Bookmark and Share

Tags

32nm 40nm 45nm AMD Apple ASUS ATI Atom Blu-ray Business Cypress DRAM E-Book Evergreen Fermi Flash Geforce Globalfoundries GT300 Intel Microsoft Nforce Nokia Nvidia Radeon Semiconductor Sony SSD USB Windows

News

Microsoft Corp. said officially that starting from the next software update for Microsoft Xbox 360 video game console it would prohibit usage of “unauthorized” storage devices on the system.

“When Preview Program members start receiving the Xbox 360 system update next week, one of the changes is that unauthorized memory units will no longer work with the Xbox 360. If you’ve moved your profile or saved games onto one to “back it up,” you’d better move it back onto an authorized Xbox 360 storage device prior to taking the update,” the official Xbox 360 blogger Major Nelson wrote.

Microsoft Xbox 360 game consoles are equipped with USB ports, thus, theoretically support all available flash USB memory sticks. However, Microsoft plans to limit support of memory sticks to only “licensed” devices. For example, Xbox 360 512MB memory unit costs $29 from Microsoft, which is a very high price for a 512MB USB flash stick.

It is not a secret, however, that video game console makers make money on accessories and video games, not on the console hardware itself. Therefore, it is hardly surprising that Microsoft has decided to earn additional profit on memory units, which are rather popular accessories among Xbox 360 Arcade console users since their devices do not have integrated hard drive.

Tags: Microsoft, Xbox, Flash

Discussion

Comments currently: 5
Discussion started: 10/21/09 11:36:24 AM
Latest comment: 10/23/09 06:06:03 AM

[1-5]

1. 
Wow, noone else can manage stupidities like MS it seems.
[Posted by: DIREWOLF75  | Date: 10/21/09 11:36:24 AM]

2. 
Not a wise move M$

And who wants to bet how long before this ridiculous restriction is cracked.................
[Posted by: alpha0ne  | Date: 10/21/09 10:26:28 PM]

3. 
I had to register, just to complain about this. Yeah, I'm sure somebody will come out with a crack, but MS don't care, millions of idiots will still buy "xbox memory" for 29 bucks, just because it's got that cool plastic encasement (it looks just like the XBOX!!!!).

Man, I hate money. If only we could have a system of beatings to replace money.... you never really avoid a beating, you just get less of them for being a nice guy.
[Posted by: Basard  | Date: 10/22/09 07:06:44 AM]

4. 
There will be a hack to that too! I don't understand why such big companies even bother trying to limit some peoples creativity. I don't think the sales of the XBOX Stick Memory are so high that they would be loosing so much money just by letting people having their way .
[Posted by: East17  | Date: 10/22/09 02:47:51 PM]

5. 
What if you bought a car from Ford and a few months later they sent out a notice that in a week your car will only run on Ford authorized gasoline, sold at Ford gas stations and oh, by the way, it's $10 a gallon.
[Posted by: MisterScott  | Date: 10/23/09 06:06:03 AM]

[1-5]

You must log in to add comments.

Forgot password? Registration

remember me



Related news

Latest News

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

5:50 pm | U.S. Patent Office Again Rejects Rambus’ Claims Against Nvidia. Nvidia Wins Another Round in Patent Dispute with Rambus

2:36 pm | EA Montreal to Concentrate on High-Def Games, Lower Focus on Wii. Large Video Game Developer to Re-Focus on HD Blockbuster Titles

11:58 am | AMD to Describe 32nm Bobcat Processor at Chip Conference. AMD to Reveal Power Trimming Technologies of Bobcat

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

11:50 pm | Nvidia to Start Shipping Next-Generation Tegra to Developers “Soon”. Nvidia Readies Second-Generation Tegra SoC for Handhelds

10:37 pm | Despite Netbook Popularity, Consumers Still Want Notebooks – IDC. Even in Asia, Consumers Still Prefer Notebooks over Netbooks

4:04 pm | Imagination Intros Processors for “Internet Everywhere” Consumer Electronics. Imagination Presents Connected Processors for CE Devices

3:33 pm | Sub-$99 Blu-Ray Players Black Friday Deals Available, But Not a Lot. Walmart to Sell BD Players for $78 on Black Friday

12:27 pm | Microsoft Sued for Banning Third-Party Xbox Memory Cards. Memory Cards Supplier Sues Microsoft

11:55 am | OCZ to Release External USB 3.0 Solid-State Drive. OCZ USB 3.0 SSD Incoming for Consumer Electronics Show

7:52 am | Nvidia’s CEO Expects Underpowered Mobile Devices to Gain Popularity. PC of the Future – Web-Based Device with 4G Connectivity, Says Chief Exec of Nvidia