MS to release Xbox 360 with HD-DVD in 2006

[Slay]

Doesn't xbox360 already have support for HD-DVD, and Blu-ray too.
All you need is a PC With Windows XP Media Center Edition, and a HD-DVD and/or BR drive

No, it doesn't even stream DVD's from a Windows Media Center PC.

 

[rabidrabbit]

If you bought your xbox360 for gaming, as I think people did, I don't see why you should feel you got an inferior product.
Had HD movies been high on your priority, surely you'd waited for PS3, or just planned to buy one in addition to your xbox360

 

[rabidrabbit]

No, it doesn't even stream DVD's from a Windows Media Center PC.

Well, but that could easily be fixed with a software update if needed, right?

 

[Slay]

Well, but that could easily be fixed with a software update if needed, right?

You must ask yourself why they didn't include streaming support for DVD's via WMC in the first place, i'd say it's because of copyright or licencing problems, and on top of that hd-dvd and blu-ray require HDCP, and 360 doesn't have a digital video output capable of HDCP implementation.

P.S. The new edit function of the forum ROCKS

 

[Titanio]

Well, but that could easily be fixed with a software update if needed, right?

Maybe, but I wonder if there are copy-protection issues?

I'm not sure about DVD, but with studios being so picky about their HD movies only going out over HDCP compliant connections, I'm wondering how they'd feel about it being broadcast over an ethernet or wireless connection..

 

[scooby_dooby]

You must ask yourself why they didn't include streaming support for DVD's via WMC in the first place, i'd say it's because of copyright or licencing problems, and on top of that hd-dvd and blu-ray require HDCP, and 360 doesn't have a digital video output capable of HDCP implementation.

P.S. The new edit function of the forum ROCKS

well MCE is basically a test run for Vista, so it has fairly limited functionality now, but I bet it will be leaps and bounds better over the next 2 years. They've talked a ton about sharing media from the PC to the extenders around the house, and have specifically almost forced the BR group into adopting standards to support this, so I'm pretty sure you can expect it in the future.

Maybe 360 doesn't play DVD's from the PC cause it's already a dvd player itself? Or maybe theyre just holding off until Vista and concentrating their efforts there.

 

[LunchBox]

Heh, I read it as "if they do it they would [...]" instead of "they would if [...]". My bad.

no worries i apologize as well for my fragmented sentencing.

 

[speng]

MS to bundle HD-DVD in Vista

Microsoft is really trying to forestall Blu-Ray since it will also help XBox 360s to sell.

http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/...d=T5T1J0TLT5EHIQSNDBESKHA?articleID=175400242

Several industry sources last week told EE Times that Microsoft is muscling into the optical-disk fray by leveraging its operating-system clout to bundle HD-DVD within Vista, the company's next-generation OS. There is also talk that the software giant may be planning to offer cash incentives — in the form "coupons" — to system vendors or retailers if they agree to support HD-DVD. Such coupons would provide "credits" or "memos" for each PC that is sold with HD-DVD inside.

Speng.

 

[avaya]

Microsoft is really trying to forestall Blu-Ray since it will also help XBox 360s to sell.

http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/...d=T5T1J0TLT5EHIQSNDBESKHA?articleID=175400242



Speng.

Wow. Microsoft is getting very desperate now, this pretty much cements the opinion they paid off HP.

I can see lawsuit(s) if this is true.

 

[overclocked]

Microsoft is really trying to forestall Blu-Ray since it will also help XBox 360s to sell.

http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/...d=T5T1J0TLT5EHIQSNDBESKHA?articleID=175400242



Speng.

Hmm, nothing suprise me with MS, they have behaved like Intel or even worse..

 

[speng]

Another short quote, for those with limited time.

Consider, for example, Microsoft's Xbox 360. The new game console is already on the market despite the absence of a high-definition strategy, said one source. The Xbox 360 is based on a current-generation DVD drive. The longer the next-generation high-definition DVD format battle persists, the better the opportunity for Microsoft to downplay the HD capability scheduled for integration in Sony's upcoming Blu-ray-based Playstation 3 game machine.

On page 2 there is talk about stalling for digital download services instead of both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.

Speng.

 

[mckmas8808]

Not being funny, but how is changes to the system much of a surpise to anyone? They've been saying they will follow the HD formats and potentially release one at some point in time.

Personally its always been my expectation that when the die shrink comes along they would offer a lower cost version at the current specs and an "HD" version (HD optical format, HDMI/HDCP capable) at around the current prices or a premium.

It is a surprise because MS said they were going to wait to see who won the HD movie wars, THEN implement a HD movie player. So basically if this is true MS is scared that Blu-ray may give Sony too big of an upper hand.

 

[RancidLunchmeat]

It is a surprise because MS said they were going to wait to see who won the HD movie wars, THEN implement a HD movie player. So basically if this is true MS is scared that Blu-ray may give Sony too big of an upper hand.

Or, they think that if BR isn't adopted the failure for Sony would be so huge it would prevent them from being competitive in the console market, and not allow them to match MS' planned price cuts.

It's extremely one sided to believe that MS is frightened of BR. Perhaps MS realizes that if they can kill BR off, they can help to financially cripple (or at least wound) a competitor.

 

[expletive]

Microsoft is really trying to forestall Blu-Ray since it will also help XBox 360s to sell.

http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/...d=T5T1J0TLT5EHIQSNDBESKHA?articleID=175400242



Speng.

Not for anything, but myself and a few others claimed this would happen months ago. Why is MS using their market leverage to promote their HD optical format of choice any different than Sony putting BR in a PS3? Its no different, and to think MS is worse than any other company that uses its leverage its naive.

 

[mckmas8808]

Or, they think that if BR isn't adopted the failure for Sony would be so huge it would prevent them from being competitive in the console market, and not allow them to match MS' planned price cuts.

It's extremely one sided to believe that MS is frightened of BR. Perhaps MS realizes that if they can kill BR off, they can help to financially cripple (or at least wound) a competitor.

I don't have a problem with them adding HD-DVD to Vista. But what I do have a problem with is them trying to put HD-DVD into the 360 in 2006 and acting like they wanted to do that the whole time.

I'm pretty sure that the Blu-ray movie sales will better support its format than HD-DVD being ingrained into Vista.

 

[expletive]

I don't have a problem with them adding HD-DVD to Vista. But what I do have a problem with is them trying to put HD-DVD into the 360 in 2006 and acting like they wanted to do that the whole time.

How do you know they didnt want to the whole time and couldnt becuase of their launch schedule?

I'm pretty sure that the Blu-ray movie sales will better support its format than HD-DVD being ingrained into Vista.

For stand alone BR players vs Vista PCs, yes. For the PS3 i would expect a similar 'attach rate' as Vista (when used as an MCE box) with their respective formats.

 

[mckmas8808]

For stand alone BR players vs Vista PCs, yes. For the PS3 i would expect a similar 'attach rate' as Vista (when used as an MCE box) with their respective formats.

Respectfully speaking though expletive people want next gen movie media more for movies than computers. I know it's not as simple as that one sentence, but if a company was starting a next gen movie media I would want to sell more movies.

And this still doesn't stop Blu-ray from working with Vista or being bundled in Vista computers.

 

[wco81]

Do the price drops that traditionally come a little into the lifetime of a console signal that things are wrong or piss off early adopters?

Sega CD, 32X?

Were those expansions received well?

Then the Saturn following closely after?

 

[expletive]

Respectfully speaking though expletive people want next gen movie media more for movies than computers. I know it's not as simple as that one sentence, but if a company was starting a next gen movie media I would want to sell more movies.

I'm not sure what you mean here, can you elaborate a little. My point is that people who have Vista as an MCE box will probably buy about the same amount of HD-DVD movies as a PS3 owner will of BR. People who buy stand alone players will buy more of that format though since they are clearly buying the thing ONLY to play HD movies and not 'might play HD movies on it' like Vista and the PS3.

And this still doesn't stop Blu-ray from working with Vista or being bundled in Vista computers.

No one said it did, the reply was in response to MS making it very easy (via cost) for OEMs to put HD-DVD drives in Vista PCs. I would think there will also be features that are only supported by using HD-DVD, seeing as its MS' (and it seems intel's)best interest for that format to propagate in the wintel world.

 

[wco81]

Not for anything, but myself and a few others claimed this would happen months ago. Why is MS using their market leverage to promote their HD optical format of choice any different than Sony putting BR in a PS3? Its no different, and to think MS is worse than any other company that uses its leverage its naive.

It may go beyond promotiong HD-DVD (with bribes) and more towards FUD against Blu-Ray and even sabotaging both if it suited their purposes:

- It is said that Amir Majidimehr, General Manager & Vice President of Microsoft's Digital Media Division, told to Disney top officials about denial of iHD adoption to the BD spec, "Microsoft would concentrate all resources to react to the threat of the BD. We don't mind to delay the format standardization process and mess up next generation optical disc market". That is, Microsoft's aim is crushing HD video package business itself unless its own technologies, vested interest are adopted in the next gen optical disc.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=6795079&&#post6795079

The EE times article also noted its interest in promoting VOD and downloads over packaged media and stopping BD-J at all costs.

And of course, it should be no surprise they want to stop any advantage the Blu-Ray drive may provide to the PS3.

MS is in a class by itself when it comes to strong-arming the competition. All the choice quotes which came out of the trial still reflects the culture over there apparently.