3rd Party Peripherals for Xbox 360

In a new revenue generating and/or quality control scheme, Microsoft will have strict control over 3rd party produced peripherals for the Xbox 360. The revenue sharing model will require 3rd party manufacturers to share part of the wholesale price of the peripheral with Microsoft. In addition, there will be tight security built into the Xbox 360, so that it will recognize only those products approved by Microsoft. On the one hand, you can look at this as a new way to squeeze money out of the console. On the other, you can look at this as a quality control system for the 360 so that only the best peripherals make it. It's an interesting way to do business, and as CNet points out, is similar to an iPod revenue sharing model for its 3rd party peripherals. I think that MS is following Apple's every move when it comes to the 360...from design, to revenue models, to interface. Hey, it's not a bad model to follow.