Slimmer Xbox 360 spied in the wild? Sorry, but no

So I was amused to see an Engadget story today about what appears to be a slimmer new Xbox 360 in the background of a photo I took of a Microsoft Arc Mouse. (I was actually just trying to show how small the mouse was, but whatever.) Anyways, here it is...

We received an interesting tip that we thought we'd share with the group. Windows expert and all-around bon vivant Paul Thurrott recently previewed Microsoft's new Arc mouse on his personal blog, detailing the device with a handful of photos. In the final shot of the series, what appear to be two Xboxes side-by-side can be seen in the lower right-hand corner... but one of those consoles looks thinner than the other. The appearance of what might be a slimmer Xbox 360 has (needless to say) sparked a debate amongst our editors here. Some say it's nothing -- a matter of angle -- while others argue that this could be just the scenario in which you'd see a leak of a new form factor. Either way, you can't simply brush off the differences here, and a little Photoshop matching on our end proved that these edges are decidedly different in angle. So we put it to the Engadget reader: is this a sign of things to come, or just our imaginations running wild?

Oh, I wish this were a slimmer Xbox 360, I really do. But it isn’t, sorry. And I can prove it, since nothing has changed down on the floor of my office since I took that original photo (including the MU, which is still sitting on top of my red-ringed 360). Here are the same two Xbox 360s from a different angle:

 

But thanks for the kinds words.

Discuss this Article 69

Mum
on Sep 25, 2008
"Perhaps you could actually ask a ergonomist sometime rather than spouting opinion as undeniable Truth (with a capital T)" I've discussed this over and over with several pros over years after a supposedly ergonomic mouse hospitalised me. It's certainly not about personal tastes. There are rules. I really know a lot about this and very likely use a mouse three times more than you do. Strong opinions or wording don't really make much difference when someone actually knows the field you're trying to play an expert in. "regarding ergonomic, I would have thought it meant something like "intended to maximize productivity by reducing operator fatigue and discomfort"..." Now there's a seed of truth for a change. If anyone here feels that a mouse with a lot of rubber parts shaped like a cashew nut with a place carved for a thumb feels comfortable to get a firm grip of then you're using your mouse very wrong and extended use will lead to serious wrist problems. Of course most people never use their mouse so much. "@Mum, your excuses to the failure of Bettiblue's mighty mouse stinks." The scroll ball is really not what I'm discussing here. The shape of Apple's mouse is superior. S+ARCK is also ok but a bit too big for anything as big or smaller than a medium hand.
Mum
on Sep 25, 2008
"(gave up trying to get the accent over the 'e')" Liké this?
mikegalos@msn.com
on Sep 25, 2008
symmetric devices are only ergonomic if the user's body part that interacts with it is also symmetric. I don't know about you but my hand is not symmetric hence my mouse is not symmetric.
DRWAM
on Sep 25, 2008
Hey guys, I've been saving lives all day. What did I miss? BTW, I have a thumb on the radial aspect of my hand, but none on the ulnar side. Hence my hand is not symmetric either. See Mike, we have something in common. Also, that might mouse thingy that came with my Pro tower is still in the box. I use an MX Revolution and a MS Laser mouse, but I don't know the model. I actually have two Logitech lasers and two MS lasers. By far, the battery life of MS greatly exceed that of the Logitechs. There is no contest. MX is my favorite as I am an elitist. My wife told me so. [She drives a Benz. What nerve!!!] PS, Isn't Mighty Mouse a cartoon character? Go figure, that they pair it up with a 'Superdrive'.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Sep 25, 2008
DRWAM I don't know. You're assuming my thumbs are on the radial side as well... Personally, I prefer the Microsoft high-end mice to the Logitech high-end but prefer the Logitech low-end mice over the Microsoft low-end. Just a personal preference and I'd advise anybody in the market to try a bunch out to see how they fit their hand since hands vary even more than mice. And, shocking as it will seem to the Apple fans here, I don't think Apple makes the absolute worst mice in history. That award has to go to IBM for the PS/2 Mouse in 1987 which cramped my hand before I could even click the buttons. On the other hand, Apple has, by far, the longest history of absolutely terrible mice. IBM, at least, knew they weren't competent in that market and got out. Now, as long as we've strayed into religion, I've yet to see a mainstream keyboard that even comes close to the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 (or its wireless equivalent in the Natural Ergonomic Desktop 7000). That's in the "from my cold, dead hands" category.
Mum
on Sep 25, 2008
"symmetric devices are only ergonomic if the user's body part that interacts with it is also symmetric. I don't know about you but my hand is not symmetric hence my mouse is not symmetric." Damn Mr. Last Word, you just keep on going even when you have no idea what you're talking about :D Mouse is used with fingertips in order to put least stress on the wrist. You shouldn't grip it like a handle. (Whether you want the stress is admittedly a matter of personal taste.) The space between your fingertips is actually very symmetrical and when you operate the device 360° most of the work is done with the thumb and the little/index fingers. A perfectly round mouse (the puck) would actually be the best if there was a way of telling which side is which when it rotates.
mikegalos@msn.com
on Sep 25, 2008
Mum Perhaps you should read some mouse ergonomics papers. Things like a thumb groove and rotation of the surface to prevent wrist pronation which a flat mouse makes worse than almost any other design. Oh, and there's no such thing as a symmetric space defined by only two points. You need a minimum of three points to define a plane and there's no such thing as an asymmetric line.. I'd suggest the intro article on the topic by Microsoft Hardware which also lists a couple of dozen papers you could read to understand the issues beyond your just saying "Apple's designs are ideal". Oh, and since your theory only has you touch a mouse at two points, there's no benefit to it being round so even your ideas don't make any ergonomic sense. The intro paper is at http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/3/4/1340dfe4-a8c1-485f-be3b-4e8... Dr. Dan Odell's page at Microsoft hardware is at http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/ergonomics/drdan.mspx (He's Microsoft Hardware's staff ergonomicist) The main Microsoft Hardware page on ergonomics is at: http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/ergonomics/comfort.mspx
mikegalos@msn.com
on Sep 25, 2008
Oh, and by comparison... Apple doesn't have a staff ergonomist and a search on ergonomics on the Apple site lists (besides songs on iTunes) a 3rd party keyboard available at Apple stores and a chart showing that cinema displays can be mounted on a (3rd party) ergonomic bracket.
Mum
on Sep 25, 2008
"Oh, and there's no such thing as a symmetric space defined by only two points." Don't know about you but I have five fingers in both my left and my right hands. When my hand is relaxed the space between those fingers is very close to a circle, maybe a bit oval. You would undoubtedly link to a Microsoft paper (that you can read in Vista with an xps viewer) on the subject, yet you won't find a professional on the matter of mouse ergonomics who will recommend ergonomic mice for anyone else but occasional users. Symmetrical and flat are the primary requirements. But this also requires some learning on the user's side. Whether the ergonomic mice currently in the market are better for a heavy grip is possible but heavy users will not stay healthy using them for long. Then again you won't find violin bows shaped ergonomically to facilitate playing in a wrong way, because violin isn't an everyman instrument.
vinski-
on Sep 25, 2008
Haha. Small focal lengths and weird angles can do miracles. :)
shark47
on Sep 26, 2008
Mommy: "Ergonomic" in a mouse means it's 1. symmetric 2. flat and 3. light. Go ask someone else who knows if you don't believe me." Symmetric, because when one hand gets tired, you can use the other. Hardly anyone does that and the human hand is not naturally symmetric. Flat: No. It has to be curved because the human palm is slightly curved. According to your guidelines, a piece of paper will make the best mouse. As long as you're simply resting your palm on it, it will. The problem arises when you start clicking.
DRWAM
on Sep 26, 2008
Looking at my palm with it in the most comfotable position, relaxed, part of it near the phallanges, appears oval, but the palmar surface actually appears triangle due to flexion of the thenar eminence. My hockey peck mouse from my G4 was very uncomfortable and was dwarfed by my paws. I wonder if the kids would like it. I used it for two weeks, then boxed it. It still works after 9 years.
panache1023
on Sep 26, 2008
Shark.... A piece of paper may make a great mouse. What problem with clicking? You wouldn't need buttons, just some sort of analog pressure detection. When you apply a certain amount of pressue, it's a "mouse down", release and it's "mouse up"...however, I think it would feel weird to keep your hand FLAT on the desk for a prolonged period of time....I like the curve my logitech mouse has at work.... My buddy and I used to make fun of the Mighty Mouse years ago...we used to make "seal" motions...picture a seal flappiing its....whatever those things seals have, fins? That's kind of the motion you make to click that stupid thing, as the whole front part of the device moves downward..hahah.
Mum
on Sep 26, 2008
"It has to be curved because the human palm is slightly curved." Precise action requires the palm to not even touch the mouse. Flat means something that allows this. This way the mouse doesn't force the wrist in an upward angle. The grip approach sucks because, for example, to move the pointer from the left side of a big screen to the right side you have to move your whole body unless you give the mouse a push with your thumb, let go of it and let it slide on the surface on its own until your little/index fingers stop it. Now any grooves for fingers make this much harder and less predictable.
DRWAM
on Sep 26, 2008
Build a better mouse trap. We actually need brain wave controlled desktops. I have thought about this since I first saw an EEG in the easrly 80's. If we can detect brain waves with machines, just using scalp electrodes, then we should try to create a device to interpret them, then use as commands [brain wave recognition software]. Perhaps some individuals that claim 'psychic abilities' can sorta do this. Maybe their brain can act as a receiver. They don't need a translater, since it's brain to brain. Just a thought OT. I I had those abilities, then I could figure out what the hell my wife is thinking when she does some stuff!
Waethorn
on Sep 26, 2008
""Ergonomic" in a mouse means it's 1. symmetric 2. flat and 3. light. Go ask someone else who knows if you don't believe me. Of course you and 99% of people have would have no idea what ergonomic means " Ya, you know, using your own personal taste as an example to counter the opinions of 99% of the populous does not in factuality make. "......definitely sounds like there are no sacrifices." When comfort is given up, I'd say that there are sacrifices in functionality. "symmetric devices are only ergonomic if the user's body part that interacts with it is also symmetric." Mum's hand must be shaped like this: http://images.elfwood.com/art/m/j/mjmeilunas/monsters_hand_blackandwhite... ;) "Netware rocks and IPX/SPX is the best network protocol ever!!!" No it IS NOT! - Lantastic is! Netware is a pig on resources compared to Lantastic!
Waethorn
on Sep 26, 2008
"The grip approach sucks because, for example, to move the pointer from the left side of a big screen to the right side you have to move your whole body" Been using a mouse very much? With a grip-style mouse, you're moving more of your arm, not your wrist. Your shoulders, biceps, and forearms are much stronger and less fragile than the average wrist tendon, sorry to say. I would bet the Doc can back me up on that one. http://www.ergocanada.com/products/mice/ztm.html
tayme
on Sep 26, 2008
You know...it sounds like Mum may have some knowledge in this area and the anti-apple rederick regarding mice is useless. Of course, like I said before...I take people at face value, and I could be very wrong...Mum could actually be an Apple Mighty-Mouse Evangelist...much like mikegalos is an elitist Pro Microsoft, anything else is wrong, nobody but Microsoft innovates Evangelist. Come on Mike, give it up already. @Paul - I'd say its time to lock this puppy down! --tayme
anonymous
on Sep 28, 2008

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