But are these sealed units, or is the fabled xPod making a return to the rumour mill?
Microsoft's next-generation Xbox console is set to feature a removable hard drive bay, according to online reports today, which will allow users to upgrade their entry-level systems to include mass storage capabilities.
Citing a "reliable source", technology news site Engadget revealed details of the removable hard drive, claiming that the unit attaches to the top of the console "in a really slick way, almost like the hood scoop on a muscle car."
The report tallies with claims from developers working on the system, who have told GamesIndustry.biz in the past that Microsoft has disclosed that there will be a mass storage device, but that they should not rely on its presence for their games.
It's been assumed for some time that this means that Xbox 2 will be sold in at least two basic configurations - with and without a mass storage unit - and today's report seems to indicate that it will be possible to upgrade between those models by adding the hard drive.
One vital question, however, is whether this hard drive will simply be a sealed memory unit (which may actually be a hard drive, or may be a very high capacity flash drive) or if it will sport a screen and buttons, allowing it to be used as a portable media player.
News source: GamesIndustry.biz
Microsoft's next-generation Xbox console is set to feature a removable hard drive bay, according to online reports today, which will allow users to upgrade their entry-level systems to include mass storage capabilities.
Citing a "reliable source", technology news site Engadget revealed details of the removable hard drive, claiming that the unit attaches to the top of the console "in a really slick way, almost like the hood scoop on a muscle car."
The report tallies with claims from developers working on the system, who have told GamesIndustry.biz in the past that Microsoft has disclosed that there will be a mass storage device, but that they should not rely on its presence for their games.
It's been assumed for some time that this means that Xbox 2 will be sold in at least two basic configurations - with and without a mass storage unit - and today's report seems to indicate that it will be possible to upgrade between those models by adding the hard drive.
One vital question, however, is whether this hard drive will simply be a sealed memory unit (which may actually be a hard drive, or may be a very high capacity flash drive) or if it will sport a screen and buttons, allowing it to be used as a portable media player.
News source: GamesIndustry.biz
What's new
- A new selection command “Select Group” – select similar files. E.g. pic001.jpg, pic002.jpg….
- A new command “Command Prompt” in the "Tools" menu. It opens a command prompt for the current folder.
- Multi-Rename Dialog – replace command can replace all occurrences of a string
- A new Multi-Rename Mode. “Insert” insert a string on a specified position in the file name.
- An option to disable the calculation of the folder sizes.
- A new set of quick move commands. (In “Edit” popup menu)
- “Move to tabs” – shows a popup menu to move the selected files to one the folders open by ExplorerXP
- “Move to subfolder” – shows a popup menu to move the selected files to a subfolder of the current folder.
- “Move to groups” – shows a popup menu to move the selected files to a folder from the groups.
- “Move to Parent” - shows a popup menu to move the selected files to the parent folder.
Also it would be nice to actually be able to upgrade the hard drive without the need for modchips (but granted that would only be easy if they don't do something stupid like Xbox only hard drives).
1) with hdd
2) without hdd, which allows a hdd to be connected /removed
3) unknown as yet
it's been thought for a while that option 2 would allow users to connect portable media centers, or that ms might even be moving into the portable gaming market (maybe buying out gizmondo (purely because of the gizmondo halo conversion that's been touted for some time)). With nintendo and sony now offering functionality between their consoles, and handheld consoles it makes sense for microsoft to be looking at the same functionality, if only because the other two support it, and they don't.
i hope that leave that option open so that you can get either a basic storage HD or use some future MS media player as storage as well. that would be pretty sick, and a wise move for MS
edit: also, Nintendo should release the entire SNES library on an Xbox 2 HD
Having a hard drive be optional poses the question of whether or not the drive would be used to 'install' games to like the current Xbox does - if one doesn't have the drive, is that going to limit the games they can play? Will games come with two modes - one for and one without the hard drive? Will adopters of the hard drive get abandoned because publishers focus on making games for the Xbox2 without a hard drive to maximize customer base and profits?
It caches some files to reduce load times, but that's it.
I expect even the base model Xbox will include *some* type of storage... perhaps a large flash drive or some sort, that is interchangeable with the HD(s).
Who knows... hopefully we'll find out soon
This backs up other Xbox 2 rumours that there will be 3 versions, entry will have some form of digital memory storage device, mid-range will be basicall same as Xbox 1 with a harddrive and top-end level will be as mid-range but cross with Media Center Edition and thus be an Xbox 2/MCE hybrid machine.
So roll on E3 and let us know which rumours are true Mr Gates!
What I infer from this rumour (and yes, it is a rumour, nothing more, so don't take it as anything more than a possibility) is that the xbox2 might feature a removeable hard drive. This doesn't mean that additional hard drives will be required for games, it doesn't mean that it will be coming out in 3 different packages, in fact, I'd be willing to bet an awful lot that there will only be one launch package, the possibility of there being more than one just doesn't make sense from a business or console perspective, and therefore is virtually guaranteed not to happen, in my opinion.
If actually does come out with the option to upgrade to a larger hard drive, then only logical reasons that I can see behind that are enhanced cacheing, so those without mod chips can run games from the HDD (needing the DVD for validation of course), and a smaller possibility that the xbox2 will have some media center like qualities. Saying that it might come out with flash memory instead of a hard drive is quite a leap, I'd take the odds of it coming out packaged with free feminine hygeine products over that, unless of course for some reason Microsoft want to break the $1,000 mark on their new console, assuming that they're stingy with the memory, and offer less than the xbox had, which again, is about as likely as angry flying monkeys swarming from Bill's butt.
xbox hard drive will not come standard... you will need to buy a hdd in order to have any type of storage
fjv.
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