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How to replace Xbox One HDD for more storage, a voided warranty
It's possible to replace the Xbox One's 500GB hard drive, but Microsoft doesn't want you to and the potential upgrades are significantly less noticeable than the PS4 replacement, Engadget reports. Adobe techie Brian Williams replaced the Xbox One HDD with a 500GB Samsung EVO SSD and a Seagate 1TB hybrid SSHD, and found the boot time for Call of Duty: Ghosts improved incrementally: 35 seconds for the built-in HDD, 27.7 seconds for the SSHD and 27 seconds for the SSD. An SSD replacement in the PS4 improved Killzone: Shadow Fall's boot time from 60 seconds to 39 seconds. Those who simply want more storage in their Xbox One can follow Juvenal1's Linux-based how-to or watch Williams' video walkthrough of the process. The Xbox One will eventually support USB external storage, so this particular replacement dance isn't necessary, though it certainly is complicated.
The PS4's 500GB HDD compared with an SSD, SSHD
Tested got its hands on a PS4 and switched out its standard 500GB hard drive for two new drives: a 250GB Samsung solid-state drive (SSD) for $175 and a 1TB Seagate hybrid drive (SSHD) for $110. Both performed better than the in-console drive, with the SSD shaving off the most loading time and the SSHD close behind. Loading a campaign from the menu in Killzone: Shadow Fall, for example, took the default drive 60 seconds, the SSHD 42 seconds and the SSD 39 seconds. The SSD performed the best, but it only has 250GB of space, and larger SSDs can cost upwards of $350, Tested noted. The site recommended the SSHD as the best hard drive for your buck.
Adafruit launches Raspberry Pi Educational Linux Distro, hastens our hacking
The Raspberry Pi is already considered a hacker's paradise. However, that assumes that owners have all the software they need to start in the first place. Adafruit wants to give the process a little nudge through its Raspberry Pi Educational Linux Distro. The software includes a customized distribution of Raspbian, Occidentalis, that either turns on or optimizes SSHD access, Bonjour networking, WiFi adapter support and other hack-friendly tools. The build further rolls in Hexxeh's firmware and a big, pre-built 4GB SD card image. Before you start frantically clicking the download link, be aware that the "educational" title doesn't refer to a neophyte's playground -- Adafruit still assumes you know enough about Linux and Raspberry Pi units to be productive (or dangerous). Anyone who was already intrigued by the Raspberry Pi by itself, though, might appreciate what happens when it's tossed into a fruit salad.
Seagate teams with Monster for staggeringly overpriced Momentus XT upgrade kits
Too lazy to pop your existing HDD out in favor of a Momentus XT solid state hybrid drive? There's a Monster for that. In what has to be one of the poorest partnership decisions of the new millennium, Seagate has decided to hitch its wagon to a company famous for scamming customers, suing small businesses and charging a fortune for things that... well, shouldn't cost a fortune. Here at CES, Seagate and Monster Digital are introducing the Dakar series of upgrade kits, which will be offered with 750GB and 500GB models of Seagate's Momentus XT drive at suggested retail prices of $289.99 and $269.99, respectively. For those keeping count, the drives alone will run you around $100 (500GB) and $185 (750GB), which means that you're paying well over a Benjamin for the following: software (not needed; download cloning apps for free), cables (a couple of bucks on Monoprice), an instructional video (Monster should actually pay you to watch this) and a screwdriver (you have ten -- just look). Great product launch, guys. Just great.
Super Stardust HD celebrates 2nd anniversary with Euro price drop
You've played Super Stardust HD, right? It's two years old now, and still one of the best PSN downloadable titles available. You surely picked it up around this time last year, when it became the first game to support Trophies. No? Well, now's your chance. To celebrate the game's second birthday, the developers have dropped the price from £4.99 to £1.59 (€1.99).Make sure you head on over to the European PlayStation Blog to see Housemarque's Petteri Putkonen's retrospective on the last two years. He also mentions Housemarque's desire to update the game even further, with an expansion that would "add a new dimension to the game," and requests that you contact him with any of your own ideas. It may be a while before you see them implemented, though, as the company is currently busy trying to outdo itself with its next PSN game. We can't wait.
European PSN update for July 15th
Yeah, it's July 16th in Europe right now, but we've been too busy to post the update until now. The fact we even know what's up on the store is a near miracle (thanks, Tom!), seeing as we're actually nowhere near a PS3 right now. With our excuses out of the way, we present to you today's update which, apart from a whole bunch of awesome E3 trailers, includes the SSHD Team Pack. Best thing about the Team Pack? Another potential trophy. Here's the full release list:Playable Content Fatal Inertia EX demo (free) Fatal Inertia EX Full Game (£14.99) Add-on Content Super Stardust HD "Team Pack" (£2.99) Videos Buzz! Quiz TV advert Buzz! Quiz TV "Sofa vs Sofa" advert Resistance 2 E3 trailer PixelJunk Eden E3 trailer PAIN E3 trailer LittleBigPlanet E3 trailer MotorStorm Pacific Rift E3 GT TV E3 trailer
PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Super Stardust HD Versus mode
Click for high resolution image. Super Stardust HD received its first expansion pack last month, to much praise from the Stardust community. The Solo Pack added several different modes, and the upcoming multiplayer add-on promises to do the same. We had an opportunity to try it out during PlayStation Day and we loved what we saw.The "Team Pack" adds a Co-op split-screen mode, as well as the incredible Versus Mode. Within Versus Mode, you can partake in a number of different challenges, similar to the offering found in many other multiplayer games: there's Deathmatch, King of the Hill, and Grab and Run. This whole mode has been built specifically with party gaming in mind.Up to four players can play against each other on the same planet, but the "layout" of the planet can be changed before the game commences. This allows you to overlay a maze of rocks onto the planet's surface in various shapes which players will need to navigate through. These rocks can be destroyed and, depending on the options settings, can or cannot harm players who come too close. For people who prefer a less restricted battlefield, there's an option for a clear level layout too.%Gallery-3208%
Super Stardust HD gets secretly updated
It seems that the Super Stardust HD upgrade pack that is "coming soon" is already available, in one form or another. Delete and re-download the game from the EU PSN Store and you might notice a few new, exciting features. Unfortunately, the game seems to have disappeared from our download list so we had to buy it again. A separate pack will hopefully be made available soon. We've been exploring the new version (2.02, according to the credits) for a little while and are very pleased with what we've found.The game now has full support for Dual Shock 3 rumble controllers, as well as a new online store section in the main menu. Currently this contains two add-on packs, a "Single Player expansion" and a "Multiplayer expansion", both of which are marked as "coming soon". The high score table now shows score, highest rank, session time and the time that the score was submitted. Along with the new game statistics section, you can keep a scarily accurate tally of how long you've played, how many of each enemy you've killed and how many times you've completed each level.We've saved the best for last, though. The new version has full support for custom soundtracks. These can be edited from within the game utilising any music on your PS3's hard drive. Playing Super Stardust HD to Sufjan Stevens' "Songs for Christmas" is an amazingly cathartic experience. We currently have no idea if the US PSN Store has the upgraded version of the game yet, or when its official release is supposed to be. We will keep you informed.[Thanks Withnail!]
Super Stardust HD overhaul coming soon
Some European PSN users have stumbled across an item on the store which, it seems, ought not to be there. The Super Stardust HD update doesn't appear for everyone, but those who do see it noticed there's a large "Coming Soon" slapped across the image. But what could an update to SSHD contain? Isn't it already amazing enough as it is? The item's description is a fantasy wishlist of desirable features, including improved graphics and sound, new game modes, split screen multiplayer, a ship editor and clan support. Clan support? How exactly that will work we have no idea, but it does give us the impression that our favourite dual analogue shooter will be heading online when the update hits. Sounds good to us - a little too good. Make of the above image what you will, we're going to remain cautiously optimistic for now, even if it is just wishful thinking. [Via Ripten]
