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Week of July 22, 2007
Wal-mart Ad Confirms US Price Drop on August 8th?
>> From xbox360fanboy.com:
[QUOTE]
And so the Xbox 360 price cut rumor gets some more ammunition in the form of a leaked ad from Wal-mart. The tiny little picture has been making the rounds on the internet and is supposedly a picture of a future Wal-mart ad. And even though you can't make out any text, you you can see that it lists the Xbox 360 premium at a $349 price point.
We've heard that the Core will be dropping to $279, Premium to $349 and the Elite to $459 US.
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Full Story: xbox360fanboy.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Research on 'Timing Attack' to Downgrade Kernel without CPU Key
>> The hackers over at the XBH forum are researching a new way to downgrade the kernel (to a kernel with vulnerable hypervisor) without knowing the unique per-xbox CPU Key. Note that this 'hack' has NOT been confirmed or performed yet, right now it's just an idea/project and they are researching if and how this can work. Also note that if it works, it's no 'Hero attack' (hacked once, working for all 360s) and thus will have to be performed again on each Xbox360 (which might not be a solution for normal end-users if expensive HW is required for the timing ... but they are also looking into possible solutions for this). It's pretty technical, but the introduction is below.
From arnezami on xboxhacker.net:
[QUOTE]
The problem:
We currently do not have a way to downgrade without a cpu key (especialy when fuses are blown). From what I understand there are two main problems:
* The CB is signed/authenticated with the cpu key using an HMAC algo. Unless you have a dump of the CB before upgrading you won't be able to create this "signature" without the cpu key.
* In the decrypted CF there is a "version lockdown counter". This part of the CF is also signed/authenticated by the cpu key. Without it you cannot change the blown fuses counter.
I believe there may be a way to (depending on several conditions) to downgrade without a cpu key. ;)
The idea:
It would be foolish to try to break SHA1-HMAC. However the output of a hash usually has to be checked against something that is stored. Thats usually the point of it. This takes (a tiny bit of) time. The thing is many memcmp functions use a byte-wise compare: "as long as no difference in the current byte is detected go to the next byte, but if this byte is different stop". In other words: it might take (a fraction of a second) longer if the output is similar at the beginning (to the stored value) as opposed to completely different 16-byte values. If it is possible to measure this time difference you could change the first stored byte (up to 256 times) until it takes this fraction longer for the xbox to detect the (16 byte) values are not entirely the same. And you can go on with this until all bytes have been figured out this way.
It this technique would work you could do the following:
* Encrypt and flash the NAND with an exploitable kernel (CB/CD/CF etc) using the 1BL key. The 16 byte auth-values (in both the CB and CF) will of course not be correct.
* Add hardware that can measure time/clocks from a certain point in the boot sequence until a detectable moment after the (failed) verification of the CB auth value.
* Make sure you change the first stored byte of this CB auth value and reboot. Go on until it takes a tiny bit more time for the xbox to detect the CB auth value is incorrect. This means you've found the first byte.
* Go on until all 16 bytes are found.
* After this do essentially the same with the auth-value in the CF (using a different trigger point of course).
* You should now be able to boot into a vurnable kernel and extract your fuses.
The conditions:
Needless to say there are a lot of things have to be just right for this to work at all. Here are the conditions for this to (remotely) possible:
* In both cases (CB auth and CF auth) the value stored has to be directly compared with another value (eg the HMAC output). There should not be some kind of (crypto) operation on these value before comparision.
* The comparison should be byte wise.
* The difference between the amount of the identical starting bytes should be measurable. Possibly using a triggger point from where to count/time it.
Just to be clear: I simply don't know if the conditions can be met. The coding stuff can best be checked by those who have easy access to RE'd code. The (hardware) timing will be much more difficult. So I guess it should first be checked how the checking/comparison algos are implemented before thinking about the possible hardware challenges.
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More Details/Tech Discussion: xboxhacker.net (tech replies ONLY please, thx)
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Today Show Warns Consumers To Stay Away From Xbox 360
>> From loot-ninja.com:
[QUOTE]
I have the Today Show on this morning, for God only knows what reason. They had a segment on about video games, again, who knows why.
The interesting part of the segment is that their "tech guru" told consumers to stay away from the Xbox 360 because of the massive hardware problems. He let everyone know that Microsoft issued a 3 year warranty extension amounting to $1 billion. The "tech guru" indicated that is is the same as a recall without the legal issues surrounding an actual recall. Microsoft would not confirm to him what is causing the hardware problems, but he advised all consumers to not buy an Xbox 360 until at least the end of the year.
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Full Story: loot-ninja.com
Another 'less extreme view' of what the show reported is available on wired.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
No 360 HD-DVD Price Cut for UK/EU yet
>> From xbox360.ign.com:
[QUOTE]
Overnight you may have read that from August 1 Americans are getting a $20 price cut and five free DVDs when they buy the HD-DVD add-on for Xbox 360. However it looks like the Brits are going to miss out for the time being, with Microsoft saying it has "no announcements" about a similar UK deal.
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Together with the low current value of the USD this makes things even worse ... the new US price of 179.99USD converts to 132EUR/89GBP. The current price in Europe is 200EUR/130GBP. And that's not even considering the 5 free HD DVD movies US buyers get.
Full Story: xbox360.ign.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xbox 360 Overtakes Wii In U.S. Searches
>> From informationweek.com:
[QUOTE]
The Microsoft Xbox 360 has overtaken the Nintendo Wii as the most searched video game console on the Web, a metrics firm said Friday. The increase in traffic apparently is to due to a combination of hype for new games, rumors of a price drop, and queries about recent hardware problems.
The Xbox 360 surpassed the Wii for the first time since the latter console's launch in November 2006, the same month Sony released the PlayStation 3, Hitwise said in its corporate blog. Microsoft shipped the Xbox 360 a year earlier.
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Full Story: informationweek.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Flextronics 1st-qtr profit rises - Chartered Has First Loss in Seven Quarters
>> From kplctv.com:
[QUOTE]
The world's top contract electronics manufacturer, Flextronics International Ltd., posted a higher quarterly profit on Thursday as strong telecommunications and mobile telephone business helped drive revenue up 27 percent.
Flextronics said net income for its fiscal first quarter ended June 29 was $107 million, or 17 cents per share, compared with $84.5 million, or 14 cents per share, a year earlier.
Revenue was $5.16 billion, up 27 percent from a year earlier and above the average Wall Street forecast of $4.91 billion.
The company's customers include mobile phone company Sony Ericsson, printer and computer company Hewlett-Packard Co. and Xbox 360 game console seller Microsoft Corp.
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From bloomberg.com:
[QUOTE]
Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing Ltd., the world's third-biggest customized-chip maker, posted its first loss in seven quarters on price declines and tax expenses. The shares fell as much as 5.6 percent.
The second-quarter net loss was $24.7 million, or 11 cents per American depositary share, compared with profit of $12.9 million, or 4 cents, a year earlier, Singapore-based Chartered said today. The loss, which included a $28.5 million tax expense, was wider than company and analyst estimates. Sales fell 11 percent to $324.3 million.
Chartered forecast a loss of as much as $5 million this quarter on weaker demand from computer customers.
The company, which also makes chips used in Apple Inc.'s video iPods and Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 game console, was expected to earn net income of $2 million, according to the median estimate of five analysts Bloomberg surveyed. Estimates ranged from a loss of $2.9 million to profit of $4.4 million.
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Full Story: kplctv.com | bloomberg.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Ballmer: 1b USD Xbox 360 Charge 'was Painful'
>> From seattlepi.nwsource.com:
[QUOTE]
As Microsoft meets with financial analysts today, discussing its prospects in areas including consumer products, one subject clearly on the minds of analysts is the recent $1 billion charge taken by Microsoft from Xbox 360 malfunctions.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer addressed the topic on stage: "We have to learn from our mistakes. It was painful to announce the write-off that we had to announce, and yet we knew we had to take care of our customers," he said. He promised that Microsoft will be "world-class when we do hardware."
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Full Story: seattlepi.nwsource.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Bill Gates sees processor clock speeds to top out at 10 GHz
>> From tgdaily.com:
[QUOTE]
According to Gates, there are currently six trends, which will be determining Microsoft and its product strategy for the years to come. In a rather unusual way, he mentioned the dramatic changes in the way the hardware engines that will be fueling new applications are engineered.
The fact that performance advances have shifted from a pure increase of clock speed to increased parallelism was described by Gates as a "challenge". He believes that "parallel execution will be the primary way silicon power will be delivered" down the road and not so much the fact that there is more clock speed available. According to Gates, microprocessors will get to 10 GHz, "but not much further" (...) "even 5 to 6 years out."
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Full Story: tgdaily.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Gears of War Action Figures Announced
>> From xbox360fanboy.com:
[QUOTE]
NECA has announced a new partnership with Epic Games, in which it will produce a new line of Gears of War collectibles. Said collectibles are set to include action figures, busts, dioramas, and even "prop" replicas. The toys collectibles are expected to be available in 2008, just in time for a possible sequel to the 360's breakout hit. An interesting tidbit in the press release is that NECA has acquired the license for Gears of War and "any potential sequels" to the game, adding fuel to such speculations.
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Full Story: xbox360fanboy.com | press release
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
June 'Console Usage': Xbox 17pct, Xbox360 8pct, PS3 1.5pct, Wii 4pct
>> From kotaku.com:
[QUOTE]
Sony's Playstation 2 accounted for 42 percent of video game console usage during June far outstripping the Xbox, which had the second highest usage at 17 percent, according to Nielsen's latest GamePlay Metrics. The Xbox 360 had 8% usage.
Rounding up the list of consoles was the Playstation 3 with just 1.5 percent of usage and the Wii with four percent.
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Full Story: kotaku.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
USA: Xbox 360 HD DVD Player Moves to 179usd, Adds Five Free HD DVDs
>> From the press release:
[QUOTE]
Today at Comic-Con International 2007, Microsoft Corp. announced it will lower the price of the popular Xbox 360 HD DVD Player from $199 to $179 ERP (United States only) starting Aug. 1, 2007, and will add five free HD DVD movies for anyone purchasing an Xbox 360 HD DVD Player between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30. In addition, Microsoft further solidified the Xbox 360 as the ultimate high-definition (HD) entertainment platform, with key announcements around the HD DVD launches of "300" from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group and "Heroes: Season 1" from Universal Studios.
To promote the HD DVD versions of "300" and "Heroes: Season 1," Microsoft unveiled exclusive content for Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Xbox LIVE will offer "300" on demand in HD starting Aug. 14, and is working with Warner Bros. at Comic-Con on a Bringing It Home campaign featuring "300" and other Warner Bros. properties. In advance of the street date for the "Heroes: Season 1" HD DVD boxed set, Xbox LIVE members will be able to download for free the show's pilot episode in high definition for a limited time. Members will also be able to download trailers, teaser scenes and other promotional materials highlighting the "Heroes: Season 1" boxed set on HD DVD.
Already the most affordable high-definition player available, the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player is the best solution for movie lovers seeking HD content in the highest possible resolution. The player's price reduction to $179 (U.S. ERP) continues to set the bar for value, making the Xbox 360 platform the most affordable solution for consumers seeking the broadest, most compelling selection of next-generation gaming and HD video experiences.
"With the price reduction to $179, the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player continues to be the most affordable way to enjoy high definition," said Jeff Bell, corporate vice president of Global Marketing, Interactive Entertainment Business, Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. "From the beginning, we set out to offer Xbox 360 owners an unrivaled high-definition experience, with a choice of optical discs on the HD DVD format and digital downloads through Xbox LIVE Marketplace -- both of which have a selection of the best content Hollywood has to offer. Today's announcements around '300' and 'Heroes: Season 1' are great examples of how we believe HD content can be offered to consumers."
In addition to the price drop, Microsoft is extending Toshiba's highly successful "Perfect Offer" of five free HD DVD discs to Xbox 360 consumers. Previously exclusive to Toshiba HD DVD Players, with the purchase of an Xbox 360 HD DVD Player at the new low price of $179 ERP, consumers can choose five HD DVD titles for free from a selection of 15 popular titles through a mail-in offer. With a retail value of over $140 (U.S.), this promotion makes the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player one of the most compelling offerings for consumers looking to make the leap into HD this holiday season.
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Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
More Sources Confirm August 8th Price Drop - 50usd?
>> The news we broke yesterday about an Xbox 360 price drop on August 8th seems to have woken up some other sources in the industry.
From hollywoodreporter.com:
[QUOTE]
In an effort to regain momentum in the video game console market, Microsoft Corp. will cut the price of the Xbox 360 by $50 early next month, sources said.
The reduction will be made Aug. 8, according to one source in the retail world.
Still unclear is whether the cut will be made to all three versions of the Xbox 360 on the market. The Core model, which accounts for about 20% of Xbox 360 sales, retails for $299; the best-selling Pro model sells for $399, and the Elite model is about $479.
As for the Aug. 8 date, there is significance to the timing. Not only will Electronic Arts' "Madden NFL 08" be reaching stores shelves just a few days after the drop, but Microsoft also has several other highly touted games, including "BioShock" by publisher Irrational Games and "John Woo Presents Stranglehold" from Tiger Hill Entertainment, coming for the Xbox 360 in August.
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Full Story: hollywoodreporter.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft bringing home Comic-Con - LE '300' themed Xbox360
>> From gamespot.com:
[QUOTE]
Between July 26 and August 7, Xbox Live will receive a number of Comic-Con-related updates. Xbox 360 owners will have access to game trailers, show panels, movie and TV trailers, celebrity interviews, show exclusives, and dashboard themes. Of these themes, gamers will have access to several that are based on work from DC Comics as well as Legendary Pictures' film adaptation of Frank Miller's 300.
Also, event sponsor Warner Bros. will be holding a special screening of 300 at Petco Park--home of the San Diego Padres--for 6,000 lucky Comic-Con attendees. Those invited to attend will have a chance to win one of 10 limited-edition 300-themed Xbox 360 Elite consoles.
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Full Story: gamespot.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft PR Team about June 2007 Monthly NPD Report
>> From gamerscoreblog.com (FYI: MS owned blog):
[QUOTE]
This Monday, Games Critics awarded Xbox 360 38 nominations for the 2007 Game Critics Awards: Best of E3 - 17 more than last year - compared to 29 for Playstation 3 and 14 for Wii. This makes Xbox 360 the most nominated platform with 38 nominations overall. Microsoft Game Studios also tallied an impressive number of nominations with eight in total. As we said at E3, this business is all about the games, and this is yet further proof that Xbox 360 has the best lineup, hands down.
Our lead in worldwide install base continues to grow, with more than 11.6 million Xbox 360 consoles sold across 37 countries, the largest install base of any next-gen console. This June 2007, we sold 197K Xbox 360 consoles - 40,000 units more than we sold last month.
According to NPD, three of the top 10 games in June were Xbox 360 games or exclusives, including "Forza Motorsport 2" (MGS), "Guitar Hero II" (Activision) and "The Darkness" (2K Games). This marks 22 appearances for third-party titles on Xbox 360 to break the monthly top 10 best-selling games list in the past 9 months. Third party games continue to thrive with half of all retail spending taking place on Xbox 360.
Month over month, consumers' commitment to Xbox 360 continues, with record-breaking attach rates of 6.1 games and 3.2 accessories sold per console. Since launch, we've sold 20.1 million games, more than our next-gen competitors combined.
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Full Story: gamerscoreblog.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
How Game Prices Are Shooting Higher
>> From next-gen.biz:
[QUOTE]
When Microsoft and Sony announced that $60 games would be common in the next generation, many wondered if this could be sustainable. Would consumers wear it? Next-Gen has the evidence that $60 is here to stay.
Our conclusions are as follows...
1. Prior to 2007, the average prices for the top 20 games was around $40-$43.
2. During the first half of 2007, prices for the top 20 games has been around $46-$49, without including Guitar Hero II. With Guitar Hero II, included prices are measurably above $50.
3. As the Xbox 360 library expands, it will claim more and more high-priced games in the top 20 list.
4. As Wii games replace PlayStation 2 games in the charts, it will keep the floor of console game prices right at $50.
5. The last two points will together force the average price of top selling games well above $50 in the near future.
6. The only downward pressure on average game prices is coming from the Nintendo DS.
So are consumers buying those $60 games? Yes, they are, and at an increasing pace. Here's the detailed evidence...
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Full Story: next-gen.biz
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft is taking new approach to Europe with 360, says Lewis
>> From gamesindustry.biz:
[QUOTE]
Xbox Europe boss Chris Lewis has said that mistakes were made when Microsoft launched its original console in some European countries - but pledged they won't be repeated with Xbox 360.
Speaking in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz Lewis said, "We've got pockets of fantastic achievement in EMEA and I think the UK is an example of that.. But then if you look around the rest of the region we have different challenges.
"Spain was genuinely a problem for us with the first version. We didn't start well, and often when we don't start well we do struggle to catch back," Lewis conceded.
"We went there probably with too hardcore a level of content. We didn't have the partnerships established both in retail or even at a publisher or marketing level in a way that was necessary for Spain, and we had to change things there at a pretty fast click.
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Full Story: gamesindustry.biz
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
VME - Evolution of the Successful MCE Video Encoder
>> From lightningware.co.uk:
[QUOTE]
VME is a new application that allows you to stream DivX and XviD to your Xbox 360 and Media Center Extender - but it doesn't stop there! It's also a complete encoding and streaming suite, allowing you to do such things as stream video from a web browser and PDA, while seamlessly converting your video to MS formats while you sleep!
VME is the evolution of the successful MCE Video Encoder(info), which has been rewritten from the ground up - creating a new, faster and more feature-rich product.
VME has all the old features of MCE Video Encoder, such as controlling the encoding process from a Media Center Add-in. However, it also brings a lot of new features, including:
* Convert and/or stream your DivX/XviD to WMV: Ideal if you need to view your video on a Media Center Extender, Xbox 360 or PDA
* Vista compatibility: 100% compatible with Vista x86 and x64
* VME Scheduler: Convert your movie collection to WMV while you sleep
* Enhanced windows interface: Includes a start point selector and profile selector
* Windows Media Center Hosted Application: Using the media center, you can control every aspect of the video encoding and set-up your VME scheduler
* Windows Media Center Add-in Interface: Traditional add-in that allows you to instantly start encoding and playing your video on a Media Center Extender or Xbox 360
* PDA Interface: Stream your movies to your PDA or use your PDA to start a stream to your Xbox 360
* Web browser Interface: Stream your movies anywhere through your house using a simple web browser
* Integrated HTTP server: Create your own skins for controlling VME or host a simple HTML application on your local network
* Custom Profiles: You can create and plug-in your own streaming profiles so that you get the best quality from your video conversions
* Distributed system: Install VME on any server in your house and then access it from a media center PC or just install it all on one system
* Full system logging: You can examine logs for the encoder, application and web server
* User friendly installer: Manages the installation of the application, add-ins and web server so that you just need to click "next"
* x64 Support: VME comes in either an x86 (32bit) version or x64 (64bit) version
* Watch and Convert: You can choose to convert the video file into WMV and watch the video as it converts
* 32bit codecs on 64bit Vista: Using VME, you can convert and transcode your video to WMV using stable 32bit codecs and therefore avoid the crashing and instability of the x64 codecs on your x64 Vista system and x64 Media Center
* Friendly support: I am happy to answer problems as proved by the success of MCE Video Encoder
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Official Site: www.lightningware.co.uk
Youtube examples of VME: Playing DivX on Xbox 360 without Media Center | Playing DivX & XviD on Xbox 360 with VME
Download: lightningware.co.uk
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Rumor: Xbox 360 Price Drop on August 8th?
>> An internal source, who wants to remain anonymous for obvious reasons but already gave us correct information in the past, contacted us to say we should expect a price drop for the Xbox360 on August 08th.
We didn't receive details on how much it's gonna drop, but if true I guess we'll know soon.
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Moore: Critics of 360 Hardware 'Need a History Lesson'
>> From biz.gamedaily.com:
[QUOTE]
We are proud to present Peter Moore's FINAL Xbox interview - we were literally his last appointment on the final day of E3. We grilled the (now former) Xbox exec on 360's hardware problems, the console's continued struggles in Japan, and more. He also tells us that Microsoft's "plans for price cuts have been laid out for years" and he knows "exactly" when they'll happen. Dig in...
* BIZ: You're saying that this is not an unprecedented failure for a video game console?
* PM: Probably the size of it may be unprecedented, and certainly the financial implications, but if people say that previous consoles have all been perfect and not had failure rates, then they need to go get a history lesson.
* BIZ: What they would point to is their PS2, which is going strong, and they hope to have similar long-term success with the PS3 for a 10-year period. What I'm getting at is that the original Xbox was cut off around 4 years in, so what kind of length do you see for the 360? Is the 360 going to be out in the market and viable still 7-8 years from now?
* PM: I sincerely hope so. I think the plan we have built, that calls for cost reductions in hardware, clearly gives us an advantage in price that actually allows us to get to [lower] price points much sooner than Sony will. They can have a "10-year plan" all they like, but it's executing that plan and getting to the mass market with price points [that matters], and I feel a lot closer to being able to do that than they do right now.
So we see long-term growth, we see connected entertainment through Xbox Live continuing to grow, the games we have both in depth and breadth feel good... so yeah we've got a plan and it's a long-term plan. Nobody knows how many years; it's easy to say 10 years. Their plan I'm sure is being rejiggered as it is because it was their plan to sell 6 million units during the fiscal year and I don't think they did that. They missed by I think 2.4 million units and people sit here all week giving me a hard time because we missed by 400,000 of a particular target.
* BIZ: $399 for 360 is quite expensive for the average consumer as well, though. If you're especially interested in that non-core audience you need to bring down 360's price. And if you brought down the core SKU to $199 that could be a big seller, don't you think?
* PM: Well, we have a clear strategy laid out for price cuts. Because we're the market leader, we don't need to follow. Our plans for price cuts have been laid out for years. We know exactly when they're going to happen. We watch with interest what everyone's doing, but nothing anybody's doing on the market has changed our plan. So when we're ready to cut price and when we're ready to bring in a whole swath of new consumers we'll do that. But we're a leader in that respect rather than a follower. And by leading, I mean we do it when we think it's convenient to us, not because we have to react to somebody else.
* BIZ: Microsoft made a big fuss over IPTV for Xbox 360 a while back and we've not heard anything since. Can you fill us in on what's happening?
* PM: As we stated at CES, our partners will make the announcements - our partners being the telcos obviously. It's still on target for this year. It's a different group, doesn't report to me, but I think you can expect to see something rolled out [later this year]. It is reliant and has a lot of co-dependencies on the providers, so that's their responsibility to make the announcement.
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Full Story: biz.gamedaily.com (4 pages)
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xbox Japan Honcho At Metal Gear Event
>> Kotaku's Brian Ashcraft found Xbox Japan boss Takashi Sensui at the afterparty of the 20years Metal Gear Event in Japan:
[QUOTE]
ME: "What did you think of the MGS4 gameplay demo?"
HIM: "It was very good."
"Why are there still rumors that MGS4 will appear on the Xbox 360?"
"What do you mean?"
"Kojima appeared on stage at a Sony event, saying it was an exclusive. But the rumors won't stop."
"Many of our users want MGS4 on the Xbox 360."
"Will they get it?"
"Ask him."
Sensui points to Kojima on stage.
"I don't mean to be rude," I say, "but why are you here then?"
"Kojima is an old friend of mine."
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: kotaku.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft denies full Aussie Xbox 360 recall - eventually
>> From gamersquad.com:
[QUOTE]
A couple of weeks ago, rumours spread from Down Under onto the Interweb - and across the globe - citing that a defect had caused EBGames in Australia to recall all of its Xbox 360 Premium consoles. Apparently, a batch of faulty HDDs had caused the hardware glitch, leading retail managers to issue the recall message to all Xbox 360 owners throughout the region.
Microsoft, probably still reeling from previous hardware criticisms, has finally spoken out to deny the Aussie recall chatter, telling CVG that, "there has been no 'recall' in Australia or anywhere else. The rumours and speculation appearing are just that - rumours and speculation."
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: gamersquad.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Encode360 v2.0 beta7
>> Dan released a new beta of Encode360(info) - an application which will convert virtually any video format to high quality WMV's which can be played by the Xbox 360 or the Microsoft Zune device.
What's new/fixed:
* NEW: Installer!!!
-Will verify that .NET 2.0 and Windows Media Encoder 9 are installed before allowing the install. Hopefully will knock a number of 'bug' reports on the head! :)
-Includes automatic installation for K-Lite COdec Pack & recommended settings for use with Encode360
-Includes MKV Subtitle Extractor PreProcessing Scriptlet & support files
* NEW: Completely overhauled UI. Visualhub was sortof my inspiration!!
* NEW: Audio / Video key details now in Advanced Settings
* CHANGE: Removed all the folder monitoring stuff... Sorry, but it was causing way too many problems
* CHANGE: Output resolution can now be set regardless of whether you use Autoscaling or not
* CHANGE: WMV no longer on filetype list, but can be selected through All files. This prevents against accidentally re-encoding WMVs
* CHANGE: Updated MediaInfo to 0.7.5.0+ Dev Snapshot (14/07/2007)
* CHANGE: Updated tooltips
* CHANGE: Code Cleanup
* FIX: '64 character limit' error on encoding jobs that would take a long time
* FIX: A crash could occur if the file duration was miscalculated by MediaInfo
* FIX: If the encoding job failed and the application closed, the process would not stop unless it would manually killed
FIX: ListView didn't allow drag/drop of files from Windows Explorer(info)
* FIX: A crash could occur if a value was changed into autoscaling and no file had been previously selected
* FIX: Encoding more than one file could result in memory leaks and bad files
* FIX: If a problem occurred during the encoding job, the entire application would hang
Official Site: dcunningham.net
Download: Encode360 v2.0 beta7
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
COD4 storage issue clarified: HDD not required
>> From xbox360fanboy.com:
[QUOTE]
There was quite a bit of falderal surrounding the recently released conceptual box art for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. For those who are unaware, the box art released featured an icon with the text "Storage Required" underneath it. This led many to believe that Call of Duty 4 would break Microsoft's mandate that all 360 titles be playable without a hard drive. Have no fear though, for it looks like it was all a misunderstanding. MyGamerCard.net reports that Infinity Ward Community Relations Manager, Robert Bowling, has confirmed that storage will not be required to play Call of Duty 4.
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Full Story: xbox360fanboy.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Nintendo's Harrison: Microsoft rushed Xbox 360
>> From joystiq.com:
[QUOTE]
GameDaily finished transcribing their interview with Nintendo's VP of marketing and corporate communications George Harrison.
For Microsoft, Harrison says they were so busy trying to rush the Xbox 360 to market and beat PlayStation, while "discounting" Nintendo, that it "set them up for the hardware problems that they're having now." He says Microsoft confessed because they couldn't hide the issue any longer, "It's a stunning admission; it's more than a billion dollars." Harrison says Microsoft didn't have a choice on their admission, it just became too much.
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Full Story: joystiq.com | biz.gamedaily.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
NPD June Sales: 198k Xbox360s, 98k PS3s, 381k Wii
>> From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
According to NPD, total industry sales were up 31 percent to $1.1 billion for the month, with hardware sales up 34 percent to $399 million, as the DS again leads all other hardware formats with an impressive 562,000 handhelds sold.
All consoles saw a rise in sales with month, with Wii leading at 381,800 units, followed by the Xbox 360's 198,400, and PS3's rise from 82,000 last month to 98,500. The PSP also rose to 230,100 units sold.
Xbox 360 in top ten by amount of copies sold for June 2007 in the U.S. is as follows:
5. Forza Motorsport 2 - Xbox 360 (Microsoft) - 197,400 units
7. Guitar Hero II - Xbox 360 (Activision) - 177,600 units
10. The Darkness - Xbox 360 (Take Two)
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Full Story: gamasutra.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Globe 360 v2 New Diagrams and Flash Manager
>> From Blobe360 Team:
[QUOTE]
Added in downloads section a new version version of Globe-360 Flash Manager (v1.3) , now the spoofing feature is enabled and 100% working; added also an updated version of Diagrams (v1.2) who clarify the connections between the EasyConnect frame and the chip.
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Official Site: www.globe-360.com
Download Flash Manager v1.3: here
Download Diagrams v1.2: Hitachi-LG | Toshiba-Samsung
Pre-Order Globe360 v2 ($60): modchipstore.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xlife.nl Interview with TheSpecialist
>> Ducth website xlife.nl posted a new interview with TheSpecialist - mostly known for this work on the DVD FW hack and HDDHackr(info) tool.
Here's a quick translation I made (sry if there are any mistakes):
[QUOTE]
* To start with you'll find a quote from TheSpecialist explaining some details of the Xbox 360 security
* TheSpecialist: All executables on the Xbox360 have a signature. This signature is checked by the hypervisor. If we can modify the hypervisor, we can run homebrew.
However the hypervisor is also signed.
The bootsequence is as follow. The first thing that will happen when you power on the Xbox360 is loading the bootloader (=1bl). This is a very small file because it's extremely expensive put store huge files on the CPU. So the bootloader doesn't do much more than load a 2nd (bigger) bootloader (2bl). This one is found on the Xbox360 flash (which you can decrypt/dump with our tool). Also this 2bl has a signature checked by the 1st bootloader (1bl) located in the CPU ROM. The 2bl will then start a sequence to put together the kernel (with the 'base' kernel (1888) and the patches) and the hypervisor. Once done it will start both kernel and hypervisor.
So if you want to run unsigned code you should be able to get around the 1bl. Then you could install your own bootloader that will not check the signature of the 2bl and then you patch the 2bl so it doesn't check the signature of the kernel/hypervisor which would allow you to patch this to remove all checks on signature of executables. Basically it's a chain of signature checks: 1bl checks signature of 2bl, 2bl checks signature of kernel and hypervisor and hypervisor checks the signature of executables. So if you can break the start of the chain, you can change all the rest like you want.
But to get around the 1bl is not easy as it's located on the CPU ... but nothing is impossible.
* Xlife.nl: The DVD Firmware hack has been out for more than 1 year now, tell us what happened and what you have been up to since then.
* TheSpecialist: After the disclosure of the DVD FW hack I didn't do any hacking for a few months. Once you start with which a project you really put lots of time in it and it's often hard to stop certainly if you are constantly making progress. It's a bit like watching series like '24' or 'Lost': if you have all episodes it can be very hard to stop because you just want to know what happens next. It's just the same with hacking, you keep progressing and it's hard to take a minute of rest. Thus when the DVD FW hacking was done, I think it was time to do 'nothing' for a while.
But after some time it started to itch again and then I started working on the HDD resulting in 'HDDHackr'. Just after I released that the 'Hypervisor Exploit' got released which opened tons of new possibilities. Then we started researching the flash encryption which resulted in the release of the 'Flash Dump' tool that allows you to decrypt the whole Flash NAND, dump the kernel and keyvault and the latest version even allows you to downgrade your kernel IF you know your CPU key.
Now that these tools start to work great, we started working on a new tool that will allow you to unpack and decrypt XEX files. That tool got finished too in meantime and we can finally decrypt and analyze ALL code found on the Xbox360. However that's a HUGE job. So we are now working on new tools to make analyze all this code a bit easier, for example by recognition and labeling of standard functions in code and stuff like that.
* Xlife.nl: So you managed to dump the Xbox 360 kernel. On the DVD FW hack you worked with 6 other hackers, how many people are you working with on this new project?
* TheSpecialist: I work a lot with Robinsod of XBH. But we of course also talk a lot with with other hackers like tmbinc, who found the hypervisor exploit. And there are of course also lots of discussions on XBH.
* Xlife.nl: What do you think of the security Microsoft implemented to protect their kernel?
* TheSpecialist: Very good! Microsoft has often been in the news about the lack of security in Windows, but I can only have respect for the security on their Xbox360. The Xbox360 was announced as the most secure console ever. Of course they made a huge mistake on the security of the DVD FW, but the security in the core is really really good.
The idea of the hypervisor and certainly the fuses is simply genius. Putting the bootrom in the CPU was also a real good idea. All communication is encrypted as it should be. Even now we can dump and decrypt all program code and nothing is really 'secret' anymore we still can't run unsigned code on the new kernels. I think that says a lot.
On the other side there's now a huge amount of program code we can analyze. That will just take a lot of time. With the release of the newest info and tools I think it won't take so long until a new hack comes out.
* Xlife.nl: You told me that while decrypting the 4552 kernel you found stuff related to DVD FW detection/bans. Is this protection any good? Or does it look better than it really is?
* TheSpecialist: I didn't do any direct research on that, since the disclosure of the DVD FW hack I didn't do any research on it and I also don't plan to do this in the future. The biggest goal of the DVD FW hack was to help find a way to run unsigned code, which also happened. Without the DVD FW hack there would still be no way to run unsigned code on the exploitable kernels.
However I did notice a few things while analyzing the kernel, like the clear text names and types of the DVD drives which weren't found in older kernels. It's obviously used to recognize the type of DVD drive connected with your Xbox360. But like I said earlier I'm mostly working on finding a way to run unsigned code now.
* Xlife.nl: Now that we are talking about bans, what's your opinion on the subject?
* TheSpecialist: It's of course not fun for end-users that they can or have been banned. But you have to look at this from the 2 point of views. I'm pretty sure Microsoft has been thinking about a way to motivate people not to play backups. Sony did the same and recently came in the news saying they want to hit hard on users with hacked PS3s, with lawsuits and more. I can imagine what they want to achieve, but if you look at it this way I think Microsoft is doing it in a 'friendlier' way, and thus I have more respect for the way Microsoft is handling it than how Sony wants to do it. And of course ... the Xbox 360 is way better than that stupid PS3, haha
* Xlife.nl: Did Microsoft ever try to contact you after the DVD FW release?
* TheSpecialist: No
* Xlife.nl: If you manage to hack the kernel (and I have full faith you will) and get total control over the console, will it get distributed like the DVD FW hack, or with it only be announced?
* TheSpecialist: If someone is trying to force the front door of your house, you can call the cops. I think there will only be few people that won't do this, no matter if the person actually manages to get in your house. Microsoft could have chosen for such a strategy too and send their lawyers against the hackers. No matter if that actually leads to any result, these type of lawyers can destroy you.
Luckily they never did that (unlike Sony who's currently threatening with lawsuits for PS3 hacks). Instead they even invited tmbinc and Bunnie after the hypervisor exploit to come to them to talk about the hack. There was lots of criticisms from 'the scene' about this, but I think it was very 'clean' and I have a lot of respect with the way Microsoft currently handles hackers. I think people should not forget that if Microsoft would start threatening with lawsuits many hackers might give up and there might be no new hacks at all.
So in the end I'm very happy with this strategy. As 'counter-payment' I think it's only normal that the hacking scene plays it 'clean' too and talks with Microsoft before releasing a new hack. On the other side, by now everyone knows that they have to remove the R6T3 resistor [which prevents MS from blowing new fuses during kernel upgrades] and I think that everyone that has any interest in running unsigned code already did this. So concerning that I don't think it will make a lot of difference for the end-users and they will still be able to enjoy the hack.
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News-Source: xlife.nl
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
XboxMediaCenter (XBMC) 2007-07-23 SVN rev9662 build - T3CH
>> T3CH released a new SVN compile (rev9662) of XboxMediaCenter(info) for Xbox1.
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:
* Quick fix for shoutcast Content-Type parsing. Shoutcast changed the content-type returned to include a charset.
* Added : tween animations option to skin settings turn it on and watch the windows bounce in :-) (off by default) thanks d4rk of the linux branch for original c++ code
* Added : PM3 new view type "3D List" to Music Files, Library and Now Playing
* fixed: passthrough of ac3/dts in dvdplayer was broken since the changes for channel number switches
* I'm 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.
* I've tweaked the win32 run_me_first.bat so it runs and then unmounts the virtual drives when you exit.
For the full changelog (all added/fixed/changed/updated stuff) since the 2007-07-16 SVN Rev9578 build 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 XBMC Site: www.xboxmediacenter.com (manual and FAQ)
Official T3CH Site: http://t3ch.yi.se (release RSS feed)
Download Binaries: n/a (built with XDK) | Download SourceCode: here
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
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