Microsoft has announced today that they will be releasing a special edition updated Xbox 360 controller, with a “transforming D-Pad.”
The updated D-pad design will transform for different uses. Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb explains and shows off the controller in the video below.
When gamers twist the D-pad, it pops up, revealing a raised plus sign.
Says Microsoft: “Select the traditional plus for distinct cardinal direction movement in games like “Halo: Reach” to change weapons and perform complicated combinations and deadly finishing moves in “Street Fighter” games, or rotate the D-pad to the disc format for sweeping motions in games such as “Pro Evolution Soccer 2011.” Choose your favorite controller set-up and experience unrivaled precision for all Xbox 360 games.”
The control comes bundled with a Play and Charge Kit and will sell for $65 when it hits on November 9th.
Result for: disc format
The Blu-ray Disc Association has approved the BDXL standard this week, meaning quad-layer 128GB Blu-ray discs are on the way.
BDXL also allows for triple-layer BDs with 100GB capacity.
Current Blu-ray players are not compatible with BDXL, and there are no players yet in the works with support for the new standard. When they do become available, BDXL players will support current single and double-layer BD, as well.
For now, the format is targeted “at professional applications such as archiving and medial imaging,” says TG.
BDXL should hit the mainstream, however, when 3D Blu-ray content hits mainstream, as that content will need the extra space.
Says BDA committee chair Victor Matsuda: “The BDA worked diligently to create an extension of the Blu-ray Disc format that leverages the physical structure of the design of the disc to create even more storage capacity.”
Result for: disc format
It’s not exactly a headline any of us would have expected soon just a couple of years ago, but the former cheerleader of the HD DVD format, Toshiba, has applied to join the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA). The company is set to introduce products that use the Blu-ray format, which beat the HD DVD format in becoming the standard disc format for High-definition video content.
“As a market leader in digital technologies, Toshiba provides a wide range of advanced digital products, such as DVD recorders and players, HDTVs and notebook PCs that support a wide range of storage devices, including hard disk drives (HDD), DVD, and SD Cards. In light of recent growth in digital devices supporting the Blu-ray format, combined with market demand from consumers and retailers alike, Toshiba has decided to join the BDA.” a statement from Toshiba reads.
Toshiba aims to introduce digital products that support the Blu-ray format, including BD players and notebook PCs integrating BD drives, in the course of this year. Details of the products, including the timing of regional launches, are now under consideration.
