14 DAY TRIAL // Xbox Live has a big autumn update coming up, and it's going to bring a whole lot of new features. After the update, the online service will support an MSNBC news feed, a music-focused marketplace and high-definition Zune videos. It will also integrate in its system the Last.fm, Twitter and Facebook applications. But Microsoft, just like the Lord, gives with one hand and takes with the other. Xbox Live users will no longer be able to use their third-party storage devices for the Xbox 360.
During the weekend, Xbox Live director of programming Larry Hryb posted a warning for all those who use any other devices than the official Microsoft products to store data. "When Preview Program members start receiving the Xbox 360 system update next week, one of the changes is that unauthorized Memory Units will no longer work with the Xbox 360,” Hryb said. “If you've moved your profile or saved games onto one to 'back it up,' you'd better move it back onto an authorized Xbox 360 storage device prior to taking the update. If you continue to use an unauthorized Memory Unit after the update, you will not be able to access your stored profile or saved games."
Hryb has labeled the 512MB Memory Unit from Microsoft as an authorized unit, but didn't specify any of those that are blacklisted. The only products supported after the big update listed on Xbox.com are the ones bearing the white-and-green "Created by Xbox" and the green "Licensed for Xbox 360" stickers. Microsoft received requests to detail the storage units that will no longer be useable but refused to make any clarifications. Most likely, Datel products are among those targeted. The British company is responsible for a variety of Xbox 360 storage units as well as peripherals that enable buyers to move files between the console and the PC.
Microsoft's decision to hit the storage devices seems like a really bad one. If things are relatively balanced in the other areas on the console market, the Xbox 360 has a definite handicap in the hard drive department. A 120GB unit for the Xbox costs $150 while the Xbox Live starter pack has a 60GB for $100. On the other hand, the PlayStation 3 allows the installing of third-party hard drives without any drawbacks and the Wii supports high-capacity SD memory cards from all manufactures. Microsoft's idea might actually drive some buyers away from its console and into the open arms of the competition.