Xbox 360 For Dummies

Microsoft's Xbox now accounts for 37 percent of the game console market, and the new Xbox 360 is due out for the 2005 holiday season, months before Sony's PlayStation 3. When gamers take the new Xbox home, however, they'll soon discover that it's more than a just a game machine-it's a full-fledged home media hub with more power than most PCs. This friendly guide shows how to maximize both gaming and non-gaming features of this amazing machine. Topics covered include hooking up Xbox 360, taking advantage of HDTV and Dolby capabilities, using built-in digital video recording and wireless functions, storing media files, playing music, and displaying photos Shows how to have even more fun by taking an Xbox online for massively multiplayer gaming, instant messaging, and more Discusses the social potential of the Xbox, which people can use to make new friends, join groups and teams, and even throw fantastic parties Includes tips for securing the Xbox from online threats

The Xbox 360 DVD-ROM drive firmware hack is currently the only modification or hack available for the Xbox 360. The firmware hack allows you to play properly created backups of Xbox 360 games. The firmware hack does NOT allow homebrew programs to run and does NOT bypass region protection. If a video game is locked to a particular region, then it will only play on an Xbox 360 of that same region. Before jumping into this modification, it is a good idea to learn how this hack works. In the most basic form, an Xbox 360’s game protection comes from two security measures. First of which is encryption. Nearly all files on an Xbox 360 game disc as well as the Xbox 360 hard drive are signed with Microsoft’s private key. If anything, even just a single bit, is changed, the signature is broken and the Xbox 360 refuses to run the file. The second security measure is media locking. The game is restricted to run only from a certain type of media. For example, all Xbox 360 games are restricted to run only from “Xbox 360” media. Game demos downloaded from Xbox Live are restricted to run only from “Xbox 360 Hard Drive.” Xbox Live Arcade games aren’t restricted at all; they can run from any media. Before the firmware hacks, if you were to copy an Xbox 360 game and try running it from “DVD+R DL”, the Xbox 360 would obviously see that it wasn’t “Xbox 360” media and refuse to run it because of the media restriction. This media restriction is what the firmware hack bypasses. The firmware fakes out the Xbox 360 into thinking that any media is “Xbox 360” media. You copy your game to DVD+R DL, insert it into a firmware-hacked drive, and instead of returning “DVD+R DL” to the Xbox 360, the drive says it is an “Xbox 360” disc and it then plays the game. As you can see, the firmware hack does not bypass any signature protection whatsoever. Some Xbox 360 games use region protection to restrict the playing of a game in a certain region. The firmware hack will not allow you to play games out of a region if they are region-locked. If the original will play in your Xbox 360, the same backup will. If the original won’t, neither will the backup of it.

Overwhelmed with big screen TV and home theater audio options? What do you need to build the perfect home theater experience? Home Theater For Dummies, 3rd Edition shows you how to plan a home theater system and choose components that fit your budget and your room. Beginning with the most basic information, this guide helps you choose what you need and put it all together. It explains DLP, 3LCD, HDMI, DTV, and HDTV so you can talk intelligently with salespeople at the electronics store. You’ll find out about Blu-ray, explore HD and satellite radio options, and see how to incorporate a Wii, Xbox, or Playstation 3 into your set-up. Learn to: Choose among plasma, LCD, and projection TVs Know the difference between digital TV and HDTV Assess and choose an LCD TV, a new 3D TV, or an HD radio Set up your audio system and TV for maximum performance Use a Media Center or Home Theater PC Fine-tune your system and add cool touches such as accessing home theater content from your cell phone Explore HD and satellite radio options, CD players, DVD-Audio disks, and options for old cassettes and vinyl Set up your system with the proper cables for each component, or learn what it takes to go wireless Calibrate your video with a calibration disk, an optical comparator, or a DVD containing THX Optimizer Get the perfect home theater experience by following the expert tips and techniques presented in Home Theater For Dummies, 3rd Edition. You’ll be watching movies and listening to audio in no time!

Ten minibooks in one get you thoroughly caught up on Windows 8.1! With new improvements and changes, Windows 8.1 offers a refreshed user interface, better integration between the new and traditional Windows interfaces, and more. This updated top-selling guide is what you need to get up to speed on everything Windows 8.1. Nine minibooks in one cover such essential topics as navigating the new Start Screen, understanding Windows 8.1 apps, securing Windows 8.1, and much more. Take the guesswork out of Windows 8.1 from day one with this complete, all-in-one resource. Helps you get up to speed on the Windows 8.1 operating system, including its Start Screen, which is a feature sure to please traditional Windows users Provides top-notch guidance from trusted and well-known Windows expert and author Woody Leonhard Covers Windows 8.1 inside and out, including how to customize the Start screen, manage apps, and control privacy Delves into core Windows 8.1 apps such as e-mail, people, and SkyDrive Shows you how to connect online, add hardware, back up and update, and secure Windows 8.1 Discover new improvements, old favorites, and everything in between with Windows 8.1 All-in-One For Dummies.

Step by step guide to connecting all your electronic devices into one network A home network allows you to share Internet connections, photos, video, music, game consoles, printers, and other electronic gadgets. This do-it-yourself guide shows you step by step how to create a wired or wireless network in your home. In the For Dummies tradition of making technology less intimidating, Home Networking Do-It-Yourself For Dummies breaks down the process into easy steps with clear instructions. Increasing broadband speeds, cellular technology, the explosive growth of iPhone sales, and the new Home Group feature in Windows 7 all contribute to a booming interest in home networking This step-by-step guide walks do-it-yourselfers through the process of setting up a wired or wireless network with Windows 7 and Windows Vista Demonstrates how to connect desktops or laptops, printers, a home server, a router, high-speed Internet access, a video game system, a telephone line, and entertainment peripherals Shows how to share files, music, and video, and connect to an iPhone Provides maintenance and troubleshooting tips Home Networking Do-It-Yourself For Dummies enables you to take advantage of everything a home network can offer without hiring a technology wizard.

My Xbox One Step-by-step instructions with callouts to colorful Xbox One images that show you exactly what to do Help when you run into problems with Xbox One, Kinect™, Xbox Live®, or SmartGlass Tips and Notes to help you get the most from your Xbox One system Full-color, step-by-step tasks show how to have maximum fun with your new Xbox One! Learn how to • Set up Xbox One, Kinect, and Xbox Live quickly–and start having fun now! • Personalize settings, gamertags, avatars, gamerpics… your whole Xbox One experience • Start your party, add chat, use built-in Skype, even make group video calls • Capture video of your best gameplay moments with Game DVR • Watch great video from practically anywhere: cable or satellite, DVD, Blu-ray, Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime, and more • Play or stream all the music you love • Web surf with Xbox One’s supercharged version of Internet Explorer • Use SmartGlass to transform your iPhone, iPad, Android, or Windows 8 device into a second Xbox screen or remote control CATEGORY: Consumer Electronics COVERS: Xbox One USER LEVEL: Beginning-Intermediate

Wireless home networks are better than ever! The emergence of new industry standards has made them easier, more convenient, less expensive to own and operate. Still, you need to know what to look for (and look out for), and the expert guidance you’ll find in Wireless Home Networks For Dummies, 3rd Edition helps you ensure that your wire-free life is also a hassle-free life! This user-friendly, plain-English guide delivers all of the tips, tricks, and knowledge you need to plan your wireless home network, evaluate and select the equipment that will work best for you, install and configure your wireless network, and much more. You’ll find out how to share your Internet connection over your network, as well as files, printers, and other peripherals. And, you’ll learn how to avoid the “gotchas” that can creep in when you least expect them. Discover how to: Choose the right networking equipment Install and configure your wireless network Integrate Bluetooth into your network Work with servers, gateways, routers, and switches Connect audiovisual equipment to your wireless network Play wireless, multiuser computer games Establish and maintain your network’s security Troubleshoot networking problems Improve network performance Understand 802.11n Whether you’re working with Windows PCs, Mac OS X machines, or both Wireless Home Networking For Dummies, 3rd Edition, makes it fast and easy to get your wireless network up and running—and keep it that way!

The bestselling book on Windows, now updated for the new 8.1 features Microsoft has fine-tuned Windows 8 with some important new features, and veteran author Andy Rathbone explains every one in this all-new edition of a long-time bestseller. Whether you're using Windows for the first time, upgrading from an older version, or just moving from Windows 8 to 8.1, here's what you need to know. Learn about the dual interfaces, the new Start button, how to customize the interface and boot operations, and how to work with programs and files, use the web and social media, manage music and photos, and much more. You'll even find troubleshooting tips! This edition covers the upgrades in Windows 8.1, including the dual interfaces, basic mechanics, file storage, and how to get the free upgrade to Windows 8.1 Shows how to manipulate app tiles, give Windows the look you choose, set up boot-to-desktop capabilities, connect to a network, and create user accounts Covers working with programs, apps, and files; using the Internet and social media; new apps and capabilities for working with onboard and online media; and how to move files to a new PC Written by Andy Rathbone, author of every edition of the bestselling Windows For Dummies Windows 8.1 For Dummies is exactly what you need to get going and be productive with the newest Windows update.