Interested in playing your XBOX 360 games from a USB Hard Drive. Sick of getting your XBOX 360 re flashed. Then the X360Key is for you! The XBOX 360 now has the ability to play your games from a USB hard drive. There are many advantages from running games from an external hard drive.
Decrease in loading times on most games
Reduces wear and tear on your discs
Reduces wear and tear on the DVD drive and laser
Reduces the noise omitted from the console
Advantages and Disadvantages of the X360key Vs Firmware Modifications
With the latest firmware update from Microsoft flashing your DVD drive, returning it back to stock firmware. Everyone who runs custom firmware, will have to get there DVD drive re-flashed every time Microsoft releases an update. This involves opening your console, and in some cases opening your DVD drive. This could prove costly and time consuming in the long run, as Microsoft may update its console many times a year.
The process of updating the X360key compared to updating your DVD drives custom firmware will be relatively simple. All it will take to update the X360key, is a USB memory stick containing the X360key firmware update. Simply insert it in the USB slot of the XBOX 360 and your done.
How does it work?
X360key consists of 2 parts, a motherboard and a remote.
The motherboard connects to the SATA bus inside the Xbox 360, and sits between the drive and the Xbox 360 motherboard. X360key is a full-fledged computer system running embedded Linux. It is capable of many things such as
Emulating the Xbox 360 DVD drive
Reading USB hard drives and other USB media with various file systems
Updating itself and other hardware from USB media
Communicating with the remote and other external USB devices
And a lot more! (embedded Web server and Wi-Fi connectivity for example)
The remote is a simple yet stylish piece of hardware that features an OLED display and 3 buttons. It connects to the x360key motherboard via a high speed USB2 connection. It also has USB for connecting USB hard drives and other devices. The OLED and buttons are used to control various aspects of x360key. It is also used for browsing attached USB media devices and launching games.
Features
Compatible with both Fat and Slim models
Supports most Xbox 360 and Xbox 1 games
Supports most file systems, including NTFS, EXT2/3/4, and Mac OS X Extended
High speed USB2 interface
Stylish USB control pad for selecting games and controlling your x360key
Powerful embedded Linux system running from Micro SD card (included)
Linux firmware fully updatable from USB media
FPGA fully updatable from USB media via built-in, in-system JTAG programming
Recovery mode - it is always possible to recover from a bad flash
No drive flashing or JTAG hack required
AP25 protection emulation
Pass-through mode. (Use your Xbox 360 in "normal mode")
In a Firmware Coming To You Soon
Web Control Panel - Requires Wi-Fi dongle (sold separately)
Work in progress
Loading games from NFS and Samba shares - Requires Wi-Fi dongle (sold separately)
Xbox Live support
Backup original Xbox 360 games to USB hard drive
Which XBOX 360 consoles will be compatible at launch?
