Garyopa, Maximus and C4E released a new Xtreme firmware + flashing tool for Hitachi-LG drives with the Disc-Jitter fix added and some support for v79 firmwares:
Maximus - 360 Firmware Toolbox(homebrew info) v3.1 (with Garyopa Disc Jitter Check)
Big Thanks to C4E for his ideas on the Disc-Jitter check and to Garyopa for the implementation on Hitachi versions
WHATS NEW ON V3.1:
* Added: Hitachi Xtreme 1.7 (Disc Jitter Fix)
* Added: Smart Hack Patcher now works for all Production Drives V40 thru v79
* Added: Correctly show and handle of keys for Hit79 drives
* Corrected: Bug displaying Samsung FW as spoofed (display error)
* Corrected: Several other bugs
* Improved : Checksum checkup when dumping
* Added: OCX's included on the release (they are available on Microsoft site anyway)
Release Notes:
On Xtreme 1.7 the F900 core and Stealth FW have been removed. This could be seen as a Step Back, but indeed is 2 steps ahead.
By one side we are trying to build one solid application (toolbox) that would make easier the future Hitachi Releases (which currently its a pain because of all the variations) and by other side it incorporates Disc-Jitter check fix for Hitachi drives.
The F900 core needs more work and can be easily incorporated on future versions along with other goodies that already are under development (media-stealth, single layer support, etc).
The Fw Stealth was a good idea but it has been proven that the fw could be readed by other means, indeed the newer versions (78+) does not have the need to implement stealth so I think it will not be used anymore.
WHAT IS NEXT ON FUTURE TOOLBOX VERSIONS ?:
* Direct dump/flash of 79 drives
* Smart Hack Patcher configurable by script (avoid hard coded rules)
* Restore and Patch Wizards (for totally noobs)
Aside from a title update for Crackdown, a lot of new free and premium downloadable content is going to be made available for the game over the coming week. As Major Nelson writes, it could all provide another reason for you to pop the game back into your 360's, other than the imminent Halo 3 beta. You can check out what is included in the title update below, otherwise go to the Majors site to see what's included in the DLC.
In the Spring Update, Microsoft has implemented a new protection against gamesaving by using our gamesave archive against us - they went through our gamesave archive and downloaded all the saves, then everyone who has uploaded saves in the past has had their current local "ConsoleID" values added to a Console Revocation
Decrypted Console Revocation List
Any gamesave coming from these ConsoleID values is now recognized as corrupt in the latest update. Which means if your on the list, saves created on your console will now only work on your console. Your transfer privledges have been revoked.
If you are (or were) a member of 360gamesaves and uploaded any gamesaves, please check the forums for more information on determining if your ConsoleID has been "revoked". If your ConsoleID is not in the list but you have uploaded a gamesave recently and wish it to be removed from the site please PM a forum admin.
It's the ideal games console for anyone who's too kack-handed to be any good at games: Microsoft's Homer Simpson-styled limited edition Xbox 360 Pro, announced today to tie in with this summer's The Simpsons Movie
The film opens in the US and the UK on 27 July, but while it'll be easy to give a view, getting your mitts on the movie-branded console will be much, much harder: Microsoft is only making a hundred of them, which it will be offering as competition prizes as that late July date approaches.
The limited edition model is a standard, 20GB unit.
Well probably like the rest of you, I have been sitting here all day, wondering why Microsoft didn't strike. For devs to come out with a new firmware update to combat what Microsoft reportedly had up its sleeves, and for Microsoft to not strike was troubling to say the least. Well GaryOPA had this to say about his thoughts on why Microsoft hasn't done anything.
Another personal thought regarding the "Spring Update":
Was thinking about the update, for it to work 100% they might need to shut-down the Live service for a few hours on their end later and update the server side also, as this type of checking should be done only when playing a game on XBOX Live and should be a request from the XBOX Live service to RE-TEST or CHECK the disc and can be done anytime during disc spinning (yes / no?).
Maybe also MS is waiting for the Bungie Halo3 beta start date to start using this new feature, as getting everyone with a copy of CRACKDOWN on using HALO 3 beta would be the key to the puzzle and good press!
Now that makes sense, and is practical. Is Microsoft just sitting back waiting for the perfect time to strike? Let the panic, and paranoia die down a bit? Who knows, but we all know Mr Bill despises piracy, and in his eyes backing up games is probably nothing more than stealing.
Now a little more from GaryOPA, Commodore4Eva made an Xtreme FW with Disc-Jitter for Hitachi-LG v47 (test stage). Testing is almost completed. Updates on all the versions is in process.
I'm talking with Maximus in getting the Maximus 360 Firmware Toolbox(info) uptodate to handle all drive versions with this "c4e" fix, instead of "c4e" releasing the v47, then me releasing a v40 thru v59 package, and Maximus releasing a v78/v79 package.
I think it would be better to have one solid program, to handle all the future Hitachi releases, as there is going to be a number of them shortly, but the "Jitter" one way or the other will be out within 24 hours or less.
It would have been done earlier but I had a major hard drive crash, and have been working with older backups, and complete lost of all my emails.
My hats off to GaryOPA for the forward thinking on making Maximus 360 Firmware Toolbox handle all the Hitachi's. Let’s hope he gets his wishes, and the toolbox will be able to flash all Hitachi's.
I have to say, my 360 will not be playing any backed up copies anytime soon. I’ll ride this wave out and see when it hits shore.
Details of the new video playback features in the Xbox360 Spring 2007 Update have been posted on the Team Xbox Blog
Below are some of the most common questions I think xbox 360 users will be after.. Read on..
1. What exactly does the Xbox 360 support for H.264?
Xbox 360 supports the following for H.264:
- File Extensions: .mp4, .m4v, mp4v, .mov
- Containers: MPEG-4, QuickTime
- Video Profiles: Baseline, main, and high (up to Level 4.1) profiles.
- Video Bitrate: 10 Mbps with resolutions of 1920 x 1080 at 30fps. See question number 6 for more information.
- Audio Profiles: 2 channel AAC low complexity (LC)
- Audio Max Bitrate: No restrictions. See question number 6 for more information.
2. What exactly does the Xbox 360 support for MPEG-4 Part 2?
Xbox 360 supports the following for MPEG-4:
- File Extensions: .mp4, .m4v, .mp4v, .mov
- Containers: MPEG-4, QuickTime
- Video Profiles: Simple (including Simple profile content mislabeled as Advanced Simple)
- Video Bitrate: 5 Mbps with resolutions of 1280 x 720 at 30fps. See question number 6 for more information.
- Audio Profiles: 2 channel AAC low complexity (LC)
- Audio Max Bitrate: No restrictions. See question number 6 for more information.
3. What exactly does the Xbox 360 support for WMV (VC-1)?
Xbox 360 supports the following for WMV:
- File Extensions: .wmv
- Container: asf
- Video Profiles: WMV7 (WMV1), WMV8 (WMV2), WMV9 (WMV3), VC-1 (WVC1 or WMVA) in simple, main, and advanced up to Level 3
- Video Bitrate: 15 Mbps with resolutions of 1920 x 1080 at 30fps. See question number 6 for more information.
- Audio Profiles: WMA7/8, WMA 9 Pro (stereo and 5.1), WMA lossless
- Audio Max Bitrate: No restrictions. See question number 6 for more information.
5. What are the different ways to play video content on Xbox 360?
You can play video from a USB 2.0 FAT32 removable drive, optical media, and by streaming from the Zune software or Windows Media Player 11.
6. What is the "real" max bit rate, resolution, and frames per second that you support for all the different formats?
Xbox 360 does not specifically block video from playing based on a maximum bit rate, resolution, or frames per second. The maximums listed above for each codec are what we have tested for various video playback sources. Higher rated content will not be blocked, but playback may be less then optimal. Use higher bitrates at your own risk.
18. After the May 2007 update, my 3rd party software doesn't stream videos correctly. Why?
Video navigation was changed in the May 2007 update. 3rd party software that does not support folders through network sharing will not work correctly. You'll have to contact the software developer for support.
22. How can I get Windows Media Player 11 to stream MPEG-4 Part 2 and H.264 to my console?
By default, Windows Media Player 11 does not support MPEG-4 Part 2 and H.264. You can either convert your MPEG-4 Part 2 and H.264 content to WMV or you can install a 3rd party MP4 DirectShow decoder pack to import MPEG-4 part 2 and H.264 files into your library. Once they are in your library they can be streamed to your console just like WMVs.
Dune: Awakening Shows Off Stunning Unreal Engine 5 Gameplay & More Funcom (@Funcom) revealed a stunning new gameplay trailer and featurette for Dune: Awakening, the first episode of the new Dune: Awakening Direct series. Embark on a breathtaking journey across Arraki..
HQ Network: 9,251 | 
Guests: 6012 |
Members: 0
