Microsoft has ended months of speculation and rumour by announcing a revamped and slimmer Xbox 360 console today at E3. The redesigned console ditches the boring beige colour of the original Xbox in favour of a nightmare to photograph, ultra shiny black finish. The console also looks much more menacing and angular, but in a good way as you can see.

As it's an updated console and not actually a new architecture there isn't a whole lot to talk about, but the new console does sport built in wireless connectivity of the 'n' variety no less. Built in wireless is something that Xbox 360 users have been craving for since the launch of the original and something the PS3 fanbois have been poking fun at for far to long now, well not any more. As well as this the new slim version features the following:

• Touch sensitive buttons
• 250GB hard drive which is also swappable
• Kinect port, this port will provide power and data transmission to and from Kinect (formally natal). Original Xbox 360 consoles will need to use one USB port for each operation.
• Quieter running, reportedly whisper quiet (uses one larger fan as opposed to two on the original boxes).
• Five USB ports, two of which are on the front
• Integrated CPU/GPU based on a 45nm manufacturing process.

Although it is much smaller the console still makes use of an external, albeit smaller more efficient 'power brick', which may disappoint some. What will also disappoint is the lack of a Blu-Ray drive. For months rumours have been circulating that Microsoft would build Blu-Ray support into their console, but hope of that happening any time soon has all but vanished.

What won't disappoint is the fact that gamers in the US can get their hands on the new Xbox 360 (that's it's official name) as early as this week for $299. Gamers in the UK/EU can get their hands on one from July 16th.