From kotaku.com:
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There are no plans for a slimmed down version of the Xbox 360, Microsoft’s Aaron Greenberg told Kotaku.
“We feel like our system has done very well for us in the current form,” said Greenberg, director of product management for the Xbox 360. “We have no plans for a slim.”
“We feel that we’re not even at the halfway point (of the Xbox 360’s life cycle),” he said.
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Full Story: kotaku.com
From joystiq.com:
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Microsoft’s VP of Interactive Entertainment Business in Europe, Chris Lewis, tells GI.biz that the removal of the HDMI cable from the Elite packaging was to enable more “flexibility to consumers who can then decide which type of cable they want for their specific gaming and TV screen set-up.” Pardon us, but that’s like saying Sub-Zero ripping out your spine gives your body more “flexibility.” Of course, the drawback is that you’re dead.
Adding insult to injury, the new Elite bundle isn’t just shipping sans HDMI cable, it has no HD cables at all; meaning that consumers now have even more flexibility to purchase better cables.
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Full Story: joystiq.com and gamesindustry.biz
From the Microsoft Press Release:
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REDMOND, Wash. — Aug. 27, 2009 — Xbox 360 today invites you to experience more fun, more entertainment and more ways to connect with friends and family at an even better value. Beginning Aug. 28, the price of an Xbox 360 Elite console will drop by $100, now priced at just $299.99 estimated retail price (ERP) in the United States. On top of that, the Xbox 360 Pro console will now be priced at $249.99 (ERP), reflecting a price reduction of $50, while supplies last. Starting at just $199.99 (ERP) for the Xbox 360 Arcade console, Xbox 360 puts all your entertainment in one place so you can play games, watch movies and TV shows, listen to music, and, coming this fall, keep up with your Twitter and Facebook social circles, all from your Xbox 360.1 And, as announced earlier this year, the Xbox 360 you buy today will work with code-named “Project Natal” and controller-free gaming in the future.
“With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s already time to start looking for entertainment and gifts that everyone will enjoy,” said Shane Kim, corporate vice president of strategy and business development for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Corp. “If you’re looking for deep experiences that don’t require deep pockets, now is the time to purchase an Xbox 360. We’ve got the best games, a vast library of TV shows and movies, new music experiences, more ways to connect friends and family, and so much more on the horizon including ‘Project Natal’ — no controller required.”
Having an Xbox 360 at the center of your living room provides entertainment for any occasion. Whether you’re a casual or hardcore gamer playing single player or with friends, you can enjoy hundreds of titles that fit your gaming style. Watch thousands of movies and TV shows, listen to music, and view photos in the comfort of your home. And share the fun with friends and family around the world through Xbox LIVE:
From gamespot.com:
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Despite Microsoft’s attempts to improve manufacturing quality, the Xbox 360 was recently accused of still having an alarmingly high failure rate by a Game Informer survey. Some 54.2 percent of 5,000 subscribers to the magazine said they had at least one Xbox 360 fail, with 41.2 percent saying they had at least two hardware failures.
“I can tell you the consoles we’re making today have lower-heat chips and better cooling, and we’re seeing fantastic quality in those consoles today,” Greenberg (Xbox Live and Xbox 360 director) told GameSpot today. “That said, I know people have had issues with systems which were bought earlier in the life cycle and that’s part of the reason why we implemented our unprecedented three-year warranty for anyone who gets the three red-ring flashing light error or the E74 error.”
He continued, “So I think we’ve made it clear we stand by the quality of our product and we will make it right by fixing the problem at no extra cost to you. But at the same time, we’ve been working hard to make improvements in the products we’re currently making, so I really feel like most of this is well behind us.”
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Full Story: gamespot.com