The Xbox is one of Microsoft developed play console, which is based to a large extent on easily modified PC components.

Development

The Xbox became in the USA on 15 November 2001 and in Germany to 14. March 2002 brought on the market. The Xbox belongs to the same console generation as the PlayStation 2, Nintendo GameCube and the Sega Dreamcast.

One year after introduction on the market started Microsoft its own on-line service, mentioned "„Xbox live one "“.

As storage media for plays DVDs use find. The Xbox can besides audio CDs and (with specially to acquiring accessories) DVD films play, however contrary to most DVD Playern no video CDs.

Microsoft was criticized first because of the very high starting price of the console (479 euro) substantial. After different Discounter partly brought the equipment for more than 20% under the recommended market price into the sales and thereupon Microsoft lowered also officially the price, the Xbox became in America and Europe finally successfully at the market does not establish - if also approximately in as large number of items as Sony PlayStation 2. On the Japanese sales market the Xbox plays as well as no role. Until end of 2005 world-wide approx. 21.9 million devices became sold, of it only approx. 1.8 millions in the entire Asia Pacific region.

As usual is the case for most play console manufacturers, the losses resulted from the subsidized sales of the console are to become balanced by the later profit of play often commodity and benefits of licensing.

In February 2005 Microsoft communicated to exchange world-wide over 14 million mains cable of models, which were manufactured before 13 January 2004, as precautionary measure since it had come in 31 cases to overheating of the console and "„light burns or slight damages to property "“.

2005 appeared the successor of the Xbox, the Xbox 360. This in May 2005 introduced console will compete with the likewise in May introduced consoles of the competitors PlayStation 3 of Sony and Nintendos Wii.

Handling and technical information

The Xbox is relatively large and weighty, whereby transport is difficult somewhat. For the sales start the equipment attached the CONTROLLER was likewise comparatively wuchtig and thus for smaller hands not particularly suitably. Due to its Microsoft brought a smaller CONTROLLER, "„to the Xbox CONTROLLER Small "“, in the offer, whatever became now finally the official CONTROLLER and in the scope of supply of the Xbox is contained.

Most plays for the Xbox are manufactured with HDTV support and 5.1-Sound, are not supported in Germany the HDTV expenditure - as in all countries with PAL TV standard - however. The HDTV expenditure is thus limited to boxes with NTSC. The clay/tone is coded in real time by the audio chip in Dolby digital.

The hardware data are in detail:

• CCU: Special version Intel of the Pentium III EB with 733 MHz and 133MHz front Side bus
• Achievement: 13.0 giga floating-point operations per second (peak)
• Diagram: Into the chip set more integrated nVidia GeForce-3-Kern "„NV2A "“with 233MHz ** 8MB/16MB
• Memorycard (not contained in the scope of supply)
• Input and output
  • Connections for four CONTROLLERs (USB minutes, adapter are available)
  • RJ-45 nearly Ethernet 10/100 MBit/s
  • 256 audio channels (summarizable to 64 for Dolby digital)

The Xbox can to be modden as also some other consoles "„"“. Can be used Mod chips, other non removable disks, other optical drive assemblies, LEDs, LCDs, exhausts and further main memory. However any requirement on warranty purges after such an interference.

The architecture of the Xbox hardly differs from some usual PC. Therefore for example also the installation of a ATA-66/166 of cable is possible, whereby the load times can shorten. Substantially more meaningfully is however the installation of a more modern non removable disk with 7.200 revolutions (both with "“Modchip"” and with a "“Softmod"” possible).

Multimedia Abspielsoftware

One by means of chip (Xbox Mod) or soft Mod modified Xbox can being converted with programs like for example Xbox Media center to Multimedia equipment. The software enables the Xbox to play all file formats which the MPlayer controls. In addition count among other things Divx, Xvid, WMV, MOV and MPG.

Further DVDs and music files can be played in this way and to be represented pictures on the television. These possibilities can alternatively over the local non removable disk, over which local network or also by Stream from the Internet are used.

In connection with "„the Xbox DVDKit "“(IR remote maintenance plus USB receivers) the Xbox is inserted pretty often as Multimedia center in the living room.

Xbox live one

Xbox live one is on-line service of Microsoft for the Xbox, over which it is made possible to play with other humans from all world over Internet the different Xbox live--able of plays. The play halo 2 is completely clearly because of the point of the usually-played on-line titles via Xbox live one. According to data of Microsoft Xbox live one counts world-wide 2 million members.

It is only the second time that a play console without purchase goes from accessories such as modem on-line. The first standard on-line play console was the Sega Dreamcast. Briefly after start-up of Xbox live one started also Sony in Europe its on-line service, while Nintendo had already few weeks before such an offer, which refers however to only one play of the third manufacturer Sega.

Contrary to other on-line services the player possesses a Gamertag with Xbox live one exactly, with which he arises to live network in the entire Xbox. Also the play-spreading statistics are so possible. To converse further Xbox live one according to standard with a Headset delivered, with which it is at any time possible, with friends and contractors. Regular updates, as for instance new levels or improvements, hold the player with mood.

For the service Microsoft requires a certain monthly amount. Against an annual fee of 59,99 euro or a monthly fee of approx. 6 euro Microsoft makes the entire infrastructure available, which is necessary, in order to be able to play on-line. The network of Xbox live one is partitioned thereby of the remaining Internet. Xbox live one is considered as the matured on-line service under the consoles, and also the future on-line service of the Playstation 3 will orient itself after this.

Xbox as conventional computers

With Xbox Linux an adequate computer from the play console, which can be served with keyboard and mouse like each PC and is fully Internet suited, becomes.

In addition the Xbox can with a Modchip, as are likewise converted the Xecuter 2, into a small computer. With an additional Dashboard (user surface, e.g. UnleashX, EVOX and Avalaunch) and another BIOS knows the Xbox also:

• exchange data by ftp with the PC
• Backup copies read
• larger and several non removable disks (HDD) operate
• store data, DVDs and plays on the non removable disks
• other video formats such as DivX and MVCD play and store (with Xbox Media center)
• normal Internet sides indicate

Modchips

Numerous Xbox Modchips, which permits it, exists to unsignierten code on a Xbox to implement. There are differences between the chips only in the scope of supply, with the features and with the price. Begun with the cheapest Modchips, the Aladdin chip, up to High ending chips, like e.g. the Xecuter3 or the SmartXX V3.

This Modchips is taped with an alternative Bios. Unfortunately these are available for legal reasons not freely in the Internet.

One must solder most chips into the Xbox. One finds fitting instructions in the numerous Xbox forums. If one does not have soldering experience, one can let her build also in numerous business. There are Modchips, which must be only attached. There are contact problems, which can lead then to losses of function and damage in extreme cases also the motherboard of the Xbox however in some cases.

Articles in category "Xbox"

We found here 5 articles.

Related Websites

We found here 6 related websites.

• IGN Xbox
  IGN Xbox is the ultimate resource for Xbox trailers, screenshots, cheats, walkthroughs, release dates, previews, reviews, soundtracks, guides, ...


• Microsoft
  The Microsoft.com destination for the latest gaming news and information from Xbox.com.


• Xbox
  Xbox.com is your ultimate source for all things Xbox and Xbox 360. Get news updates; game trailers, screens, previews, and strategy; hardware information; ...


• Xbox Linux Project
  Aim: provide GNU/Linux version for Xbox so it can be used as a normal computer. Linux should make...


• Xbox.com | Xbox.com Home
  Xbox.com is your ultimate source for all things Xbox and Xbox 360. Get news updates; game trailers, screens, previews, and strategy; hardware information; ...


• Xbox.com | Xbox.com Home
  Xbox.com is your ultimate source for all things Xbox and Xbox 360. Get news updates; game trailers, screens, previews, and strategy; hardware information; ...