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Welcome to the Spiffy 360 Theme Depository where you can find dashboard and application themes for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo Wii U. You can create and add your own xbox themes to the site for others to download or simply browse what others have created and download them. Once registered and logged in to your account, you will have a new menu item called admin where you can view your private messages, add xbox themes, manage xbox themes and edit your profile. When you log in to the Xbox site, you will also have the ability to unlock website achievements to view special videos, forum arcade and more.

After you register on this website, you will also have access to post in the forum, participate in voting for xbox themes, take the polls, view adult themes, and access the Wii Themes Site, PS3 Themes Site and Xbox Themes Site. After you are logged in, ads will show up much less then a visitor would see.

News Updates

 XBOX ONE is unleashed into the world by Microsoft

The ALL-IN-ONE system for controlling and watching everything

Not just your average 'gaming console', this is not Xbox 720, it is the all new XBOX ONE, the one and only system you will ever need, from gaming to watching movies, to even making phone calls!


Well the day is finally here, Microsoft has spilled the beans on the juicy stuff on their new XBOX, and its not 720, not Loop, not Now, not Fusion, it is ONE that is right they are counting down, because this is your ALL-IN-ONE baby, the only 'box' you will need connected to your TV ever, throw out all those other devices, buy, own, control, watch, game everything with XBOX ONE.

So far the specs are:

* 8GB of RAM
* 8-core CPU
* 500GB HDD
* Blu-ray drive
* USB 3.0
* Built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi

And the new Kinect which is always-needed as you control this all-in-one box with your VOICE, like XBOX ON will power on the system, includes a 1080p camera that is so good it can record your 'heartbeat'??

And the OS is combo of 3 things M$ is great at, the Xbox 360 (gaming), Windows 8 (apps/simple), Kinect (voice/control), and finally the XBOX ONE even tho it looks almost the same, they claim it has over 40 different changes, one of them being games can control the triggers, you will feel it more, it might take more strength to push them depending on the game.

Of course EA is major factor as an PARTNER with M$, with them being first on stage after M$ talked about how it will change your lives in watching tv, movies, and even phone calls with its built-in Skype system, and EA claims they have their own new engine designed just for XBOX ONE, with 4 games coming out within the next 12 months.

Forza Motorsports 5 will be a LAUNCH game, and there is alot of talk about how everything is CLOUD based, from saves, to weather, updates, connection with others, almost sadly like the CLOUD is so much needed, you might not be do anything without it there!

Plus another 15 Exclusive Games from Microsoft themselves, with 8 never before seen, with preview of one called QuantumBreak.

TV TV TV, SOCIAL SOCIAL SOCIAL, with exclusive drama designed only XBOX ONE, including something based on HALO, basically Microsoft claims your XBOX ONE will re-think TV as we know it, with interactive TV, better story-telling, and true live-action drama.

Finally it launches later this YEAR, but no clues on the price, with final word that E3 will have more info, and Call Of Duty is #1...

I am sorry to say, but my personal thoughts on this, is they better have an XBOX EU plan, as after the one hour, it was all way too much focused on USA, if you don't live like an American, you will not be grabbing an ALL-IN-ONE system called XBOX ONE.

We end this write-up summary, with the most important fact regarding 'GAMES' since there was not much about DRM or other rumors:


Microsoft's Xbox One will use Blu-ray discs for games, but you won't be using them as frequently as you might have with your PlayStation 3. In a statement made to Wired, Microsoft said that all games are installed to the Xbox One's hard drive to play; you won't have to insert the disc to run the game after that initial process. The news confirms earlier information seen by The Verge.

Prior to the Xbox One's official unveiling, rumors had flown for months that Microsoft's latest console would contain a mechanism to block used games. While Microsoft has so far stayed quiet on this particular point, the mandatory installation would seem to suggest that it may well be the case - at least to some extent. Microsoft has said that a fee would be charged for any game disc to be tied to a second Xbox Live account following its initial installation.


News-Source: Microsoft Xbox One: everything you need to know (via) TheVerge (Visit Link )

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 Rumor: Microsoft killing off Xbox Points

...In favor of 'real' currency/gift cards system.

According to The Verge, Microsoft is doing away with its current Points system to introduce a true currency system very soon. Reveal expected at E3 2013.


According to a report from The Verge, Microsoft is killing off its Points system used primarily for the Xbox, in favor of a true currency and gift cards system.

So, similar to the infrastructure that Apple has in place, users will be able to make purchases with debit/credit cards, or buy gift cards at retail stores. The new system would work across the Windows Store, Windows Phone Store, and the Xbox Live Marketplace.


The new gift cards will be offered in a similar way to Apple's iTunes vouchers, allowing Xbox owners to purchase true currency to be used to download content. We're told that normal cash transactions, using credit and debit cards, will also be supported. Microsoft currently offers gift cards in its retail stores, but these can only be used for purchases in brick and mortar stores. The new system will work across Microsoft's various marketplaces, including the Windows Store, Windows Phone Store, and Xbox.


Apparently, an official announcement is expected at the upcoming E3, with a planned launch later this year, just in time for the next-generation Xbox.

If true, it was about time, don't you think? Stay tuned!

News-Source: Microsoft points moving to gift card system (via) TheVerge (Visit Link )

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 Xbox Now! leaks just ahead of its May 21st event

More info has appeared on the 'net regarding Xbox Now!

It seems the latest info has leaked out regarding the Xbox Now! system, and it shows that the specs for Now! are even higher then previous rumors claimed!

We are almost at the big event date of May 21st, when under the big tent that Microsoft has setup, we will learn all about the new Xbox Now! console, and just ahead of that event some more information has leaked out, showing that the specs. are very nice.

* There is now a full 12 gigabytes of high-speed RAM in the new Xbox Now! console, unlike the previous rumors of only 8gb.
* To be precise, there is 4gb GDDR5 on the GPU and 8gb GDDR5 on the 8-Core IBM custom CPU.
* The GPU is the first GCN 2.0 GPU produced and was designed by special team of MS+IBM+AMD.
* Eric from IBM will be a speaker on the 21st. with more info like the fact the GPU specs. are a mindblogging 4.9 TFlops.

And finally Dutch journalist Jan Meijroos said on Twitter his Xbox Now! papers for Tuesday say 'hands on', that will be real slap on the face for Sony, if the Xbox Now! is right there 'available now' to try out within the big tent for everyone to see and hear in real-action!

Official Site: Xbox Now! (Visit Link )

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 Next Xbox to work offline, according to leaked Microsoft memo

'A number of scenarios expected to work without internet.'

According to an internal Microsoft memo obtained by Ars Technica, the next-gen Xbox won't require an always-on internet connection for many functions, including games...


According to an allegedly leaked internal Microsoft memo emailed to "full-time employees" working on the next-generation Xbox, the upcoming console will NOT require an always-on internet connection for many of its functions, including "single-player gaming", or when "playing a Blu-ray disc"...

The memo, obtained by Ars Technica, says the following:


"Durango [the codename for the next Xbox] is designed to deliver the future of entertainment while engineered to be tolerant of today's Internet."

It continues, "There are a number of scenarios that our users expect to work without an Internet connection, and those should 'just work' regardless of their current connection status. Those include, but are not limited to: playing a Blu-ray disc, watching live TV, and yes playing a single player game."


If true, the memo also backs up the rumour that the new console will be capable of receiving (via a HDMI input) and relaying a TV video feed with its own UI and functionality layered over that of your existing set-top box...

The next-generation XBOX will be revealed at a special event on May 21. Stay tuned!

News-Source: Microsoft next Xbox will work even when your internet doesnt (via) ArsTechnica (Visit Link )

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 Next Xbox to work offline, according to leaked Microsoft memo

'A number of scenarios expected to work without internet.'

According to an internal Microsoft memo obtained by Ars Technica, the next-gen Xbox won't require an always-on internet connection for many functions, including games...


According to an allegedly leaked internal Microsoft memo emailed to "full-time employees" working on the next-generation Xbox, the upcoming console will NOT require an always-on internet connection for many of its functions, including "single-player gaming", or when "playing a Blu-ray disc"...

The memo, obtained by Ars Technica, says the following:


"Durango [the codename for the next Xbox] is designed to deliver the future of entertainment while engineered to be tolerant of today's Internet."

It continues, "There are a number of scenarios that our users expect to work without an Internet connection, and those should 'just work' regardless of their current connection status. Those include, but are not limited to: playing a Blu-ray disc, watching live TV, and yes playing a single player game."


If true, the memo also backs up the rumour that the new console will be capable of receiving (via a HDMI input) and relaying a TV video feed with its own UI and functionality layered over that of your existing set-top box...

The next-generation XBOX will be revealed at a special event on May 21. Stay tuned!

News-Source: Microsoft next Xbox will work even when your internet doesnt (via) ArsTechnica (Visit Link )

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 Announcing the new FREEDOM 1175 from Team Matrix

The MATRIX team has just released CRYPTOCOP addon for FREEDOM LITE PCBoard

Now all Xbox 360 console owners with LITE-ON DG16D5S and HITACHI DLN10N 0500/0502 drives can enjoy the freedom of using 'backups' thanks to the new FREEDOM 1175 from the InfinityMod (Matrix Team)


It been a long time coming, but now Team Matrix has offically announced the new FREEDOM 1175 device, which is basically their FREEDOM LITE PCB with the CRYPTOCOP addon, now you can safely and quickly unlock those tough to crack LITEON and HITACHI drives that are found in the more recent Microsoft Xbox 360 consoles, so you can enjoy the freedom of playing your 'backup' discs.

Here is the official PR regarding it from InfinityMod:


FREEDOM 1175, THE FREEDOM LITE PCB + CRYPTOCOP ADDON

THE LITE-ON DG16D5S AND HITACHI DLN10N 0500/0502* SOLUTION FROM THE MATRIX TEAM

This solution provides the option to run DVD backups of your owned games. You’ll able to play all your backups (XGD1, XGD2, XGD3 Xbox and Xbox 360 DVD formats) even on Live – at your own risk.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

* A NAND dump of a console with one matching drive (Lite-ON DG16D5S or Hitachi DLN10N 0500/0502*);
* The CPU KEY of the console above;
* One Matrix Freedom 1175 board.
* One Matrix Freedom USB Programmer with CryptoCop Add-On
* Matrix Freedom USB Programmer
* Matrix Freedom D5S Manager Software

Simply swap your original 16D5S board with the FREEDOM 1175, connect the FREEDOM 1175 with the FREEDOM USB programmer, launch the Matrix Freedom Software and in one minute your exchange PCB will be ready to use!

Please visit our website for additional tutorial, diagrams and all the related software.



Official Site: InfinityMod (Visit Link )

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 Virtual JaguarX v0.98

Recently, an updated version of Atari Jaguar Emulator has been released for the Original Xbox Console by hcf on our Xbox-Scene forums.


Changes in the emulator core

1) Full-screen playing, even in HD modes: Now you can play at full-screen, both with 480, 720p or 1080i. This has been achieved by replacing all the SDL code related to video, with Xbox native Direct3D code.

2) Noticeable speed improvement: Besides the full-screen support, the native Direct3D code also brang a speed improvement. This makes that some games that were hardly playable in the last version, can be played in this one at good speed (for example Kasumi Ninja or Zool 2). Besides, many games that need overclocked sound/GPU, will have better sound and less graphical glitches now, because the overclocking factor now is much lower.

3) Improved compatibility: There are new playable games that didn't work (or were unplayable) in previous versions, like Soccer Kid, Protector Special Edition, Zero 5, Worms, Evolution - Dino Dudes, Kasumi Ninja...

4) Better savegame management: In the past versions, there was an annoying bug that caused that, if you didn't exit from the game in a proper way (START+BACK) you lost all the saved games related to that rom!! This bug has been fixed with a better savegame management. Now, if you exit bad, you will only loose the current game, but all the previous saved progress will be kept. So, you will never loose your saved games again (time to beat Rayman now?).

Changes in the GUI

1) Now you can have a lot of games in your "roms" folder (the previous version had a bug when you had more than 50-60 roms). And these roms can have moderately long names if you want. Anyways, remember that the files must have a "normal" name if you want that the emulator is able to recommend the best settings for that game. For example, if you have the game Rayman you can name it like "Rayman.zip" or "Rayman (Ubisoft).j64" or whatever you want that begins with "Raym"... but don't rename it like "My favorite game.zip", because the emulator will not know that it is Rayman!

2) Preliminary screenshots support. The emulator search for screenshots with the same name of the rom (but extension "jpg") in the "media/artwork/action" folder (like in the Xtras) and if it exists, it will show it when the game is selected in the menu. This package contains some screenshots of some of the most famous games, but you must rename your roms like them if you want them to work. For example, if the screenshot is "Kasumi Ninja.jpg", rename your rom as "Kasumi Ninja.zip".

3) Background music

4) Better joystick management


For More Info, Please see the full XS forum thread linked below!

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 Xbox Fusion domains registered at Microsoft

¿New Xbox name?

Microsoft has been caught registering the xboxfusion.com domain which may be a hint of the next console's official name


It seems that microsoft has registered (yet again) another domain that suggests a possible name for the next generation console. This time, it is xboxfusion.com that now is part of the already registered buch with xboxgold.com and xboxnext.com.

Fusible explained it better in this extract:


If Microsoft has learned anything from its previous mistakes with launching a product without the matching domains — then it’s quite possible that the company’s next generation console will be called the “Xbox Fusion”.

Microsoft owns the name in a variety of different extensions and it has for years.

Speculation about the name being called “Xbox Fusion” isn’t anything new. But what separates “Xbox Fusion” and only a few other names from the rest of the list, is that not only does Microsoft own the dot-com (WHOIS), it owns a slew of other domains like XboxFusion.info, XboxFusion.biz, XboxFusion.de, XboxFusion.co.uk – the list goes on and on.

Speculation of the next gen console’s name has gone wild, fueled lately by the recent leak on Reddit of what may be the logo.

Names being kicked around include the Xbox 720, Xbox Infinity, Xbox Infinite, Xbox Gold, Xbox 8, Xbox Durango, Xbox Next, and more.


News-Source #1: Xbox Fusion domains registered at Microsoft (via) 360Crunch (Visit Link )

News-Source #2: Will Microsoft call its next-generation console the Xbox Fusion domain names point to yes (via) Fusible (Visit Link )

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 More R-JTAG details Released

Today Ubergeek over at the TX forums released pictures and more details about the R-JTAG exploit for Phat 360 consoles.

After several months of development we can now tell you that our new exploit for phat consoles is about to be launched.



QUICK FAQ:

- R-JTAG comes in two flavors - a starter kit and an ultimate kit with all the bells and whistles
- The first release will support Zephyr, Opus, Falcon, jasper
- There will be a Xenon only version
- Boot speeds are similar to JTAG and RGH1 (from instaboot to 10 seconds)
- Full POST Monitoring with RATER and JRP v2
- Dual Nand works fantastic with the DemoN - especially for Stock / Hacked Nand setups
- No more need for RGH1/RGH2
- Works on the very latest dash/kernel versions
- Solid, reliable booting


News-Source #1: More R-JTAG details Released (via) 360Crunch (Visit Link )
News-Source #2: R-JTAG Is Coming (via) Team-Xecuter (Visit Link )

Our thanks to 'steveo1978' for this news item!

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 Xbox SmartGlass now available on Kindle Fire

Finally here

The popular tablets owners now can benefit from the Microsoft's app to control and interact deeply with their Xbox


At last, Amazon has put online the Microsoft's Xbox SmartGlass app for its Kindle Fire lineup and you can grab it for free:


Xbox SmartGlass enables your Kindle Fire (2nd generation), Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HD 8.9 to work with your Xbox 360 console to bring rich, interactive experiences and unique content about what you’re watching or playing, right to the device that’s already in your hand. Interact with your favorite TV shows, movies, music, sports, and games, and bring remote control to a whole new level. You can also connect with your Xbox friends, track and compare your achievements, and change up your 3D avatar.

Xbox SmartGlass lets you:

Navigate your Xbox 360 with swipe and tap, Use your phone’s keyboard to type to your Xbox 360, Browse the Internet on your Xbox 360 with full keyboard and zooming, Play, pause, fast forward, rewind, and stop videos and music on your Xbox 360, Search the full Xbox catalog of music, video, and games, Enjoy rich, interactive experiences from select game and entertainment content creators, Track and compare your achievements with your Xbox friends, Change your 3D avatar, Message your Xbox friends, Edit your Xbox profile.

Note: This app requires an Xbox membership to sign in. Available for most Android 4.0+ smartphones, with WVGA screen resolution or higher. Kindle Fire (2nd generation), Kindle Fire HD, Kindle Fire HD 8.9. Also available for most Android 4.0+ smartphones, with WVGA screen resolution or higher.


Head to the link below to get it directly from the Amazon App Store.

News-Source: B00CF5LBYW (via) Amazon (Visit Link )

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 Respawn's (CoD creators) first game to be 'Xbox 720' exclusive?

PLUS: Microsoft struggling for next-gen?

According to Kotaku sources, the first game from Respawn Entertainment will be exclusive to the next-generation Xbox.
Plus, seems that MS is like 6 months behind in game production for the console...


According to Kotaku, Respawn Entertainment's (a studio spawned by the creators of Call of Duty) debut game will be a multiplayer-focused, always-online Xbox 720 exclusive.

A Xbox 360 version may also release, but there will be no iterations for other consoles. The game is being published by EA...


The new game from Respawn is a futuristic multiplayer-centric online shooter, one of our sources says. The source describes the game as a battle of Davids and Goliaths. The Davids are heavily-armed foot soldiers. The Goliaths are the giant exosekeltons—Titans—that these soldiers can pilot. These Titans are big mech-style walkers that move with an agility not seen in games like Mechwarrior or Steel Battalions.

To keep the action balanced, game maps limit the number of Titans that can be used in a skirmish. Weapon loadouts for the foot soldiers are designed to ensure that the characters on foot can take out the Titans if need be. The source who described the game does not work at Respawn, but their description tracks with the long-reported desire by the former Infinity Ward team to make a sci-fi shooter.

While the details of the game came to us from one source—a source who is in a good position to know what the deal is with Respawn's game—their assertion that the game is destined only for Microsoft console hardware was consistent with information another source gave us earlier this month. That other source had also told us that Respawn's game would only be for the Xbox brand. It is possible that the game could be a timed exclusive, but neither source indicated that was the case.

An Xbox-only Respawn game would be a coup for Microsoft and a fascinating twist to a number of significant sagas. It has implications for publisher EA's rivalry with Call of Duty publisher Activision; for Microsoft's competition with Sony and, less directly with Nintendo; as well as for the ongoing debate about always-online gaming. Two sources have told us that this new game is, in fact, always-online.


Another source told the site that Microsoft is “not where they want to be at this point in the pre-launch development” of their new Xbox, and added that the company is as much as “six months behind in producing content for the new console.”


We've heard from other sources that Microsoft is not where they want to be at this point in the pre-launch development of Durango. A reliable source—one who was not part of our reporting about the Respawn game—tells us that Microsoft is as much as six months behind in producing content for the new console, despite an expected late-2013 launch. Another tells us that Microsoft recently cancelled several internal next-gen projects because they were not coming together as hoped. These sources have told us that, comparatively, Sony is in better shape and further along with hardware and software development for PlayStation 4.

We'd also heard from an industry insider that Microsoft was aggressively trying to sign exclusive games for Durango. Given the lack of internal development at Microsoft—their internal studios, while talented, are outnumbered by those of Sony and Nintendo—and given some of the apparent recent stumbles and slowdowns internally, signing an exclusive Respawn-EA game would suit the Durango quite well.


For now, this is just a rumor. You can read the full article on the link below.

And, stay tuned for the 'Xbox 720' reveal event on May 21!

News-Source: The next-gen Xbox is getting a hell of an exclusive so (via) Kotaku (Visit Link )

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 Microsoft’s IllumiRoom demo unveiled

Five minute video

Check out the revolutionary IllumiRoom device from Microsoft.


Check out below a five minute demo of the upcoming Microsoft's IllumiRoom. This video shows us the tech capabilities of this device, highlights numerous effects including snow, lighting, grids, and other ways in which IllumiRoom changes the user’s playing space.


Maybe Microsoft will implement this new concept in the upcoming Xbox console, so stay alert!!

News-Source: M$ IllumiRoom demo (via) 360Crunch (Visit Link )

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 Next Xbox to emphasize sharing, let publishers decide 'always-on' connection

Plus, 'broader Achievements', video capture, new friend system, and more!

According to Polygon, the next Xbox console will introduce new social network elements, video capture functions and 'cross-game' Achievements.

Also, it will let publishers mandate 'always-on' games.


Ready for another "XBOX 720" related rumor?

According to a report by Polygon, the next Xbox, set to be unveiled during a May 21 event on Microsoft's Redmond-based Xbox campus, will bring a slew of tweaks to the social aspects of the upcoming console.

The site sources claim the console will have a video sharing system similar to the PS4, broader achievements, and a Twitter-like Xbox LIVE friends system. Also, it will let publishers to decide 'always-online' for its games...


• Video Sharing: Like PlayStation 4, the next Xbox will include the ability to capture and share video through networks like Ustream and Facebook. The system will capture your gameplay like a DVR, allowing you to go back and select highlights. This function can be turned on or off, or set up to auto-capture certain in-game events.

• Always-On: The next Xbox will “indeed have some form of an always-on requirement.” According to the site, this is both to support the non-gaming apps that will be launched with the console and as an “anti-piracy tool.” The console will support “digital rights management and anti-piracy checks using an internet connection.” Under Microsoft’s current guidelines, “the decision of whether a game will require an internet connection to work and if that is a one-time authentication or a constant connection, will be left up to individual publishers.”

• Achievements: Publishers will be able to add more achievements after launch without the need to add download content. According to Polygon, “this is designed specifically to allow developers to tweak player behavior.” Achievements can also be tied to “broader events,” like a weekend challenge where a number of players contribute to a goal of 10,000 kills. Cross-platform achievements, like those earned by playing a game on the next Xbox and then using a companion app or website, are also being talked about.

• Xbox LIVE: Microsoft is looking for a way to better align Xbox LIVE with social networks like Facebook and Twitter. There won’t be a friends cap anymore. The friends system will now act more like Twitter, where people can choose to follow one another.


There you have it.

Nothing is confirmed yet so, as always, take the above with a grain of salt. Stay tuned for the official reveal next month!

News-Source #1: Next Xbox DRM Rumors (via) 360Crunch (Visit Link )
News-Source #2: Next Xbox DRM achievements live (via) PolyGon (Visit Link )

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 RGLoader v310 [16202 Support] : Released

The RGLoader-dev Group has released an update to RGLoader to support kernel 16202.



0v310
-Added 16202
-RGLoader.xex now dynamically targets 14719/15574/or 16202 (16197 may be incomplete)
-Drag and drop load on rgbuild gui
-Reserve space for payloads in FS area(fixes bootanim overwrite by patches)
-RGBuild will now accept any kernel version as valid


For more info on RGLoader v310, please visit the following new links, and also remember to discuss this news item in our X-S forums! :)

Official Site: RGLoader (at) Spiffy360 (Visit Link )

News-Source: RGLoader v310 Released (via) 360Crunch (Visit Link )

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 Rumor: Next Xbox landing in early November; $499 or $299 with a subscription

According again to Paul Thurrott.

Windows blogger Paul Thurrott claims Microsoft's next-gen platform will launch during the same window as PlayStation 4; requires internet connection, full reveal at E3.


Well, here goes another 'XBOX 720' rumor ahead of its reveal next month.

This one is again from Paul Thurrott, the blogger who successfully predicted the next XBOX reveal on May 21.

According to him, the platform will launch in November at $500, with a $300 'Xbox 720' also available. However, the $300 model will require consumers commit to two years of Xbox Live gold at an expected price of $10 month.

And, there's a lot more. Here's his full article titled "Here Comes the Next Xbox":


Microsoft on Wednesday confirmed that the next Xbox video game console, code-named Durango, will be revealed to the public during a special event at its Redmond campus on May 21. That event will kick off a multi-event unveiling that will continue through June and culminate with the release of the device, which is expected in early November.

On March 28, I exclusively revealed via Twitter that Microsoft had changed the original reveal date for the next Xbox from April 24 to May 21. So yesterday’s confirmation is interesting for two reasons, the least obvious of which is that the news came on April 24—the original date that the firm intended to reveal the next Xbox.

Here’s what I know about the next Xbox (along with some clearly identified conjecture).

• Early announce. The initial reveal date was pushed back from April 24 to May 21 so that Microsoft could better position the device against the PlayStation 4, which Sony announced in late February.

• Full (end user) announce. Microsoft will fully reveal details about the next Xbox, including the launch lineup of games, on the eve of the E3 tradeshow in early June 2013.

• Developer announce? It appears that Microsoft will discuss the next Xbox developer platform at the Build conference in San Francisco in late June, based on clues on the Build website.

• Launch. The next Xbox will launch in early November 2013.

• Windows 8 Core. The next Xbox is based on the "Core" (base) version of Windows 8. This suggests a common apps platform or at least one that is similar to that used by Windows 8. It also suggests that Microsoft could open up this platform to enthusiast developers. (That last bit is supposition on my part.)

• Price. Microsoft will initially offer two pricing models for the console: a standalone version for $499 and a $299 version that requires a two-year Xbox LIVE Gold commitment at an expected price of $10 per month.

• No entertainment box. Microsoft originally planned to offer both a “full” version of the next Xbox (with video game playing capabilities) and a lower-end entertainment-oriented version, code-named “Yuma,” that didn't provide gaming capabilities. But plans for Yuma are on hold, and no pure entertainment version of the next Xbox will appear in 2013 (or possibly ever).

• Blu-ray. The next Xbox will include a Blu-ray optical drive.

• Internet-connected. The next Xbox must be Internet-connected to use. This is the source of the “always on”/“always online” rumors and isn’t as Draconian as many seem to believe.

• Another Xbox 360. Microsoft will also deliver a third-generation Xbox 360 console this year that will be significantly less expensive than the current models. The new Xbox 360 is code-named “Stingray,” but it’s not clear whether this device is required because the next Xbox isn’t backward-compatible or because Microsoft simply wants a low-cost entertainment box alternative. (A third possibility—and to be clear, these possible reasons are all speculative—is that the Xbox 360 simply has life left in it and with dwindling component prices in the 8 years since the original launch, the firm can still make money selling such a device.)

There’s a lot I don’t know, of course. The name is a big area of speculation, and while I’ve heard nothing official, I’d be surprised if Microsoft didn’t just called it Xbox. I’ve never seen the console, nor have any idea what it might look like. And in addition to the aforementioned confusion over backward compatibility and the apps platform, there are questions surrounding Kinect (which I understand is integrated and non-optional) and of course the fabled (and possibly imaginary) Xbox Surface tablet. We’ll have to wait and see what Microsoft announces—or what it leaks—to find out more.


About the always-online requirement:


There you have it. Remember, Microsoft’s May event will be broadcast live via Xbox.com, over Xbox LIVE, and on Spike TV in the U.S. and Canada. Stay tuned!

News-Source: Here comes Next Xbox (via) WindowsItPro (Visit Link+(WIN%3ENews%3EWinInfo+News) )

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