XBox360 can now run back-up DVDs

Dont be at yourself

Link to the Slashdot story.

The 360 will now allow back-ups of 360 discs to be run, provided they are untampered with - ie, no homebrew, only exact copies of existing signed code. So, it doesn't seem to have any use other than piracy, which is a shame.

Still, that's less than 6 months since launch, isn't it?

jesus_thats_gre

Meh its only capable if you can update the firmware of the DVD drive..

8T8

MS were quite silly to leave the firmware the way it was with weak security on it compared to the rest of the system.

However they are not releasing the hack publicly but all the info is in their technical site for anyone familiar enough with the technology to do it themselves.

Someone will begin working on a Windows software flasher though and that would certainly take a lot of steps out of the process without having to remove the chip from the DVD drive.

Their is little Microsoft could do to stop it either as in effect you have control of the firmware so if MS update something to stop it then they can just change the firmware to counter it.

pH

Someone will begin working on a Windows software flasher though and that would certainly take a lot of steps out of the process without having to remove the chip from the DVD drive.

It's possible that the 'mod chip' for the 360 will be a replacement pre-flashed dvd- just a pity that they're not any close to running unsigned applications which would allow linux and the home-brew scene to start.

The very concept of buying a piece of hardware that *could* run any executable, but has been hobbled to allow only those approved by the manufacturer is bizarre, but yet it sold well so my opinion is in the minority here

CiDeRmAn

It would be really nice to have a vibrant homebrew scene active on the 360, just imagine, a fully functional Xbox emu, no wait, the notion of all Xbox games running on the 360 is surely nonsense, who could magine such a thing, certainly not MS anyway.
But if the machine is readily modified then it is only going to get simpler to do in the coming weeks, to the point that your local market will be selling Fight Night 3 next to dodgy copies of "Shrek2", "Dancefloor Classics" and "Babes On Tractors 6".
It will, I assume, remove a barrier to most people for purchasing a 360, that of software price, however little comfort for MS who will lose millions in the development of games for which no royalties will be forthcoming, no licencing fees to help offset the costs of developing the console itself.
I guess the ony thing for them to do is to somehow alter all further shipments of 360s to remove the security hole. Relative to the consoles lifespan so few machines are out there i the hands of consumers that a fix now would keep the potential damage of this firmware hack to a minimum. But can they do it, and if so in what time scale? How much will it cost them? Are Sony rolling around on the floor laughing at yet another screw up by MS?

Retr0gamer

I think Sony will have their security wrapped up pretty tight with the firmware updates. Don't know why Microsoft haven't done this.