Gallery: Close Up With Xbox One: Every Photo You Could Ever Want
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More on Xbox One[](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/05/xbox-one/) [Exclusive First Look at Xbox One](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/05/xbox-one/)[](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/05/xbox-one-development-photos/) [Behind the Scenes of Xbox One's Development](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gadgetlab/2013/05/xbox-one-development-photos/)[](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gamelife/2013/05/xbox-one-analysis/) [How Xbox One Will Fight Sony, Steam, and Everything Else](http://stag-komodo.wired.com/gamelife/2013/05/xbox-one-analysis/)When Senior Principal Creative Director Carl Ledbetter and his team set out to design the Xbox One, the only rule they had is everything had to be drawn without lifting a pen. "If you can't," he says, "it's too complicated." What they wound up with is a console and Kinect sensor far more rectilinear than the Xbox 360. That allowed them to fully engage the design language of the Xbox's UI, which in turn stemmed from Windows 8 and its 16:9 tiling. The controller is less of a departure, though its sleeker form factor hides a number of tweaks to address the concerns of 360 gamers. A new videogame console is always an event, but to get so much access before it's seen by the rest of the world is far rarer. As part of WIRED's exclusive look at the development and capabilities of the Xbox One, we present a detailed look at the hardware. (Well, the exterior of it, at least. We've got another gallery for the insides.) Can you spot all the changes?
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The new controller has a laundry list of incremental improvements, from a more precise cross-shaped D-pad to knurled thumbstick rims for better grip.
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A new connector for voice chat and other accessories can power a 5.1 headset without amplifiers.
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The ABXY buttons are slightly lower and spaced more tightly, with the Menu and View buttons (no more Start and Select) moved out of the way to avoid accidental presses.
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The controller still takes AA batteries, but the humplike compartment is gone. So are the screwholes.
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New "impulse triggers" feature haptic feedback, and the shoulder buttons are nearly continuous for easier transition from trigger to bumper.
A blade of grass.0720130514-XBOX-ONE-007
The new Kinect sensor: like a tiny robot winking at you. We told Microsoft they should use that as a slogan; we're still waiting to hear back on that.
A section of my skin.0820130514-XBOX-ONE-008
The side panels of the Kinect echo the venting panel on top of the Xbox One console, and the multi-mic array is separated from the main body, making the sensor appear to levitate.
A small wood-chip from my boys' favorite playground.0920130514-XBOX-ONE-009
Top view of the Kinect sensor. Yup, more venting references. Note the branding: just XBOX, no model name.
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The Xbox One console, front view.
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From the top, the 50-50 split (glossy solid panel/matte vented panel) is clearly visible.
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Close-up view of the optical drive.
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Connections galore: power input, HDMI In and Out ports surrounding the Kinect connection jack, two more USB 3.0 ports, an optical in for audio, and an Ethernet jack.
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The side closer to the optical drive, with a USB 3.0 jack.
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The console's other side, where the 50-50 split is repeated.
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The triplets.
