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[CaptainABAB]

New stuff I found out (that I didn't already know) from an article on Tom's hardware...

I apologize if all of this is old news - I'm trying to keep up!


Page 2...
http://www.tomshardware.com/game/200505121/xbox_360-02.html

Many owners of the original Xbox might be overjoyed to know that the remote (and controllers) can turn the console on and off without forcing you to make a trip over to the unit yourself.

Wondering what the ))) button on the front is for?

The connect or pairing button allows the console to connect with the wireless controllers and headsets, and ensures that the 360 owners next door won't be playing your game of Perfect Dark Zero.

So what happens when multiple 3sixties are near another...? Doesn't say.

The power button itself is unremarkable, but the LED lights that surround it, dramatically named the "Ring of Light," are quite novel. The ring actually consists of four LED lights, each corresponding to one of the four possible controllers connected to the console, and also related to the Xbox Guide buttons on the controllers.

Every controller that is paired with the 360 will be represented by a specific LED on the Ring of Light, allowing players to know whether they have the first, second, third or fourth player controllers.

page 3...
http://www.tomshardware.com/game/200505121/xbox_360-03.html

Jeff Henshaw (Executive Producer, Digital Entertainment) demonstrated the 360's ability to read from standard digital cameras and MP3 players. First he plugged in a Rio Carbon and began streaming tunes over the Xbox's sound system right from the MP3 player itself. Next, he took a Kodak EasyShare camera and snapped pictures of all of us, plugged the camera right into the 360 and displayed us on screen. You can even plug in a Sony PSP and watch pictures and listen to music it contains.

"Other console makers want to force you to buy brand "S" memory and use a brand "S" format to play on brand "S" TV's. We just want things to work for the gamer and be as easy as possible."

he explained that the 360 is meant to be more of a digital media amplifier rather than a server. Translated, that means that it will not have TiVo functions, but will work over your home network - wirelessly or via the Ethernet port on the back - to stream music and display pictures. For those lucky enough to have Media Center PCs at home, you will be able to stream video and even live TV over to your Xbox 360, even in HD.

page 4...

Wireless and capable of running on a single AA battery, you can use traditional batteries or rechargeables that can be juiced up through a USB 2.0 port on the top of the controller.

In addition to the controllers, remote control, and Xbox Live headsets, we saw a number of video cameras that will work with 360. A design had not been finalized, however, and we were told these probably wouldn't be available at launch.

If you come across more interesting factoids like this, please add to this thread.

 

[cubicle47b]

he explained that the 360 is meant to be more of a digital media amplifier rather than a server. Translated, that means that it will not have TiVo functions, but will work over your home network - wirelessly or via the Ethernet port on the back - to stream music and display pictures. For those lucky enough to have Media Center PCs at home, you will be able to stream video and even live TV over to your Xbox 360, even in HD.

God damn it. The 360 could have been the coolest thing ever if a high-end version of it was essentially a Media PC. As is, the modded Xbox we have is more useful.

 

[jedimike]

Thanks for gathering up the tidbits of information.

Now the media center streaming is a lot clearer.

 

[CaptainABAB]

God damn it. The 360 could have been the coolest thing ever if a high-end version of it was essentially a Media PC. As is, the modded Xbox we have is more useful.

I'm not sure what you mean. Are you disappointed it didn't have DVR functionality?

 

[Hitler Stole My Potato]

Many owners of the original Xbox might be overjoyed to know that the remote (and controllers) can turn the console on and off without forcing you to make a trip over to the unit yourself.

Right on. I've been wanting that for years. Now all we need is a system that holds more than one disk.

 

[Baconäger]

Can the sytsem output DVD playback in progressive scan this time, instead of just games?

 

[The Faceless Master]

"Other console makers want to force you to buy brand "S" memory and use a brand "S" format to play on brand "S" TV's. We just want things to work for the gamer and be as easy as possible."

:lol :lol :lol

 

[golem]

Can the sytsem output DVD playback in progressive scan this time, instead of just games?

 

[Prine]

Said it before and i'll say it again. Xbox 360 itself, with all its features and functions, sounds incredible. I mean little details like changing colors to match the players number, faceplates, wireless music streaming, built in visualizer game and XBL UI make all the difference.

They really hit home with the design of this console. +100 MS design team

 

[Catchpenny]

Many owners of the original Xbox might be overjoyed to know that the remote (and controllers) can turn the console on and off without forcing you to make a trip over to the unit yourself.

About damn time! This should be a standard for all three consoles. Good job, Microsoft. I'm impressed with how well this system has been thought out, at least in terms of hardware.

 

[cubicle47b]

I'm not sure what you mean. Are you disappointed it didn't have DVR functionality?

That's disappointing too but I'm really disappointed you can't stream video without a Media PC doing the streaming. About 75% of the Xbox use in our house is watching TV shows and fucked up Japanese movies we downloaded (Takashi Mike).

 

[dorio]

Can the sytsem output DVD playback in progressive scan this time, instead of just games?

Yep that was mentioned by microsoft themselves.

 

[Yusaku]

I'm not sure what you mean. Are you disappointed it didn't have DVR functionality?

I assume he's disapointed it requires Windows Media Center. Xbox 360 just has the Xbox Windows Media Extender built in. Xbox Media Center is much more powerful and flexible by comparison.

Does the Xbox Windows Media Extender let you play movies in any format (like xvid, or MPEG2 transport streams)? If so, it might be worth it for me to upgrade to Windows Media Center edition, just to watch HD stuff on the 360.

"Other console makers want to force you to buy brand "S" memory and use a brand "S" format to play on brand "S" TV's. We just want things to work for the gamer and be as easy as possible."

That's cute coming from Microsoft. "Yeah, we just want things to work...unless you want to watch videos, then you'll have to buy a PC with Windows Media Center edition!"

 

[golem]

That's disappointing too but I'm really disappointed you can't stream video without a Media PC doing the streaming. About 75% of the Xbox use in our house is watching TV shows and fucked up Japanese movies we downloaded (Takashi Mike).

Digital Media Support
* Support for DVD-Video, DVD-ROM, DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD-DA, CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, WMA CD, MP3 CD, JPEG Photo CD
* Ability to stream media from portable music devices, digital cameras and Windows XP-based PCs
* Ability to rip music to the Xbox 360 hard drive
* Custom playlists in every game
* Built-in Media Center Extender for Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005
* Interactive, full-screen 3-D visualizers

dont be afraid to jump to conclusions now.

 

[akascream]

For those lucky enough to have Media Center PCs at home, you will be able to stream video and even live TV over to your Xbox 360, even in HD.

Only XP Home Media (or whatever its called)? I hope professional works.

 

[cubicle47b]

Ability to stream media from portable music devices, digital cameras and Windows XP-based PCs

For those lucky enough to have Media Center PCs at home, you will be able to stream video and even live TV over to your Xbox 360, even in HD.

I don't see how I'm jumping to conclusions. It appears to me that you can stream music and pictures from XP home and pro but you need the Media Center version of the OS to stream video.

 

[Merlin]

but the LED lights that surround it, dramatically named the "Ring of Light,"

:lol :lol :lol

 

[HokieJoe]

Well, I guess it's time to lace up a terabyte of server space and some gigabit ethernet love if I have to stream my content.