The Power of Wireless

There's a little part of the Xbox® controller cord that stays plugged into the console when you stumble over the cord—you know, those controller cords designed to come apart easily because, let's face it, gamers have notorious difficulty not tripping over cords.

But soon I will be cord-free. No more controller cord accidents for me. No more spilled drinks, banged knees, lost games, or cursing and kicking the cat. It's the end of an era—the wired era. Because, friends and neighbors, I've seen the light. My new favorite word in the English language? Wireless.

Introducing the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller.

The Wireless Controller
Xbox 360™ is all about the wireless—wireless controllers, wireless networking; if there's a wire involved, Microsoft has gone out of their way to replace it with space-age radio waves. We'll start with the wireless controller, which is truly a marvel of modern technology.

• Precision engineering: The wireless controller is precise, accurate, and has the same speed and performance as its wired brother.
• Innovative design: My first thought was, heck, it's lightweight, even for a wired controller. As soon as you pick it up you notice the ergonomic and innovative design. No controller has ever felt more natural and intuitive to use.
• No hefty memory: The Xbox 360 Memory Unit now inserts directly into the console itself, instead of the controller. You'll also note that your headset cable plugs directly into the controller, without a "puck" like the old-school variety.

Xbox 360 puts you at the center of the digital entertainment
revolution, and unsightly cords are the last thing you need.

• More players: Look closely at Xbox 360, and you notice that there are only two ports in the front for regular wired controllers—this is because it's better to play wireless, where the high-tech whiz-bangery inside the new machine lets you easily have four gamers on at once without a hiccup or delay.
• Long range: The wireless controllers have a 30-foot range, so you can really sit back and enjoy your HDTV/Surround Sound setup on your monster plasma screen. They also use normal AA batteries, or an Xbox 360 Rechargeable Battery Pack that uses the innovative Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit for continuous game play when the charge get low.
• Wireless connectivity: Right out of the box, Xbox 360 is ready to receive your wireless controller(s). No bulky attachments to mount; this baby is open and on the air. All you need to do is turn it on … which you can do with the Xbox Guide Button on your wireless controller. Synchronicity!
• No clutter: Ultimately, isn't that what it's all about? Wires are unsightly and dangerous. Trust me on this, my coffee table leaves marks when you unexpectedly strike the corner, and it ain't pretty.

The Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter.

Wireless Networking
The Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter is an eminently affordable accessory that plugs right into the back of your console—there are even a couple of little tabs built in to hold it fast while you use the wonders of modern technology to access Xbox Live. Talk about plug and play! Wireless networking is advantageous for a number of reasons:

• Next-gen wireless: The adapter installs with no power cables or other attachment and is equipped with the most advanced technology (802.11 a/b/g) so you can stream entertainment from your Windows® XP or Media Center PC.
• No cables: Ethernet cables are expensive, long, and dangerous. I told you about the coffee table, right? Now how many of you happen to have your Xbox sitting right next to your computer, or right next to an Ethernet router? Probably not many of you, and it's for you I make this recommendation. Go wi-fi and you won't need to fear the coffee table again.
• The wi-fi future: Your computer is going, if not already gone, over to the wireless side. Isn't it about time your game console did the same? You can bet that when your grandkids are playing whatever Xbox exists in 2050, they'll laugh at us primitives with our cables and our "Ethernet."
• Online experience: This is global gaming with no strings attached. Unleash the awe-inspiring online capabilities of Xbox Live without the inconvenience of cables or wires.
• Living space: Your space is valuable, and deserves to be tidy. I know mine does. That's why I took these helpful "before and after" photos with the help of one of the guys that does the real work on Xbox.com:

Don't be a slave to the cable and the wire. Unclutter your gaming area and your life with wireless controllers and wireless networking. Xbox 360 puts you at the center of the digital entertainment revolution, and unsightly cords are the last thing you need.

Article by Danny Chihdo

• Xbox 360 Wireless Controller specs.
• Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter specs.
• The ultimate wireless network.