Archive for the ‘XBox 360’ Category
In a move to fight software piracy, earlier this week Microsoft blacklisted as many as one million Xbox 360 consoles. Microsoft claims these consoles have been physically modified in order to circumvent built-in Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology. Modified units are commonly referred to as “modded” consoles.
By physically altering the gaming unit’s DRM technology, the user can play illegally pirated copies of popular games that would normally be blocked by the system. The immensely popular game “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2″ launched last week and it’s likely that some Xbox 360 players would be interested in playing a pirated copy on a modded console.
When Microsoft detects a modded console, they have the ability to ban that console from using the Xbox LIVE service due to the unique identification numbers that’s associated with every Xbox 360. While the system can still play games locally, the owner will not be able to sign into their LIVE account, access online content or play in multiplayer games with other Xbox 360 owners.
The bannings will also impact holiday shoppers looking to save money this holiday season by buying used Xbox 360s on eBay, Craigslist or through a local retailer who sells used consoles. Owners of blocked Xbox 360s may be looking to sell their systems without informing potential buyers of the situation.
If you are looking to buy a used Xbox 360, be aware that it may not be immediately obvious that the unit was physically modded. If possible, you’ll want to physically inspect the case to confirm that the seals on the back of the unit are not broken. Also make sure that there are no pry marks on the case that may indicate it has been opened. Another sign of a modded unit is when the A/V plugs aren’t aligned properly through the case holes.
If you have other questions about gaming technology, stop into your local Best Buy and speak with a Geek Squad Agent.
In this 2 Minute Miracle video Geek Squad Agents Josh Musicant and Eric Irish offer five simple tips to protect your children online.
The update includes:
And more… You can read about the details at xbox.com.
This year at E3 Microsoft announced some new additions to the XBOX360 video game console that will make it a more social experience for players. One of the fastest growing social platforms on the web right now is Facebook. Microsoft announced an add-on that uses Facebook Connect to allow XBOX360 players to take gameplay photos and upload them to their Facebook account automatically.
With innovations like this, it begs the question: are personal computers going to become obsolete?
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