The Media Key

The Media Key featured with the DreamX is an external BIOS that allows you to circumvent Microsoft’s signed code. As part of the license agreement to purchase the DreamX, you cannot use the modchip to run pirated software of movies. This hack is needed for two tasks.

First is allowing you to use XBMP, a 3rd party media player for the Xbox which allows you to play DVDs on the faster CPU (by allowing you to manually re-sync audio/video), as well as MP3s, MPEG-4 AVI, and JPEG’s. This is part of DreamX’s marketing as it allows you to convert a standard Xbox into a stand-alone media center. In comparison, Microsoft’s official media software for the Xbox, which has not yet been released, is dependent on a Windows XP Media Center PC.

The Media Key

The XBMP interface is similar to Windows XP Media Center Edition. This is a good thing. Fonts are large and easy to read, and navigation is well thought out. When playing movies, the controls are a virtual mirror of the Windows Media Player Corporate skin. While this is great when it comes to usability, it does cast doubt on the shadiness of XBMP. It is clear that it is an unlicensed DVD player that does not pay its royalties to the DVD forum, but that is something I've not yet understood. Technically, it seems that unlicensed DVD players should be illegal because they do not honor intellectual property. On the other hand, those $50 unlicensed DVD players are sold by large retail chains such as Best Buy, Wal-Mart, and even upscale retailer Macy's… so who knows.

Despite XBMP's strong showing for MP3 and AVI playback, it wasn't up to par when it came to DVDs. Some movies, such as Finding Nemo, refused to play.

Xbox Linux

An additional selling point of the 128MB of RAM and faster CPU is the appeal of using the Xbox as a Linux or MAME system. These software will take advantage of the extra computing power, and with companies such as Capcom releasing legal ROMs (bundled with the PC HotRod Joystick for example), MAME on Xbox is clearly an enticing thought.

DreamX-733

Recognizing the 1.48GHz CPU issues, Friendtech also offers a $379 DreamX-733. This is a standard Xbox with 128MB of RAM and the external Media Key. With a standard CPU, this unit is appropriately Xbox Live compatible. In theory, a cleverly written game could take advantage of the extra RAM, but we haven’t found any game in our testing that shows any benefit from the 128MB of RAM. The DreamX-733 is marketed as the system for someone wanting an Xbox that also serves as a Media Center.