Editor’s Letter: One more Xbox

Editor's Letter: One more Xbox

In each issue of Distro, editor-in-chief Tim Stevens publishes a wrap-up of the week in news. Can you believe we've had the Xbox 360 since 2005? As a child of the two- or three-year console cycle, a system still going strong after eight seems inconceivable. Finally, it's being put out to pasture -- somewhat unceremoniously. The Xbox One is its successor and, with no backwards compatibility for disc-based or downloaded games, those looking to … [Read more...]

Wearable-technology pioneer Thad Starner on how Google Glass could augment our realities and memories

Wearable-technology pioneer Thad Starner on how Google Glass could augment our realities and memories

Countless wearers of Google Glass stalked the halls of this year's Google I/O developer conference, but only a lucky few were sporting the prescription model, which makes room for lenses in a more conventional glasses frame. Among those lucky early adopters with imperfect vision was Thad Starner, a Georgia Tech professor who, in 2010, was recruited to join a top-secret project at Google's fabled X Lab. That project, as it turned out, was Glass, … [Read more...]

Installing, buying, selling and sharing games on Xbox One: here’s what we know

Installing, buying, selling and sharing games on Xbox One: here's what we know

With each subsequent console generation there's an undercurrent of fear, a concern that this will be the cycle that finally kills off something many hold near and dear: the used game. Though these scratched-up disks and carts are often overprized and come with incomplete or unfortunately creased manuals, they're still better value than the shrink-wrapped titles. With the announcement of the current next-generation of consoles the discontent … [Read more...]

Xbox One has non-replaceable hard drive, external storage is supported

Xbox One has non-replaceable hard drive, external storage is supported

We had the opportunity to chat with Albert Penello, senior director of product planning at Microsoft this afternoon, who was kind enough to clarify a few topics for us regarding the recently-unveiled Xbox One. One thing we were quick to ask about was the integrated storage. 500GB sounds like a lot today -- but so did the 20GB unit in the original Xbox 360. The HDD there was, at least, replaceable. Can you do the same with its successor? Sadly, … [Read more...]

Xbox One architecture panel liveblog!

Xbox One architecture panel liveblog!

We're not done from Redmond, folks. Microsoft's Major Nelson is hosting a panel of Xbox One architects, and we're going to bring it to you. Join us for the liveblog! Filed under: Gaming, Microsoft Comments … [Read more...]

Xbox One controller vs. Xbox 360 controller, fight!

Xbox One controller vs. Xbox 360 controller, fight!

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" is as useful a phrase as it is folksy, and though the Xbox One is a complete reinvention compared to the Xbox 360, the controller is in many ways little changed. It's a bit more rounded, a bit softer to the touch and features redesigned trigger buttons with their own discrete rumble controllers. The d-pad is revised, and the analog sticks have more texture. Also, the battery backpack is no longer quite as … [Read more...]