Nextbox rumors..

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread....

According to an eight-page feature article, the next Xbox will use Blu-ray discs, introduce a second-generation Kinect, directional audio, an "innovative controller" and TV inputs as well as outputs. They also speculate the next Xbox will just be called "Xbox".

The report also details the hardware of the next Xbox development kits, which apparently come with a four-core chipset (with 16 logical cores) and a large 8 GB of RAM. Editor-in-chief Dan Dawkins expects that "unless something really dramatic changes, everything we reveal in our penultimate issue will be revealed long before E3 in June."

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/108Q6.jpg)

From looking at the concept (?) and the size of the disc slot, it seems quite big (so I guess the xbox name fits *rimshot*), and also there's no cooling slots that I can see visible. I'm kind of interested to see what an "innovative controller" might be.

There's another concept image that summarizes each part of the case, which describes the all of the back as being a slotted vent system.

Please please please please do not mess with the 360's controller. Mushy d-pad aside, it's about perfect as-is.

I understand that specs for this thing would have had to have been finalised quite some time ago but 8GB RAM, really? I can put 16GB in a PC for under $100 in many cases and that's without the crazy volume pricing an OEM like Microsoft would get. I get that they don't really truly have to concern themselves with being leapfrogged by the PC but yeah, they're starting further back than they should from a RAM perspective if it's that little.

A PC's RAM is busy with the OS though. A console's RAM is mostly used for the game. People have always complained about this, even back in the N64 days when they sold that expansion pack that was basically more console RAM. A console just doesn't need as much RAM as a PC for comparable performance.

Do they really get enough bang for their buck to increase the cost of the console by whatever the extra 8GB's would run?

I don't think consoles need as much horsepower, which is why I can actually enjoy current 360 games with only 516MB of RAM, which is still double what the PS3 rolls with.

The other thing I see brought up with regards to memory in consoles is that it's not directly equivalent to common PC RAM, it being faster and more expensive meg for meg.

Although there's the obvious advantages more RAM will bring, for graphics, loading and pre-loading/caching (usability and general experience), Jayhawker does have a good point in that RAM/horsepower doesn't automatically produce better games. I can dream that developers would have enough resources to get rid of loading screens and other crap like that, but it'll never happen.

(The PS3 does have 512MB RAM, the same as the 360, but it's split into 2 pools, one of which is for the graphics, whereas the 360 is one pool the developer can split as they want)

Stele wrote:

A PC's RAM is busy with the OS though. A console's RAM is mostly used for the game. People have always complained about this, even back in the N64 days when they sold that expansion pack that was basically more console RAM. A console just doesn't need as much RAM as a PC for comparable performance.

THIS. 8 GB RAM is SIXTEEN times what's in a 360. It'll be fine.

SixteenBlue wrote:
Stele wrote:

A PC's RAM is busy with the OS though. A console's RAM is mostly used for the game. People have always complained about this, even back in the N64 days when they sold that expansion pack that was basically more console RAM. A console just doesn't need as much RAM as a PC for comparable performance.

THIS. 8 GB RAM is SIXTEEN times what's in a 360. It'll be fine.

True while that may be, do you guys realize how many numbers there are that are bigger than 8? You don't even want to know how many I can name off the top of my head.

SixteenBlue wrote:
Stele wrote:

A PC's RAM is busy with the OS though. A console's RAM is mostly used for the game. People have always complained about this, even back in the N64 days when they sold that expansion pack that was basically more console RAM. A console just doesn't need as much RAM as a PC for comparable performance.

THIS. 8 GB RAM is SIXTEEN times what's in a 360. It'll be fine.

512MB is also 8 times what was in the xbox and around 16 times the PS2. It's a Red queen's race, you'll never have 'enough', so compromises will always have to be made.

A little off topic but when I followed the link the very 1st comment says it looks like a 'fingerprint magnet". I get this is a valid complaint for somethings but am I missing something, am I not fondling my Xbox enough?

SpacePPoliceman wrote:
SixteenBlue wrote:
Stele wrote:

A PC's RAM is busy with the OS though. A console's RAM is mostly used for the game. People have always complained about this, even back in the N64 days when they sold that expansion pack that was basically more console RAM. A console just doesn't need as much RAM as a PC for comparable performance.

THIS. 8 GB RAM is SIXTEEN times what's in a 360. It'll be fine.

True while that may be, do you guys realize how many numbers there are that are bigger than 8? You don't even want to know how many I can name off the top of my head.

Sure, but I'd rather not put a $ in front of those large numbers. Keep the costs down.

Agent 86 wrote:

A little off topic but when I followed the link the very 1st comment says it looks like a 'fingerprint magnet". I get this is a valid complaint for somethings but am I missing something, am I not fondling my Xbox enough?

We're going to need some detailed descriptions of your present fondlings to determine that.

Do you tend to stroke, or rub?

Your Xbox?

Agent 86 wrote:

A little off topic but when I followed the link the very 1st comment says it looks like a 'fingerprint magnet". I get this is a valid complaint for somethings but am I missing something, am I not fondling my Xbox enough?

OK, when they said the Kinect was a "motion sensor", that is totally not what they meant.

Scratched wrote:
SixteenBlue wrote:
Stele wrote:

A PC's RAM is busy with the OS though. A console's RAM is mostly used for the game. People have always complained about this, even back in the N64 days when they sold that expansion pack that was basically more console RAM. A console just doesn't need as much RAM as a PC for comparable performance.

THIS. 8 GB RAM is SIXTEEN times what's in a 360. It'll be fine.

512MB is also 8 times what was in the xbox and around 16 times the PS2. It's a Red queen's race, you'll never have 'enough', so compromises will always have to be made.

Exactly. That's why I prefaced my comment asking if the bang for buck for an additional 8GB is worth it. I honestly don't know. But it better be pretty major if it adds $30-$50 to the cost of the system. We've seen how people react to $50 in price reduction, or when they think something like the Wii U is $50 too much.

Sony included a BluRay in a fit of "more is better" and priced themselves into a hole with a slow optical drive that required installs. Their trojan horse worked brilliantly, as they got the PS3 into households on the cusp of streaming TV.

BluRay is more better, but streaming is more convenient. I could buy a decent BluRay player for cheap right now, but it would still get no use. We rent online and use Netflix now. I really doubt that when we rented Safe House last Sunday night that BluRay would have made the experience one bit better than the instant streaming we had. But not heading out in the rain to rent a BluRay was a good benefit.

With the number of games shipping on multiple discs recently, I think it is fair to say that the extra storage on the BluRay may finally be worth the cost. But it wasn't when the PS3 shipped.

One thing the Nextbox has to be is freaking quiet at launch. I fully expect for it to be the actual answer to the HTPC, a plug and play device that seamlessly does games, movies, music, and the internet. But it can't sound like a jet airplane and be a go to device.

That does make me think that Microsoft ought to consider a $99 device like AppleTV that does everything the Xbox does minus the games. There is no reason they should give away that market to Apple and Roku when they clearly have the hardware, software, and network to sell media to folks that don't want to game. And if it ties in seamlessly to their Metro ecosystem, they ought to be able to gain some traction.

I am less and less interested in the second generation Kinect. We use ur Kintect for one thing. "Xbox Pause." "Xbox Rewind." "Xbox Play." Oh, and as much crap as Bing on the Xbox gets, it was nice to say, "Xbox Bing Forward Unto Dawn," and get taken to the web series on Youtube, as well as the option to use IE to use Bing n the internet to search the same phrase.

But that is just a good mic and software. We don't need the Kinect for anything else. We don't play the dancing games we have and the workout stuff is neat, but our front room is really not big enough. I'd be happy if the Nextbox shipped with mic support only. At least separate the mic from the Kinect so I don't need the Cylon eyes following me around if I don't plan on using gestures.

Jayhawker wrote:

That does make me think that Microsoft ought to consider a $99 device like AppleTV that does everything the Xbox does minus the games. There is no reason they should give away that market to Apple and Roku when they clearly have the hardware, software, and network to sell media to folks that don't want to game. And if it ties in seamlessly to their Metro ecosystem, they ought to be able to gain some traction.

I think that was in some rumours a while back.

Scratched wrote:

From looking at the concept (?) and the size of the disc slot, it seems quite big (so I guess the xbox name fits *rimshot*), and also there's no cooling slots that I can see visible. I'm kind of interested to see what an "innovative controller" might be.

I just did a hand-measurement of my PS3 and if that mock-up is accurate then it'll be approximately 1.5x as wide as the PS3 Slim (which is also basically square-shaped) and about 1.2x as thick.

Funny about this leaking the day before a competitor's launch

I am going to try my damnedest to wait until I know the details of Sony's next hardware before jumping on the next Xbox, but if only one is out next Christmas that'd be asking a lot of my willpower.

They also speculate the next Xbox will just be called "Xbox".

Microsoft would be doing themselves a disservice if they don't call it the "XBox 365". This gives them a lingering "five" at the end of the name, subtly indicating to consumers that it must logically be better than a mere PlayStation 4. Also, it lets them build marketing campaigns relating it to the number of days in the year. And of course, Microsoft would need to upgrade and rename their online marketplace to "XBox Live 365".

I'm calling it now.

MilkmanDanimal wrote:

Please please please please do not mess with the 360's controller. Mushy d-pad aside, it's about perfect as-is.

Agreed 150%.

merphle wrote:
They also speculate the next Xbox will just be called "Xbox".

Microsoft would be doing themselves a disservice if they don't call it the "XBox 365". This gives them a lingering "five" at the end of the name, subtly indicating to consumers that it must logically be better than a mere PlayStation 4. Also, it lets them build marketing campaigns relating it to the number of days in the year. And of course, Microsoft would need to upgrade and rename their online marketplace to "XBox Live 365".

I'm calling it now.

I dunno. That positions it as a mere incremental upgrade over the 360 as opposed to a generational leap. I'm guessing they go the "Playstation Vita" route and name it the "Xbox [Made-Up Word That Everyone Will Complain About and Then Get Used to In Two Weeks]".

merphle wrote:
They also speculate the next Xbox will just be called "Xbox".

Microsoft would be doing themselves a disservice if they don't call it the "XBox 365".

I think "loop" or "infinity" or "infinite" have been rumoured too.

For controllers, at least based on what we know now I think that probably ties in more with touchscreen phones/tablets.

I think gamepads are open for a better design really, as there's a massive bias of inputs to your thumb/index finger, spreading out the controls to more fingers would let you do more, like a keyboard.

Scratched wrote:
merphle wrote:
They also speculate the next Xbox will just be called "Xbox".

Microsoft would be doing themselves a disservice if they don't call it the "XBox 365".

I think "loop" or "infinity" or "infinite" have been rumoured too.

For controllers, at least based on what we know now I think that probably ties in more with touchscreen phones/tablets.

I think gamepads are open for a better design really, as there's a massive bias of inputs to your thumb/index finger, spreading out the controls to more fingers would let you do more, like a keyboard.

I don't have an Xbox to play PC games. I'm completely comfortable giving up some genres in order to maintain the status quo of the 360 controller.

If you can't get it down with a D-Pad, two analog sticks, four face buttons, a back button, two triggers, and two bumpers, then leave the "feature" out of your game. And that bias takes into account that you do need some digits to hold the controller.

Most everybody that has a console, also has a PC. If that's how they wanted to play, they would already be doing it.

SpacePPoliceman wrote:
SixteenBlue wrote:
Stele wrote:

A PC's RAM is busy with the OS though. A console's RAM is mostly used for the game. People have always complained about this, even back in the N64 days when they sold that expansion pack that was basically more console RAM. A console just doesn't need as much RAM as a PC for comparable performance.

THIS. 8 GB RAM is SIXTEEN times what's in a 360. It'll be fine.

True while that may be, do you guys realize how many numbers there are that are bigger than 8? You don't even want to know how many I can name off the top of my head.

It basically doesn't matter what's in this new xbox. I'll have one preordered regardless.

Thin_J wrote:

It basically doesn't matter what's in this new xbox. I'll have one preordered regardless.

Truth

Jayhawker wrote:
Scratched wrote:
merphle wrote:
They also speculate the next Xbox will just be called "Xbox".

Microsoft would be doing themselves a disservice if they don't call it the "XBox 365".

I think "loop" or "infinity" or "infinite" have been rumoured too.

For controllers, at least based on what we know now I think that probably ties in more with touchscreen phones/tablets.

I think gamepads are open for a better design really, as there's a massive bias of inputs to your thumb/index finger, spreading out the controls to more fingers would let you do more, like a keyboard.

I don't have an Xbox to play PC games. I'm completely comfortable giving up some genres in order to maintain the status quo of the 360 controller.

If you can't get it down with a D-Pad, two analog sticks, four face buttons, a back button, two triggers, and two bumpers, then leave the "feature" out of your game. And that bias takes into account that you do need some digits to hold the controller.

Most everybody that has a console, also has a PC. If that's how they wanted to play, they would already be doing it.

I'm not talking about adding more inputs, but moving them around. For example, my right thumb has responsibility for a thumbstick-button/ ABXY/start, and index (and maybe middle) finger for RB/RT, and 2/3 fingers for supporting it, give those 2/3 a few buttons to press.

Yeah it's always weird if a game tries to use the right stick and face buttons...

Like the twin stick shooters use all the triggers for actions and leave the face buttons out of it mostly. Those make sense.

Thin_J wrote:

It basically doesn't matter what's in this new xbox. I'll have one preordered regardless.

I'm keeping my hopes up for a console without a fatal design flaw.