Microsoft’s next major Xbox Live Project will officially be introducing Halo 1 to the XBL Marketplace. They’re planning to soon allow full Xbox 1 game downloads from the Marketplace futures, for a price that is, and Halo 1 has been chosen to be the first. The problem is, with more to download, how are you going to fit all that onto your hard drive? Easy, buy a new one.
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In last issue's Rumor Mill, I mentioned that Xbox 360 owners will soon be able to buy full Xbox 1 games via Microsoft's Xbox Live Marketplace. And now I've got the juicy scoop on the first game that Bill Gates' crew will make available. Look for Bungie's epic first-person shooter Halo on the Marketplace sometime before this summer. I only hope the developer makes this version's multiplayer mode Xbox Live compatible.
Sorry for any inconveniences folks, the server has been down as we are expanding and needed hardware upgrades. Just one more thing to make us more better for the ever expanding network of the HQ's.
As you know TheSpecialist and his team were working on a modified firmware for the Xbox 360. He already managed to make one for the original Xbox a while ago, and he announced this method was highly likely possible with the Xbox 360 too. From TheSpecialist on xboxhacker.net:
Months of hard work have come to an end. The 360 FW security details were posted a few days ago already, so why not make it official :-) It's been done.
Respect to all the people on this board who made it possible with their brilliant contributions:
Anita999, Geremia, Nayr, Bluecop, Interestedhacker, MacDennis, Phantasm, Marvin, Tiros, SpenzerX, Team Modfreakz, Fuzzylogic, Takires, loser, jasper, SMO, Groepaz, Zobyone, Jumba, Amadeus, Tser, DjHuevo, oz_paulb, DaveX, darkfly, evestu, Robinsod, Dark_Neo, Gael360, Seventhson, probutus.
Months of hard work have come to an end. The 360 FW security details were posted a few days ago already, so why not make it official It's been done.
Respect to all the people on this board who made it possible with their brilliant contributions:
Anita999, Geremia, Nayr, Bluecop, Interestedhacker, MacDennis, Phantasm, Marvin, Tiros, SpenzerX, Team Modfreakz, Fuzzylogic, Takires, loser, jasper, SMO, Groepaz, Zobyone, Jumba, Amadeus, Tser, DjHuevo, oz_paulb, DaveX, darkfly, evestu, Robinsod, Dark_Neo, Gael360, Seventhson, probutus.
Just for fun, here's a little video: http://rapidshare.de/files/15810304/360hack.mpg.html. And no, the team decided not to release a hacked FW. The security details are proof itself. The team advocates hacking, not piracy.
Hi all xbox and xbox 360 owners. Just a short update to fill you all in on our new xbox live leaderboard areas on the 360-hq.com network site and all the new features that are soon coming to xbox-hq.com..
For those xbox-hq.com users who are already lucky enough to get their new 360 please come and get involved in our forums and our gamercard leaderboards.. I have approached xbox.com to become part of their developer program for the gamercard system and hopefully if approved we will have even more info for only HQ members. Either way we will have a nice system to track your friends and everything else.
Now dont worry normal xbox 1 users either!
Everything you see on the 360-hq.com website will soon enough be on original xbox-hq.com site.. This means you will be able to track you xbox 1 games, your wishlist and friends etc etc..
So go and check it out on 360-hq.com and see whats coming soon..
** Im even thinking about creating a one (1) of a kind XBOX 1 gamercard system. To show your games that you are playing and a icon etc.. **
There have even been suggestions for mp3 player intergration into your profile and many other cool features.. The VIP's will gain the most from the new features.. Another way to give back to those who help keep us online.
With all that said guys I'd love to hear your feedback on any aspects of what im doing.. Just post your comments in either the 360-hq or xbox-hq forum errors and suggestions areas.. Id appreciate some input and ideas from all of you guys..
Check out the new PROFILES area too.. Im sure you will love it when it comes online here at xbox-hq too.
Info about hosting costs and bandwidth bills:
We only just recently paid our hosting bill and are in front which is good to know but since we paid the latest hosting/bandwidth bills we are very behind.
If you think you could help out in anyway please contact us.. We do our best to not ask for hand outs but sometimes it is a must.. The VIP members are what have helped our community grow and become one of the friendliest around.
Lets stay on top of everything like we have in the past and the network will only blossom further in the months and years to come.
More news about updates can be found on the 360-hq.com website here
Microsoft has issued a reply via the GamerScore Blog (ran by Xbox employees) to the story about the foil found on some heatsink GPUs:
The video and photos posted by German blog GameStore24.de show thermal interface pads that are not installed incorrectly. They are installed per specification. This foil eliminates the need of a protective liner, which simplifies the final assembly process and minimizes shipping concerns and contamination issues.
Just a reminder that opening the Xbox 360 case voids the warranty. If your console is malfunctioning, call Xbox customer support. They can diagnose whether the system is malfunctioning, and will arrange for repair/replacement if necessary.
The manufacturing team pointed me to the exact part we used. More information on the material can be found here. Here is the way they describe the part, in case any of you want to buy more...(my emphasis):
THERMFLOW T558 provides the high performance properties typical of free-film phase change materials with the added benefit of easy removal. MULTIPHASE thermal interface pads are phase-change materials specially formulated for use in high performance devices requiring minimum thermal resistance for maximum thermal performance and component reliability. It provides the high performance of typical phase change materials with the added benefit of improved thermal stability over conventional phase change pads. It is a 0.005 inch (0.13mm) thick, inherently adhesive film that softens at device operating temperatures resulting in "grease-like" performance. T558 has been coated on one side of a conformal metal foil carrier. It is easily attached onto a heat sink or heat spreader, leaving the metal foil surface exposed. This foil eliminates the need of a protective liner, which simplifies the final assembly process and minimizes shipping concerns and contamination issues.
The original specification is included here. The Xbox 360 uses T558. Note the "gray/silver foil."
The guys over at kotaku.com also got a reply from Microsoft about this matter. It says the same as above including the usual marketing talk that there is no systemic issue, that the return rate is below the CE industry average of 3-5% and that all problems are being handled on a case-by-case basis.
BAX Global Inc., an international freight transportation and supply chain management company, revealed today the complex logistics required for the worldwide launch of the Xbox 360.
BAX was enlisted by Microsoft in secrecy over a year in advance of the console’s launch. The software giant decided to bypass the request for proposal to maintain the needed level of confidentiality regarding the Xbox 360 launch and based on the experience with the Xbox launch, Microsoft was confident BAX Global would execute well.
Nearly 90 dedicated 747 air charters were executed by BAX Global throughout the world for the Xbox 360 launch and between mid-October 2005 and early February 2006 BAX Global has operated 87 charter flights on B747 airplanes to transport Xbox 360 systems from Hong Kong to the U.S. and Europe.
Within North America., BAX Global operated 69 flights on B747 airplanes from Hong Kong to its dedicated hub in Toledo, Ohio. In Europe, the company operated 18 B747 from Hong Kong to Cologne. For Japan, a combination of commercial air capacity and ocean freight was used.
“If bad weather reduced a plane’s payload, for example, we wanted to have a backup plan,” said Bill Best, senior logistics manager with Microsoft.
Microsoft and BAX developed a launch plan a year ahead and ran through various scenarios and created mitigation and contingency plans.
“Our success so often depends on the customers letting us be successful,” said Julie Smith, global account director with BAX Global. “The supportive expertise of the Microsoft people brought BAX into the planning process very early. That was a key part of BAX’s operational success.”
Currently, BAX Global continues to support distribution of the Xbox 360 as the console launches in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, Mexico, and Colombia throughout 2006.
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Within North America., BAX Global operated 69 flights on B747 airplanes from Hong Kong to its dedicated hub in Toledo, Ohio. In Europe, the company operated 18 B747 from Hong Kong to Cologne. For Japan, a combination of commercial air capacity and ocean freight was used. 
