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Week of January 18, 2009
JungleFlasher 0.0.43.Beta
>> A new beta version of JungleFlasher (the flasher that came with Team Jungle's IXtreme 1.5 release) has been released:
[QUOTE]
0.0.26_Beta Initial release with iXtreme 1.5
0.0.43_Beta first clean up
1. Added more messages ahead of lite-On-Erase to encourage users to have their DVDkey before erase
2. Fixed issues around Device Intro/ID for Lite-On, to account for delay in Lite-On controller
3. Moved, build from dump files to DVDKey32 Tab and added warning.
4. Added a check box on DVDKey32 tab to scan for "ScsiAdapter" IO ports
5. Comport, enumeration has been improved,
6. Added multiple Key extractions with a comparison.
7. Added option in registry to disable enumerate
8. fixed issue with spoofing Lite-On encrypted f/w from a previously spoofed f/w
10. loading files in Vista issue resolved.... previously only opend from program working directory.
11. Intro and device ID after Lite-On-Erased fixed for working with Winbond Spi flashes
12. New Benq-Un-Lock keys add, extra 13 keys now support 62430 with Keys in B000 and C000
13. Improved Manual spoofing...
14. Drag and drop of firmware files to Source and Target tabs...
15. Mutual Exclusion to avoid multiple instance of JF being opened
16. Add ex plorer Context menu support for bin.
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: n/a, by Team Jungle
Download: here
News-Source: xbins.org
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(Saturday 24 January 2009 22:23 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Xbox LIVE Presents 25000usd '13 Days of Gears' Sweepstakes
>> From the press release:
[QUOTE]
Microsoft Game Studios today announced "13 Days of Gears," a special promotion that kicks off Feb. 1 in the U.S. where players can win fantastic prize packages every day for 13 straight days. Dozens of winners will be selected at random over the 13 day period to win "Gears of War" themed prize packages collectively worth over $25,000.
Registration for "13 Days of Gears" is now open and runs through Jan. 31 at www.xbox.com/wbgow and on Xbox LIVE. Players can register for the promotion through either method as well as access a variety of "Gears of War 2" content. Then from Feb. 1-13, all players need to do to be eligible for the day's prizes is to play a match of the predetermined "Gears of War 2" multiplayer mode for that day. Thirteen Grand Prize packages will be awarded (one each day), consisting of:
* A Samsung 40" 1080p LCD HDTV
* An Xbox 360 Limited Edition Red Wireless Controller
* A Marcus Fenix bronze statue from Mindzeye Studios
* A life-size Locust drone maquette from TriForce Sales
* The "Gears of War 2" video game soundtrack from Sumthing Else
* The Gears of War Aspho Fields novel from Random House imprint, Del Rey
* Codes to download the golden Hammerburst and Lancer
* A "Gears of War 2" poster signed by members of the development team
In addition, five daily First Prizes will be awarded, which will include the soundtrack, novel, in-game golden weapons and a signed poster.
The "13 Days of Gears" sweepstakes schedule is below:
Date Multiplayer Game Mode
Sunday, Feb. 1 Annex
Monday, Feb. 2 Submission
Tuesday, Feb. 3 Execution
Wednesday, Feb 4. Horde
Thursday, Feb. 5 King of the Hill
Friday, Feb. 6 Guardian
Saturday, Feb. 7 Warzone
Sunday, Feb. 8 Wingman
Monday, Feb. 9 King of the Hill
Tuesday, Feb. 10 Wingman
Wednesday, Feb. 11 Wingman
Thursday, Feb. 12 Horde
Friday, Feb. 13 Horde
[/QUOTE]
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Part of Microsoft's Gamerscore Blog team let go
>> From xbox360fanboy.com:
[QUOTE]
Earlier today, Microsoft announced their layoff plans that include 1,400 job cuts effective immediately. Sadly, we now have a few faces to put to those job cutting numbers as we just caught word that two members of Microsoft's Gamerscore Blog have been let go.
Chris Paladino and Nelson Rodriguez both Twittered about the dismal news, with Paladino revealing that he is "a casualty" and adding that "if anyone needs a video producer/host/pr/marketing/community/numedia guy give a yell." Rodriguez, former host of the Achievement Junkie podcast, also revealed the bad news, asking "what happened to the AJ feed. Seems like it disappeared. Time to start fro m scratch. ;-)"
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: xbox360fanboy.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Obama Admin about Whitehouse: 'It is kind of like going from Xbox to Atari'
>> From washingtonpost.com:
[QUOTE]
Two years after launching the most technologically savvy presidential campaign in history, Obama officials ran smack into the constraints of the federal bureaucracy yesterday, encountering a jumble of disconnected phone lines, old computer software, and security regulations forbidding outside e-mail accounts.
What does that mean in 21st-century terms? No Facebook to communicate with supporters. No outside e-mail log-ins. No instant messaging. Hard adjustments for a staff that helped sweep Obama to power through, among other things, relentless online social networking.
"It is kind of like going from an Xbox to an Atari," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said of his new digs.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: washingtonpost.com
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(Thursday 22 January 2009 15:32 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Microsoft slashes up to 5000 jobs
>> From money.cnn.com:
[QUOTE]
Software maker Microsoft Corp. announced Thursday it will cut up to 5,000 jobs in the next year and a half, or 5.5% of its global workforce, citing further deterioration of global economic conditions.
The company also posted lower fiscal second-quarter earnings that missed analysts' forecasts.
Microsoft will slash 1,400 positions immediately, with the rest of the cuts coming by June 2010. The company also said it will freeze employees' pay in 2009.
Microsoft said it will save about $1.5 billion in operating expenses and $700 million in 2009 capital expenditure from the job cuts and pay freeze.
Microsoft also announced second-quarter net income of $4.17 billion, down 11% from a year earlier.
The Redmond, Wash.-based company reported revenue of $16.63 billion for the quarter, up 2% from $16.37 billion a year earlier.
But sales grew in other areas. Revenue from its entertainment and devices division, which includes the Xbox 360, rose 3% over the same period a year earlier. Microsoft said holiday Xbox sales were strong, selling a record 6 million game consoles in the quarter.
The company said Xbox sales will probably decline at least through June as well, as consumer confidence and spending wanes.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: money.cnn.com
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(Thursday 22 January 2009 15:09 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Gamefest Moves to 2010
>> From Microsoft's XNA Blog:
[QUOTE]
Gamefest is Microsoft's premier conference on game development, and so it should revolve around game developers. We sought out feedback from developers who attended Gamefest 2008 and we found that, given development schedules and ship dates, the conference would be more impactful if held earlier in the calendar year rather than right before the busy holiday season. We are taking that feedback seriously and adjusting the timing of Gamefest to better accommodate developers' schedules and offer the best experience possible.
Rather than say "SURPRISE! GAMEFEST IS TODAY!" we opted to plan to hold the next Gamefest in the first quarter of 2010. In the meantime, we are committed to keeping developers for Microsoft platforms on the edge of technology innovation and we will be exploring opportunities to provide updates through Live Meetings, Web seminars, and of course, through XNA Creators Club Online.
While we haven't officially locked on a date, you can expect Gamefest to be held in the earlier part of 2010. Stay tuned for additional details or check out the website at http://www.xnagamefest.com
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: Microsoft's XNA Blog
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(Wednesday 21 January 2009 18:48 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Microsoft Says Kaz Hirai's Statements 'Out Of Touch'
>> From 1up.com:
[QUOTE]
Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kazuo Hirai laid down the virtual gauntlet, saying that the Wii was not a competitor and that the Xbox 360 lacked longevity. So what does Microsoft have to say in response?
TheBitbag asked Microsoft director of product management Aaron Greenberg his opinion, and got an earful in return. Greenberg said that it sounded like "an old hardware company that's comfortable with its market position," and that Sony is "out of touch."
According to Greenberg, with the Xbox 360's U.S. install base lead is up to 7 million, he can't imagine "any scenario where the PS3 can catch up with us."
"In fact, even if you doubled the current PS3 sales and the Xbox 360 remained flat, they couldn't close the gap until 2014," Greenberg said confidently.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: 1up.com
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(Wednesday 21 January 2009 14:23 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Microsoft expansion to take a hit to cut costs
>> From seattlepi:
[QUOTE]
When Microsoft Corp. reports its second-quarter earnings Thursday, the company is expected to outline a series of cost-cutting measures, which will include postponing most of its plans to further expand its facilities across the Puget Sound region.
An internal planning and scenario PowerPoint presentation reviewed by the Seattle P-I shows that Microsoft is set to delay the construction of all new buildings in Redmond, except one, for at least three years. The company also will not renew most of its leases when they come up for renewal this year and next.
The changes are driven by the deteriorating global economic situation, which has led to a steep hiring slowdown by Microsoft. It is unclear whether the company will lay off any employees, as has been rumored, this week.
In recent years, Microsoft has launched a major expansion of its Redmond campus, including a 1.1 million-square-foot complex for its Entertainment and Devices Division.
Some of the complex is under construction, and work will not stop.
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: seattlepi
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(Tuesday 20 January 2009 22:34 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
Sony's Hirai: Xbox 'lacks longevity'
>> From computerandvideogames.com:
[QUOTE]
Sony Computer Entertainment's ever-confident chairman Kazuo Hirai has said that the Xbox 360 "lacks longevity", and remains certain PS3 will finish on top.
"And with the Xbox - again, I can't come up with one word to fit. You need a word that describes something that lacks longevity," said Hirai.
"Last time I checked, they've never had a console that's been on the market for more than four or five years and we've committed to a ten year life cycle, so you do the math.
"And unless things go really bad," added Hirai, "there's no way that at the end of a life cycle our competition is going to have a higher install base."
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: computerandvideogames.com
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(Tuesday 20 January 2009 11:42 EST) - (Category: Xbox360) - (Posted by::
)
DivX 'not happy' with Microsoft
>> From techradar.com:
[QUOTE]
Currently, when it comes to DivX on consoles, it is just Sony who has signed up for the official codec compliance for the PlayStation 3.
TechRadar asked if DivX can see other console manufacturers teaming up with the company in the future, and Rota [founder and VP creative, brand and community of DivX] was quick to respond with regards to the Xbox 360:
"When it comes to DivX branding, we have had a hard time with Microsoft. Obviously we would love for some sort of partnership to happen.
"Currently, Microsoft does support DivX, which is fantastic, but the company has brought in some third-party support for the Xbox 360, and we are not very happy with that."
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: techradar.com
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Xflasher 360 v0.75
>> Trancy released a new version of Xflasher 360 on modcontrol.com. The tool is now also available in english and french:
[QUOTE]
In the past there have been many users who have had problems when it comes to flashing their drive under Windows (Drive-bricking, Windows freezes, etc.) so I have decided to program a DOS-based tool that automatically does the following:
* Copying of the DVD-Drive Firmware
* Spoofing/patching of the Firmware
* Flashing the DVD-Drive with iXtreme
The Tool: Xflasher completes the entire Flash-Procedure. For this the original firmware as well as the the files iXtreme.bin, org.bin, key.bin, identify.bin, inquiry.bin or dummy.bin are placed in separate folders. Note: Not all of the files mentioned above are created for every drive model.
DVD drives from Lite-On, BenQ, and Samsung/Toshiba are supported. It is not possible to flash Hi-tachi drives under DOS at the moment, if this should change in the future then newer versions of Xflasher will most probably be released with the added support.
What's new/fixed in v0.75:
* Added option for read the DVD-Key several times
* Fix for read Samsung/BenQ DVD-ROM
* Added USB-formatting tool with DOS
* Added language menu at 1st start
* Added english language
* Added english How to
* Added french language
* Added french How to
* Bug fixing
* Fix for show correct ANSI-Fonts (German: like ä and ü) under Dos
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: modcontrol.com
Download: here
Discuss this news item on our forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
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