14 DAY TRIAL // Although Microsoft has promoted its new Xbox 360 console as being much safer than its predecessor, it appears that some hackers have done the 'unthinkable' and proved once again that every device can be hacked.
According to Daily Tech, a hacker who calls himself "TheSpecialist" stated that he has installed his own custom firmware into the Xbox 360. He claims that with the custom firmware, he is able to create directly bootable backups of original DVD games. The firmware, claims TheSpecialist, circumvents the Xbox 360's content checking by ignoring the required disc signatures that are present on retail games. However, the hacker states that he will not release his firmware due to obvious piracy concerns.
TheSpecialist says that this performance was possible due to Microsoft's negligence to remove the debug routines from the firmware.
A Neowin.net post which cites xboxic.com warns that the system will not run any unsigned code itself, because it is impossible to flash the firmware by software, and a hardware programmer is necessary.
In other Microsoft console news, four months after the North America launch, Xbox 360 will finally hit Australia, where it will be greeted with a party held in Sydney on March 22.
According to analyst P.J. McNealy at American Technology Research, the Xbox 360 console is expected to sell 10-12 million units worldwide by year-end.
The report included a survey of current Xbox 360 stock levels in 125 retailers which appears to somewhat contradict McNealy's optimistic forecast, revealing that just 26 stores have units in stock.