[Confirmed] USB Mass Storage Support Coming to 360 on April 6th!

[Chandoo]

holy moly

this could mean usb mods, demo's and arcade shit on usb etc etc

Xbox 360 gaining USB storage support in 2010 update

by Alexander Sliwinski { 48 minutes ago }

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Documentation obtained by Joystiq – and subsequently confirmed with two separate sources – reveals that "USB Mass Storage Device Support on Xbox 360" will soon be a reality. The document, authored by a senior software development engineer at Microsoft, states that due to "increased market penetration of high-capacity, high throughput USB mass storage devices, a 2010 Xbox 360 system update" will allow consumers to save and load game data from USB devices. The update is purportedly coming in Spring 2010.

Once the update occurs, Xbox 360 owners will be able to download Xbox Live Arcade games, Xbox Live Indie games, Games on Demand, DLC and Title Updates to the storage device. "USB storage devices may, however, have far greater memory capacity than MUs (at the date of writing, the largest MU is 512 MB), and may therefore support previously infeasible operations-such as installation of a full disc-based title." That's right, you can also store disc-based games to the USB device; however, it will require the disc to be in the tray for authentication, identical to the current functionality.
Gallery: USB Mass Storage Device Support on Xbox 360

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[R3Z0N]

Dont think so, but it would be awesome if this is true no more expensive as heck MUs FTW!

 

[Chandoo]

It's probably true, (I effing hope so) the provided images and documentation seem pretty legit.

They can even probably allow installs !!

the text suggest that there will be a 16GB space cap (i-e you won't be able to use USB's bigger than that) but that's still 2 game installs the same as a HDD.

Upon inserting a blank USB storage device, "consumers are offered two choices: 'Configure now' or 'Customize'." The "Configure now" option will use "the entire device capacity, up to the maximum of 512 MB plus 16 GB" meaning, regardless of the overall size of the device you're using, the Xbox will only enable 16 GB of usable, non-system storage. The "Customize" option will allow you to "preserve some pre-existing, non-console data on the device" such as music.

 

[uzair82]

even if is true be certain that only first party usb would work and that wud let microsoft launch it at a ridiculous price. It currently charges 30 bucks for 512 mb unit . Imagine what it wud be for 16 gb. i bet at least $ 50

 

[Chandoo]

^ It's implying STANDARD usb support.

The kind we use regularly with our PC's.

 

[Lars]

Atleast we get rid of the expensive HDDs ! and those memory cards (which nobody wants to buy)


But seriously, Great News

 

[Sire Ahsan]

I highly doubt this would be given the option of Installs. Would kill the market for HDDs that people buy for Arcades!

 

[Hacks]

yeah........so ur telling me ill have kind of like two 360 games in my pocket?
why is MS giving us so many good news?

 

[jahangir]

oh cool when the hell they are launching 2010 system update,i hope this time with enhanced media playability wit mkv support.

 

[pindiboy]

Damn i was about to make a thread asking for help on how to attach my external 320 Gb USB Western Digital Hard Drive but

 

[eViLrAcEr]

yeah........so ur telling me ill have kind of like two 360 games in my pocket?
why is MS giving us so many good news?

to make you buy a 360

@chandoo, this looks like it will be true and jtagging will most probably enable this support later too (i dunno if jtagged guys can update fw, if they can..that means more options for more softwares =D)

 

[Chandoo]

Allrighty folks

The rumor was true, the update has been announced officially and you will be able to use up to 2 16 GB USB's simultaneously for a total of 32 GB of storage space. You can copy saves/profiles/demos *and more* (which doesn't necessarily mean game installs, could be arcade games etc)

USB Memory Support for the Xbox 360 coming April 6th


On April 6th, we will be releasing a system update over Xbox LIVE for your Xbox 360 that will allow USB flash drives to be used for storing profiles, game saves, demos and more. I’ve been testing this feature out for a few weeks, and I have to say it’s really great. Once you take the system update on April 6th, you’ll be able to connect your USB flash drives to your console and head over to the memory section to configure your new storage device. Once you do that, the system will conduct a one time performance and integrity check to confirm the drive is working properly. You will then be able to configure how much storage to use on the device, up to 16 GB. The remaining space on the flash drive will be accessible by your PC or Mac. USB Hard drives may work, but like flash memory, you’ll only be able to use up to 16GB of space. Since performance on flash based USB storage is usually better, I highly recommend using flash based instead of spinning media like a hard drive…it’s just going to give you a MUCH better experience.

We’ve also enhanced the memory management functions, so you’ll be able to have better control on what you want to copy or move between storage devices.

A couple of points:

• You can have 2 devices connected to the console at a time, enabling up to 32GB of simultaneous storage.
• The system won’t just configure the device once it is connected to the console. You’ll need to head to the memory area in system settings, select your USB Device, and choose from Configure Now (Format and Configure the Full Device), or Customize (you can choose how much memory you want configured for Xbox360 from the free space on the device.)

While any flash drive can be used, we are partnering with SanDisk to release an Xbox 360 branded USB flash drive in May that comes pre-configured out of the box and ready to go. I’ll provide links to those drives once they’re available. Until then, starting April 6th (when we release the system update) you can pop any flash drive over 1GB into your Xbox 360 and configure it as storage.

I’ve posted a bunch of screen shots that show you what the experience is like with a USB flash drive, as well as a look at the new memory management screens.

 

[USUF]

yyyaaaayyyyyyyy!!!!

 

[Radical]

This is great news!! Finally more awesomeness comes to the 360!!!

 

[saadi381]

greatt newsss....

 

[amaga]

its means,every 360 now become(like) J-TAG?

 

[sliyk]

no i dont think jtagging will be eeffective cause theres no news of the blown efuse there but who knows

and i really doubt the usbs will allow game installs because that will kill off microsofts hard drives that sell expensive and like hot cakes
i think this is only for game saves and profiles

 

[Shary Bhallu TC]

Woo Hoo!
I am about to buy Xbox, and this further increased my excitement!
Great news!

 

[faizy]

awesome news ! .. well us jtag console owners will have to wait for a patched version of XBR_9195(probably the new dashboard version according to the leaked image)... because if we update to official 9195 ... poof! there goes our jtag! ...

 

[Shary Bhallu TC]

Guys, what if somebody's Xbox is modded? Will it still get this upgrade? Cuz I think his xbox would be banned if he goes on Live with a modded chip.