Kinect voice control not available in some countries until Spring 2011
>> From eurogamer.net:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft has told Eurogamer Spain that Kinect voice recognition will be disabled for mainland Europe until spring 2011.
The company confirmed rumours that the voice-recognition software will only accept American English, British English, Japanese and Mexican Spanish at launch this November. Even Canadians will have to wait until spring 2011 to be able to control the system via voice.
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Full Story: eurogamer.net
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Pachter: Xbox Live Likely to See 100usd 'Platinum' Service
>> From industrygamers.com:
[QUOTE]
This week Microsoft officially announced a $10 increase to the annual Xbox Live Gold subscription. In a special Pachter's Podium last year, Wedbush Morgan Securities' Michael Pachter correctly predicted the $10 increase.
As for Xbox Live's future, the great thing about the $10 increase is that it will enable Microsoft to reinvest in the service to then offer even more enhancements. "The extra $10 translates to around $100 - 150 million per year in additional revenue for Microsoft. I think that they will reinvest at least this much in developing other new applications, and will roll out a premium service with $100 - 200 million worth of enhancements," Pachter told IndustryGamers. "If they can get 2 million users to switch from the $60 plan to the $100 plan, they'll make an extra $80 million a year, and can keep investing to try to grow that business."
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Full Story: industrygamers.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Confirmed: New 360 Controller with Transforming D-Pad - Nov 9th for 65usd
>> The new controller with a 'transforming' D-Pad has now been confirmed by Microsoft:
[QUOTE]
We've just made the Xbox 360 Wireless controller even better with a brand new version that includes a transforming D-pad. The engineers have come up with an ingenious solution with a d-pad that can go from a plus to a disc with the twist of the wrist.
From this (left pic) - To this instantly (right pic)
In addition to the new d-pad, the matte silver controller also features concave analog sticks and gray A,B,X,Y buttons for added style.
The controller will only be available with the new Play & Charge Kit that will launch on November 9th for US $64.99.
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More Pictures: flickr.com
News-Source: majornelson.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Rumor: Microsoft prepping new controller with improved d-pad for the holidays?
>> From joystiq.com:
[QUOTE]
We've got it on good authority that sometime this Holiday season, Microsoft will launch a new Xbox 360 controller with a rather unique d-pad. According to our trusted source, when one rotates the d-pad ninety degrees on this new controller, it'll raise up about a quarter of an inch -- a modification apparently revealed to be targeted at fighting game fans.
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Full Story: joystiq.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xbox LIVE Gold Price Increase in USA, UK, Canada and Mexico
>> Microsoft announced the price of the Xbox LIVE Gold subscription will increase for users in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom and the United States starting November 1st 2010:
[QUOTE]
Since launching Xbox LIVE in 2002 we have continually added more content and entertainment experiences for our members, while keeping the price the same. We're confident that when the new pricing takes effect, an Xbox LIVE Gold membership will continue to offer the best value in the industry.
However, we do want to thank our loyal members and give you the opportunity to lock in your current price with an additional discount, so now would be a good time to renew your subscription.
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The prices change as follow (unlisted packages do not change in price):
* USA
1M Gold: $7.99 (now) - $9.99 (starting Nov 1, 2010)
3M Gold: $19.99 (now) - $24.99 (starting Nov 1, 2010)
12M Gold: $49.99 (now) - $59.99 (starting Nov 1, 2010)
* UK
1M Gold: 4.99 GBP (now) - 5.99 GBP (starting Nov 1, 2010)
* Canada
1M Gold: $8.99 CAD (now) - $9.99 CAD (starting Nov 1, 2010)
* Mexico
12M Gold: 499 Pesos (now) - 599 Pesos (starting Nov 1, 2010)
News-Source: majornelson.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
XNand Healer GUI v0.6
>> TingedAce released a new version of XNand Healer GUI - a GUI app to help you dump and manage NAND files, remap bad blocks and also uncripple your Xbox 360. Requires Nandpro 2.0 (b/d or e) and FindSecData 0.62
What's new/fixed:
* Now able to browse to and select any file for Image Analysis or Remapping
* Option to Dump KV and config files either as part of the initial dump or afterwards
* Added 2 second delay between reads (for multiple reads)
* Fixed bug with file locations in the settings where it wouldn't work with a space in the path
Official Site: http://www.rigid360.co.uk
Download: here
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xbox 360 S 4GB Internal Memory PCB Pictures and 4GB vs 250GB
>> We received pictures from an "X-Scene friend" of the 4GB internal memory in the new Xbox 360 'S' 4GB model. Unlike the old 'Arcade' units the memory is no longer located directly on the motherboard, but instead Microsoft uses a small addon-on PCB with a 4GB flash memory unit [3.2GB usable]. This probably makes production easier (afaik) as all motherboards are now exactly the same ... for the 4GB model they add the internal memory pcb-addon, for the 250GB unit they add the internal HDD.
As always, hit the pictures of high-res ;)
I also added a picture of the Xbox360 'S' 250GB and Xbox360 'S' 4GB next to each other so you can see the glossy vs matte finish of both units. This hasn't been covered much, but the 4GB model has a matte finish (vs glossy) and black borders (vs silver for the 250GB model). Which look do you prefer?
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Kinect beta kits going out, Dashboard update live for participants
>> From joystiq.com:
[QUOTE]
That email purportedly sent out by Microsoft a couple weeks back inviting its recipients into a Kinect beta program? Yeah -- it was legit. Joystiq has received corroborating evidence confirming the program, including pictures of the promised Kinect-enabled Dashboard update running on a participant's retail console. In them, you can clearly see the flatter presentation, new mini-guide and revamped Avatar editor -- complete with a re-proportioned Avatar.
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Full Story (with lots of pics): joystiq.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xbox Live Voice Chat Quality to Improve: Better Codec
>> From eurogamer.net:
[QUOTE]
The quality of sound that comes through Xbox 360 headsets will be significantly improved when Microsoft updates the Xbox 360 this Fall.
The refresh, designed to coincide with the launch of Kinect, will upgrade the codec and audio infrastructure that underpins the quality of voice communication from Xbox 360 to Xbox 360, and should make for clear chat between gamers when they play online, Xbox Live Studios boss Jerry Johnson said at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival this afternoon.
"The codec we used when we first launched was a low bit rate codec and we stuck with that," Johnson explained.
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Full Story: eurogamer.net
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Microsoft Execs To Deliver Tokyo Game Show Keynote
>> From gamasutra.com:
[QUOTE]
Last year it was Sony's CEO who keynoted the Tokyo Game Show; this year it's Microsoft's turn. CESA says Microsoft Japan Home & Entertainment division chief Takashi Sensui and Microsoft Game Studios corporate vice president Phil Spencer will deliver the first of two keynotes to kick off the event.
The pair will discuss "Xbox 360's Vision and 2010's Strategy," according to an announcement translated by Andriasang, and their talk will take place at the Makuhari Messe on September 16, the show's first business day.
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Full Story: gamasutra.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
