There's a multibillion dollar company moving into the chip business: Microsoft.
According to sources, the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant will more actively participate in the design of the brains for the next version of its Xbox gaming console, tentatively called Xbox Next. By switching from using relatively standard parts to more customized silicon, the company can better optimize its game console, due in 2005. At the same time, the move potentially gives the company a toehold in a completely new market. "It is clear that Microsoft wants to get a lot of their DNA into it," said Richard Doherty, director of research company The Envisioneering Group. One reason for that involves hacking incidents. "They sure don't want to have a situation where an Xbox can be turned into a PC," Doherty said. Another is that Microsoft can squeeze better performance out of chips by being involved on the front end of the design process.
For the original Xbox, Intel and Nvidia sold chips to Microsoft that were largely identical to semiconductors the two chipmakers have also sold to the general PC market. With Xbox Next, Microsoft is licensing graphics technology from ATI Technologies, processor technology from IBM and chipset technology from Silicon Integrated Systems (SIS). Microsoft will then work with these companies to fashion customized chips, sources said. The arrangement will likely mirror Sony's relationship with IBM and Toshiba to create the Cell processor slated for use in the next big release of the PlayStation game console, said analysts and sources close to the companies.
News source: C|Net News.com
According to sources, the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant will more actively participate in the design of the brains for the next version of its Xbox gaming console, tentatively called Xbox Next. By switching from using relatively standard parts to more customized silicon, the company can better optimize its game console, due in 2005. At the same time, the move potentially gives the company a toehold in a completely new market. "It is clear that Microsoft wants to get a lot of their DNA into it," said Richard Doherty, director of research company The Envisioneering Group. One reason for that involves hacking incidents. "They sure don't want to have a situation where an Xbox can be turned into a PC," Doherty said. Another is that Microsoft can squeeze better performance out of chips by being involved on the front end of the design process.
For the original Xbox, Intel and Nvidia sold chips to Microsoft that were largely identical to semiconductors the two chipmakers have also sold to the general PC market. With Xbox Next, Microsoft is licensing graphics technology from ATI Technologies, processor technology from IBM and chipset technology from Silicon Integrated Systems (SIS). Microsoft will then work with these companies to fashion customized chips, sources said. The arrangement will likely mirror Sony's relationship with IBM and Toshiba to create the Cell processor slated for use in the next big release of the PlayStation game console, said analysts and sources close to the companies.
News source: C|Net News.com
Changes in Version 4.0
-Added Install Options dialog to let user customize installing Longhorn Transformation Pack
-Added Longhorn PDC Bliss and Aero Grass wallpaper
-Added Slate, Longhorn Aero, Plex Style MCE and Plex M3 theme
-Fixed Precaching system files replacement problem about boot screen while run this to configure
-Fixed install checking error problems
-Updated Longhorn SideBar 3.0 with Aero PDC skins
-Updated Slate, Longhorn Aero, Plex Style MCE, Plex Style and Plex M3 themes
-Updated shell32.dll video resources and fix pink spot bug
-Updated system files for Windows XP and Windows XP with Service Pack 1
Longhorn Transformation Pack Functions:
-This program can choose Longhorn type for each section like Start flag, Progress dialog login and ToolBar. There's Aero, M4, M6, PDC or Don't change it
-THis program can customize additional installation like Longhorn SideBar and Aero ToolBar type
-This program can check Themes services to let user enable or disable this Themes.
-This program can detect setup files beforce run program to avoid system file replace problems
-This program can use on Windows XP build 2600 or build 2600 with SP1 build 1106 and Windows Server 2003 build 3790
-This program can test sharing violation to avoid system file replace problems
-This program will apply Plex Style with new taskbar and Longhorn screensaver after restart. You can change it yourself and choose other Plex themes and wallpapers
-This program is not recommend for multi-language edition of XP. (However, you can use it)
-This program can use rollback function by run setup again after restart (get previous OS files)
Longhorn Transformation Pack Features:
-Add Longhorn Visual Style name "Plex Style" with patched UXTheme
-Add Longhorn Screensaver
-Add Longhorn wallpaper
-Change Boot Screen to unoffical Longhorn Boot Screen
-Change Logoff Panel to Longhorn button in Classic mode
-Change Logoff screen to Longhorn view
-Change LogonUI to Windows Longhorn LogonUI
-Change Shutdown screen to Longhorn view
-Change Start Panel text image in Classic mode to "Longhorn XP Professional"
-Change ToolBar to Longhorn blue ToolBar
-Change Windows flag to Blue Longhorn flag
-Change Windows flag to Longhorn flag in Start Button
-Change Windows XP's brand in About Windows to Longhorn XP Professional
-Change Working screen (Like Logoff and Shutdown) to Longhorn view
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