The second Xbox 360 revealed: codename Zephyr

Ever wonder why Microsoft hasn't released an HDMI cable for the Xbox 360, or whether the AV port was really capable of digital out? Well, here's your answer: we landed pictures of what appears to be the second Xbox 360 -- the Xbox 360 v2, if you will -- codenamed Zephyr. (The original Xbox 360, if you recall, was codenamed Xenon.) The long rumored about and awaited update to the console won't just feature a new, cooler 65nm processor, it's also finally added an HDMI port for full digital 1080p pleasure, as well as a 120GB drive, just what the doctor ordered. The 120GB drive may or may not come bundled with the kit, we don't yet know, just as we also don't yet know how much a Zephyr 360 is going to run (we imagine it'll go for the same price as currently so they can keep up a little on their expanding margin). But our very kind Xbox insider seemed happy to let us know we'd be able to get them "soon."

[DarK 1217 @ Jan 5th 2007 5:34PM]

I'm glad this is how Microsoft decides to treat it's early investors. ;)

[xVariable @ Jan 5th 2007 5:48PM]

With the exception of the story about OS X for Intel being cracked to run on generic hardware, I'd say this is, by far, the most commented-on topic I've ever seen on Engadget.

If that doesn't show just how much ill-will there is among consumers, about being shafted, by corporations, I don't know what does. People aren't commenting here at unprecedented levels for shits and giggles, they're really fucking pissed-off. Microsoft should make note.

[Oknarf @ Jan 5th 2007 5:57PM]

This totally sucks. I can't believe that their is an unconfirmed rumor that MS might be coming out with a new 360 console with HDMI and a 120GB drive. It reminds me soo much of my bad experience with Lexus. I bought a 2005 GS and not even 1 year later they came out with a new better model than the car I bought from them. I went back to the dealer and demanded that he take mine back and give me the new one as clearly I was an early adopter. I stormed out of there when he refused and will never buy another. Period.

The nerve.

[farshad @ Jan 5th 2007 6:00PM]

all u ppl saying this is technology growing blab lah blah are wrong
the reason why ppl buy consoles is so that they dont have to constantly upgrade their comp to keep up with graphics, etc. in games

with a console u shouldnt have to worry about it for 4 or 5 years like the ps2 or even older xbox, but one year? with the consideration of 2 million buyers over christmas just last week?

[wtf @ Jan 5th 2007 6:00PM]

ahahahaha im so glad i bought a PS3 instead of a 360 this winter break...wooo

[wtf @ Jan 5th 2007 6:00PM]

So obviously the 360 was not finalized last year, and now that ps3 set the bar so high, 360 couldnt stand having their product be so far behind the ps3. so they joined the party as well. and yea, ps2 did the same thing as well, but it was 4 or 5 years later, when ppl actually got a good use out of their product. i feel bad for anyone that has bought a 360 in the past month and saw this.

[Dal @ Jan 5th 2007 6:06PM]

If this does come out I will be petulent and sell my current 360 and not buy this one. Microsoft should have done this in the beginning. Yes, they screwed 9 million people. Is that a record?

[resource @ Jan 5th 2007 6:15PM]

50 comments per page please.

CES is coming.

I can't do this 20 comments a page thing.

[bigcm88 @ Jan 5th 2007 6:17PM]

whats with the white spec on the right of the picture?

[bigcm88 @ Jan 5th 2007 6:17PM]

whats that white spec on the right of the photo? it look nicely cut through the middle! picture is most likely a fake.

[lava @ Jan 5th 2007 8:22PM]

Just thought I'd mention this for people that don't know this about the 360.You can tell which harddrive you have(Hitachi,Samsung) by the disc tray.Open the disc tray,if you see a few small holes in the disc tray you have the older noisy harddrive.If your disc tray has no holes you have the newer quiet Samsung harddrive.

[lava @ Jan 6th 2007 11:54AM]

Sorry,when I was talking about the noisy and quiet 360 I meant the drive not harddrive.I had a momentary lapse of reason.

[E @ Jan 5th 2007 6:30PM]

Cool. I was waiting to buy one anyway.

[Team Hocukpokus @ Jan 5th 2007 6:33PM]

What kind of naive fool believes in the concept of 'future proof' anyways?

Wake up, it's slick ad-man talk for the gullible.

All early adopters face this kind of annoying change but you got over a year of enjoying the 'system' didn't yous?

[Dillon @ Jan 5th 2007 6:38PM]

A few things to keep in mind, people.

1. Look at the Original PlayStation. It had an interface on the back that developers used for hardware devices such as game hacks, mp3 players, Gameboy emulators, etc. In later revisions of the consoles, this port was removed. What does this have to do with the 360 console? Niche markets. Game genies may not have been peoples markets, so they removed the port. however it was and is still possible to purchase consoles with these ports. Same thing with 360s, if you plan on using the HDMI cable, go buy another 360. People that planned on using a Gameshark add-on had to buy a new PlayStation. Very slight differences obviously in this revision.

2. The addition of the HDMI port in newer consoles does not mean you're eligible for a new console. It was a feature designed for new revisions of the console, marketed as a new feature. You cannot purchase a house and trade in for a different house because it has a swimming pool, but you can purchase the swimming pool for your house. This doesn't mean that an HDMI cable will be released for the 360 (Judging by the rumored addition, there's about a 99.9999% chance that you'll never see one. After all, why else would they add a port rather than including a new cable?). The only situation that would be exempt, would be if you purchased a console, and within the store's warranty and terms, you replaced your purchased unit for a V2. Example in case, Futureshop and Best Buy both have a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, in which case they would allow you to replace your console with one of the newer versions, I've done so with my Ipod Nano for a second gen Nano.

3. 65nm cpu makes for a cooler running console, requiring less electricity usage. Is this Microsoft's fault, and should they be held responsible? Of course not. If you buy a new car, and the car comes with a newer radiator in the next years model, does that mean your vehicle is dysfunctional? No, because your vehicle still runs. Same with your 360. If it runs hot, but still runs, then stop complaining. If it runs hot and produces malfunctions, and your warranty is intact, send it in for warranty. However, if it runs hot, and your console overheats, explodes, and is not in warranty, then this is NO LONGER Microsoft's problem, as they have extended the warranty period to one year, trying to accommodate for any problematic events such as these. It is very seldom that you will find any company that would extend warranties by 300% to ensure customer satisfaction.

4.Early Adopters, whether they know of the risks or not, purchased their consoles with a (now) 1-year warranty (previously 90-day). Said warranty covers THEIR CURRENT CONSOLE. In other markets, your warranty doesn't cover exchanges for entirely new products, unless old products are no longer in production and no longer available. Simply put, DO NOT expect replacements unless there's actually something wrong with your console.

I hope this post isn't too confusing for anyone. Thanks for your time!

[Team Hocukpokus @ Jan 5th 2007 6:39PM]

'Future proof'.

Oh dear, you got to be really naive to have believed that one (from anybody).

[Ryan @ Jan 5th 2007 5:33PM]

your ps2 not having a built in ir didnt matter because you could get it as an addon which is not the case with the hdmi connector on the new 360 so your analogy is crap. Also microsoft deceived people that they would add hdmi capability if the market demanded it without telling saying btw we cant add it to the old models they should have just said that a hdmi cable was not possible.

[jdang @ Jan 5th 2007 7:23PM]

What's with the recycled codename at Microsoft?

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1731365,00.asp

Is Zephyr an update to xbox360 or an automated crash reporting tool on Windows Server? Hmmmmmmm?

[Andy @ Jan 6th 2007 12:16AM]

jdang: "Is Zephyr an update to xbox360 or an automated crash reporting tool on Windows Server? Hmmmmmmm?"

Really.
Which do you think?

[xVariable @ Jan 5th 2007 7:32PM]

bigeddie2525: "Yeah unfortunatley you are going to miss out on about 2 years of titles. You think your cool for playing the waiting game, but I have spent hours upon hours of oblivion, ghost recon, rainbow six, dead rising, fight night, madden, nba, gears of war goodness."

That's quite a rich and fulfilling life you have there. What's'a'matter? Too much of a loser to get a real life?

[Rico @ Jan 5th 2007 7:33PM]

I wonder If current 360 owners will be able to return their old Xboxes and maybe even pay a little extra for getting the brand new one. If it breaks down you can send in, get a fix for free...or upgrade to the newer Xbox 360 for say $100. I'd do it.

[Emil @ Jan 5th 2007 7:59PM]

Haha that's just another sign of how highly MS values its customers! How many of you have bought music from napster or alike and hoped to be able to play it on a Zune? :)
This is the price of sticking with MS!

[FrankTheCrank @ Jan 5th 2007 8:08PM]

Holy CRAP....300+ posts...

This is insane. PEOPLE ARE PISSED.

If M$ was using Engadget to float this ballon...then they just succeeded in pissing off allot of folks.

First the rep called HD-DVD the next betamax and now M$ wants to upgrade the premium pack...wow.

It's about time Microsoft feels some of that sting Sony's been feeling for the past year.

[Strider_J @ Jan 5th 2007 8:13PM]

so, is this official or not?

I mean the photo looks real, but I'd like some official word on this. i've just seen a whole lot of rumors and speculation at this point.

but anyway, this would be super cool! 120gb??? thats a hefty size, maybe even a little too much, but all good to me.

I doubt the hd-dvd drive would go internal though, because the external piece was just released. and then there's the issue of cost. i think having an add-on option keeps the regular 360 console price down. but if it were to somehow happen, maybe in a super-premium package, gosh, I'd get it.

regardless, these are the things I'd like to see at this point:

- official word on a new revised 360 console.
- included HDMI port, bigger internal hard drive, 65nm processor...
- and a revised power supply!! yessh, this power brick is huge

I'm happy with everything else. the 360 rocks your face.

[Javaflash @ Jan 5th 2007 8:19PM]

Bad news... by this time 2009, Microsoft should emerge as a clear leader in US video game console market. Sony lost.

Bad news got worse... the technology should stagnant after the "next NEXT" generation console. Sony will exit the market. The economy behind this market won't permit it to stay long.

P.S. Nintendo will be bought by its neighbor in Redmond. I believed the theory then, I still believe theory now, stubbornly.

[Hardcore @ Jan 5th 2007 8:24PM]

Typical Microsoft, I can't believe anyone is surprised by this. Micro$oft is ALL about making money at ANY cost, customers be damned. They charge $500 for an OS because they have a monopoly and can do what they want, however there are other games in town in the console business. But seriously, what did you expect from a software company producing hardware that can't even produce software right.

[SeanP @ Jan 5th 2007 8:35PM]

What a big deal !! Like early PS3 buyers won't be actually a hundred time more screwed in one year when the PS3 will get an update with a hardware scaller.
Seriously, VGA and Componment does support lossless 1080p output, who cares about HDMI ? HDMI is relevant ONLY when HDCP encryption is enabled, so stop crying you morons.
To PS3 fans : keep in mind that the Xbox 360 will always have generation ahead the PS3, so every news like this one will arrive just the same for the PS3 in one year.

[Evil Mike @ Jan 5th 2007 9:06PM]

I wonder whether or not M$ will address the sound issue with this "new XBOX, seeing as alot of people have complained about it being too noisy.

[Phoenix @ Jan 5th 2007 9:09PM]

%$%#%^#ing MS. I bought a 360 a couple weeks ago, now just to get shafted by the 120gb HD. I couldn't care less for HDMI, but the harddrive, WTF. They need to offer the 120 gb HD's for 50$ with a trade in of the old ones and a free transfer of my game saves.

Bastages.

[Shawn @ Jan 5th 2007 9:27PM]

well!! I am happy about this!

My first 360 broke. My replacement broke. My 3rd one is freezing up one me. This is getting kinda silly.

I LOVE the freaking thing and am a tech / game freak. I will buy the new 360 and sell the old one on Ebay.

Lets hope they fixed the 1 in 20 bad 360's problem. That is getting old. HDMI? I CANT WAIT? Built in HDDVD? Lets hope!! Bigger HD? Who cares?(Just link it to a computer ! )

[zmanforever @ Jan 5th 2007 9:52PM]

Hdmi is a nice add on, but it would be better for one with a HDDVD player built in, if it has no HDDVD i wont be buying it then. I have the PS3 for the 1080p resolution, 1080i for the 360 is fine, sucks though wish i hadn't bought it, but Gears of war isn't something to be waited on to be played!

[zmanforever @ Jan 5th 2007 10:13PM]

peters @ Jan 5th 2007 10:56AM

WOW!!! WOW!!!!!!!!

Boy, you guys really need to CALM DOWN!!!

First, if you have an XBox 360 then you "more than likely" have it properly connected to your TV.

Second, they are adding NO NEW FEATURES!!! Read that again NO NEW FEATURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HDMI is not a FEATURE, it is a type of connection to your TV!!!! (for Christ's Sake!)

Will your games play differently? NO!
Will your existing games cease to work? NO!
Will future games not play? NO!
Will future features be limited to the new system? NO!

When you bought your XBox 360 was HDMI a significant force in the market? NO!
When you bought your XBox 360 was HDMI even a concern? NO!
Is HDMI required for 1080i or 1080p? NO!
Where there any 1080p sets when you bought your XBox 360? NO!

Stop this nonsensical whinning and get real folks. The XBox 360 you have was designed for the 2005 market. The market you bought it in, and the market your existing devices at the time were made in.

Now, the XBox 360 has to compete in the 2007 market against the PS3 which has HDMI and a larger drive. If you want a larger drive, I am sure you can upgrade yours! If they build in HD-DVD and you want it, you can buy the add-on! If you want HDMI - then buy the new system!!!!

Do you expect the car companies to provide you with an upgrade path when they add "Traction Control", "ABS", "Airbags" to your car in a subsequent year? HELL NO!!!

The XBox 360 is an outstanding system. Had Microsoft not released it when they did, they would not have the commanding lead over the PS3 that they have today. You would not have "Gears of War" or any of the other outstanding titles.

Give it a break and STOP WHINNING!!!
100% correct, xbox360 fans crying. No need to buy new 360 and no need to return old 360. If you don't have a 360 wait and get this new one. ps PS3 is better thus MS's update to try and match and make it a little better..... ps3 has 60gb hd, new 360 120gb hd. I will just add more to my existing systems if need be for the content downloads.

[jay @ Jan 5th 2007 10:15PM]

Oh boy i am pissed! THEY BETTER REPLACE ALL MY VHS tapes with NEW HD DVD or BLU-RAY I cant believe they expect me to pay for the same thing twice!

While they're at it they can take my PS2 and send me a new skinny one. How dare they make it better!

What a bunch of cry babies on here!

[dahsif @ Jan 5th 2007 10:35PM]

Here's my 2 cents: If X360 gets Metal Gear Solid 4, I'll probably get it.
If X360 doesn't get Metal Gear Solid 4, I'll probably WON'T be getting it, because in case you guys forgot: It's still about the GAMES.

Geez.

[sunny @ Jan 5th 2007 10:56PM]

isnt the real question is this a crock of shit or not?

[Brandon Humphries @ Jan 5th 2007 11:14PM]

I'm glad I decided to wait untill Halo 3 was released before buying a 360. I hope they finally throw in integrated wireless, this 100 bucks on top of the 399 they are already charging is BS, and thats not even including a game or an extra controller. At least with the wii you get a game and wireless, and it is still half as much. Of course this is true when you set the issue of HD and graphics aside for the moment, so don't get all "but you don't get HD DVD or BluRay" on me. It just really irks me that you have to buy a wireless adapter, especially for 100 bucks, considering most people don't have ethernet anywhere near their tv.

[soulst0p @ Jan 5th 2007 11:18PM]

FINALLY! This is what I've been waiting for!

[Mogul218 @ Jan 5th 2007 11:41PM]

You kids bitching about being fooled into buying the current 360 are a bunch of dumbasses. And those who don't own the 360 telling me I should be pissed because I adopted early, you should be pissed because of what you've been missing. While you've been sitting around with a thumb up your ass, I've been playing:
King Kong
Perfect Dark Zero
COD 2
Project Gotham Racing
Elder Scrolls Oblivion
GRAW
Dead Rising
Saints Row
Splinter Cell DA
Rainbow Six Vegas
Tony Hawk Project 8
Test Drive Unlimited
GEARS OF FUCKING WAR

Plus a bunch of kickass arcade games!

And I'll soon be playing:

Lost Planet
Crackdown
Mass Effect
Bioshock
Forza 2

Just to name a few. Do I sound pissed? Hell no. If this new version is worth the money, I'll definitely buy it just like I did my current 360 on Nov. 22nd 2005. If it's not worth it I won't. I have that option. It's called free will. BTW, if it comes in black and has HD-DVD built in, at around the same price of the current premium, It's mine and I won't shed a tear!!!!

[Mike @ Jan 5th 2007 11:50PM]

Boy, I sure am glad that I got my 360 for $100 bucks off Amazon.

[Phil @ Jan 5th 2007 11:50PM]

Even if they did put this new chip in the ps3 I wouldn't buy the ps3 nor the xbox 360 until they add these specs.

These are the specs that will make a console last 10 years

PS3 SE second edition
blu-ray - hd-dvd combo drive/ hdmi 1.3a port/ wi-fi for all models/ 512 MiB or 1GB of Rambus XDR DRAM/ 6 GHZ cell processor 65 nm/ New RSX graphics card based on nVidia's upcoming 8900 GTX instead of the crappy 7800 GTX/ *Hardware upgrade compatibility


XBOX 360 codename: ZEPHYR
blu-ray - hd-dvd combo drive/ hdmi 1.3a port/ built in wi-fi for all models/ 4 GHZ tri-core 65 nm processor/ New graphics card based on the ATI R600/
Quiet Fan/ *Hardware upgrade compatibility


- These specs will make both companys microsoft and sony a lot of dough. Both companys should make the hardware for next line of ps3's and xbox 360's upgrade compatible. Making the hardware upgrade compatible like that of a pc will allow gamers to take out there old 360 or ps3 graphics card and put in a new one when the company creates them.
PS3's RAM is only 256 MB. That's not a lot of RAM especially if you are going to run linix on the ps3. 512 MB minimum and 1 - 2 GB's of RAM would be appreciated. I hope someone from Microsoft or Sony reads this thread.

[Todd @ Jan 5th 2007 11:55PM]

Sounds good to me. I just wish they'd put that HD DVD drive in their also.

[Aaron @ Jan 5th 2007 11:57PM]

wtf, I just got a premium package and now this comes out that is just stupid. I demand a free 120gb hardrive otherwise i lose trust in microsoft.

[JBDragon @ Jan 6th 2007 12:14AM]

I've been saying this for months. I have the Specs on all the 360 Ports in Adobe format. I know how the A.V port on the 360 is setup. There is NO Digital Video output on that port, and MS couldn't add on to it if they wanted to as all the pins are tied up for other uses.

There's NO Adapter HDMI cable you can just plug in. Been saying this all along. If the 360 could support HDMI, MS would've release a HDMI cable when the 360 was released, and if not then, well surly when 1080P support was Enabled, and IF not then, well then surly when the HD-DVD drive was released, but Noooo. Because it wasn't possible. Have always said MS would have to do something like Sony did and release a NEW version of the 360 with a separate HDMI port. In fact I'm been saying these last few month that a new 360 version would be coming out sometime in 2007 with a HDMI port, and a Larger HDD and keep the price the same to compete better with the PS3. Supposedly MS is now making money on the 360 anyway, and a larger HDD and HDMI support doesn't raise the cost up much where MS is going to loose much, maybe no longer making money again, but it's not like they have to worry about a Sony price drop any time soon.

No HD-DVD drive. For one thing it's for movies ONLY anyway, and for another having the drive built in would raise the cost to $600 and then MS would have the same high price problem Sony does, and that would be a HUGE Mistake. Besides you can download HD Movies anyway! Just now you can watch them using a HDMI connection and have a nice large HDD to store them all on.

I hope MS at least Releases just the 120 gig HDD at the same time also. I have DVI on my HDTV, but it doesn't support HDCP. So maybe just buy the HDD. I would have no problem just buying a new 360 though and selling the one I have.

[Phil @ Jan 6th 2007 1:30AM]

"very true, bigeddie. I also am enjoying my time playing such mentioned games, especially Oblivion. My only concern is that if this does come out that Microsoft will forget the owners of the original 360 and make games based on this systems specs, example: like games using the new graphics card and processor therefore less pretty games on the original 360, that would be gay."

This is not true, the games would obviously look better on the console with the new graphics card and processor, but that doesn't mean you can't play the game on the original console.

[Frappe051 @ Jan 6th 2007 12:19AM]

Although I like this update, it doesn't affect me at the moment because I'm too poor to afford a new TV at this time :P

The updated 120gb HDD though is something I will be getting indefinitely (depending if they release one separate.)

[Ron @ Jan 6th 2007 12:35AM]

lol isn't microsoft quoted saying that 'no one wants 1080p resolution,' and that the PS3 was excessively high-tech? and now they go and add support for it? please.

this is both the good and bad side to console wars. the good side is that machines are constantly being upgraded to appeal to more people. the down side is, of course, the empty bullshit slinging that everyone has to deal with.

[xbox-lover @ Jan 6th 2007 12:36AM]

I hope the new Xbox 360 v2 has a combo HD-DVD/Blu-Ray drive in it too. You guys do realize that the CPU's are now 65 instead of 90. Heat reduction (and cost reduction) are the biggest changes.

[nothing now @ Jan 6th 2007 1:10AM]

why i held out.

[Matt @ Jan 6th 2007 1:12AM]

HDMI is no big deal. It's the 100 extra GB that's the big deal. Plus it should run cooler/better.

[Brian @ Jan 6th 2007 1:20AM]

OMG!!1! Why did M$ sell us an inferior product? I should have 200 terabyte hard drive including and an 80 core, 6ghz processor! I got so screwed my my xbox360 v1! I'm going to soo M$ for $20 god-zillion for being greedy corporate bastards! Down with the system! I'm emo! Rawwwr! I'm going to go cut myself and save my tears for Darfur!