up. In our our continued effort to keep gameplay safe and secure for our community of more than 14 million members, Microsoft has taken action against a small percentage of Xbox 360 consoles that have been illegally modified in order to play pirated games. You should know that modifying your Xbox 360 console is also a violation of the Xbox LIVE terms of use, will void your warranty and result in a ban from Xbox LIVE. The health of the video game business depends on customers paying for the genuine products and services they receive, both from manufacturers and the local companies that support them. We will continue to employ and bolster anti-piracy security measures to counter piracy in the gaming industry and improve security in the Xbox LIVE community.
[/QUOTE]
Report your Xbox LIVE status: forums.xbox-scene.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
NXE - CES Innovations Awards Honoree
>> From the Xbox PR Blog:
[QUOTE]
We're a week away from the official launch of the New Xbox Experience, and as you know, we're expecting it to change the way people are entertained, via Xbox 360. The industry agrees: we're excited to share that NXE is already receiving accolades. Today, the Consumer Electronics Association announced that the New Xbox Experience was selected as a CES Innovations 2009 Design and Engineering Award honoree in the Electronic Gaming product category. The Innovations Awards have come to represent the best-designed products and services in consumer technology.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: gamerscoreblog.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft Cuts Xbox 360 Prices In Australia Again
>> From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
For the second time in just six months, Microsoft lowered prices across all of its Xbox 360 models in Australia, bundling the systems with complimentary games for a limited time as Christmas approaches.
The company cut the price of its Xbox 360 Arcade model by AUD50 ($33) to AUD299 ($199), as well as the Pro and Elite models by AUD100 ($67) to AUD499 ($333) and AUD599 ($400) respectively.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: gamasutra.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Rumor: MS Rep - Fall update will be big trouble
>> From gamingconfidential.blogspot.com:
[QUOTE]
A trusted source working as a customer service rep for Microsoft has revealed that there will be some bad drama when the Xbox 360's Fall update hits on November 19th. He says the update could bring the dreaded "three red lights of death" issue roaring back to life.
The rep said that there has always been an influx of calls from owners of bricked Xbox 360s after every major Xbox 360 software update. Most of the complaints come from owners of launch consoles.
"The slick move by Microsoft here is that it's releasing the update on the 19th, just a couple of days after the extended warranty period for launch Xbox 360s end. The owners of these units are headed for some pretty tense times in the weeks to come,"" he said.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: gamingconfidential.blogspot.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
New Xbox LIVE Ban Wave?
>> Seems like reports on our forums are indicating Microsoft has a new (console) ban wave on Xbox LIVE ...
Right now we don't have a lot of details/information, but if you have a modified DVD firmware we suggest you stay off LIVE for now.
Report your LIVE status (include as many details as possible) on: forums.xbox-scene.com.
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
New 65nm GPU Not Found in very new Xbox 360
>> From benheck.com:
[QUOTE]
As probably the most prolific single buyer of Xbox 360 consoles on the planet, I would like to pass along news of NOT finding a new 65nm GPU in the latest Xbox 360 I disassembled.
Upon taking it apart, it had the same old GPU as before, though there were other further changes to the board even past 60 gig units I'd bought a month ago. I have no doubt it's coming, and I plan to be the first to find one. But alas, not yet.
Reported elsewhere to have new chipset: Manufacture date 8-26-08 and up, lot number 0831 and up.
Benheck confirmed NO new chipset: Manufacture date 9-4-08, lot number 0836.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: benheck.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
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