Microsoft has released a new Xbox, although it’s not exactly
a new console. In fact it is a better replacement for the existing Xbox, with a
better processor. Don’t be surprised because it has more than a few surprises
hidden in it. There’s no way to talk about the Xbox One S without talking about
the console it’s replacing, the Xbox One. So I will just start by saying the
really obvious thing: the Xbox One S is what the original Xbox One should have
beeWhile the Xbox One S is deep down the same console Microsoft released in
2013, there have been significant changes. It’s far slicker and prettier,
fixing many of the original console’s aesthetic issues. It also adds 4K and
high dynamic range (HDR), which means your games and videos can make the most
of the latest TVs.
What is HDR?
It is therefore an excellent gaming device that is also a
bonefide, all in one media machine .we feel that it is going to be enough for most.
Back to our main topic, it doesn’t offer the graphical bump of the PS4 Pro nor
does it benefit from the major horsepower boost of the next generation XBOX One
X. But what it does have the bestselling console 2016 it’s the most affordable
UHD Blu-ray player on the market. The Xbox One S is the only console to play 4K
Blu-rays. This could make the Xbox One S a surprise hit with movie fans on a
budget, who are looking for an inexpensive way to enjoy 4K content. It could
help rocket 4K Blu-ray sales too, in the same way the Sony PS3 did with
standard Blu-rays. What’s more, it’s actually a decent UHD Blu-ray player.
Xbox One S -Design and console:-
The Xbox ONE S is a pretty beast. The main model is all white,
although there are also plenty of special edition colored and customized
variants available too. It is compact, elegant, and fragile and there is not an
enormous power brick in sight .its inside the machine itself hurrah! You just
get a figure of eight lead in the box (along with an HDMI cable).This is
particularly impressive given that the power supply is now integrated. No
longer will you need to find extra space to squeeze in a massive power brick on
the side. Microsoft’s Xbox One S is 40 percent smaller than the original, and
it shows. Instead of a hulking monster of a machine squatting under your TV,
you have this slim, white box. I really like the clean, squarish look of the
thing, a matte white block on a black base. Microsoft calls the color
"Robot White," because no consumer electronics device is allowed to
have an unbranded Pantone.
But the 40 percent size difference doesn’t capture how much
more comfortably this One S fits in a living room, because it integrates the
power supply right into the console itself. The old Xbox needed a power adapter
that so closely approximated the size and heft of a literal brick that I half-thought
that was the design inspiration. No more: a simple cable is all it takes to
power this new box. The old Xbox required a copious amount of space to ensure
it could stay well-ventilated. The One S also seems to kick off a noticeable
amount of heat (don’t set anything on top of it, that’s where the fan exhaust
goes), but since the case is so much smaller I feel better about enclosing it
in the cabinet underneath my TV. The one S can also be stood up vertically on a
simple stand that clicks in a satisfying, sturdy way.
It’s also possible that S is for “sexy”. Suddenly an Xbox is
the most attractive thing in my AV rack, and that’s not something I ever
expected to write. The chunky air conditioner-style grilles have been replaced
with a subtle pinhole design. The original’s glossy black plastic, which was a
dust magnet and suffered scratches way too easily, has also been ditched.
The Xbox One S is matte all over and has a Storm trooper
chic thanks to its white with black accents. I like it, but some may find a bright
white box too conspicuous. You’ve also got plenty of limited edition consoles
and color variants to pick up nowadays if that’s more your style.
The machine can be sat up upright, if you buy an optional stand.
Its looks neat but we are AV cabinet type of people so are happy to report that
it tucks away nicely too. The drive tray is neatly flushed on the left-hand
side of the fascia, with a tiny white-on-white disc eject button almost hidden
away. And the power button is a physical clicker rather than touch. There are
three USB 3.0 ports on the console and one of them is tucked away on the front
of the box, rather than the side as with the old legacy Xbox One. This makes it
much easier to access when in a cabinet, for example. The gamepad pairing
button has also made its way around the front.
An IR blaster has been included, so you can have it control
other consumer electronics devices without having to use HDMI CEC connectivity.
However, we still find the latter to be a simpler option and more consistent.
On the rear there is a full line-up of connections with one
obvious omission. You get two HDMI ports, one to input TV video. There are the
additional USB 3.0 ports, an IR output IF you want to add an external IR
blaster instead of use the front-facing integrated one, optical audio and Ethernet
ports too. However, there is no socket for an external Kinect. There are two
storage options available at purchase 500GB and 1TB, and even the latter is too
small for the size of downloaded games these days - get more than around 10 of
them and you've filled the hard drive. Luckily, the USB ports can accept
external HDDs as long as they are USB 3.0 compatible. That extends the storage
space greatly.
Wireless controller:-
Microsoft slightly redesigned its controller when it
released the XBOX S.it is a little sleeker and sexier than older gamepads,
which are still available at reduced prices here and there.it feels similar in
the hands but has gripper surface then the ones that came with the original.
It also adds Bluetooth support, although only for window 10
devices with the latest Xbox apps and greater distance for a stable wireless
connection.
You can get one in the box and another can be bought
seperately.PS you also use the older Xbox ONE controllers just by pairing them
via the button on the front of the console, which is great news for the
hardcore players with expensive Elite controllers who don’t want to switch.
The Xbox One controller features a more recessed space for
the battery, as opposed to the outward bump found on the back of the Xbox 360's
controller. By default, it uses standard AA batteries — while the rechargeable
AA battery users on staff adapted quickly, others were nonplussed that there
wasn't a rechargeable option in the box.
4K video performance:-
Netflix is however 4K enable from the off and with the HDR too.
The same is true with amazon video. If you have premium Netflix account or
amazon prime, you can now watch ultra HD streams through the Xbox One S. Gears
of War 4, for example, runs with upscale HDR graphics on compatible TVs and you
do get a better sense of depth with the visuals. The wider color gamut and
greater contrast makes for a better gaming experience for sure. Yes, it looks
even better in 4K on an Xbox One X but you might not want to pay the premium
for the privilege.
Games:-
Bad news first: The Xbox One's hefty lineup of exclusive titles
isn't without its misses. Crimson Dragon is a disappointing follow-through on
its potential as a successor to Panzer Dragoon. Loco Cycle is reprehensible in
almost every way — it's racist, sexist, amateurish and monotonous. Ryse is
beautiful but boring (and thankfully short).And so we come to the games
themselves. There are so many games available for the Xbox One S you will never
find yourself without something to purchase and play. Many of them run at 1080p
in 60fps too, which looks gorgeous when in full force. Add HDR for those that
support it and you have a great gaming experience for a relatively low price.
All the games are yours to keep as long as you pay the
monthly fee. It's a great way to build an impressive games library for little
outlay and is a much better service than PlayStation Now - the equivalent for
PS4. That is cloud based while this Xbox initiative gives you every game to
download and run from your own drive.
The wrap up:-
Microsoft has insisted it has the software gamers want. But
it's also maintained that this generation is about more than that. It's
repeatedly outlined a vision for a console based around entertainment, apps and
connected experiences, tied together by Kinect, which has been met with
apprehension by the enthusiast audience. To be clear, Kinect isn't a fully
realized product yet. Gesture support is functionally non-existent, and there's
a lack of good examples of how Kinect can contribute to games. There are certain
elements of Microsoft's strategy that are missing at launch, like support for
Twitch streaming and HBO Go. And the console's television functionality
impresses … if you watch television.
But in many ways, the Xbox One's bold direction for the
future is well in place. The integration of voice controls and its media
strategy are a boon to everyone, and the ability to run apps while playing
games is something we now want on every gaming console we have. That it has a
handful of strong, exclusive games at launch only supports its legitimacy as a
gaming console and not just an entertainment hub.
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