360 kiosk clarification from our MS inside source
by Dan Choi 
{ Oct 25th 2005 at 6:26AM }
Our inside source on MS retail ops has struck again to clear
up some 360 kiosk misinformation that's been proliferating online recently:
1. What's installed in the Xbox 360 kiosks (at least at Wal-Mart) are the WIRED versions of MS's next-gen
controllers.
2. The controller is plugged into one side of the kiosk control unit, which has its own power supply (and where the
memory-card reader is connected as well). The 360's video-out, the TV's video-in, and the controller's USB connector
plug into the other side, making the unit an effective gateway for all inputs and outputs (as well as the reset and
auto-on functions) for the display system. Thus, the controller "routes through here so that certain… functions are
disabled in the demo machines."
3. Not only that, the control unit is preset through the use of DIP switches to signify which store (by company) it's
located in. "This will allow each store in the future to have slightly different content [such as new dashboards]
coming up due to the console locations." Assuming that every store gets the same 360 demo discs, one can only hope that
clever store employees get to hacking the DIP-switch settings in a timely fashion. Perhaps then the display and/or
downloading of different content than that which was officially intended for that particular location or chain can be
enabled, whether through the HD screen or a 360 memory card.
4. Our source never saw any wireless interference in
any of the stores he/she set up or visited: The clerks were using their remote pricing guns right there, and we had no
issues. That doesnt mean no other stores had problems (or that those same stores didnt run into problems later), but
it does mean that routine operations of at least a few pricing-guns dont seem to be affected by standard kiosk 360s.
[Bloggers note: could specific console resets and 360 wireless-detection procedures, coupled with price-gun printing,
perhaps be responsible?]
5. Plans are in motion to ship 15,000 or so total kiosks in the United States. According to our source: These
consoles are VERY new - all of the ones Ive see so far were made no more than 2-3 weeks ago. Does that bode well for
our mammoth power-supply concerns for the final retail release?
6. A reminder: each 360 can handle a total of four controllers total, whether of the wired or wireless varieties. Four
consoles can handle a total of sixteen controllers (four each) through a recognition system of sorts for the wireless
version: What you do is press a little button on the controller which allows whichever console you want to play on to
recognize your specific wireless controller. Sounds simple enough, but well have to see it in LAN action to follow
through for sure. [Note: four wired controllers on one console might not be supported.]
7. One more reminder (just for old times sake): The [Xbox 360] system was
designed to NOT interfere with anything else. Doesnt mean
that it cant happen - just that it was designed to not do so. Whether an adequate amount of testing was completed by
Microsoft is debatable, but at least we can agree with this statement in principle.
8. Our source is unfortunately based in the U.S., so any questions regarding distribution in Europe or the rest of the
world may not get an answer. Besides that, though, do you all have any other questions regarding the 360 kiosks for our
helpful guide?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Venator @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
"The controllers are wireless, I know this for a fact, I held the Xbox 360 in my hands! Go to my website, I have photos!"
Where's that spamming guy NOW?
OSUblake @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
OWNED!!!
Glenn @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
I knew the kiosks would be wired controllers. It's only logical. Who in their right mind would use a wireless control in retail that would have to be recharged every day or so otherwise it wouldn't work? Answer: Not Microsoft.
s2 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Joystiq + stories about Wal-mart and the 360 interfering with the PA system or Symbol guns = poo
Neil Katin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
I think your point 7 above is wrong: the xbox 360
press release doesn't say it wasn't designed to not interfere with existing systems; it says it was designed to not break FCC rules.
The FCC doesn't care if you interfere in the 2.4 Ghz ISM band; its every device for itself. You just have to be careful to not radiate outside the 2.4 Ghz band.
WillGonz @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Two questions everyone wants to know:
How big is the power supply? (I think the final version would have it built in.)
What is the estimate number of consoles wal-mart stores will get? Which kind would they be Core or Standard?
Miah @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
To add to this: http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1403&Itemid=2
dortmunder @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
If they have enough X-box 360s to spare (15,000) to make all these kiosks, then surely there should not be an availability problem?
Mark Portrais @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
You guys might wanna check out Major Nelson's Blog Cast and listen to what he has to say: http://www.majornelson.com/ he is a microsoft employee.
John @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
The XBox360 power supply is external
go here and scroll down
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/xbox360/xbox360theguts.htm
Dan Choi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Regarding point #7, Neil, I believe our MS source was referring to the intent of the 360's designers regarding wireless compatibility, and not necessarily their technical compliance (or non-compliance) with FCC rules. Please try not to read too much into that statement. What he/she said is simply what he/she said. Take it as you will.
As for the press release itself, Miah, feel free to read the full text on the post I linked to under that same point:
Microsoft addresses Xbox 360 kiosk malfunction
http://www.joystiq.com/entry/1234000133064827/
From that press release, a bit about MS testing (not so much to prove anything, but just to reiterate what's been said):
"Microsoft has one of the most robust testing programs in the industry and has ensured that Xbox 360 meets all FCC/ETSI requirements and rules for operation in the 2.4GHz band. It is possible that devices that do not comply with FCC/ETSI rules of operation in this band may not properly handle interference from other 2.4GHz sources."
Babu @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
--------------------------------------------------------
"We are working closely with retailers to provide a software solution that mitigates this problem within their retail environments"
--------------------------------------------------------
Leave it to microsoft to blame it on Wal Mart. It's obvious that its a problem within their system, but they are trying to make it look like a problem within the "retail environment"... a problem that wont transfer to our homes... Very dangerous. I dont think im going to get a 360 at launch, maybe wait a few months until they fix them up. Dont trust microsoft.
gmrc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
"10. Posted Oct 25, 2005, 11:35 AM ET by John
The XBox360 power supply is external
go here and scroll down"
I don't know what this guy is talking about ... I read that link and didn't read anywhere that the AC adaptor was external.
Did I miss something, or did you not even read your own link? Good link though, I'm liking the new xbox.com in general though ;)
Gaming-Setups @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Major Nelson rocks.
Guitarl67 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Wow, the 360 has video-in? Any device that sends a signal out can be input into the 360? Neat.
I'll also have to look around for a TV that delivers video-out. I didn't realize those were available already.
Dan Choi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
My bad, Guitarl67, I must've got my signals crossed there. I'll switch the ins and outs in the original post. Thanks!
gm @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
gmrc said: "Did I miss something, or did you not even read your own link"?
Umm, I think he meant if you look at the pic of the guts, you won't see a PSU inside the box...
John @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Posted Oct 25, 2005, 1:03 PM ET by gmrc
"10. Posted Oct 25, 2005, 11:35 AM ET by John
The XBox360 power supply is external
go here and scroll down"
I don't know what this guy is talking about ... I read that link and didn't read anywhere that the AC adaptor was external.
Did I miss something, or did you not even read your own link? Good link though, I'm liking the new xbox.com in general though ;)
-The link haves pictures posted by microsoft that show the inside of the XBox360 and you can clearly see that there is no space for a power supply, so it must be external and it is external. try to use your eyes for once in your life.
John @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
Posted Oct 25, 2005, 1:03 PM ET by gmrc
"10. Posted Oct 25, 2005, 11:35 AM ET by John
The XBox360 power supply is external
go here and scroll down"
I don't know what this guy is talking about ... I read that link and didn't read anywhere that the AC adaptor was external.
Did I miss something, or did you not even read your own link? Good link though, I'm liking the new xbox.com in general though ;)
-The link haves pictures posted by microsoft that show the inside of the XBox360 and you can clearly see that there is no space for a power supply, so it must be external and it is external. try to use your eyes for once in your life.
Dan Choi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:37PM
John, thanks for clarifying what you meant in your other post. I confess that I didn't quite get what you were talking about before, either, so please excuse us if we couldn't quite read your earlier (and somewhat implied) intentions.