Microsoft XNA also includes other components such as the XNA Framework and XNA Build. Anyone can develop a game using XNA Game Studio Express, an IDE for homebrew developers, which was initially released in beta form on August 30, 2006.
Xenos contains 48 unified shader units, which are capable of both vertex and pixel shading operations. This is in contrast to older graphics processor designs which utilize separate specialized units for these tasks.
Xbox Live supports voice communication along with video communication, a feature possible with the Xbox Live Vision.
Microsoft is predicting that with the Xbox 360, a greater market share, yearly revenue through their Xbox Live service, and falling hardware costs will eventually make system sales profitable.
The Xbox 360 is the first console to have a near-simultaneous launch across the three major regions, and the first to provide wireless controller support at launch.
he Xbox 360 can connect to Xbox Live through an optional wireless network adapter on a home network through a wireless router.
The console's graphical user interface is the Xbox 360 Dashboard; a tabbed interface that features four "Blades".
The Xbox 360 takes a new approach to hardware compared to its predecessor. The CPU, named Xenon-CPU (or XCPU) at Microsoft and "Waternoose" at IBM, is a custom triple-core PowerPC-based design by IBM.
The console features 512 MB of 700 megahertz GDDR3 RAM on a 128-bit bus.
Microsoft's retail strategy involves two different configurations of the Xbox 360: the Xbox 360 SKU, frequently referred to as the Xbox 360 Premium Package and an Xbox 360 Core System SKU.
Its Xbox Live service allows players to compete online as well as download games and additional content.
In February of 2003, planning for the Xenon software platform began, and was headed by Microsoft VP J Allard.
