Xbox One S – Special – Spaziogames.it

When you are in front of the new version of an existing product on the market, and in fact intended to supplant its predecessor released only a few months earlier, it is often said that the most recent alternative is that the version original should have offered since the initial launch. We think, not surprisingly, to what happened to Microsoft and the iterations of its operating system; in Windows 7 the occasion, which took place only two years after the arrival of Windows Vista, many were forced to say that the release of the new version of Microsoft’s operating system accounted evolution that, in practice, the view had shattered “clicked”. We now move on the hardware side, remaining however at Microsoft, and think about what happened last August 2: the new Xbox One S has arrived on the market just over three years after the launch of the original Xbox One. Again, then, the first version of the console will be dazzled by the reflected light of the new little sister, slim and attractive? Let us think about it.

time grows short for console
Between the announcement that certified the existence of Xbox One S , which occurred during the past E3, and its release on the market after less than two months. It was a short time period, without taking into account the continuing rumors that surrounded the release of a new version of Xbox One in previous months, andatesi then to unite to those relating to the development of Project Scorpio, the further console that Microsoft will propose in 2017. If this new and still mysterious machine will certainly be a breaking product, here Xbox one S is that half step more that, in a vision overall, it seems to somehow connect the “old” Xbox one to Project Scorpio. in fact, we’re seeing a whole new strategy in the field of gaming; at the time of the Xbox 360, for example, the Redmond proposed a first model in 2005, followed by the other party Slim in 2010, and a further version (Xbox 360 E) in 2013. The temporal distances, in this example, are more diluted, but we must not forget the exceptionally high length of the console generation lifecycle past. It is, obviously, to be materially different from those data of the current round of gaming machines, which now can not be considered a true and proper generation. In any case, the facts tell us that this new Xbox One S is an evolution that focuses on continuity: the technical data, as noted, are known for a long time and eviscerated in different forms. So we know that the console is smaller than 40% of Xbox One, as we know that the work accomplished by design Microsoft has been truly remarkable, given that Xbox One S it has – surprisingly – an internal power supply. This was possible thanks to the new layout of the hard disk, which now supports its own power supply at the optical disc player; the 120mm cooling fan on the motherboard, however, now acts directly through the middle right of the console, which has a ventilation grille.

nostalgic memories
what the revelations made on the hardware of Xbox one S reiterate, then, is that compared to Xbox one’s new console has a GPU AMD Jaguar eight-core with a higher clock rate (914 MHz versus 853 MHz), and over a width of more performant ESRAM band (219 GB / s against 204 GB / s); to all this is added a new hard drive with SATA III interface. From the point of view of connectivity and external realization, instead, the front part of the new console is noted for the addition of two physical buttons (instead of the touch), dedicated power-up and extraction of the discs; novelties continue with a USB 3.0 port and an IR sensor, which allows you to control devices such as TVs, audio / video receivers and satellite boxes.

On the back, they are laid the HDMI In and Out ports like HDMI 2.0a / HDCP 2.2. The element of interest, however, is the elimination of the Kinect port, that Xbox One S will only function through an adapter. Comment this choice of Microsoft would take away different space, although the message launched to players seems to be to forget about the device, however, was much publicized was the beginning of the Xbox One commercial life. In a curious way, in this regard, it is possible to think that the Kinect life lasted the space of two console “slim” Xbox 360 Slim, in fact, could claim the title “Kinect Ready”, being able to operate the device control without having to connect to a source of any power. Xbox One S , on the other hand, certifies the descent into oblivion Kinect gaming hardware, in the company of other unfortunate products. In fact, the mortal leap made from the house of Redmond is in some ways admirable, given the change in the total strategy occurred in just over three years. It is certain, however, that the sacrifice made by early adopters of the first Xbox One, first of all economic but also linked to poor quality of the games for the device, it is now more evident than ever in its full extent.
It is worth noting, then, the presence of a new version of the pad, which serves light changes. First, the device now has native support to bluetooth: good news, this, for PC gamers, who will now be able to use the new pad without using proprietary adapters. It is a choice which, however, can not fail to think of the approach plane between game platforms consist of PC and Xbox ecosystem started by Microsoft; The controller then has an improved grip, a wireless receiving increased, and once again the housing for the AAA batteries.

The democratic 4K, or nearly
We come with the software: it is in this field, in fact, that Xbox One S seems to offer the juiciest changes. the new console allows for the use of content in 4K Ultra HD, thus ensuring streaming 4K video services such as Netflix and YouTube, but also the opportunity to enjoy movies and content in the new Blu-Ray Ultra HD standard. this, of course, finds its way when you have available a 4K Ultra HD TV of sufficient size; in this case, the spectacle offered by Microsoft console is remarkable, and allows the use of very high visual quality content at a competitive price, considering the cost of the readers of Blu-Ray Ultra HD in circulation. From this point of view, then, Xbox One S stands as a consumer electronics product with its own way, with interesting features and definitely able to stay on the market; All this, of course, provided you have the available hardware (ie a 4K Ultra HD TV) and content (streaming services, Blu-Ray Ultra HD) necessary. Otherwise, it is clear that the purchase appears even now as superfluous.
What, though, of the contents that should be the main motivation to purchase the console or games? In this case, the conversation gets a little ‘more slippery. The new Microsoft game machine, in fact, is capable of upscaling the contents up to the 3996 × 2160 revolution; Also in this case, the difference in quality with Xbox One is perceptible only on a device 4K Ultra HD. From the point of view of content use, early tests have shown that the loading and buffering of the same does not propose obvious slowdowns; the overall feeling, on the contrary, is that the speed of use is attesting to similar levels, if not higher, than is the case on Xbox One at lower resolutions. The upscaling, evidently, is not comparable with the native support to new resolutions, although the visual output is inevitably higher quality when compared to the “old” Full HD solution. To all this, then, it is in addition the presence of the High Dynamic Support Range (HDR), which allows you to enjoy more vivid colors and deeper blacks. It is above all this the factor that prompted Microsoft to “liberate” more processing power, exploiting the renewed HDMI connections that are placed on Xbox One S . Some titles, obviously, will exploit more of the other HDR visual skills, but it is clear that there are no grounds to think about the development of games designed exclusively for Xbox One S . In this way, moreover, it will not create a segmentation of the contents, at least until the arrival of Project Scorpio.

looking for a meaning
Finally, certified the main features of Xbox One S , we try to look at the possible future scenarios. What will be the role of this console at the time in which will be marketed Project Scorpio, and as will be remembered within this particular historical period ecosystem Xbox? In fact, Xbox One S is a product definitely more modern than Xbox One (think all’HDR), but not overbearing presents advancements in hardware. is able to offer a taste of gaming succulent 4K upscaling through, but does not include native support for new resolutions; It is then capable of running video content in 4K Ultra HD and Blu-Ray at a competitive price, but full exploitation of these new standards is still tied to constraints such as the presence of a 4K Ultra HD TV a decent size, as well as internet connections worthy of the name. The feeling, even with all due caution, is that it is a transitional product: advanced and innovative in several respects, relatively anchored to the past for others. And here we come to the big question that seems inevitable ask yourself: is it worth buying a Xbox One S ?

As always, the answer to a question like this concerns the context in which we will add the product, and what you expect to get. If you do not have a TV 4K Ultra HD, then, the purchase seems useless performance of games do not suffer that much of the small hardware improvements, and of course the resolution can not go over the maximum height of your machine. If, instead, you have access to a powerful connection, a TV great, and a great passion for generally multimedia content (such as video games, but also movies and TV series), definitely Xbox One S is a very good purchase. What is certain is that in case you have available all this good technological But God would be worth thinking about the fact that, in 2017, Project Scorpio will offer native support to 4K and anything hardware for a superior experience in every context.