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Week of June 20, 2004
Cromwell v2.31
>> Team Xbox-Linux released a new version of Cromwell(info) and Xromwell(info) - the linux bios/bootloader for Xbox.
What's new/fixed:
* New memory model to allow for larger kernel images
Official Site: http://www.xbox-linux.org
Download (both Cromwell and Xromwell): here
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(Saturday 26 June 2004 17:32 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Xenon Leak News in the media
>> From: www.cdfreaks.com/news
[QUOTE]We just read the other day that Microsoft got their panties in a bunch when someone claimed a lack of backwards compatability with the original Xbox. Redmond argued that due to the early stage of development, that nothing is carved in stone as yet, calling the reports 'irresponsible'. Now, there is a supposed white paper leak a couple days later. Some are saying that this is a clever marketing tactic or ruse by Microsoft, to simply keep the handle on the rumor churn moving like an airplane propeller. While others say, that if it's a hoax, it's really close to the truth in what we can expect. As to the validity of such information, it's anyones guess. Nonetheless, it sure is fun to read these things and speculate amongst ourselves. Take a look over at the Inquirer for the rest of the story. I just hope the 'anonymous emailer' didn't use his Hotmail account to spill the beans.[/QUOTE]
From: www.ferrago.com
[QUOTE]The Xbox 2 - or Xenon - as it is reportedly code-named, has been unveiled a little further this week with the leak of what is rumoured to be specifications of the new system. Tittle-tattle has it that the leaked report was created by Pete Isensee of the Xbox Advanced Technology Group, and whilst many areas of the specification remain unconfirmed, a number of developer's have already been anonymously quoted as saying the facts tally with what Microsoft have already been telling them.[/QUOTE]
From: www.xboxusersgroup.com
[QUOTE]Opinion is divided as to whether the document, said to come from the pen of Xbox Advanced Technology Group Development Lead Pete Isensee, is genuine, but at least one site is claiming that software developers who have seen the whitepaper claim it's very close to what Microsoft has been telling its development partners.[/QUOTE]
XS was first to bring the LEAK to the public, and will continue to keep you informed.
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(Saturday 26 June 2004 12:32 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
SpeXtrum v0.2A Beta
>> Carcharius released a new bugfix-version of SpeXtrum(info) 0.2.
What's new/fixed:
* fixes a bug with emulating flashing attributes
Official Site: n/a, by Carcharius
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
News-Source: xbins.org
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(Saturday 26 June 2004 09:39 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Xenon - More info from the Doc's
>> More info gleamed from the Leaked Docs that you might find of interest...
- The Xenon Controllers will vary only slighty fronm the current models with a noted migration of the Black and White buttons to Left and Right Flipper Positions.
- Kits for Xenon Developement have double the amount of memory that the final console will have.
- Developers have been told that Live Games under Xenon will not be able to assume that a hard disk is present (at this time a decision to include a native built in hard drive had not been made) SAme developers have been told that Launch Titles for Xenon should not presume a HD is present either. They've also been told that there will be persistant storage on the majority of units.
- Interestingly enough.. Dev kits will have 80Gb or larger HD's.
- People who love speed.. will be happy to know that geometry processing is approx. 100x faster for shader performance, while memory bandwidth has been improved by 4x over the original Xbox.
- Media for the games.. a DVD variant (UDF 2.0 or higher) dual layer with at last 7GB across 2 3.5GB layers and might include support for multi game disks.
- People playing on Live on an Xbox will be ablbe to message and communicate and do other community activities with their newer Xenon friends. Live will also host persistant data for games.
- Code is being added to allow better control for developers and publishers to limit where a game can be played via localizations strings. Expect multiple version of the same game.. for differnet regions.
- Expect Beta Hardware and Software to be in the devs hands in Q1 of 2005.
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(Saturday 26 June 2004 05:53 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Kai Ladders Launched
>> From TheDaddy on teamxlink.co.uk:
[QUOTE]
I've just opened XLink Kai(info) ladders for TopSpin and PGR2. Go to the arenas and read the welcome messages. The ladders are very simple, but also pretty flexible.
This stuff is pretty new, so any suggestions on it are very welcome. If you want a ladder created for a game, you need to post in the forum, and give me 1.) The ladder name 2.) A brief description and 3.) A 256 x 164 PNG image for it.
[/QUOTE]
As always you do not have to download a new version or patch ... The XLink Kai client will auto update when you launch it!
Official Site: http://www.teamxlink.co.uk
BlackStormX Dash v1.0b features revealed
>> From iCeCooL on blackstormx.com:
[QUOTE]
Specification for BSX (BlackStormX) Dash v1.0b (Modified MS Dashboard)
* New Menu System and Music Player menu
* Fully skinable (in-dash skin, colour and LED switching with previews)
* Model Replacement, so you can add your own models easier
* System Info Display (HD space hack by fuck_db)
* Idiot Proof in-dash Config Panel
* 3D Screensaver
Plus maybe a few more minor features ...
and there's more .. I have added more screenshots to the gallery.. different colors etc, just to give you an idea of what this dash will look like .
and finally ..
I'd like to thank everyone for registering on our site and supporting TEAM BSX , feel free to join us on IRC EFnet #blackstormx for a chat or just to hang out.
[/QUOTE]
SpeXtrum v0.2
>> A new version of Carcharius's spectrum emulator
+ = enhanced over v0.1
X = brand new in v0.2
+ - Spectrum 48K, 128K and Plus 2 emulation
X - Spectrum Plus 3 emulation.
+ - Improved AY-8912 sound emulation (Robocop speech now works correctly).
+ - More accurate screen emulation.
+ - TAP file support (now with transport controls).
X - TZX file support (preliminary support, not all TZX's will load)
X - Accurate tape loading
+ - Joystick emulation (Sinclair 1, 2 and Kempston).
+ - Virtual keyboard.
+ - Software Video filters (AdMAME, HQ2x, 2xSAI, SuperEagle, Scanlines)
X - Hardware filter options
X - Flicker filter (selectable flicker level)
X - Widescreen video mode support (currently disabled).
X - Customisable keymappings in an xml (everything is changeable).
Official Site: n/a
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
News-Source: xbins.org
SmartXX Quick Installation Manual for Xbox v1.6
>> From Team SmartXX:
[QUOTE]
More and more 1.6 Xbox units arrive in the stores. So its time for the worlds first 1.6 Installation Manual.
Download the SmartXX Quick Installation Manual for Xbox v1.6 here
[/QUOTE]
Gentoox Pro v1.3d + updated Apache tutorial
>> From ShALLaX on gentoox.shallax.com:
[QUOTE]
* Here it is, a fresh release of Gentoox Pro(info) Edition. Sorry it took so long, just as I had it ready to upload, I discovered the terrible kernel bug, so I had to pretty much take it all apart again, fix the bug, then repackage and test. Then it took 4 attempts to upload it thanks to my connection timing out to SourceForge's servers... then the England vs Portugal football match started and... well... priorities ;) It's half time now, we're 1-0 up, so I'll go ahead and release now.
Anyway, key new features:
* Focus support,
* Gentoox Loader v4.0 (Fixed sporadic USB functionality),
* Updated Stardust with hard drive preparing functionality (Wont format an F partition on a blank drive!),
* Sparkle v1.2 integration,
* 4GB rootfs (Maximum available on a 32bit FatX partition),
* Magic patches up to 22/06/04 applied,
* emerge -Du world up to 22/06/04 applied...
Go download it from here.
You can find the readme file of Pro v1.3d here.
*Update*
Thanks to bikr for spotting a typo... "The following is a list of new features which are included with Gentoox Pro v1.1.". Of course this should be Pro v1.3.... unfortunately, the release is about 75% uploaded with the typo in the README, so I'm not about to stop it to correct it as this is the 4th upload attempt.
* I did a clean Pro v1.3 installation, then installed Apache with mod_php and made some very minor tweaks to the tutorial on this site (since things have changed over the past year with how Gentoo deal with Apache, namely the htdocs directory has moved). That should sort out any questions people had.
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: http://gentoox.shallax.com/
Download: here
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(Thursday 24 June 2004 22:47 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
KmbxTetris v1
>> Team Gueux'Net released a new homebrew Xbox game.
KmbxTetris is simply a Tetris-like created from scratch by Kambiokika of Team Gueux'Net
Official Site: http://www.gueux.net
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
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(Thursday 24 June 2004 20:24 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Avalaunch Netprep 1.0
>> From readme/nfo:
[QUOTE]
This is a program made for those that prepare hdd's - often. It works over SMB, easy to set up and very simple to use, and fast as heck due to a "kindof" boost mode transfer system.
**WARNING**
!!! If booted without "noformat" in the inifile, it WILL clean and repartition the drive on boot - before menu is shown !!!
**WARNING**
Features :
* partition and formats the entire drive automatically
* ejects cd upon loaded
* copies installsets from a SMB server
* using a boost-mode cache handling for max speeds ( installs ava + xbmc in 18 seconds )
* allows mutiple selections so user can make modules for different installs without any extra efforts
* automatically reboots to installed dash after prep
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: http://www.teamavalaunch.com
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
News-Source: xbins.org
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(Thursday 24 June 2004 14:22 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Gentoox WATCHME 3.0 video and new kernel patch
>> From ShALLaX on gentoox.shallax.com:
[QUOTE]
* WATCHME 3.0 - a video tutorial on how to install Gentoox Linux using Stardust!
This is a maintenance release, quite a bit has changed in Stardust so this should make things easier for when people come to install the new releases.
Speaking of new releases, you should be able to tell what's coming from this new video ;)
You can download this release from here.
* New kernel patch...
Nothing ground breaking, just a fix for this bug. Highly recommended that you upgrade now, run magic!
[/QUOTE]
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(Thursday 24 June 2004 11:20 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
ZXBTools 1.6
>> sHaDDoW released a new version of xISO tool ZXBTools(info).
What's new/fixed:
* Fixed probleam creating iso from directories of great size.
* Fixed problem listing themes for download from Themes MenuX-]Manage
* Added option to create multigames DVD with MenuX/MXM/CDX.
* Added option to patch xbe of DevKit-]Retail. (When this is marked, xbe will be modified)
* Added possibility of patching several XBE simultaneously.
* When option "Automatic XBE Patch(info)ing" is checked, ALL the xbe will be patched when extracting, creating, transfering to xbox by FTP and creating multigame dvd.
* File "GameList.txt" will be created in root of DVD when making a multigame DVD. This file have the values 'Dir -] Game' of all games of multigame dvd.
* Added option to patch ALL xbes from iso. Patching xbe from iso does not backup xbes.
Official Site: http://www.zonaxbox.net/zxbtools.html
Download: n/a (contains XDK files built with XDK (for multigame dvds))
News-Source: xbins.org
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(Thursday 24 June 2004 11:02 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Craxtion 4
>> Fedge & LepPpeR released a new version of the xISO tool Craxtion(info).
What's new/fixed:
* Complete Redesign from Bottom Up: Craxtion 4.0.0 has been re-written completely in .NET - The current standard for programming design in the Windows Environment
* Faster routines and procedures with more capabilities than were provided in previous versions of Craxtion which were written in Visual Basic 6.0.
* All functions and tools (ISO Extraction, Creation, etc) rewritten for optimal performance and faster response times.
* New Parent/Child Window Design. Now you can perform many tasks all at the same time, each task is provided with its own Child window inside Craxtion.
* Internal File Explorer reduces the need to locate files from Windows Explorer!
* FTP Capability: Craxtion now has the capability to communicate with your XBOX console when connected to a network! No need to use a separate FTP Program. You can drag and drop files between your computer and your XBOX all from inside Craxtion!
With this new capability comes features such as:
-File transfer to/from your XBOX console
-Information Retrieval from your XBOX console
-Numerous new features and tools involving transfer to your XBOX console.
* XDVDFS Creator: Our very own ISO Creator built into Craxtion to reduce dependency on external ISO Creators. Our ISO Creator has been coded for exception creation time, as fast if not faster than any other ISO Creators currently available with all the same reliability!
* Additional Tools: We've taken Craxtion beyond ISO Creation/Extraction and Multigame Capability. With added tools such as Game Save Managers and XBOX Restore Utilities so you wont need 10 programs to manage all your XBOX Needs - We've got all the bases covered with Craxtion 4!
* Cross-Dashboard Compatibility: All of Craxtion's features and tools are compatible with all dashes currently available. No need to install a specific dash to take advantage of all of Craxtion's features!
Official Site: http://www.craxtion.com
Download: n/a (contains XDK files built with XDK (for multigame dvds))
News-Source: xbins.org
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(Thursday 24 June 2004 07:20 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Xenon Leaked Doc's Real or Fake?
>> Seems the media have been busy making up their minds and putting forth their theories, in reference to the Leaked Docs News posted less than 24hrs ago...
From www.1up.com:
[QUOTE]
The rumor mill churning out speculation and supposition about Microsoft's next game console received another hearty turn of the crank today, with the publication on several message boards of a white paper purportedly running down specifications for the successor to the Xbox. Attributed to Peter Isensee of Microsoft's Xbox Advanced Technology Group (he's real, even if nothing in the document is), it describes in general terms the capabilities of a system code-named "Xenon," in anticipation of a planned 2005 launch.
Xbox Nation's Che Chou offers the interesting theory that the document could just as easily be a viral marketing plant by Microsoft itself, designed to reinforce popular belief in certain areas (i.e., that its next console will possess plenty of raw technical power) and counter rumors shaping the conventional wisdom in others (particularly persistent reports that the console won't be backwards-compatible with the current Xbox).
Microsoft itself, of course, is offering no comment either way on the subject.
Whether a genuine glimpse of the future or a clever exercise in fine-tuning the public's expectations, it's an interesting read.
[/QUOTE]
From www.engadget.com:
[QUOTE]Speaking of the Xbox 2 and what features it is or is not going to have, Xbox-Scene has posted up some new, probably fake, leaked specs for it (and we think we’re starting to get a little obsessed over the minutiae of a console that won’t be out for at least another year and a half). We wouldn’t necessarily give these any more credence than any of the other “leaked” specs which have surfaced, but these ones seem at least vaguely plausible, listing the next-gen Xbox as having a 3.5GHz IBM Power PC Processor, a 500MHz ATI graphics processor, 256MB of RAM, and a 12X DVD drive. No internal hard drive is listed (”the decision to include a built-in hard disk in every Xenon console has not been made”), though gamers should be able to add their own external USB drives or use the hard drive on a PC in a local network.[/QUOTE]
From www.eurogamer.net and www.gamesindustry.biz:
[QUOTE]Although the document, which claims to have been authored by Pete Isensee at the Xbox Advanced Technology Group, admits that many of its figures are subject to change, developers working on Xenon technology have confirmed to us today that the details it contains are genuine.
Developers working on Xenon technology to whom we showed the document today confirmed that it tallies with what they have been told by Microsoft about the specification of the new console - even down to the continuing procrastination over making a decision on RAM size and the inclusion of a hard drive, both issues which have not been solved as yet.
"I've not actually seen this specific document coming from Microsoft," one developer told us this afternoon, "but there's certainly nothing in there which doesn't fit with what they've been telling us. If this is a hoax, which I doubt, it's a hoax so close to the truth that it hardly makes any odds."[/QUOTE]
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(Wednesday 23 June 2004 21:27 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
New linux distro coming to Xbox: Enatux
>> From Mike on enatux.com:
[QUOTE]
Enatux is the first ever Linux distro made just for kids! I have titled the project Enatux (Ena like Zena, and tux like, well, tux).
The main goal of the Enatux project is to create a kid-safe operation system. So parents can rest easy when they know their kids are using Enatux. I plan to make Enatux a bootable live linux distro -- so there is no need to install it. Just pop in the CD, reboot and you are set. Starting today I will be working on development of Enatux for PC and Xbox. I have been collecting games, paint progs, and other fun stuff I think kids will like. It will be fun putting it all in one package!
So why Xbox? Because Xbox is the main gaming console in my home, and I would like to be able to leave my kids out in the family room and know they are not viewing anything "bad" on the internet.
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: http://www.enatux.com
ETA: unknown
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(Wednesday 23 June 2004 20:14 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
SmartXX update: Free Xebian boxed
>> From smartxx.com:
[QUOTE]
* Xebian(info) powered by ED & debian. Supported by SmartXX hits the streets!
Get your FREE !!! copy at the Linuxtag in Karlsruhe. Check http://www.xbox-linux.org for details.
* After so many questions, where to find or buy the SmartXX Jevel we prefer to offer the download of the SmartXX Jevel Laser-Data file.
[/QUOTE]
Also from xbox-linux.org:
[QUOTE]
Free Xebian CDs at Linuxtag! Boxed, and printed Xebian CDs are available for free from the xbox-linux team at Linuxtag, courtesy of the smartxx folks. Pop by and say hello, and collect one ! (You could even buy Ed a beer, at the same time ;) )
[/QUOTE]
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(Wednesday 23 June 2004 14:17 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
BlackStormX Color Patcher Preset *update*
>> From ZogoChieftan on blackstormx.com:
[QUOTE]
The first blackstorm (dash based on original MS dash) release will be out very soon but to give people something to do in the time before it I have posted a black and white preset for my color patcher to this message. It is unfortunate that I won't have my windows app that will upgrade all your existing heXbe presets to the new format but that won't be long off.
Anyway here are the links:
Full Black Preset: Here
Full White Preset: Here
UPDATE v1.1: There have been some small bugs flattened out of the presets tonight so please get the updated versions.
[/QUOTE]
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(Wednesday 23 June 2004 06:20 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
XBC 4.1 beta this weekend
>> From xbconnect.com:
[QUOTE]
We will be releasing XBConnect(info) 4.1 beta this coming weekend. This build has a ton of new fetaures and performance tweaks. A special thanks to all our XBC Pro memebers that helped shape 4.1. Most notable changes are a revamped buddy list, integrated voice using Skype, new list server features and a new integrated web service called MyXBC.
[/QUOTE]
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(Wednesday 23 June 2004 06:09 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Xenon Docs Leaked?
>> Thanks to some people who bombarded my email account with this info. Wish I could give credit where credit is deserved.. but oddly enough their email addresses are from an anonymous remailer.
Some interesting quotes..
[QUOTE]
Basic Hardware Specifications
Xenon is powered by a 3.5+ GHz IBM PowerPC processor and a 500+ MHz ATI graphics processor. Xenon has 256+ MB of unified memory. Xenon runs a custom operating system based on Microsoft® Windows NT®, similar to the Xbox operating system. The graphics interface is a superset of Microsoft® Direct3D® version 9.0.
CPU
The Xenon CPU is a custom processor based on PowerPC technology. The CPU includes three independent processors (cores) on a single die. Each core runs at 3.5+ GHz. The Xenon CPU can issue two instructions per clock cycle per core. At peak performance, Xenon can issue 21 billion instructions per second.
The Xenon CPU was designed by IBM in close consultation with the Xbox team, leading to a number of revolutionary additions, including a dot product instruction for extremely fast vector math and custom security features built directly into the silicon to prevent piracy and hacking.
Each core has two symmetric hardware threads (SMT), for a total of six hardware threads available to games. Not only does the Xenon CPU include the standard set of PowerPC integer and floating-point registers (one set per hardware thread), the Xenon CPU also includes 128 vector (VMX) registers per hardware thread. This astounding number of registers can drastically improve the speed of common mathematical operations.
Each of the three cores includes a 32-KB L1 instruction cache and a 32-KB L1 data cache. The three cores share a 1-MB L2 cache. The L2 cache can be locked down in segments to improve performance. The L2 cache also has the very unusual feature of being directly readable from the GPU, which allows the GPU to consume geometry and texture data from L2 and main memory simultaneously.
Xenon CPU instructions are exposed to games through compiler intrinsics, allowing developers to access the power of the chip using C language notation.
GPU
The Xenon GPU is a custom 500+ MHz graphics processor from ATI. The shader core has 48 Arithmetic Logic Units (ALUs) that can execute 64 simultaneous threads on groups of 64 vertices or pixels. ALUs are automatically and dynamically assigned to either pixel or vertex processing depending on load. The ALUs can each perform one vector and one scalar operation per clock cycle, for a total of 96 shader operations per clock cycle. Texture loads can be done in parallel to ALU operations. At peak performance, the GPU can issue 48 billion shader operations per second.
The GPU has a peak pixel fill rate of 4+ gigapixels/sec (16 gigasamples/sec with 4× antialiasing). The peak vertex rate is 500+ million vertices/sec. The peak triangle rate is 500+ million triangles/sec. The interesting point about all of these values is that they’re not just theoretical—they are attainable with nontrivial shaders.
Xenon is designed for high-definition output. Included directly on the GPU die is 10+ MB of fast embedded dynamic RAM (EDRAM). A 720p frame buffer fits very nicely here. Larger frame buffers are also possible because of hardware-accelerated partitioning and predicated rendering that has little cost other than additional vertex processing. Along with the extremely fast EDRAM, the GPU also includes hardware instructions for alpha blending, z-test, and antialiasing.
The Xenon graphics architecture is a unique design that implements a superset of Direct3D version 9.0. It includes a number of important extensions, including additional compressed texture formats and a flexible tessellation engine. Xenon not only supports high-level shading language (HLSL) model 3.0 for vertex and pixel shaders but also includes advanced shader features well beyond model 3.0. For instance, shaders use 32-bit IEEE floating-point math throughout. Vertex shaders can fetch from textures, and pixel shaders can fetch from vertex streams. Xenon shaders also have the unique ability to directly access main memory, allowing techniques that have never before been possible.
As with Xbox, Xenon will support precompiled push buffers (“command buffers” in Xenon terminology), but to a much greater extent than the Xbox console does. The Xbox team is exposing and documenting the command buffer format so that games are able to harness the GPU much more effectively.
In addition to an extremely powerful GPU, Xenon also includes a very high-quality resize filter. This filter allows consumers to choose whatever output mode they desire. Xenon automatically scales the game’s output buffer to the consumer-chosen resolution.
Memory and Bandwidth
Xenon has 256+ MB of unified memory, equally accessible to both the GPU and CPU. The main memory controller resides on the GPU (the same as in the Xbox architecture). It has 22.4+ GB/sec aggregate bandwidth to RAM, distributed between reads and writes. Aggregate means that the bandwidth may be used for all reading or all writing or any combination of the two. Translated into game performance, the GPU can consume a 512×512×32-bpp texture in only 47 microseconds.
The front side bus (FSB) bandwidth peak is 10.8 GB/sec for reads and 10.8 GB/sec for writes, over 20 times faster than for Xbox. Note that the 22.4+ GB/sec main memory bandwidth is shared between the CPU and GPU. If, for example, the CPU is using 2 GB/sec for reading and 1 GB/sec for writing on the FSB, the GPU has 19.4+ GB/sec available for accessing RAM.
Eight pixels (where each pixel is color plus z = 8 bytes) can be sent to the EDRAM every GPU clock cycle, for an EDRAM write bandwidth of 32 GB/sec. Each of these pixels can be expanded through multisampling to 4 samples, for up to 32 multisampled pixel samples per clock cycle. With alpha blending, z-test, and z-write enabled, this is equivalent to having 256 GB/sec of effective bandwidth! The important thing is that frame buffer bandwidth will never slow down the Xenon GPU.
Audio
The Xenon CPU is a superb processor for audio, particularly with its massive mathematical horsepower and vector register set. The Xenon CPU can process and encode hundreds of audio channels with sophisticated per-voice and global effects, all while using a fraction of the power of a single CPU core.
The Xenon system south bridge also contains a key hardware component for audio—XMA decompression. XMA is the native Xenon compressed audio format, based on the WMA Pro architecture. XMA provides sound quality higher than ADPCM at even better compression ratios, typically 6:1–12:1. The south bridge contains a full silicon implementation of the XMA decompression algorithm, including support for multichannel XMA sources. XMA is processed by the south bridge into standard PCM format in RAM. All other sound processing (sample rate conversion, filtering, effects, mixing, and multispeaker encoding) happens on the Xenon CPU.
The lowest-level Xenon audio software layer is XAudio, a new API designed for optimal digital signal processing. The Xbox Audio Creation Tool (XACT) API from Xbox is also supported, along with new features such as conditional events, improved parameter control, and a more flexible 3D audio model.
Input/Output
As with Xbox, Xenon is designed to be a multiplayer console. It has built-in networking support including an Ethernet 10/100-BaseT port. It supports up to four controllers. From an audio/video standpoint, Xenon will support all the same formats as Xbox, including multiple high-definition formats up through 1080i, plus VGA output.
In order to provide greater flexibility and support a wider variety of attached devices, the Xenon console includes standard USB 2.0 ports. This feature allows the console to potentially host storage devices, cameras, microphones, and other devices.
Storage
The Xenon console is designed around a larger world view of storage than Xbox was. Games will have access to a variety of storage devices, including connected devices (memory units, USB storage) and remote devices (networked PCs, Xbox Live™). At the time of this writing, the decision to include a built-in hard disk in every Xenon console has not been made. If a hard disk is not included in every console, it will certainly be available as an integrated add-on component.
Xenon supports up to two attached memory units (MUs). MUs are connected directly to the console, not to controllers as on Xbox. The initial size of the MUs is 64 MB, although larger MUs may be available in the future. MU throughput is expected to be around 8 MB/sec for reads and 1 MB/sec for writes.
The Xenon game disc drive is a 12× DVD, with an expected outer edge throughput of 16+ MB/sec. Latency is expected to be in the neighborhood of 100 ms. The media format will be similar to Xbox, with approximately 6 GB of usable space on the disk. As on Xbox, media will be stored on a single side in two 3 GB layers.
Industrial Design
The Xenon industrial design process is well under way, but the final look of the box has not been determined. The Xenon console will be smaller than the Xbox console.
The standard Xenon controller will have a look and feel similar to the Xbox controller. The primary changes are the removal of the Black and White buttons and the addition of shoulder buttons. The triggers, thumbsticks, D-pad, and primary buttons are essentially unchanged. The controller will support vibration. [/QUOTE]
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(Wednesday 23 June 2004 00:16 EST) - (Category: (default)) - (Posted by::
)
Scripts for MediaXMenu information
>> From koldfuzion on mediaxmenu.com:
[QUOTE]
Having just looked at the news post on X-S regarding flattspotts LightsOut vers 1.0 in-dash game for MXM a little explaination needed to be given.
Any script you download on mediaxmenu.com will only be compatible with MediaXMenu(info) version 0.9o and up. Wait! 0.9o isnt released yet so WTF?
Right, 0.9o isn't released yet. It is still being developed, but so is this site[mediaxmenu.com] and this site is being developed with 0.9o + in mind. Which came first the chicken or the egg? Well, in this case.. the website was made public before the app it supports.
So should you download any script on this site yet? No, wait until the MXM version to support these scripts is released. While its BenJeremy's goal to have a stable version before going public, its our goal to have content ready for that event, that's why scripts will continually get added to the listing.
Sorry for any inconvienence or misunderstanding.
[/QUOTE]
Xeon update
>> It's been a long time we didn't hear anything about Xeon(info) (written by _SF_). It's a project similar to caustik's Cxbx(info) - a project to emulate xbox executables on a win32 PC. Those who remember will know the original Xeon release could play 1 retail game: Halo.
From xeon-emu.tk:
[QUOTE]
Good news, Xeon is now reaching in-game with Panzer Dragoon Orta. Currently it is still rendering in software mode and going very slowly, but I should be able to add a lot of optimizations in the future. You can see the screenshots click here
[/QUOTE]
Star Wars 1.2
>> Team AfterShock released a new version their homebrew xbox game Star Wars(info).
What's new/fixed:
* Added Custom Soundtracks
* Improved AI (Will attack other x wings, cahnges gameplay a bit)
* Added "Watch Mode"
* Added new Difficulty (The Force)
* Added Multiplayer setting saves
* Added highlight of ships after you
* Fixed a bug or two...or ten
Screenshot of the update:
Official Site: http://aftershock.xbox-scene.com
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
News-Source: xbins.org
AUS: Modded Xbox' Legalities
>> From www.theage.com
[QUOTE]
Forget about expensive PCs that are too bulky for the family room. For less than $400 you can buy a small entertainment system that plays CDs, MP3 files, local and imported DVDs, doubles as a computer and allows to you to tune into high-definition TV.
The clever device is the Microsoft Xbox game console - or, to be exact, an Xbox that has had a $110 (AUS) Xenium "mod-chip" installed. The catch is the Xenium mod-chip may be illegal in Australia.
Mod-chips have traditionally been associated with computer-game piracy because they allow users to play pirated games (as well as legally imported games). The Xenium, however, allows the Xbox to be the one-stop entertainment system it was meant to be.
Last year, the Federal Court ruled that mod-chips that disabled the copy protection measures on Sony PlayStations were illegal. The chips in question allowed PlayStation owners to play pirated and legally purchased imported games.
However, Chris says the Xenium Xbox mod-chip is different from the PlayStation mod-chip because it doesn't directly circumvent the copy protection measures in the Xbox. "[The Xenium] contains its own custom operating system, which has no Microsoft code or anyone else's code that would be considered illegal," he says.
The Federal Attorney-General's Department told Icon that any mod-chip that can "circumvent technological protection measures" is illegal. The problem is defining what this means, says Kim Weatherall, from the Intellectual Property Research Institute of Australia.
"It all depends on how Microsoft have built their technology and how the Xbox mod-chip's technology works," she says. "It looks like there could possibly be an argument for the chip because it allows the Xbox to do all these other things, other than the playing of pirated games. But it also looks to me like Microsoft could have the stronger argument - that he's circumventing their protection measures."
"Microsoft has never said anything and has never sued anyone in four years," says Chris. "It's clear they're not actively trying to protect the intellectual property of their developers."
[/QUOTE]
Full Story: www.theage.com
Thanks to Fujitech for the story.
Xbox 2 Backward Compatibility Rumors Debunked?
>> From TeamXbox.com:
[QUOTE]
After a swell of controversy from yesterday’s article at Gamesindustry.biz regarding no backward compatibility between the Xbox 2 and the current Xbox platform, we have received an official statement from Microsoft that appears to deflate many of the claims as pure speculation:
“Recent stories in the press about future Xbox products are nothing more than pulp fiction. Microsoft hasn’t made any announcements regarding the next generation, so it’s far too early to speculate about specifics, including backward compatibility. In fact, this media conjecture is irresponsible. The credibility of any publication willing to compromise fact in favor of a catchy headline must be questioned. Xbox fans are smart enough to distinguish truth from sensational reporting.”
While this statement doesn’t definitively state that the Xbox 2 will or will not support backward compatibility, it appears that the feature is still up in the air at this point.
[/QUOTE]
Thanks to shizno for the link.
Review: EasyBuy2000.com’s X-Chip w/ Solderless Adapter - Part 2
>> >> (formerly named Chameleon 2)
Buy Now: EasyBuy2000.com $49.00 without solderless adapter
Buy Now: EasyBuy2000.com $59.00 combo with Adapter
First.. I'd like to take the time and thank Easybuy2000.com for working with me to get this review finished in a timely manner. Their Tech Support was quick to help and diagnose the problems with the previous sample.. and shipping made sure I had replacements fast. I received the replacement samples hours ago and was able to spend some time with them to finish this review.
Pre-Installation Review (covers preliminary thoughts about the size, shape, and quality of the PCB and material used in the contruction of the chip.)
X-Chips Review Part 1 (covers first attempt at getting the hardware working.. as well as an in-depth review of the USB Flash Software, and the USB Driver Installation for Windows Flashing Program XControl.)
With X-Chip in hand, I reopened the 1.1 and 1.3 boards I was testing this on the other day. Place the new chip on the included Solderless adapter, booted the units and was now formally introduced to the EB2K X-Bios Cromwell(info) Screen.
From the main menu, you are presented options to select the various banks, Flash the System Bios (os) or to continue booting Cromwell (for the purposes of installing Linux)
I opted to flash some banks from the hard-drive, navigating the X-Chip XBios is easy and simple, moving from menu to menu, selecting the drive, directory, and file to flash with. Flashing a single bank is quick and painless. You then return to the previous menu and optionally select to Switch to the Bios you just flashed. The CD Bios Disk Method differs little when flashing from a Bios CD that can be prepared ahead of time, burned.. and placed in the Xbox.
As you can see from the pictures and photos, the installation is trouble free and easy.
Pics: Pic2, Pic3, Pic4, Pic5, Pic6, Pic7
Video: Video1, Video2, Video3, Video4
I did however make a simple mistake that rendered one of the replacements useless for 5 minutes. I had accidently flashed the system os with one of my color mod bios, and the Chips OS appears to have no safety check in place. When the flash was completed.. and I rebooted.. I was unable to gain access to the cromwell based os. It was a simple matter to fix however.. as all you need to do is hook up the Chip to the USB on a PC and reflash with the included FULL.BIN raw image file that is included with the XControl Software.
No odd cromwell issues with funky hardware hooked up.
Hardware tested included:
- 7 Different Controllers (MS, Logitech, HipGear, MadMax)
- 2 remotes (Stock and third party)
- 3 USB Keyboards (one Wireless Logitech, one Ms Office KB, one third party mini keyboard)
- 4 USB Mice (one wireless Logitech, 2 MS, 1 third party)
- 3 light guns (MadMax, and 2 asian models)
- 2 different retail xbox to USB cable adapters (www.lik-sang.com and www.spotted-horse.com plus one homebrew one.)
- 3 memory cards including MS Stock, and two 3rd party no-name ones)
- 1 Xbox Communicator (stock)
(**I would have tested more hardware if I had more time.)
So.. here is my final rundown on this chip.
Postives:
+ XBios Cromwell interfacce is basic, clean and easy to understand and navigate.
+ Boots in 2-3 seconds to menu
+ Selectable Bios options, 4MB of Slots for any combo of hacked Bios and stock Bios you could ever want. (note: system OS claims 512k)
+ If Cromwell Fails, USB flashing fixes easily.
+ 6 direct boot options (A, B, X, Y, Power, Eject Buttons)
+ 2 MB SRAM ( we don't know what plans EB has for this yet.. but the potential for stuff like Dash on Chip or oDebuggin utilities etc down the road will determine how much of a positive this feature is.)
+ Thick PCB design, sturdy Solderless Adapter option
+ included rivits are nice, but really un-needed.
Negatives:
- Initial Delays in getting all the hardware, software, and guides, and issues with first sample. All were rectified in a timely manner.
- ease of which System OS can be destroyed by accidental flashing. Note: it's also just as easy to fix.)
Not much negative to say. It's a simple chip.. with simple features.. and it works.
Buy Now: EasyBuy2000.com $49.00 without solderless adapter
Buy Now: EasyBuy2000.com $59.00 combo with Adapter
Project Jihad update
>> Here's the 'monthly' update from the homebrew xbox game Jihad(info) in development.
From theunprofessional.com:
[QUOTE]
Jihad's comin' along. I've created many applications with fairly intricate network libraries, but this is pretty intense, and pretty fun. Pretty damn hard, as well =] I've also been working with one, yes finally just one, dynamics engine. At least the developers respond to questions in a timely manner. Another great thing about Newton is their approach to their integrator. Speed is important, but not at the expense of stability -- and newton's stability is impressive. I'm getting closer, folks... and i'll have some new things to show you soon. For the first time ever since Jihad began, I'm able to put in a some time almost every day. That's a massive improvement over the past year or so.
[/QUOTE]
MXM Games Script: LightsOut vers 1.0
>> A new game script has been released for MediaXMenu(info).
From Scriptwatcher on mediaxmenu.com:
[QUOTE]
Incase you don't know, the object of the game is turn off all the blue blocks.Features: 50 levels in all, all of which can be solved. You can save a game and come back to it next time.
Get it on the scripts page.
[/QUOTE]
No backward compatibility in Xbox 2 ?
>> From gamesindustry.biz:
[QUOTE]
GamesIndustry.biz has now learned that Microsoft does not plan to provide any backwards compatibility in the next-generation Xenon platform - and indeed, that senior executives at the company don't believe backwards compatibility to be an important feature for consoles.
According to a source close to the project, internal Microsoft figures suggest that only 10 per cent of PlayStation 2 purchasers were interested in the console's ability to play titles developed for the original PlayStation.
Although this still represents some seven million consumers on a global basis - which is around half of Microsoft's entire installed base for Xbox - the company apparently believes that allowing consumers to play existing Xbox titles on the next-generation hardware would not be a significant deciding factor for Xenon purchasers.
However, a report into the videogames industry published today by Wedbrush Morgan Securities senior vice president Michael Pachter disagrees with this conclusion - arguing that failing to provide backward compatibility could have the effect of alienating Microsoft's existing Xbox installed base.
[/QUOTE]
Read the whole article on gamesindustry.biz.
WinUAEX v2
>> Xport released a new version of WinUAEX(info). What's new/fixed:
* Fixed screen tearing
* Should automatically switch to PAL50 mode for PAL users
* New Options
+Adjustable CPU/Chipset finegrain tuning from 100% CPU/0% Chip to 0% CPU/100% Chip. Makes some games (e.g. Gloom) much more like the real thing
+1MB FastRAM
+Sound quality - Exact/Slower, Good/Faster. Some games like Batman : The Movie have to think reeeeal hard when the sound quality is exact and it results in very slow game play. Set it to Good/Faster and things speed up to normal again.
+Fixed mouse bug with Frontier : Elite 2 AGA version
* Fixed bug with filenames inside zips containing '+' characters
* Fixed bug with launching large files from ISO9660 discs
* The image you select from the file-selection screen will now always boot regardless of how your disk configuration has changed during gameplay.
* 5 hard drive slots instead of just one Device name, volume name, read/only, boot priority are configurable now also
Official Site: http://xport.xbox-scene.com
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
News-Source: forums.xbox-scene.com and xbins.org
BlackStormX screenshots
>> First screenshots of BlackStormX (hacked MSdash) are posted on blackstormx.com:
[QUOTE]
We now have a few screenshot of the v1 beta dash ..
I have included the rest of them in the screenshot gallery (just register to gain access)
Please be aware that some of the graphics in the screenshots may differ to the final release.
[/QUOTE]
MediaXMenu Official Site Launched!
>> Sorry this was over-looked earlier..
From mediaxmenu.com:
[QUOTE]
Well, welcome to the new home for MediaXMenu(info) as long as BJ doesnt cut off our gonads for using the logo and name. Hell, we even went so far as put his mug on almost every page;
Why a new site? Ray1944's died a long time ago. YuYu was unable to continue hosting the remake on his space. So with a little time, and awesome logo from MomDad, and a crapload of reference material...this site was born. Besides.. why the hell should AXS get to host MXM scripts/modules? We want to host and list them our damn'selves!
While the site isn't 100% operational its getting there and we felt it time to open it up. So you peeps can give us some feedback if we arent doing something right..and if we aren't doing it right, it won't be a first.
BJ is working his ass off to get XSM modules working in MXM and since we couldnt get up enough cash to pay a stripper to "thank him" for all the work he does.. Xantium and xbox-scene.com was gracious enough to provide hosting to help us say "thank you" this way.
Coded by Koldfusion with alot of content contributed by Yuyu.
[/QUOTE]
Official Site: www.mediaxmenu.com
XBMC Skinning Contest UPDATE!
>> From Gamester17 on xboxmediacenter.de:
[QUOTE]
This is just a simple reminder that there is now very little time left to submit your XboxMediaCenter(info) skin if you made one for our skinning contest. We will officially accept (valid) entries until 12:00 AM G:MT 21st of June 2004 (that is 12 o'clock noon tomorrow Greenwich Mean Time), so make sure you get in yours on time. Please double check that your skin does not violate any copyrights before you submit it, (read the whole forum thread linked bellow for ongoing discussions and issues). The prizes on stake are 20 Xenium modchips courtesy of Team-OzXodus and XBOX-GEAR.COM.
Non-skinners, please make a donation to help pay for the winners modchip shipping cost.
More info: XBMC Skinning Contest Rules and Conditions
[/QUOTE]
UnleashX V0.36.0620 Build 499
>> A new version of the UnleashX(info) dashboard has been released.
Whats' new/fixed:
* Fixed: Stupid bug that could lock the dash when launching an app too soon when BGM is enabled.
* Fixed: locking up when changing skins and there's an icon on the systems submenu
* Fixed: weird scrolling up of the menu items when using the free format menu style
* Fixed: HTTP Proxy settings/saving
* Fixed: Password/Passcode is ignored when showing the context menu.
* Fixed: Icon/Video assignment on the menu item editor for items other than an xbe.
* Fixed: GameIcon tag should now work again, although skinners should use the [Image] tag instead.
* Fixed: Minor bug when installing skin.
* Changed: Removed Blue screen on startup
* Changed: Flicker Filter level set to 2 by default
* Changed: Soften display set to True by default
* Changed: 32bit is now the default color quality again
* Changed: Copy command changed back to older implementation
* Changed: Modified line drawings to use native DX Render State for line thickness, instead of drawing the lines several times.
* Changed: Filtered the 'A' and 'Start' button to prevent the event from bubbling up when screensave is active.
* Changed: System Settings and put ScreenSaver in its own section
* Changed: Editing the title of a menu item when it's an xbe will also edit the title of the xbe.
* Changed: Option to launch a title in NTSC/PAL mode is now enabled regardless of the video switching settings.
* Changed: Only one ftp client can transfer in boost mode at anytime.
* Changed: Networking internal parameters to improve data throughput.
* Added: "SafeBorder" Attribute to [FileManager] section of the skin with default value set to True. For new skins that want to maximize the viewport, you must set specifically add this attribute and set it to False.
* Added: "DrawBorder" attribute to [FileManager] section of the skin with default value set to False.
* Added: "Enable BGM" option to ScreenSaver section with default value set to True (useful for video screensavers).
* Added: Launch homebrew titles (region 0) in NTSC/PAL mode.
* Added: Additional check to ensure randomness when selecting music.
* Added: "Info" IR button maps to "Y" button so you invoke file downloading
Official Site: http://www.unleashx.com
Official Forums: forums.xbox-scene.com
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
News-Source: forums.xbox-scene.com and xbins.org
rRootageX v1.0
>> This is a port of rRootage by questor/fused.
Defeat autocreated huge battleships. Shootem up game, 'rRootage'.
You can find more info about this game here.
Official Site: n/a, by questor/fused.
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
News-Source: xbins.org
noiz2saX V1.1
>> questor/fused released a new version of noiz2saX(info). What's new/fixed:
* DPad-Movement included
* PauseButton (Start-Button)
* Slow Lock/Unlock(X-Button Changes, B-Button normaly slow only when pressed)
* Screen-Resize included
* Icon added to xbe
Official Site: n/a, by questor/fused
Download: n/a (built with XDK)
News-Source: xbins.org
Star Wars Update in Progress *updated*
>> From shizno of Team AfterShock:
[QUOTE]
Okay this is going to be the LAST update of Star Wars(info) for a while (unless Pete wants to do something) so im trying to get it all in for this 1.2 release
What has been added so far is
1: Added Watch Mode which allows you to sit back and watch a never ending battle (you control camera)...kind of fun for a few minutes
2: Custom SoundTracks
3: Locked PAD 1 into player 1 in multiplay
4: Added an extra difficulty known as "The Force"
5: Improved the AI code so the enemy will attack the other x wings, changes the game a bit so you can get behind enemy ships now
6: Added a lock on target recticle for enemy ships that are after _you_ , this helps you know whos on your ass and whos not, goes hand in hand with the new AI.
7: various bug fixes and tweaks
To add before release:
1: Save multiplayer settings
2: let each user choose inverted or not for humans
3: (MAYBE) let user define all settings for velocity/turning speed etc
4: (MAYBE) add a secret unlockable
v1.2 should be out in a day or so unless a natural disaster hits my house
UPDATE: Just put in custom soundtrack code, its nice.
UPDATE: Just added in multiplayer save & invert crap...
[/QUOTE]
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