Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ben Heck ponders Xbox 360 Slim: Motherboard, Memory Unit support, internal hard drive]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/ben-heck-ponders-xbox-360-slim-motherboard-memory-unit-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/ben-heck-ponders-xbox-360-slim-motherboard-memory-unit-support/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/18/ben-heck-ponders-xbox-360-slim-motherboard-memory-unit-support/#comments
Full image after break
In light of recent Xbox 360 hardware news, like pictures revealing an alleged Xbox 360 Slim motherboard and documentation of USB storage in a future update, we decided to see if the two stories tied together in some technical way. Surprisingly, they just might. Modding artist, hardware sculptor and warranty wrecker, Ben Heck, told us that if the leaked Slim motherboard is legitimate, not only does he see no place for memory cards (lending even more credence to USB storage for data transfer), but he dropped on us the idea that it may also have an internal hard drive. To emphasize, this conversation is speculation based on potential evidence that has not been confirmed by Microsoft.

Joystiq: Okay, before we go any further, explain this internal hard drive theory?

Ben Heckendorn: Well if you look at the upper left of the board, there appear to be (2) SATA connections. One is clearly for the DVD-ROM, of course, but what's the other one for? My guess is an internal hard drive. How it connects I'm not sure, but why else have 2 SATA connectors? Also there's an extra plug that could be hard drive power (next to DVD power).

Now, after looking at the board, you said you were "99 percent sure" there are no Xbox 360 memory card slots. Please explain.

None of the connectors look remotely like an Xbox 360 memory card reader [Ed: See one after break]. Keep in mind the memory cards were kind of a "Trojan horse" to have a hard drive-less (cheap) 360 back in 2005. Now, especially with built-in memory since the Jaspers, they are essentially useless. Why waste money and space on adding something none of your new customers will even need?

Of note: The memory cards were basically USB devices, except they ran off 3.3 volts and had security chips to authenticate them, as do all Xbox 360 peripherals.

Continue reading Ben Heck ponders Xbox 360 Slim: Motherboard, Memory Unit support, internal hard drive

JoystiqBen Heck ponders Xbox 360 Slim: Motherboard, Memory Unit support, internal hard drive originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analysis-opinionben-heckben-heckendornbenjamin-heckendornheckendornMicrosoftslimXbox-360xbox-360-slimThu, 18 Mar 2010 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP Slim details leaked?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/08/psp-slim-details-leaked/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/08/psp-slim-details-leaked/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/06/08/psp-slim-details-leaked/#commentsFiled under:

We're sure that a PSP remake is coming ... but when? Kotaku, in a "rumor" from "several sources close to Sony," suggests that a thinner PSP will be unveiled at E3 next month. The system will supposedly feature a new LED screen that delivers a crisp image in a new, thinner size. Due to new screen technology, battery life will also increase, up four-fold. Amongst other features is a faster UMD drive, 8GB of internal flash memory, and a revamped D-Pad. All of this is supposed to come in at a surprising cost: only $170, the same cost of the system now.

Sound too good to be true? Maybe. We contacted Dave Karraker from SCEA and he commented: "This is pure rumor and speculation, for which we don't comment."

We honestly find many of these details to be much too extravagant, especially at such a low price. (How much money would Sony lose on each system sold? 8GB of memory alone would make the $170 price much too costly for the manufacturer.) We'll have to wait until E3 to see if Kotaku's bold claims have any weight to them.

JoystiqPSP Slim details leaked? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>kotakupsppsp slimPspSlimredesignremakerumorslimFri, 08 Jun 2007 12:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Just about the awesomest skins EVAR]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/just-about-the-awesomest-skins-evar/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/just-about-the-awesomest-skins-evar/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/just-about-the-awesomest-skins-evar/#commentsFiled under:


As you can see, these "Slim Skins" are available to those who recently got their hands on a DS Lite for the first time in Korea. Who wouldn't want to dress their DS Lite up in such colorful skins? We sure as heck want to! Of course, the skin pictured above is by far our favorite.

Question: does that say Lamb or Lame on that submarine?

See also: Koreans encountering some problems with Brain Age

[Thanks Andy!]

JoystiqJust about the awesomest skins EVAR originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Feb 2007 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dsdslitelitenintendonintendodsnintendodsliteskinslimslimskinThu, 15 Feb 2007 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor control: No plans for PS3 downgrade]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/16/rumor-control-no-plans-for-ps3-downgrade/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/16/rumor-control-no-plans-for-ps3-downgrade/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/16/rumor-control-no-plans-for-ps3-downgrade/#commentsFiled under: ,

You know the drill. First it starts out from an "anonymous inside source" then it gets construed until the cows come home. That's about how the whole rumor concerning the PlayStation 3 downgrade started. Apparently an "inside source" revealed that Sony couldn't quite get all the pieces to fit and still make it cool correctly, thus needing a downgrade. He or she also said that the Cell could be clocked down from 3.2GHz to 2.8GHz in order to manufacture them in greater mass.

Well Jonathan Fargher, a Sony rep, has stepped up to dismiss those rumors for the BS that they are. "Developers have been working with PS3 dev kits for anywhere between eight and 12 months, and to suggest that we'd now take the decision to downgrade the hardware at such a late stage, is, well, ridiculous."

And to address the issue of sticking all those components inside the already large casing, he said they "do have over 40 years of experience making consumer electronics equipment, and therefore, extensive experience in making things fit."

JoystiqRumor control: No plans for PS3 downgrade originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jun 2006 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celldowngradehardwareplaystationps2ps3slimsonyFri, 16 Jun 2006 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 may include PS2 hardware inside]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/06/ps3-may-include-ps2-hardware-inside/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/06/ps3-may-include-ps2-hardware-inside/http://www.joystiq.com/2006/06/06/ps3-may-include-ps2-hardware-inside/#commentsFiled under:


Quick: how do you ensure that the PS3 is backwards compatible with PlayStation 2 games? It's easy: you just put a PS2 inside of it.

According to a Japanese periodical this is exactly what Sony has in mind for their back-compat strategy. Given that software emulation isn't an option (at least not yet), the PlayStation 3 is rumored to include the necessary hardware which is also used in the slim PS2. This would give one more reason as to why it looks so big.

Of course sticking that kind of power straight into the next-gen system would guarantee a big number of supported titles right out of the box. However, it also runs up the cost and bloats the overall system. We'll have to wait and see what happens with this one as we get closer to launch.

[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqPS3 may include PS2 hardware inside originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jun 2006 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backwards compatibilityplaystationps2ps3slimsonyTue, 06 Jun 2006 11:30:00 EST