In plain old, non-anger-inducing news, the peripheral maker has shipped a nifty little device to let gamers plug in an army of USB devices and get their multitap gaming on. The Multi Reader 360 should be available in most stores now and sports three USB slots.
Nyko is selling this unit as a way to connect multiple media devices to your 360 at one time, allowing for simultaneous music streaming and slideshow viewing from different sources. The MR360 also features a multi-format flash memory reader. You can plug Smart Media, Compact Flash, Memory Stick/Pro or Secure Digital cards into the unit, without interfering with the three USB ports.
Because the Xbox 360 is stubbornly resistant to drag and drop file transfers, you might not be able to use this gadget as the central nervous system of a 360 powered media monster, but multiple device connections is certainly convenient. You might, of course, be able to use one of the hundreds of USB adapters already available to accomplish some of this, but full 360 support is always a good thing, in a time when full device compatibility lists are hard to come by.
The most useful feature seems to be the multi-controller functionality, allowing you to plug a total of four wired controllers into the front of the console (three into the Nyko unit and one into the remaining USB slot on the 360). Unlike some USB hubs, the MR360 draws all its power from the 360, making it AC adaptor free.
The Multi Reader 360 is retailing now for $29.99. Please keep in mind, I haven't held the item in my hands, so any opinions shared are strictly my own meager interpretations.
