Forthcoming Xbox 360 update locks out 'unauthorized' memory units
By Donald Melanson 
posted Oct 18th 2009 6:50PM
posted Oct 18th 2009 6:50PM
Using a less than official memory unit with your Xbox 360? Then you'll probably want to get your act together before diving into the upcoming preview program for the latest 360 update, as it will apparently lock out any "unauthorized" memory units as it adds all those nifty Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm features. That word comes straight from none other than Xbox Live's Major Neslon, who also warns anyone using said memory units that they'll basically be flat out of luck if they update before backing things up to an official storage device and then go looking for their saved games -- which, you know, would be a bit of a pain.
[Via Joystiq]
[Via Joystiq]
MS:1, Others:0
Bring the game on.
MS: 1 Consumers :0
Obviously there is no such this as "unauthorized" memory for the PS3 and Wii. You can use plain old SD cards for the Wii, and off-the-shelf 2.5" HDD for the PS3.
MS gets a hefty fee from "Officially Licensed" Xbox360 accessories. Which is why 360 memory and HDD are insanely expensive, and memory adapters that allow you to use cheap-old SD and micro-SD is a big non-no.
MS 1 MS -1
It will have an affect on sales when people realize what their direction is going to be, I'm sure this is just one of the 'enhancements' you can expect if they have decided to go lame.
Or effect.
So when is the actual release date for this update?
Too bad SONY took the memory card adapter off the PS3 after the 60GB SKU.
Furthermore, Microsoft has a right to do this because there is always the off chance one of these devices could cause an RROD. Its happened before on the original PS - causing fatal errors.
If you've got the HDD, you don't need a memory unit. Only if you have an ARCADE 360.
@Monkey: No, Sony would never block unauthorized accessories
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/03/ps3-firmware-3-0-locking-out-knock-off-controllers/
For the record, I think it is bad for both of them to block devices like this. If you have a problem, take the manufacturer of the knock-offs to court, don't block out existing users.
Exactly, MS: 1 Consumers: 0
What douche bags... Seriously. I'm trying to refrain myself from going on a tirade about how annoying companies who do this are... But that wouldn't be too constructive now, would it?
@NohOne
Counterfeit =/= Third Party
NohOne = Xbox fanboy.
@Aguiluz: Justify it whichever way you wish, but Sony is doing it the same thing. But you are saying that all they needed to do is change the company name on the box, and Sony would have no problem and not block the controller?
@mmm?: I just did a google search of your posting history. Glass houses.
Ms 1 consumer 0
(until the Office of Fair Trading (UK) and EMCR (Euro) gets onto this and Action Replay + Datel both get a lovely payout)
Microsoft should have learned by now that monopoly pays until you land on someone elses square.
I usually defend moves that Microsoft makes, but this is stupid. It's a memory card, c'mon. This sounds like something Apple would do.
@NohOne
I think Sony didn't block out all third-party controllers, just the ones that try to "trick" the system into thinking it's a Sixaxis/DS 3 in order to sell it as an "Official Sony" controller and not have to use a USB adapter. I think we can agree that we both wouldn't like other companies making money by selling products under our companies name(if we owned a company lol). Also, they still allow third parties to make controllers and allow users to use non-proprietary HDDs as compared to Microsoft.
Both may close some features off, but Sony is a lot more open to third-party peripherals imo.
This measure is to prevent poorly constructed third party accessories from damage the consumers pockets.
Simply crazy...
Is there any reason for this other than forcing people to buy proprietary accessories?
@Badger, that is probably the big moving point, plus they will be moving larger hard drives shortly due to the holiday season approaching.
But it probably hurts the modding community in someway (not sure, don't really follow that side of things though).
Nope. Microsoft managed to bring the 360's price right down not just because the internal components became cheaper, but because the components in the accessories became cheaper too (like the WiFi adapters, HDDs, memory cards...etc).
It's a marketing tactic - get the price of the base console down so people feel like they can afford it, but then charge people way too much for accessories. Sony have a more expensive console, but you get more in it and can use any 2.5" HDD you like and save games to any removable flash media.
KarlW:
Supports the phrase "high cost of low price." Low price now, but costs more in the long run.
I hope this doesn't include hacked/self-upgraded 120GB HDDs :-(
I hope it does...
@Missionsparta
Why?
Yeah, Why?
If it does there will be ALOT of angry people. 99% of the drives on ebay are hacked. i myself have sold over 100 DIY kits. I have always stated at your own risk but still. alot of people will be SOL
Word to that! I think we'll be fine since we used a legitimate .bin during the process. I really don't see how they'd sniff that out, it's from one of their official drives.
"If it does there will be ALOT of angry people"
...and i'd love to see ALOT of angry people!
@missionsparta: Say, uh...you wouldn't happen to be a troll by any chance, would you?
Yes it should. Don't be surprised to find out your hacked non-"official" HDD to not work after the update. By all means, a harddrive is a harddrive, but if MS has a way to identify HDDs that haven't paid their fees expect it to be blocked...
But they don't Boudu. Don't go spreading FUD without facts.
Oh crap, I never thought of this! Wish I hadn't signed up to the preview now. :(
I don't wish to spread FUD on this, but my thinking is that there must be a million or so hard drives out there all with the same serial (they've all been flashed with the same firmware, after all, and I'm sure I remember my serial changing after I did mine), so that's a pretty easy way to tell which ones are not genuine.
What a douche-bag move.
All this JUST so they can RAPE us on overpriced accessories.
MS taking a leaf from Apple's notebook? .. get fool to part with munny for item .. lock them into overpriced connection plan .. require them to use official software/hardware .. win!!
Your comment makes no sense (not OP). And it's *money.
I know, I've been trying to find one of their wireless receivers so i can use my pad on the PC but jeeze I already spent $69 on the controller and charge cable now I have to fork out another $40 for a stupid dongle? not one of my smartest purchases
If you read it, it says "unauthorized" so I'm assuming there is authorized non-Microsoft ones out there?
Yup, licenced onces.
Just like how apple does it with third party add peripherals.
"Just like how apple does it with third party add peripherals."
what? There is nothing like that for mac hardware. What the heck are you talking about?
Yes there is...my own iPhone experienced it...
I dont see what the whining is all about I've a had hard drive since day 1. Can't play xboxlive live without it.Dee Dee deee!
What, exactly, is the point of that? Why not just allow transfer of games saves to a USB flash drive?
Does anybody know if this update will finally give the Xbox 360 the ability to play MKV files? I'm really hoping for this.
That's way too good to be true, lol.
I have been able to play MKV files for a while now through the Xbox 360 media center. The trick is to get the files to play on your media center computer that you are streaming the files from. I use a windows 7 computer and I used this guide:
http://www.hack7mc.com/2009/01/playing-mkvs-in-media-center.html
The instant you get them to play in media center on your computer, they will play on the xbox 360.
@Tom: that's not actually getting mkv to work on the xbox360, all it does is convert it 'on the fly' to a format the xbox360 knows. The problem with that is that you also need a hefty computer to do the converting....
MKV files are a container, it should be easy, but don't expect it. It unfortunately known as a pirates format, and MS needs to play nice with Hollywood for support for XBL. Besides, they would have made noise about it if they were adding such a feature. I just with they would add SRT support.
The news was released 2 days ago around the blogs / forums.
NO. Because it won't make a difference. So stop whining and decide whether you're going to buy it or not.
Lawsuit! Lawsuit! Lawsuit!
This is the equivalent of a car company saying that you have to use an OEM air filter (btw they can't). This really is a crappy move. Thank you MS for reminding me why I don't buy your crappy: phones with windows in it, mp3 player that only took you a few years to copy and bring up to date, gaming system (I can live without sending back a hunk of electronics every 5 months because of RROD), Vista, etc.
What's next, you have to buy MS certified cables too?