News & Rumors: Xbox One (codename Durango)

[DJ12]

See my reply to (((interference))) in one of the other threads on what I think of that Techradar article. Not much.

Tommy McClain

Why though pretty sure they are no worse than vgleaks. In fact most people have been arguing against vgleaks for months. Now they are saying something positive we should all believe them?

No thanks. I will take things under advisement as previously. More rumours are aligned with techradar than vgleaks right now.

 

[Brad Grenz]

I don't understand how you're still talking about a tuner being included, much less 2?! What sources are using that a tuner is going to be included? Only one I've ever seen was Pachter, but he back-peddled on that & said he meant IPTV instead.

Tommy McClain

We've been talking about lots of different business models. MS has lots of options depending on who they partner with, including special DVR models of Durango (with integrated tuner hardware) to be sold in partnership with Cable providers. Pachter's ideas about IPTV are just a theory. It's all speculative, but there have been "Durango is a DVR" rumors for a long while.

 

[dagamer]

We've been talking about lots of different business models. MS has lots of options depending on who they partner with, including special DVR models of Durango (with integrated tuner hardware) to be sold in partnership with Cable providers. Pachter's ideas about IPTV are just a theory. It's all speculative, but there have been "Durango is a DVR" rumors for a long while.

Thing is, I think a DVR isn't skating to where the puck will be, but where the puck has been. Perhaps in 2009-2010, having a DVR in Durango would have been a great idea, but when you see the rise of TV streaming apps, it's just a poor investment, at least in the US. I'd just hoping it doesn't turn into every content provider having an app, as trying to deal with 40+ apps to watch 40 different kinds of content is unmanageable.

 

[wco81]

Yeah I really don't see individual apps. for each channel either.

It really depends on whether they can break the a la carte model or they will force you to subscribe to dozens of channels you don't want, just to get the dozen channels you do want.

Nobody has cracked that yet, not Apple, not MS, not Congress.

 

[Brad Grenz]

Thing is, I think a DVR isn't skating to where the puck will be, but where the puck has been. Perhaps in 2009-2010, having a DVR in Durango would have been a great idea, but when you see the rise of TV streaming apps, it's just a poor investment, at least in the US. I'd just hoping it doesn't turn into every content provider having an app, as trying to deal with 40+ apps to watch 40 different kinds of content is unmanageable.

I actually agree with that assessment. I do think it is fairly likely MS is hitching the next Xbox to DVR features in a big way, and I think that will ultimately prove a costly mistake as more and more people look to cut the cord.

 

[Cyan]

F-Zero was amazing game... the music the "Mode 7" graphics... perfectly challenging :smile:

/off topic.. and don't forget the sound effects. the noise when you jump of a ramp and that gorgeous thump as you make a perfect landing... man no game has come close since. Damn, I'm gonna have to go play me some right now! /off topic

Yes, those hovercrafts are dazzling. An unforgettable game. I agree with you on the music -my favourite is Big Blue music-.

I am baffled by the absence of a similar game on the Xbox tbh. (I have the indie game Antigrav Racing Championship but it's not the same)

PS users are lucky they have Wipeout, and Nintendo has the wonderful F-Zero, one of the best titles of all time, imho.

A few years ago I registered on www.mrfixitonline.com , a wonderful site for those who played Age of Empires, and a site I have very fond memories of.

As time passed they focused on other games and I found out that mrfixitonline webmasters were F-Zero fanatics like me, they created an exclusive section focused on the title.

They registered people's best times, world records, faqs, etc, and they are now extinct, but they became a F-Zero exclusive site and managed to save the database and create.... http://fzerocentral.org/home_fzero.php

So thanks Mr. Fixit and blue_myriddn for all your hard work and your amazing moderation in your forums, and thanks for the memories.

/OFF TOPIC

Now, back on subject....

According to yet a new rumour -we are doomed to deal with them for a while, seeing how tight-lipped are MS regarding the machine- the new Xbox could be called Xbox 720. I'd rather prefer it to be named as Xbox Infinity if you ask me.

http://www.xboxer360.com/news/has-the-next-xbox-been-confirmed-as-the-720/

 

[bkilian]

According to yet a new rumour -we are doomed to deal with them for a while, seeing how tight-lipped are MS regarding the machine- the new Xbox could be called Xbox 720. I'd rather prefer it to be named as Xbox Infinity if you ask me.

http://www.xboxer360.com/news/has-the-next-xbox-been-confirmed-as-the-720/

I wouldn't read too much into it. Even internally we sometimes talked about the "720". It's just a shorthand invented by the internet that allows anyone hearing it to instinctively know what you're talking about. Trust me on this, no one outside of a few marketing folks and execs know the name of the next console at this point.

 

[(((interference)))]

I actually agree with that assessment. I do think it is fairly likely MS is hitching the next Xbox to DVR features in a big way, and I think that will ultimately prove a costly mistake as more and more people look to cut the cord.

They're not, the only DVR features they'll have our game DVR like PS4.

Media streaming is where the puck is, not DVR.

 

[Dregun]

A pretty big "if"...but...

What "IF" MS pitched the new Xbox to cable companies and had them buy them?

Think about it, if the box has a cable card slot, a large enough hd and allows DVR functionality then they could pitch this to the cableco and have them buy them. Then the cable companies can put these in homes and replace the current DVR's. The cableco could easily charge an extra 5-10 dollars a month to the customer for this service.

The consumer would have an extremely powerful DVR, possibly even allowing it to record shows while the system is being used for gaming MS could reach even a larger market if the cableco decided to replace all current HD DVR's with the new Xbox's. "IF" MS really only cares about at the best; breaking even on the console sales it doesn't seem so implausible.

MS has always wanted to get into the living room ever since they saw the PS2 fill the role they were hoping the PC would do. The Xbox was a great success for them in many regards but not exactly what MS had hoped for at the height of the PC era.

Another food for thought idea, since the machine would be hooked into the cableco network the Xbox could get a direct connection to the internet.as well. The cableco and MS could "bundle" a Silver or Gold package along with internet/cable TV etc etc.

It's a win for the cableco to deter "cord cutting"
It's a win for MS to get boxes in places they have not been able to do so yet.

Being someone who hasn't cut the cord yet and has a really crappy DVR; I'd welcome with open arms LIVE's interface and functionality for DVR'ing. The Xbox could social engineer the TV viewing experience and make it relevant again.

Watching your DVR'd "Walking Dead"?
Great hit B and have director commentary streamed from the web overlayed in a PIP.

Watching it Live instead?
Great, hit A and have a small pop up window underneath showing real time conversation about the show.

Playing the new walking dead game?
Awesome, since you just finished watching the show a new mini map has been opened based on a location you just saw on TV.,,,or a bonus cache of weapons was just deposited into your game for being a "fan":.

Having a console that is "connected' in such a way opens up a whole new world of possibilities to converge TV and video games.

 

[Grall]

I don't buy all this DVR talk. Swiss army knife type devices are rarely successful, which is why companies like Apple adopted the "don't try to do everything - be good at what you actually do" approach.

Xbox is a games console, and it should stay that way; for its own sake. One device to rule them all for MS to try and take over the living room - I totally don't buy it. Packing in DVR shit and card readers and whatnot, it just makes the device more expensive without adding benefit for those who don't need, or want a DVR, or may have one already. In fact it may deter such people from buying an xbox in the first place, for those very reasons.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I don't buy all this DVR talk. Swiss army knife type devices are rarely successful, which is why companies like Apple adopted the "don't try to do everything - be good at what you actually do" approach.

Apple advertise iPad as does everything. Certainly if I have the choice of a games console and a very similar games console that also does a whole load more because it's got more involved software, I'll buy the latter. Heck, even Nintendo have started including non-gaming stuff in their consoles! I don't buy into PVR functionality because of the need for hardware tuners and the like, but I do expect everything that can be delivered over the internet to be supported.

 

[Cjail]

I don't buy all this DVR talk. Swiss army knife type devices are rarely successful, which is why companies like Apple adopted the "don't try to do everything - be good at what you actually do" approach.

Xbox is a games console, and it should stay that way; for its own sake. One device to rule them all for MS to try and take over the living room - I totally don't buy it. Packing in DVR shit and card readers and whatnot, it just makes the device more expensive without adding benefit for those who don't need, or want a DVR, or may have one already. In fact it may deter such people from buying an xbox in the first place, for those very reasons.

Consoles are not just for video game since PS2.
And having additional hardware/functionality didn't deter anyone from buying mobile phones, tablets and so on.
The time of mono-function devices is over.
I think MS wants to release the ideal entertainment machine and surely they can't do that if all the Xbox can do is video games.
Xbox will still be mainly for games, nobody will take away that purpose, but it won't be limited to that and it's for the best.

Consoles good just for video game is almost anachronistic.

 

[french toast]

This makes total sense to me, we know microsoft has been working on dvr functionality through old patents..

We know microsoft has been trying to make 360 into a set top box substitute, there was some rumours a while back that said 720/loop/infinity was aiming to replace the set top completely. .complete with cable providers shipping on contract.

We have also sumised on this forum - as well as analysts- that Microsoft could expand the live membership to subsidise the unit itself..this latest rumour of 2skus..one dvr..one gaming was also rumoured and discussed on these forums many moons ago.

This latest leak makes total sense for both microsoft and consumer on every level....as the saying goes there is no smoke without fire...and theres been so much smoke on this issue over a two year period its got to be a lock on..for me anyway.

I would be more concerned about the hardcore gaming on this thing...because where im coming from listerning to current rumours xbox has 30-50% performance to make up. .maybe more if you take that ram usage as fact.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

...as the saying goes there is no smoke without fire...

Chemical smoke as used in smoke grenades and theatrics says otherwise. It's very easy to create smoke and give everyone the impression of a fire that doesn't exist, so presence of smoke shouldn't really be taken as evidence to what the cause is.

There's a major reason not to go the PVR route - it's added cost and everyone already has a PVR, more or less. If it were a free addition, no harm done. Nothing wrong with adding an option even if people don't use it. But as a TV connection adds cost, and many potential buyers aren't going to want replace their existing box, and/or don't want the console tied to the TV (how do you take your console round a mate's if it's also set to record TV while you're out?!), it makes little business sense to me to go that route.

 

[wco81]

Agree that it won't be Cable Card DVR. Too costly, which is the same reason the cable companies won't replace their crappy DVRs with the 720.

Don't buy the streaming content either, outside of Netflix. Btw the cable cos HATE Netflix, as well as any kind of cord cutting so its doubtful they are cooperating with the cable operators.

 

[Grall]

Consoles are not just for video game since PS2.

Yeah, technology progresses. Imagine that! That however doesn't mean there should be cable tuners (multiple!), crypto card slots and DVR functionality built into a console. That's not a direct path of progression for console technology, that would be branching off onto a sidetrack towards a market that's frankly destined for extinction (meaning: traditional passive TV watching.)

And having additional hardware/functionality didn't deter anyone from buying mobile phones, tablets and so on.

No, because adding those features made sense. This does not. It just complicates things for MS, and quite frankly for cable distributers as well whom would not benefit by this scheme at all. It also makes the console more costly (and likely by quite a bit.)

The time of mono-function devices is over.

Yeah, your stove is SO out of fashion... All you can do with it is cook food!

Seriously though... That which you just wrote is merely handwavy noise. It doesn't actually mean anything in the real world, there's plenty devices out there that don't do more than one thing. Your printer is typically not also a document shredder (although in the case of my aging laser printer, that's debatable...), your router isn't also a fax (shit, I'm really showing my age here! Who here's faxed anything in the last decade? ), and so on.

I think MS wants to release the ideal entertainment machine and surely they can't do that if all the Xbox can do is video games.

There's no such thing as an "ideal" consumer device, ever. MS are pragmatists above everything else. I'm staking whatever credibility I may have left there will NOT be a single cable tuner or card slots in durango, because it wouldn't make sense. This is just pipedreams, grasping at straws and wishful thinking. If it has any DVR functionality at all it's only relating to streaming internet video, which may not actually buffer/record to the on-board HDD at all, due to paranoid content providers worrying about their copyrights.

Content providers would rather all DVR stuff just went *poof* and disappeared in a puff of smoke, so that everyone would be slaves chained to their TV listings and commercial breaks.

 

[Grall]

(how do you take your console round a mate's if it's also set to record TV while you're out?!)

Worse, what will you do when your launch-generation durango red-rings? Not only can't you play xbox games anymore until it gets fixed/replaced, now you can't record TV shows either. Makes your living room experience more fragile, not really any better.

 

[french toast]

Chemical smoke as used in smoke grenades and theatrics says otherwise. It's very easy to create smoke and give everyone the impression of a fire that doesn't exist, so presence of smoke shouldn't really be taken as evidence to what the cause is.

There's a major reason not to go the PVR route - it's added cost and everyone already has a PVR, more or less. If it were a free addition, no harm done. Nothing wrong with adding an option even if people don't use it. But as a TV connection adds cost, and many potential buyers aren't going to want replace their existing box, and/or don't want the console tied to the TV (how do you take your console round a mate's if it's also set to record TV while you're out?!), it makes little business sense to me to go that route.

Yes nothing is set in stone, but I was under the impression we are talking about the seperate boxes...the xbox mini/361 would be the dvr...which could act alone or linked via the hdmi feed which would enable new experiences and backwards compatibility.

The idea in that situation os that you could buy each on their own..or both with a slick stacking system. ..the dvr/361 would be bundled as a higher end tivo box by the cable companies...or both combined like some kind of phone contract.

Each would be sold as stand alone systems . For cash if people didnt want to sign their life away..or just for replacements.

If it's a spoof its a very well thought out and clever one...personally I think it makew sense and matches most of the links/rumours about 2 apus, dvr, and 2 skus...

It would kill apple tv dead..ad well as wii u...ps4 obviously would compete with the hardcore plus extras.

 

[french toast]

Worse, what will you do when your launch-generation durango red-rings? Not only can't you play xbox games anymore until it gets fixed/replaced, now you can't record TV shows either. Makes your living room experience more fragile, not really any better.

2 seperate boxes able to go to different locations. .or combine as one for extra benefits.

RRD will hopefully be avoided..but with the scenario leaked via verge? I don't see how it changes anything. .720 breaks? No problem just send that off and use 361.

 

[wco81]

Has anyone seen those Samsung Smart TV adverts?

Looks like it's tracking motion gestures, like Kinect for a TV interface would do presumably. The guy is talking into his remote for recommendations on what to watch, S-recommendations or somehting like that.

I think their Galaxy smart phones have that, as well as their Siri knockoff, S-Voice.

They're advertising the hell out of it but of course, if they have to embed a more powerful processor into the TV, it makes it more expensive and then the processor gets outdated quickly.