Wouldn't it be nice if Microsoft admitted it was gouging consumers by charging $100 for an otherwise unremarkable wireless 802.11g USB adapter? What'd be even nicer: Besides an integrated version in its freshly price-adjusted $300 Xbox 360 Elite, how about a wireless 802.11n USB adapter for $40 or less?
Engadget thinks it has pictures of the 802.11n part--a little black rabbity looking rectangle with an incriminating label that identifies it as the 'n' iteration of the 802.11 spec. That means it'd run at up to 160Mbps, another meaningless maximum you'd never achieve due (among other things) to the chug-a-lugging hard drive's chokehold. Still, 802.11n could see you future-proofed for the inevitable Xbox 360 500GB solid-state drive. I won't guess what that'll cost you in Xbox 360 peripheral dollars.
How overpriced is the current 802.11g part? Put it this way. I just bought a Hawking Hi-Gain Wireless-N Network USB Adapter for my MacBook Pro--a part that's boosted my ability to hone in on signals by at least 100 feet--for $60. You can get most USB 802.11n parts, with or without an external antenna, for somewhere in the $13 to $30 range.
Say what you will, wireless matters. My Xbox 360 hasn't been in sighting range of an Ethernet cable since I bought it. I know some of you swear by Ethernet--I have a friend who was at one point running a monstrously long one out of his bedroom, down the hallway, around his living room, and up to the back of his entertainment center--but if I had to bet who's using what, I'd say over half of you dropped $100 on the adapter. Sooner or later you want the flexibility. How many of you have your cable or DSL boxes squatting in your living room (as opposed to the office, tucked away somewhere out of sight)? I'm betting not that many.
As for the $40 part, you'll have to bug Microsoft, because that's probably wishful thinking on my part. Assuming the 802.11n part's for really-real, something tells me we'll have to pay $100 or more--all for the privilege of owning what amounts to a letter further down the IEEE's syllabary.
วันอังคารที่ 15 กันยายน พ.ศ. 2552
PlayStation 3 firmware 3.01 is live
The new PS3 firmware, 3.01, just went live. It's not a mandatory update, and we're not sure what's in the update or what it adds or what it fixes, but we are updating.
Right now. As we speak.
The previous 3.00 firmware update brought a host of new cosmetic changes. Users did report issues after the update with Uncharted and the DualShock controller. Sony spokesperson Patrick Seybold wrote on the PlayStation.Blog, "SCEA is aware of reports that PS3 owners are experiencing isolated issues with their PS3 system since installing the most recent system software update.
"Rest assured that we are looking into the matter and will provide an update here as soon as possible," Seybold added. "We apologize for any inconvenience, as it's our mission to deliver the best consumer experience on all PlayStation platforms."
We are following up with Sony to confirm what exactly this update addresses.
Why Microsoft Should Release an Xbox 360 Slim
The Playstation 3 Slim was recently released and is selling out everywhere. The new model is greatly boosting demand for the struggling Playstation 3 so far. The Xbox 360 currently holds a moderate
lead over the Playstation 3. While Sony manages to cut down the Playstation 3 in size, Microsoft hasn't done the same yet to their video game system. Here are a few reasons why Microsoft should release an Xbox 360 Slim.
Competition
The Xbox 360 is in second place behind the Nintendo Wii and in front of the Playstation 3 in terms of worldwide hardware sales. However, Microsoft is closer to Sony than they are to Nintendo. Only seven million units separate the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3. Not to mention that the Playstation 3 is outselling the Xbox 360 in Japan and evenly in Europe.
With the Playstation 3 Slim, demand will rise for the competition. To counter, Microsoft needs to announce their version of an Xbox 360 Slim in order to stay ahead of Sony. Otherwise, they could easily fall to last place in the console wars race.
Cost-saving
In order to build the Xbox 360 Slim, Microsoft will need to first shrink the chip set of the system. Doing so will reduce the size of the system. As a result, the Xbox 360 Slim will be cheaper to manufacture with smaller components, a smaller casing and less manufacturing costs. The new slim model will help save cost for Microsoft, which will then be able to lower the price of the system to consumers. Subsequently, demand will increase for the Xbox 360.
Prevent Hardware Issues
The Xbox 360 Slim can also be used to eliminate hardware problems for the system. Microsoft decided to get a head start on the competition by launching the Xbox 360 early. Unfortunately, this led to hardware failures like the Red Ring of Death and E74 Errors. These issues persist even today after numerous revisions and have literally cost Microsoft billions of dollars. For the Xbox 360 Slim, Microsoft will have to shrink all chipsets to 45 nm, which will prevent the overheating issues.
lead over the Playstation 3. While Sony manages to cut down the Playstation 3 in size, Microsoft hasn't done the same yet to their video game system. Here are a few reasons why Microsoft should release an Xbox 360 Slim.
Competition
The Xbox 360 is in second place behind the Nintendo Wii and in front of the Playstation 3 in terms of worldwide hardware sales. However, Microsoft is closer to Sony than they are to Nintendo. Only seven million units separate the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3. Not to mention that the Playstation 3 is outselling the Xbox 360 in Japan and evenly in Europe.
With the Playstation 3 Slim, demand will rise for the competition. To counter, Microsoft needs to announce their version of an Xbox 360 Slim in order to stay ahead of Sony. Otherwise, they could easily fall to last place in the console wars race.
Cost-saving
In order to build the Xbox 360 Slim, Microsoft will need to first shrink the chip set of the system. Doing so will reduce the size of the system. As a result, the Xbox 360 Slim will be cheaper to manufacture with smaller components, a smaller casing and less manufacturing costs. The new slim model will help save cost for Microsoft, which will then be able to lower the price of the system to consumers. Subsequently, demand will increase for the Xbox 360.
Prevent Hardware Issues
The Xbox 360 Slim can also be used to eliminate hardware problems for the system. Microsoft decided to get a head start on the competition by launching the Xbox 360 early. Unfortunately, this led to hardware failures like the Red Ring of Death and E74 Errors. These issues persist even today after numerous revisions and have literally cost Microsoft billions of dollars. For the Xbox 360 Slim, Microsoft will have to shrink all chipsets to 45 nm, which will prevent the overheating issues.
Wii $199 an aggressive tactic vs. PS3, Xbox 360
Nintendo Co. hasn’t publicly commented on a $50 price cut for the best-selling Wii console – and it may not have to. A leaked circular that disclaims a price cut for Wii to $199 has revealed what could be an aggressive tactic by Nintendo to retain leadership status in the console wars. A sub-$200 price tag for Wii this holiday season is surprising for Nintendo. Despite analysts who claim that the console maker has no choice but to price cut following discounts by Sony Corp. and Microsoft Corp., Wii still has an edge that competitors don't – top motion-sensitive titles.
Microsoft and Sony's plans to enter the motion-sensor control market will start in 2010, leaving one last holiday season that Nintendo controls the market with its Wii Remote.
In addition, Nintendo's holiday game portfolio is substantially solid with titles like Wii Fit Plus, New Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Galaxy 2.
But, as video game sales continue to decrease in month-to-month tallies and the recession cuts in on family budgets, Nintendo isn't leaving anything to chance.
After three years on the market, Wii, with its low-cost components and standard definition graphics, has been quietly cost-reduced during its three-year $249 retail price. The company will likely still hold a profit for Wii at $199. If not, losses on each hardware sold will be undoubtedly negligible.
Though Wii is currently the worldwide console king, it isn't invulnerable. Sales for Sony's Blu-ray backed Playstation 3 have increased substantially following release of the Slim hardware, and the Xbox 360's low cost of entry to high-definition gaming and strong online service offerings are all attractive features that could lure potential Wii customers to rivals.
But a Wii at $199 will be a stronger impulse buy for the casual customer interested in family fun, a core gamer waiting for a sub-$200 price tag, or a gift giver that finds the $199 a value compared to most electronic items.
Nintendo is no stranger to console wars. After losing significant market share with the Nintendo 64 and GameCube, the unlikely Wii has taken the veteran company back to the top. This time though, it will be tougher to knock the console king off its throne.
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Mixed news in Xbox price changes
Microsoft is to cut the UK price of its Xbox 360 Elite gaming console by £30 to £199.99 and by $100 to $299 in the US.
It comes in the wake of Sony's decision to drop the price of its PlayStation 3 to £249 in the UK and $299 in the US.
The price of Xbox's entry-level model the Arcade will rise to £159.99 from £129.99 - although its US cost remains the same at $199.
The Xbox Pro mid-range model will be discontinued altogether. A new version of PlayStation 3 is out next week.
Recent figures suggest that overall sales of both games and consoles have slumped this year - with a drop of some 29% in the US.
However, Xbox sales are the only console in positive growth in the US this year, rising by 17%.
The new prices will come into effect on Friday, ahead of the release of the recently announced slimmed-down PlayStation 3. Its hard drive size has been increased to 120GB hard drive - the same as the Xbox 360 Elite.
"Price cuts are always a good thing," said Nik Williams, a gamer from Haselmere in Surrey.
"Obviously, Sony are worried by lowering its prices in the first place but for me Xbox has got the bigger games library, the better games and I just think it's a better console."
Others were less impressed, citing PlayStation's free online gaming and ability to play Blu-Ray discs.
"The Xbox price cut would never persuade me to get one," said Anthony Charles from east London.
"The reason I'm a PS3 man all the way is because you get all the brilliant games - and then the little extras."
It comes in the wake of Sony's decision to drop the price of its PlayStation 3 to £249 in the UK and $299 in the US.
The price of Xbox's entry-level model the Arcade will rise to £159.99 from £129.99 - although its US cost remains the same at $199.
The Xbox Pro mid-range model will be discontinued altogether. A new version of PlayStation 3 is out next week.
Recent figures suggest that overall sales of both games and consoles have slumped this year - with a drop of some 29% in the US.
However, Xbox sales are the only console in positive growth in the US this year, rising by 17%.
The new prices will come into effect on Friday, ahead of the release of the recently announced slimmed-down PlayStation 3. Its hard drive size has been increased to 120GB hard drive - the same as the Xbox 360 Elite.
"Price cuts are always a good thing," said Nik Williams, a gamer from Haselmere in Surrey.
"Obviously, Sony are worried by lowering its prices in the first place but for me Xbox has got the bigger games library, the better games and I just think it's a better console."
Others were less impressed, citing PlayStation's free online gaming and ability to play Blu-Ray discs.
"The Xbox price cut would never persuade me to get one," said Anthony Charles from east London.
"The reason I'm a PS3 man all the way is because you get all the brilliant games - and then the little extras."
Xbox speeds up research results
Researchers have harnessed the powerful silicon chips used in the Xbox 360 console to solve scientific conundrums.
Academics at the University of Warwick believe they are the first to use the processors as a cheap way to conduct "parallel processing".
Parallel computing is where a number of processors are run in tandem, allowing a system to rapidly crunch data.
Researchers traditionally have to book time on a dedicated "cluster" system or splash out setting up a network of PCs.
Instead, the Warwick team harnessed a single Xbox 360 Graphical Processing Unit (GPU). The chip was able to perform parallel processing functions at a fraction of the cost a traditional systems.
Dr Simon Scarle, a researcher on the team, built the system to help him model how electrical signals in the heart moved around damaged cardiac cells.
Dr Scarle, who previously worked as a software engineer at Microsoft's Rare studio, had first hand experience of tapping into the power of GPU technology.
Speaking to BBC News, Dr Scarle said that the the code controlling the chip was modified, so instead of working out graphical calculations, it could perform other ones instead.
"You don't quite get the full whammy of a cluster, but its close," he said.
"Instead of pumping out stunning graphics, it's reworked; in the case of my research, rather than calculating the position of a structure and texture it's now working out the different chemical levels in a cell."
Real world computing
There has been cross-pollination between game consoles and real world computing in the past.
Roadrunner, officially the worlds fastest supercomputer, uses the same processor technology as that found in Sony's PlayStation 3.
However, it is thought that this is the first time an Xbox has been used to perform parallel processing, albeit on a single chip.
RoadRunner supercomputer
Roadrunner is used in nuclear weapons research
Dr Scarle said that linking more than one Xbox together using the techniques would not be impossible.
"It could be done, but you would have to go over the internet - through something like Xbox live - rather than a standard method."
"However, without development tools, it wouldn't be easy.
Xbox live allows gamers to play against each other over the internet.
"Sony have been into this [parallel processing] for some time, releasing development kits, and Folding@home comes as standard," he added.
Folding@home is a project that harnesses the spare processing power of PCs, Macs, Linux systems and PlayStation 3's to help understand the cause of diseases.
The network has more than 4.3 petaflop of computing power - the equivalent of more than 4,300 trillion calculations per second. Roadrunner, by comparison can operate at just over one petaflop.
The results of the University of Warwick research are published in the journal Computational Biology and Chemistry
Academics at the University of Warwick believe they are the first to use the processors as a cheap way to conduct "parallel processing".
Parallel computing is where a number of processors are run in tandem, allowing a system to rapidly crunch data.
Researchers traditionally have to book time on a dedicated "cluster" system or splash out setting up a network of PCs.
Instead, the Warwick team harnessed a single Xbox 360 Graphical Processing Unit (GPU). The chip was able to perform parallel processing functions at a fraction of the cost a traditional systems.
Dr Simon Scarle, a researcher on the team, built the system to help him model how electrical signals in the heart moved around damaged cardiac cells.
Dr Scarle, who previously worked as a software engineer at Microsoft's Rare studio, had first hand experience of tapping into the power of GPU technology.
Speaking to BBC News, Dr Scarle said that the the code controlling the chip was modified, so instead of working out graphical calculations, it could perform other ones instead.
"You don't quite get the full whammy of a cluster, but its close," he said.
"Instead of pumping out stunning graphics, it's reworked; in the case of my research, rather than calculating the position of a structure and texture it's now working out the different chemical levels in a cell."
Real world computing
There has been cross-pollination between game consoles and real world computing in the past.
Roadrunner, officially the worlds fastest supercomputer, uses the same processor technology as that found in Sony's PlayStation 3.
However, it is thought that this is the first time an Xbox has been used to perform parallel processing, albeit on a single chip.
RoadRunner supercomputer
Roadrunner is used in nuclear weapons research
Dr Scarle said that linking more than one Xbox together using the techniques would not be impossible.
"It could be done, but you would have to go over the internet - through something like Xbox live - rather than a standard method."
"However, without development tools, it wouldn't be easy.
Xbox live allows gamers to play against each other over the internet.
"Sony have been into this [parallel processing] for some time, releasing development kits, and Folding@home comes as standard," he added.
Folding@home is a project that harnesses the spare processing power of PCs, Macs, Linux systems and PlayStation 3's to help understand the cause of diseases.
The network has more than 4.3 petaflop of computing power - the equivalent of more than 4,300 trillion calculations per second. Roadrunner, by comparison can operate at just over one petaflop.
The results of the University of Warwick research are published in the journal Computational Biology and Chemistry
วันจันทร์ที่ 14 กันยายน พ.ศ. 2552
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