News & Rumors: Xbox One (codename Durango)

Going to wear a tinfoil Ufo hat for a minute - is the Jaguar and rumored gpu cheaper than the current 360 systems, and if so could it be enough to emulate a 360? So my hat idea is that Durango is more powerful and all the rumors we know are 360 related. /I know, I know

Back to earth - some rumors were 360 related so that is interesting for sure. If all this is true, humorous!

 

All true, and when you setup media center you go through an easy process of selecting your current cable box, otherwise you can program via remote control. Easy to update the box listing, and based on what is available it will set that up(IP, serial, ir, hdmi, etc)

Vgleaks updated to say only the mini works with Durango control, old 360 would be standalone.

This adds to my belief that this is incredibly fresh info, as it has been updated a few times now.

 

I don't think there's any point in emulating the 360, the PS3 isn't going to attempt to either. And even if Microsoft dumps all that R&D into trying to do so, can you honestly tell me anyone bothers to use that feature now?

Nah, a cheaper 360 will be a better solution for the forseeable future.

 

Yes, one came free with a TV I bought a couple of years ago and I played with it. It was okay, but in the end I found that I just prefered using the built in functionality of my STB over it. All it really did was overlay its own guide over the video feed, and combine it with streamed services. It also allowed you to put the feed in PIP if you want to use something else like the web browser or apps (most of which sucked horribly on GTV).

The problem with these type of units is that it forces people to hook up multiple HDMI cables, IR blasters, etc. For a techie its not a problem, but a general consumer will be put off by it. It doesn't really provide much functionality over todays Smart TVs and STBs anyway. Personally I don't think this would be the right move for MS. If they want to go in that direction, aim to be a STB replacement, not a STB complement.

 

TV UI's are awful. I'm certain MS can exceed them in this area.

 

No.

 

Given that its a secondary feature and probably isn't a forced setup, I doubt MS can go wrong. At worse no one uses it and MS wasted an HDMI in and software development time. Even then telling the 720 to turn on without having to change input is a win in my book, so the HDMI in is still useful.

Control over IP is becoming more ubiquitous as we speak as the desire to control a setup box is not strictly limited to MS. In the near future, using IR blasters may be only necessary if you don't feel like picking the newest setup box from your cable provider.

 

It doesn't sound like a secondary feature. If they want it to be always on and be the "main set top" in the living room, it has to have TV viewing features.

Most of the time, people are going to have their TVs on the input for the DVR. Then they switch to DVD or the console inputs as needed.

 

Durango blocks your remote or disable TV guides other than itself?

Its a secondary feature because its not the primary function of a game console, which is to play games.

 

I guess we'll see when they reveal. My guess is, it bypasses the need for DVR with access to OnDemand content.

So if you want to see shows which have aired already, you access the cable on demand stuff.

Probably while you're watching TV, you'll get messages and game invites popping up in the corner of your TV screen. Which you can disable if you don't want to be interrupted.

 

Not everything is available through OnDemand. Thats why OnDemand hasn't killed DVR as a feature available on a setup box.

Furthermore, if Durango can play OnDemand it can play DVR. One is streaming off the HDD and one is streaming from the internet. How does either delivery method make it more feasible for Durango to access that data. It all passes through the setup box.

 

DVRs need tuner hardware and dedicated storage. Accessing on demand doesn't need as much hardware.

As I've said before, I'd love it if it has DVR features. A Tivo Premiere XL4 costs $900 with lifetime subscription. If the Xbox lets you record 2 or 4 shows at a time and you could stream it to other clients in the house (whole home DVR) and also sync recordings to mobile devices, it would be a killer product.

 

while we have yet to see exactly what benefits it brings I think the main intention is to not be switching inputs and keep your focus on Xbox at all times, whether it's games, movies, cable tv, music, or other online Xbox services like Skype, EVERYTHING is through one interface. Tv is just a small part of it and all can be operated by voice and switched to and from at all times.

 

I've actually given decent thought to how they can differentiate SKU's effectively in a "every SKU has a HDD" environment.

I actually think it wont be too hard. Rumors were it will come with a 500GB HDD. The HDD's in next gen are going to be big, 500 or 640 GB. So one SKU can have 500GB and the low can have say, 160. You could also fiddle with things like a mic as a pack in etc.

I think most people would go for the high 500 GB SKU. I think next gen with 25-50GB Blu Ray games, rumored mandatory installs, and generally increasing assets, you're going to need a lot more storage space.

Also, with Xbox the HDD is not designed to be user replaceable so your example their doesn't hold. even for PS3, I'd bet only 5% of people actually are ever tech inclined enough to replace the HDD. The masses just want a drop in solution or stay with whatever it comes with forever.

 

Trying to pull 160GB hard drives when games must be installed will only drive people to the PS4.

 

Thanks Scott that helped. Seems a lot like we have now the 360, but available all the time even with live TV. Seems like Durango would just be the last HDMI device to connect to the TV & everything else connects to it. Wonder if they HDMI In would support HDMI splitters? So if you happen to have multiple HDMI devices.

Ahh. So Google TV is a platform & there are devices that implement that platform. Looking more into it, seems kinda cool.

Looks like the 2nd & 3rd generation are pretty simple to use...

http://www.vizio.com/costar/overview
http://www.netgear.com/landing/stream/tv/#googletv

Thanks guys for the feedback.

Tommy McClain

 

You think too much like a hardcore/elitist gamer. Think like your Average Joe. Why do you think the Xbox 360 Core/Arcade/4gb models did so well. Price matters.

Tommy McClain

 

Yeah, this is not new news.

It'll be able to do stuff like PiP your incoming Skype call when your watching TV or pop up XBL friend notifications etc.

Durango doesn't work as a DVR - unlike the 2010 roadmap suggested.

 

True if Durango is meant to be a DVR. Easier route is simply try to slave the setup box. I can't imagine any cable provider openly inviting any DVR competitor into it's ecosystem. DVR represents a revenue stream for those companies so I doubt they will work closely with MS at their own expense.

 

Cable companies all buy their DVRs from someone, like Scientific American or Motorolla or whatever. I'm sure many would jump at the chance of being the exclusive provider of an Xbox 720 DVR in their region. Only $99 with a 2 year commitment of Xfinity triple-play (new subscribers only)! Point is, these would be deal made directly with the cable companies, perhaps with custom versions of the hardware. Plus, it does not seem like Durango would actually provide full house coverage the way newer whole home DVRs do, so Comcast can probably still get $20/month in DVR rental fees out of Durango owners.