New XBox 360 Slim with Kinect Announced by Microsoft

Microsoft unveiled a new Xbox 360 ‘Slim’ system with a 250 GB hard drive, and WiFi, as well as its Kinect motion controller, at the E3 press show.
New XBox 360 Slim with Kinect Announced by Microsoft
6/14/2010
Updated:
7/13/2012
<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/xbox2_102081449_medium.jpg"><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/xbox2_102081449_medium.jpg" alt="Microsoft Senior Vice President Don Mattrick reveals the new XBox 360 console at a Microsoft press briefing ahead of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). (Michal Czerwonka/Getty Images)" title="Microsoft Senior Vice President Don Mattrick reveals the new XBox 360 console at a Microsoft press briefing ahead of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). (Michal Czerwonka/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-107280"/></a>
Microsoft Senior Vice President Don Mattrick reveals the new XBox 360 console at a Microsoft press briefing ahead of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). (Michal Czerwonka/Getty Images)
When Microsoft unveiled the latest model of its popular Xbox 360 gaming system at the E3 press show today, industry pundits appeared to unanimously agree that slim and sleek design was a vast improvement over its predecessors.

The new Xbox 360 ‘Slim’ console is not only lighter and more compact, but it is also said to operate with less noise. Microsoft says that the new unit is “whisper quiet.”

The Xbox has been notorious for generating more hardware noise than its biggest competitor, the Sony Playstation. Any reduction of the unwanted hardware noise created by spinning drives in the console are bound to delight many late night gamers.

Xbox’s new controller titled Kinect will also run on the new Xbox 360 allowing for wireless motion sensor control of games. Kinect is rumored to cost between $100 and $150, and will be released in November this year.

<a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/xbox_102085697_medium.jpg"><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/07/xbox_102085697_medium.jpg" alt="Photographers take pictures of the Kinect peripheral and the new Xbox 360 console at a Microsoft press briefing ahead of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) at the Wiltern Theater June 14 in Los Angeles, California. The new video game entertainment sys (Michal Czerwonka/Getty Images)" title="Photographers take pictures of the Kinect peripheral and the new Xbox 360 console at a Microsoft press briefing ahead of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) at the Wiltern Theater June 14 in Los Angeles, California. The new video game entertainment sys (Michal Czerwonka/Getty Images)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-107281"/></a>
Photographers take pictures of the Kinect peripheral and the new Xbox 360 console at a Microsoft press briefing ahead of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) at the Wiltern Theater June 14 in Los Angeles, California. The new video game entertainment sys (Michal Czerwonka/Getty Images)
In contrast to the handheld controllers released by Nintendo and Sony for the Wii and Playstation, Microsoft’s Kinect is reported to be a controller that will sit between the user and the Xbox 360, and will detect and allow the user to control it through movement of any part of his or her body. In addition, the Kinect is also reported to able to listen to and recognize human voice and commands.

The new Xbox also comes standard with built-in wireless as well as a large 250 GB of hard drive space. Both features will offer a boost for online gaming which has been rapidly increasing in popularity.

PC World reported that the price of the new Xbox console would be $299.00, along the lines of prices for its previous versions as well as Nintendo’s Wii, and slightly less expensive than Sony’s Playstation 3.

Units of the new Xbox 360, which is available immediately, have already been shipped to major retailers across the nation and should be available for purchase some time this week.

The changes to the new Xbox 360 console offer a stark contrast to the original bulky and noisy Xbox which had a price tag of over $400. Accessibility to online Xbox LIVE applications are also reported to be easier to use than before.

The Wifi capability that is available as part of the unit will simplify the movement of the Xbox units as users will be able to move the console from location to location and pick up wireless Internet signals without having to move additional gear. The sleeker and slimmer design will also allow the system to fit into laptop bags as well as student back packs.

All popular Xbox 360 games such as Halo 2, Call of Duty 2, Assassins Creed II, and Red Dead Redemption can be played on the new console.