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Xbox 360 Elite Delivers Installer Optimism
New larger hard drive, HDMI port allow for greater custom integration.
The console gaming world has been busy lately -- for both next-gen console makers and game developers.
The new Xbox 360 Elite, now available, is well-suited for custom gaming installations. For one thing, it has an HDMI output -- albeit version 1.2, not 1.3a as installers had hoped. Still, custom gaming installers will take it as a step forward because it now allows for the integration of the Xbox 360 Elite with HDMI switchers and/or receivers with HDMI switching.
The big story here, however, is the Xbox 360 Elite's 120GB hard drive and the ability to download HD movies, TV shows and larger Xbox arcade titles -- now with a 150MB maximum size -- as well as the demo versions of the full retail premier titles.
This means there is finally room to download a whole season of a TV series in up to 720p high definition with 5.1 Dolby audio. They're commercial free but you can still only download six at a time.
The latest spring update enhancements also allow clients to choose the episodes or movies they want to download before they go to bed. When the Xbox is turned off -- via its normal power command -- it will stay on in low power mode to finish downloads and turn itself off when done.
For custom installers that use the Xbox 360 to access other media servers in the house, such as an Exceptional Innovation's Vista server running Lifeware or other automation programs in extender mode, you can now set the Xbox 360 to turn on and boot into the Media Center extender mode directly.
Finally, for the Xbox 360's HD DVD drive, a separate update is available that fixes some of the Dolby Digital audio problems, such as titles causing the Dolby decoder to be stuck in night mode. (This is not an automatic update like the Spring Dashboard update. The client or installer must insert a HD-DVD disc while the console is signed on to "live" in order to receive a prompt that asks to update a game title.)
Shadowrun for Games for Windows and Xbox 360 has arrived. It is really a new type of gaming experience because gamers can now play against other Xbox 360s and Vista PCs.
The online experience is so seamless that the only way to know what platform opponents are playing on is to check the display indicator for their "gamertag." This unified "live" gaming cross-platform also allows clients that are on the road to play games, audio chat, video chat and text message. Whoever is using the console at that time will get an instant message on their TV screen telling them, for example, that dad or mom is online.
On the Sony Playstation 3 (PS3) side, there has also been a flurry of new features added via system updates. Version 1.8.2 builds on the much needed downloading in the background option for the Playstation Store by providing the ability to upscale standard DVDs to up to 1080p.
Playstation and Playstation 2 games can now also be upconverted to 1080i or 1080p. Blu-ray movie discs can now be output at 24 frames per second for TVs and projectors that support that rate.
It is important to note that PS3 system updates can be downloaded to USB thumb drives from http://www.sonyplaystation.com and then installed on any PS3 in the field. Installers, therefore, should have a copy of the latest system update with them at all times in order to update PS3s that might not be able to access the Internet, such as those in beach houses or second homes without broadband service.
Andrew Finkel is the principal of Synergistic Wellness Technologies, a cross-industries gaming, consumer and home healthcare electronics consulting company.
The new Xbox 360 Elite, now available, is well-suited for custom gaming installations. For one thing, it has an HDMI output -- albeit version 1.2, not 1.3a as installers had hoped. Still, custom gaming installers will take it as a step forward because it now allows for the integration of the Xbox 360 Elite with HDMI switchers and/or receivers with HDMI switching.
The big story here, however, is the Xbox 360 Elite's 120GB hard drive and the ability to download HD movies, TV shows and larger Xbox arcade titles -- now with a 150MB maximum size -- as well as the demo versions of the full retail premier titles.
This means there is finally room to download a whole season of a TV series in up to 720p high definition with 5.1 Dolby audio. They're commercial free but you can still only download six at a time.
The latest spring update enhancements also allow clients to choose the episodes or movies they want to download before they go to bed. When the Xbox is turned off -- via its normal power command -- it will stay on in low power mode to finish downloads and turn itself off when done.
For custom installers that use the Xbox 360 to access other media servers in the house, such as an Exceptional Innovation's Vista server running Lifeware or other automation programs in extender mode, you can now set the Xbox 360 to turn on and boot into the Media Center extender mode directly.
Finally, for the Xbox 360's HD DVD drive, a separate update is available that fixes some of the Dolby Digital audio problems, such as titles causing the Dolby decoder to be stuck in night mode. (This is not an automatic update like the Spring Dashboard update. The client or installer must insert a HD-DVD disc while the console is signed on to "live" in order to receive a prompt that asks to update a game title.)
Shadowrun for Games for Windows and Xbox 360 has arrived. It is really a new type of gaming experience because gamers can now play against other Xbox 360s and Vista PCs.
The online experience is so seamless that the only way to know what platform opponents are playing on is to check the display indicator for their "gamertag." This unified "live" gaming cross-platform also allows clients that are on the road to play games, audio chat, video chat and text message. Whoever is using the console at that time will get an instant message on their TV screen telling them, for example, that dad or mom is online.
On the Sony Playstation 3 (PS3) side, there has also been a flurry of new features added via system updates. Version 1.8.2 builds on the much needed downloading in the background option for the Playstation Store by providing the ability to upscale standard DVDs to up to 1080p.
Playstation and Playstation 2 games can now also be upconverted to 1080i or 1080p. Blu-ray movie discs can now be output at 24 frames per second for TVs and projectors that support that rate.
It is important to note that PS3 system updates can be downloaded to USB thumb drives from http://www.sonyplaystation.com and then installed on any PS3 in the field. Installers, therefore, should have a copy of the latest system update with them at all times in order to update PS3s that might not be able to access the Internet, such as those in beach houses or second homes without broadband service.
Andrew Finkel is the principal of Synergistic Wellness Technologies, a cross-industries gaming, consumer and home healthcare electronics consulting company.
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About the Author
Andrew Finkel is an avid gamer as well as the principal of Synergistic Wellness Technologies, a cross industries gaming, consumer, and home healthcare electronics consultancy company. He can be reached at 410-486-4999 or andrew@synergisticwt.com. His Xbox Live Gamertag is CEProgamer and his Playstation Network name is Remixer.
1 Comments (displayed in order by date/time)
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Wow, is this ever old news…
Doing a custom install of the current 360 is probably a great idea since it’d give you repeat business. Every time the 360 experiences a Red Ring of Death you get another housecall out of the deal!