Xbox 360 Windows Media Center Remote Control
By Peter Rojas 
posted May 7th 2005 4:35PM
posted May 7th 2005 4:35PM
Microsoft must have been dreaming if they thought they could hold a launch party for the Xbox 360 last night and somehow stop us from getting our hands on photos of every last piece of hardware that was there. We already scored a live shot of the console, along with its controller, now courtesy of another attendee we now know what the Xbox 360's DVD player/Media Center remote control is going to look like.
I can never image ever using this... But great... if its included
Hmm.. Can anyone tell what capabilties this signals for?
I hope they don't make you pay for this one like they did last time. I guess this confirms that little black thing next to the Memory Card slots is an IR receiver. Looks nice though. I'm diggin' the power button. I was never a fan of having to get off my /ss to turn on my XBox
Notice the green button - second button to bottom...
To #1:
Some of the new Xbox's hardware features are DVD burner and Tivo capabilities.
i saw this remote at the XBOX party... it has a RECORD BUTTON(very bottom) and a LIVE TV BUTTON (the B button) does this mean 360 is gonna be a DVR???
XCrap, another sorry excuse for Microsoft to extend their selfish monoploy by either stealing ideas from others or producing just crap like the XBox. They couldn't even come up with a real video game console. Instead, they shrank a PC and labelled it a "vide game console". I can't believe that people would interested in anything from Microsoft.
I'm surprised no one has noticed that the Xbox logo on the controller and remote are buttons. Thankfully bringing up that Gamer HUD that J. Allard was talking about won't be a button combo.
are you kidding six? what do you think a ps2 or gamecube is...seriously open your mind.
Here's an interesting question to think about with controllers. How important will this one be with controllers all being wireless? They could let you just use the controller allowing you to pop up buttons on the screen (like a game menu) similar to what I use all the time on my computer with mouse (love my wireless mouse). So finally, when it comes down to home media centers for the next systems, would nintendo not have the edge with the capability to interact with the ds and its touch screen for controls? Especially if new systems have recording capabilities because those systems have huge menus that are a drag to use. Its time consuming hitting hte down arrow on all those menus.
Ok, enough rambling from a nintendo fan thinking of possibilities when we all know nintendo won't even have media center capabilities on revolution because that would be far too intelligent.
this makes me so goddamn excited. the second i can preorder this thing i will. they seem to have really thought it out and the more i see and hear the more im impressed. i cant think of anything the ps3 can bring that this hasnt done...and if the build quality is anything like xbox1, goddamn. worth every penny. id spend 350 on it in a heartbeat, 400 if i get excited. which i am.
Here's a question for all you xbox360 fans. Are you going to be happy if you get this xbox that only plays dvds if the ps3 plays the next dvd format? With all the hd crap microsoft has been spouting, their system will be the one that can't play hd movies. What a joke.
Ugh, just what I don't want. Windows on a video game console.
#11, Xbox1 runs a stripped down version of Windows2000, so Windows has already been on a video game console (not including Windows CE on the Dreamcast).
to #10, yes, we'll be happy--xbox is about video games for the most part..I won't play down the media functions of either console--but we haven't seen what they're capable of yet. What's really important to me, and many other gamers I'm sure would agree, is that it's got some kick ass software.
g.
#9, my biggest concern with the wireless is that there may be no legacy controller support--it will crush the adapters market completely..atleast for the time being..and my poor smartjoy frag will be out of work.
g.
listen number 10, the xbox was a hacker's dream console. Once chipped the xbox opens up to a whole new level and yes you can watch films on the harddrive. Whereas the ps2 well whats there any point in chipping a ps2? I've no doubt that in time people to chip the new xbox and no doubt they will use the hd to play movies. Cant say anything good about the ps3, well who can.
#8, Nintendo is a video game company only, so how can they extend their monopoly in the video game industry? They didn't even care to put DVD and CD support on their consoles because they only cared about video games and didn't realized that people would so dumb to nag about it even though they already can play CDs and DVDs on their other CD/DVD players (yet XBox fanboys pride the XBox for having DVD "support" even though you need to buy special hardware for it). Sony on the other side, has always failed to make a proprietary format a standard (MiniCD, Betamax, etc) and since they are a weak first party developer for the PS, it's obvious that they only care to make a quick buck on crappy PSs and the even horrible PSP and especially to not fail miserably again when trying to impose another crappy format (like the Blu-Ray crap) on the market. But Sony is not even half as worse than Microsoft, which is almost a terrorist organization. Do you people really want to have no choice than buy crappy Microsoft products? I can't believe that people are so dumb to buy every crap Microsoft comes up with.
#13:xbox is about video games for the most part.
hahahahahahahahahaha! Xbox is about vidoe games? what about dvd player? what about DVR? media center capabilities? if you want a console focused on games, get a nintendo system
Get a Nintendo system for what? So it can collect dust just like the Gamecube? So I can get 3 or 4 good games out of a whole year? Get real #17. These are the reasons Nintendos in last place right now.
I can't believe some of you XBOX haters. You wouldn't buy a Microsoft product even if it was the best, coughxboxcough, just b/c MS is a monopoly.
The media capabilities of the XBOX 360 are outstanding and can't be negatively looked at. It isn't comfirmed that the XBOX 360 won't have an hd-dvd drive. I would hope that it would just so future games could hold more. Some current gen. games already meet the limits on a dvd.
Also, XBOX Live will prove to be a major selling point for the XBOX 360. PS3 and Revolution, while having online gaming, will not be as advanced as XBOX Live at their beginning stages and will certainly not have as many users as XBOX Live (assuming that online service will cost money as it should otherwise it gets no support which can be seen in the PS2).
Long Live XBOX360!!! And XBOX Live!!!
I can't believe some of you XBOX haters. You wouldn't buy a Microsoft product even if it was the best, coughxboxcough, just b/c MS is a monopoly.
The media capabilities of the XBOX 360 are outstanding and can't be negatively looked at. It isn't comfirmed that the XBOX 360 won't have an hd-dvd drive. I would hope that it would just so future games could hold more. Some current gen. games already meet the limits on a dvd.
Also, XBOX Live will prove to be a major selling point for the XBOX 360. PS3 and Revolution, while having online gaming, will not be as advanced as XBOX Live at their beginning stages and will certainly not have as many users as XBOX Live (assuming that online service will cost money as it should otherwise it gets no support which can be seen in the PS2).
Long Live XBOX360!!! And XBOX Live!!!
Wow a remote control...yawn
The reason why Nintendo is second in place now (not last) is because both Sony and especially Microsoft have hundreds billions and as usual, Microsoft has bribed all the third party developers (like Sony did with PS1) but also because kids and weak minded people prefer to play the same senseless shooting games with lots of blood to show their friends "how cool it is". Besides, other reasons include the DVD/CD support crap.
Spiza, are you going to keep posting your blu-ray tirade on ever board here? Honestly, do us all a favor, and contribute to the conversation in an intelligent manner or just stop posting.
Microsoft will not be charging this time for the DVD capabilities (playback, et cetera), because Microsoft is now part of the DVD Consortium. When the XBox debuted, Microsoft was not part of DVDC, therefore, Microsoft could not legally have one of its products play DVDs without paying for it; hence, the user wound up paying for the 'added' functionality.
For all the haters,
Xbox is the gamers game system. All serious gamers that i know own an xbox. Any system alone means crap unless you have good games to play. Not only does xbox offer the best system, but the best games as well. With games like Halo and splinter cell (xbox version), the gaming on an xbox cannot be paralleled to any other system. Play on xbox live is amazing and no other system gives you the type of gameplay that it offers. I'm sure that xbox 360 will be equally as impressie and blow all the other systems out of the water. Spend less time trying to take down the evil microsoft corporation and more time playing video games.
#23 is right. The original Xbox included DVD playback capabilities. The only reason it required the remote was because of the license they had to acquire for each DVD-capable device. Because of the huge cost of producing the original Xboxes, they decided to save some money and include the license as part of the price for the remote.
Repeat after me, people:
THE XBOX 360 IS A MEDIA CENTER EXTENDER.
No doubt it will be able to play DVD's, but you see that little green button on the bottom? That is an MCE button.
Gates himself has already said the Xbox 360 *will not* run Media Center. So the fact that the button is there means the 360 is acting as an Extender - EXACTLY AS THE CURRENT XBOX DOES!
I don't mean to shout, but people are acting like this thing is going to do all sorts of new things and/or supplant media center. It's not. It's doing exactly what you can pay $100 to get your current Xbox to do right now.
Oh my Stalfos. Its a game console, you don't have to cream your shorts bashing it.
please, 16, explain why you call microsoft a "terrorist organization," i'd be very interested to know.
I've never heard a good, legitimate, fact-based tirade against microsoft...everyone just denounces it as an "evil empire" and "the devil", but when asked for details, no one i know can really come up with a good case...
I'm certainly no microsoftphile, but I do think the company has done many good things with the money it has earned.
#10 - HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I love hearing people whine about "Oh, PS(insert number) IS SO MUCH GREATER THAN ANYTHING!!! I AM CRAP MY PANTS NOW!!!" Seriously, it makes my day. Now, onto issues that those of us older than the age of 13 are concerned with. I know this is a general question, but is there any clue as to the overall unit price yet? I know we will all know Thursday night, but alas we are all anxious, thus the reason for this picture being leaked.
Here is a link to a "Why Microsoft is evil" article. http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=853410
Here is a link to a "Why Microsoft is evil" article. http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=853410
so essentially, the author concludes that microsoft is a dominant corporation/conglomerate in a capitalist system...and any other business would do the same things microsoft has done, if in its position...
i don't see how this makes Microsoft EVIL...maybe bad for the market. Bad for economics. Bad for competition. But not evil. And furthermore, you must also balance this against the gobs of money microsoft gives away to charities each year. Go around the Seattle area, to the united ways or disadvantaged schools, and ask them about microsoft. Perhaps i have a different opinion than most because I plan to study the realm of economics/business, and realize that microsoft it just doing what any company would do in its position...as the author of that article concluded.
Wow!!!!!! I can't wait till this beast is hacked.
frankly i dont understand why people come on to these comments pages about xbox 360 to bash the console. almost everyone on here has already made up their mind abount the system. for the most part, people on here that have owned the original xbox will get the system regardless so amount of "microsoft is evil" will stop us from getting it.
i tend to think such people are a bit retarded in their thinking. imagine going to bhuddist monastry to preach christianity or a mosque to tell the immam there is no God.
At best they may send you out with a few slaps [which is what you guys deserve].
for future reference, if anyone wants to bash the system based on any of these:
1. ms is evil
2. it's ugly
3. it looks like apple made it
4. it's not a PS3
5. the games on the origianl xbox were shit and over-hyped...
remember... we know, and we don care. we're hooked.
hell i'll buy three of them. no one i know is going without it.
lol who is the guy bashing xbox "AND" ps2 by saying nintendo didn't think we'de complain about not being able to play dvd's and cd's. first off if they didn't forsee such negative feedback from gamers then the fault lies with their design team. The comment about xbox and sony gamers flocking to bloody shooting games??? so does this mean we should all be nintendo fanboys like you and flock back to throwing fruit at helpless animals and jumping on their heads?? maybe some of us prefer more options and freedom in our games and do not feel like being restricted to having to choose between mario and mario 2. honestly every game console is a dumbed down pc, and thats obvious because as a whole the videogame console industries sole competitor is nothing other than your household pc. so stop your whining about microsoft, your nintendo fanboying (suprised because noone likes nintendo lol". I mean honestly nintendo was supposed to own the handheld division and got their ass whipped by sony once again.
Back to what's important here, The Xbox 360 is not only going to be an amazing Console, but it will also allow for you to access all of your music, pictures and videos from your Windows based PC with ease. How can any fanboy deny that this is good for consumers.
Now the question is, what kind of functionality will we have with the Media Center Extender features if we don't have XP Media Center Edition?
To all those that want a bunch of extras thrown in with the basic package, think again. These extras will most assuredly mean the cost of the console goes up. I personally just want to get the console with a controller for $299. I don't want to pay more upfront for accessories I can buy over time. I want to spend some money on a HardDrive, more controllers and launch games, not on a controller or camera per say off the bat.
And for everyone that thinks that lack of HD-DVD or BlueRay is a bad thing...stop and think about this for a moment. The 360 will be in full scale manufacturing before these products will be available. Not to mention that Next Gen DVD formats will be expensive at first. It would certainly make the cost of the Xbox unaffordable for most to include. PS3 will be out a year after Xbox and by then drives will be cheaper. But the truth is, ther's about to be a format war and I definately don't want to pay extra for a HD DVD format that ends up loosing the format war. MS can always add next Gen format DVD Players in a year or two as they become standard and the price comes down.
Also remember that the 360 is said to support VC1 videos, which is what will be used on the next gen DVD's anyway, so if you have a VC1 video on your PC you will be able to watch it on your TV through the XBox 360 Media Center Connector features. I really hope they make a TV tuner add on for this thing. Maybe a TV tuner / HD combo to make the 360 into a full fledged Media Center independent of the PC.
Think long term folks. Even though the Media Center craze is just starting, in 2 years it will be quite normal for households to have TIVO or some form of Media Center TV recording. So if MS is smart they will be ready to add such functionality in the future if not at launch since we probably won't be seeing another new Xbox console for 5 years after Nov. 2005 when 360 releases...that's means we will have to be very happy with 360 till Nov. 2010. By then everyone will be thirsty for these media center features as a standard option!
Honestly, 90% of the people posting comments are idiots. For those of you that believe steming off from video games is a bad choice...I hate to say it; you're wrong. Lets look at a few things here:
Playstation 3: Ya know, honestly it is cool they are going to the next version of DVD. However, did you know a Blu-Ray player will cost about $1k when they come out? On top of that the movies will slowly trickle in due to the fact it is a new format and not widely supported by consumers. So when you complain about the Xbox being a standard DVD drive, do keep in mind what todays standards are.
Secondly, you're all idiots--be thankful that this thing is a DVR and on top of that take your opinions and shove it when you blabber about Microsoft not concentrating on games. MS makes about 9% of games in the market, it's not theur job to focus on games. Why do you think they get developers on their side? its because they do it for them.
I could go on, but im not going to waste my time.
Ugh, why can't Microsoft design a cool, sporty, stylish console like Sony did with their PS/2?!? This console's design is a step up from the original XBox, but it still looks like a toy for toddlers...
Look at the big round, obnoxious buttons on the remote and controller...childish looking
Fanboys on any side take consoles way too seriously. It plays games. Wow. Calm the heck down, you nuts.
Now, I'm prolly one of the few people here who can give an educated answer, seeing as how I own all three current consoles, and know quite a bit about the new formats. First off, anyone who has had both an Xbox and a PS2 will tell you that the Xbox was more powerful, had more features, etc., but the'll say the PS2 was the better system. Second, I'm kinda worried about the PS3. It's great that they're using a newer, better format, but they should've made sure HDDVD wasn't a threat before comitting to Blu-Ray. Third, If the 360 is a DVR, and really does incorporate THAT many multimedia features, I think we can officially say it's just a toned-down PC with XP Media Center installed with a bit of gaming included. Finally, the whole delayed release of the PS3 will truly be the final test for both companies. This is what will decide which of these two electronics uber-powers sticks around for the next generation after 360-PS3. MS seems convinced that using the Sony plan of early release will make the 360 a winner (like the PS2). However, the difference in power is considerably larger this time around. One last comment: The fact that there are now three established console-makers (instead of the usual two) will undoubtedly make for some of the biggest ad campaigns for ANY electronic device.
I'm finally done. Whew.
I really don't see MS adding full MCE functionality to the Xbox 360 at any point. I mean, as usual, it's a great marketing strategy. If you buy an Xbox 360 the only way to get FULL functionality out of it (ie MCE extender, etc.) is to also purchase XP MCE for your PC. It's yet another way to sell more product and further tie an MS OS into everything we do.
Think about it, if MS can get an Xbox 360 and an MCE PC into tons of homes, it only follows that as everything media related becomes more and more interconnected (as they already are) people will go with what is easiest to add. It's a fact of our society. So people ultimately purchase even more gear with MS software. Cell phones, personal media players, etc. etc.
Microsoft is nothing if not smart about getting into our homes in every way possible and making us dependent on their products. It's brilliant really.
Sign me up for two. :) I already got the MCE PC. :)
Number 16 I hate to burst your bubble but Sony did invent the CD. I hope you dont think that is a dumb propritary formt.
I'll think the silver button is a powerbutton, so that you dont need to get up of the sofa to turn on the Xbox... Typically Americans =) Finally.. Im som bored of turning on my xbox!!
I posted this when there were only 30 responses. For some reason my comment wasn't posted. As for the silver button. It was talked that it was a power button to turn the XBox on and off. Considering the remote has the exact button it's safe to say that it's a power button.
Especially since they are "wireless" joysticks. It's supposed to allow you to pick up the controller and turn the system on from your seat/sofa...
I think the best option available to all the flamers who are and soon, will be, is to wait and see. You can say what you want to now, but everything is still very sketchy. It's all a matter of opinion until they come out, and then, it seems to be an even greater matter of opinion.
I think the best option available to all the flamers who are and soon, will be, is to wait and see. You can say what you want to now, but everything is still very sketchy. It's all a matter of opinion until they come out, and then, it seems to be an even greater matter of opinion.
to #46...do you notice the power button just to the right of the big "x" button
to #24 and 26...It only seems logical that the remote would come with the system. I have noticed that in the pictures of the xbox 360, there is a black oval in one of the corners, I think that will be the infared sensor for the remote. Since it is part of the xbox, It only makes sense to me that the remote would come with the system.