The second Xbox 360 revealed: codename Zephyr

[RaGe]

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/01/xbox_zephyr.jpg

Ever wonder why Microsoft hasn't released an HDMI cable (http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/wheres-the-xbox-360-hdmi-cable/) for the Xbox 360 (http://www.engadget.com/tag/xbox360), or whether the AV port was really capable of digital out? Well, here's your answer: we landed pictures of what appears to be the second Xbox 360 -- the Xbox 360 v2, if you will -- codenamed Zephyr. (The original Xbox 360, if you recall, was codenamed Xenon (http://www.engadget.com/2004/06/05/the-xbox-xenon/).) The long rumored about and awaited update to the console won't just feature a new, cooler 65nm processor, it's also finally added an HDMI port (http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/08/hdmi-port-coming-to-the-xbox-360/) for full digital 1080p pleasure, as well as a 120GB drive, just what the doctor ordered. The 120GB drive may or may not come bundled with the kit, we don't yet know, just as we also don't yet know how much a Zephyr 360 is going to run (we imagine it'll go for the same price as currently so they can keep up a little on their expanding margin). But our very kind Xbox insider seemed happy to let us know we'd be able to get them "soon."


http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/05/the-second-xbox-360-revealed-codename-zephyr/

[-CJJB-]

this is gay for people who just got a 360!

[Hanzo]

Oh snap. microsoft.zephyr.360@gmail.com has been created. *roffles*

[Mike.]

i just got my 360 a week or 2 ago. this better not be true

[matt_don]

Ever wonder why Microsoft hasn't released an HDMI cable (http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/15/wheres-the-xbox-360-hdmi-cable/) for the Xbox 360 (http://www.engadget.com/tag/xbox360), or whether the AV port was really capable of digital out? Well, here's your answer: we landed pictures of what appears to be the second Xbox 360 -- the Xbox 360 v2, if you will -- codenamed Zephyr. (The original Xbox 360, if you recall, was codenamed Xenon (http://www.engadget.com/2004/06/05/the-xbox-xenon/).) The long rumored about and awaited update to the console won't just feature a new, cooler 65nm processor, it's also finally added an HDMI port (http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/08/hdmi-port-coming-to-the-xbox-360/) for full digital 1080p pleasure, as well as a 120GB drive, just what the doctor ordered. The 120GB drive may or may not come bundled with the kit, we don't yet know, just as we also don't yet know how much a Zephyr 360 is going to run (we imagine it'll go for the same price as currently so they can keep up a little on their expanding margin). But our very kind Xbox insider seemed happy to let us know we'd be able to get them "soon."


http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/05/the-second-xbox-360-revealed-codename-zephyr/

How can they keep the price the same if they added an extra 100gb to the thing :O

[Krayzie]

Dam I just got my 360.

[RaGe]

It says may or may not come with it

[Mike.]

can someone xplain the new features this one supposivly has? i dont get it

[Krayzie]

Yeah same here, does it matter becuase I ONLY play mine on a little portable TV anyway?

Has it just got a faster processor and bigger HDD?

[mm91187]

it lets you use 1080p

[Pdog1]

Guys, just because a better one is coming out, doesn't mean yours is instantly crap. Yours is still just as good. I mean, I have one of the originals and I'm not upset that a new one is coming out...

[N1CKD]

well im not worried about the HDMI connection but I want the HDD. What would I do with my 20gb though?

[RaGe]

You can still get the 1080p if you use the VGA cable
Most likely the HDD will not be included

[N1CKD]

Well couldnt they just do an xbox live update for that?

[RaGe]

There is a live update to use the 1080p over vga ;)

[steveie]

ive seen many reports that this is infact fake

[RaGe]

ive seen many reports that this is infact fake
links??????

[N1CKD]

There is a live update to use the 1080p over vga ;)
ohh yeah..I forgot..The 360 still doesnt support my 1680 x 1050 resolution :(

[Joseph]

I would just give my orig to my bro and get this one.

[Hybrid]

When the hell is this coming out? Better be before 2008 so I can take my PRP to work :lol:

Is this confirmed by Microsoft?

[steveie]

Well this is a prototype?

what prototype has a manufactor number and manufaocr date?

[Wes]

Do you have any links though?

[Ceptic Tank]

This isn't necessarily the second 360. It could easily be a modded 360, which it probably is. If this is the next 360 I will be happy though, and would expect it to come out this November, or a better 360 coming out 2008.

[vtec236]

I think this is a great idea but i would only buy it if it had HD-DVD Built in don't care about bigger drive, HDMI would be cool but my TV only has one port reserved for my cable box that i use a lot more than the 360

[RaGe]

If it is a mod, then it is a **** good one and the port looks almost flawless in there. Also you can still get 1080p out of the 360 now with a vga cable

[FILTHY J NASTY]

even if your tv only supports 720p ??

I think its eather a mod or photoshopped

[Hybrid]

even if your tv only supports 720p ??

I think its eather a mod or photoshopped

.....Of course not

I'm guessing this will cost around $460

[-CJJB-]

i doubt its photoshopped FJN......

[FILTHY J NASTY]

As stated before why would the console have the serial number and stuff printed on it? unless there already in production??

[Lethal]

too bad there isnt a single game that supports 1080p on the 360.

[GVTTW]

I hate it when game companies have to redesign their consoles. Geez, it has only been out for a year. It sucked when I heard there is going to be the ds lite after I bought my regular ds.

[Pdog1]

I hate it when game companies have to redesign their consoles. Geez, it has only been out for a year. It sucked when I heard there is going to be the ds lite after I bought my regular ds.

lol, they aren't re-designing it (even if this is real, sounds possible that it isn't) they are just improving it. Believe it or not, they have all ready done that once and are about to do it again... even if you didn't know that.

[RaGe]

Exclusive: 360 HDMI Proof - HR Pictures and Video - HANA Scaler
>> Here's a bit more about the news published earlier (http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EEylpEVylyeKOFbBgy.php) about the Xbox 360 'Zephyr' prototype with HDMI port. It's the 2nd time a HMDI picture leaked (1st time here if you missed it (http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EEVkFZZpFkDjNuJhIR.php)) and it looks like there are still many people that don't (want to) believe it ... so I guess it's time we come clear because Microsoft doesn't and we think you as customer has the right to know what's coming.
Microsoft still refuses to acknowledge it ... this is what they replied today to several (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4467&Itemid=2) news (http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3156216) outlets (http://gear.ign.com/articles/753/753296p1.html):
"We have seen all types of claimed leaked photos like this show up online and as a standard policy we don't comment on speculative items."

We managed to get some exclusive High-Resolution pictures for x-scene of a 'Zephyr' prototype with the HDMI port. No, it's no retail Xbox360, it's a prototype board ... but Microsoft had to design a new scaler chip named 'HANA' (replacing the (analog-only?) 'ANA' chip found in current retail and dev Xboxes), I doubt they'll do that effort for nothing. You will also notice several other changes to the motherboard.
Microsoft always refused to answer any question about a possible HDMI-cable for the Xbox360 (even when asked for explicitly (http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EEVuAylllVHycgzDQk.php)), but this HANA chip probably confirms the current 360 can only output an analog signal, so an HDMI-cable for the current 360 probably won't be possible (sure they could design a cable/box that reconverts the analog output to digital, but that makes no sense and is not the point).

Note: we can't tell/confirm you if the HDMI port, 65nm CPU and larger (120gb) HD are linked to each other. They might or might not be released together. The 65nm CPU is coming anyway for all Xbox models (confirmed by MS and Chartered long time ago (http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EEuVykZZFEDLgymwlA.php) + delay news (http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EEyZEypFplLwyxXlXJ.php)). And it's also pretty obvious (with current demand and video marketplace) that MS will release a larger HD sooner or later, this requires no change to the motherboard.

Here are the pictures we got from our sources (click for high-res):
http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/xbox360/hdmi-360/xbox360-set2-hdmi-01_s400.jpg (http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/xbox360/hdmi-360/xbox360-set2-hdmi-01.jpg)
Shot of the connectors: the classic output and the new HDMI output.
http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/xbox360/hdmi-360/xbox360-set2-hdmi-02_s400.jpg (http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/xbox360/hdmi-360/xbox360-set2-hdmi-02.jpg)
View of the inside, on the right you'll notice the new HANA scaler chip.
http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/xbox360/hdmi-360/ananchip_s200.jpg (http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/xbox360/hdmi-360/ananchip.jpg) http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/xbox360/hdmi-360/xbox360-set2-hdmi-03_s200.jpg (http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/xbox360/hdmi-360/xbox360-set2-hdmi-03.jpg)
On the left the 'old' ANA scaler, on the right the new HANA scaler ('H' for HDMI?)

More Pictures:
* Close-up output without case: low-res (http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/xbox360/hdmi-360/xbox360-set2-hdmi-04_s400.jpg) | high-res (http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/xbox360/hdmi-360/xbox360-set2-hdmi-04.jpg)
* HANA/Output Motherboard-region (2): low-res (http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/xbox360/hdmi-360/xbox360-set2-hdmi-05_s400.jpg) | high-res (http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/xbox360/hdmi-360/xbox360-set2-hdmi-05.jpg)

Still not enough for you? How about a video?
A HDMI->DVI converter was used to show you the port in action using a small PC LCD screen.
And before you ask ... a dev kit always takes a while to boot, that's why it takes longer than with a retail 360.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcACuy4x8nA

[Hanzo]

I love it. I can't wait for this new version.

[Joystick]

w00t.

I read about it yesterday morning, I'm pumped up. If I don't get a regular 360 within the next few months, I'll just wait for this mofo.

[FILTHY J NASTY]

Why? you don't have a hd tv kinda pointless for you and anyone else who does not have an hd tv

[Hybrid]

The 65nm chip is not pointless

[m1ndless]

CRT tv's are becoming a thing of the past, its time to upgrade.

[Hybrid]

Hmm, video

http://www.playfeed.com/index.php/playfeed/article/more-xbox-360-hdmi-details-01061120/