Rumor: Xbox 360 CES Announcements Leaked

[patsu]

Why would they announce a bigger HDD for recording TV when the service is nearly 9 months away? Good way to gut sales. Same reason no SKU differences or price drops were announced. You want to clear current inventory and keep current sales strong until you make such a move.

Because they can introduce an optional bigger HDD without waiting for IPTV or revising the base model ? Some already want a bigger HDD for the current movie and TV download today.

I also thought they were going to release the IPTV soon (together with content partners and distribution relationships). I now wonder if we will see other announcements between now and Fall 2007 then (like Apple's long rumored MacTV in MacWorld).

As for clearing old inventory, it is also not uncommon for vendors to introduce "one-off" discounts/promotions (like you see in the holidays).

 

[Dave Baumann]

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2007/01/bill_gates_inte.html#more

Comments from Billy Boy in there.

 

[expletive]

They wont announce a new SKU within the return period of all the units bought over the holidays, talk about pissing off your retail partners...

 

[patsu]

They wont announce a new SKU within the return period of all the units bought over the holidays, talk about pissing off your retail partners...

Why does a bigger HDD (peripheral) need a new (base) SKU ? Can they just sell a bigger removable HDD since people seem to need them for downloading TV and movie files ?

 

[expletive]

Why does a bigger HDD (peripheral) need a new (base) SKU ? Can they just sell a bigger removable HDD since people seem to need them for downloading TV and movie files ?

It doesn't NEED a new SKU, just my thoughts on the introduction of a new SKU.

However, I do feel a larger HD without a new/replacement SKU may create more consumer angst than it solves if they were to announce a larger-HD SKU shortly after.

 

[patsu]

Hmm... yes, I can see that coming from some people. MS is probably preparing for a March talking point as we speak.

 

[inefficient]

Can't people upgrade their 360's HD's by themselves without too much trouble?
I thought all you needed was an SATA HD, imaging/backup software, and a screwdriver. If not MS, why aren't 3rd parties offering HD upgrade kits for the 360? Does it break the TOS or something?

Someone please update me on this.

 

[Tap In]

Can't people upgrade their 360's HD's by themselves without too much trouble?
I thought all you needed was an SATA HD, imaging/backup software, and a screwdriver. If not MS, why aren't 3rd parties offering HD upgrade kits for the 360? Does it break the TOS or something?

Someone please update me on this.

AFAIK it's a proprietary SATA connection to allow the HDD (which is a self-contained, exterior, clip-on attachment) to be moved around easily to different 360's ala portable storage.

I'd imagine it's been done though by some more adventuresome than me.

 

[Tap In]

More 360 info and numbers:

-Gears of War has sold an astounding 2.7 million copies in just 8 weeks of availability

-the Xbox 360 itself has seen an impressive attach rate of 5.3 titles per console.

-This attach rate is up slightly from the 5.1 games per console sold as confirmed by Microsoft in October

-Xbox Live Arcade has seen more than 20 million games downloaded to date.

-Microsoft says that currently 70 percent of Xbox Live members are downloading content from the Xbox 360's online marketplace.

-The average Xbox Live Gold member has more than 21 users registered as part of his or her Friends List, and that each day two million text, voice, and picture messages are sent between friends over Xbox Live.

-Microsoft is “on track” to reach 13-15 million console units shipped by the end of the fiscal year, as well as double the console's software library, which currently stands at 160 titles. (120 retail, 40 arcade?)

And for those following the format wars:

-HD DVD add on peripheral will realize an attach rate of 28 movies per device. (annualized ...thanks Dave)

-Lion's gate will be offering movies for download through Live this year.

 

[scooby_dooby]

I don't see how they will double the number of titles by March! End of their fiscal year is March 07 correct?

The HD-DVD number is very...strange, don't know what to make of that one...

 

[Dave Baumann]

Thats just inline with what the HD DVD forum put out in their press release

Using Nielsen data and retailer reports for title sales to date, the HD DVD studios projected an annualized attach rate of 28 movies per player.

 

[TrungGap]

I wonder if there's a way a MCE PC might be required as storage for DVR functionality. DVRs, especially for HD, start typically at like 250 GB of storage.

Well, currently the 360 can act as a media extender for a MCE. The interface is pretty spiffy. It allows you to change channel, record, browse your media from your 360. Very cool stuff...if you have a MCE already. So, IPTV is much different than MCE with an extender.

To me, what makes this IPTV announcement more important is content. It's one thing to offer a device like a Slingbox, but it's another to offer content. I'm sure MS would not announce this unless they have secured relationship with content providers.

I hope the fee is inline with services like Vongo (even though, Vongo is very limited in content selection).

 

[ErnstH]

Well, currently the 360 can act as a media extender for a MCE. The interface is pretty spiffy. It allows you to change channel, record, browse your media from your 360. Very cool stuff...if you have a MCE already. So, IPTV is much different than MCE with an extender.

To me, what makes this IPTV announcement more important is content. It's one thing to offer a device like a Slingbox, but it's another to offer content. I'm sure MS would not announce this unless they have secured relationship with content providers.

I hope the fee is inline with services like Vongo (even though, Vongo is very limited in content selection).

I'm not quite familiar with ipTV (television services aren't as evolved in The Netherlands.. ), but wouldn't you just be able to sign for any (compliant) ipTV service, just like a regular television service, where the Xbox would just act as the decoder/set-top box?

 

[wco81]

My Direct TV HR20 has 250 GB drive. That only holds 30-40 hours of HD recordings.

It also has an eSATA interface to replace the internal disk with a bigger external one.

Regarding whether the X360 would have to compress IPTV streams. Maybe not but you would think the IO would hit any games that needed to write to disk.

Also the question of network IO for handling IPTV and game packets simultaneously?

 

[Tap In]

yea, I doubt we're playing an online game and recording iptv, but they say you can chat while watching so who knows.

B Gates mentions in Dave's link above, that they don't expect recording as much as "on demand" for iptv but that could just be the company line until the bigger HDD is revealed.

 

[Sinistar]

For those not familiar with IPTV, here a link that gives information on ATT IPTV service (U-Verse).

http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=5838

It gives info about the service and channel line-up for various cities that they service.

 

[RobertR1]

yea, I doubt we're playing an online game and recording iptv, but they say you can chat while watching so who knows.

B Gates mentions in Dave's link above, that they don't expect recording as much as "on demand" for iptv but that could just be the company line until the bigger HDD is revealed.

If I can find my shows and most movies at "on demand" I don't care much for recording either. I delete the shows and movies after watching them anyway. Some might like to hold onto them for ages I suppose?

Ofcourse I expect a company line change after bigger HDD's are announced.

 

[wco81]

Doesn't DirecTV require a contract?

If you want the hardware subsidized or get programming credits, yes you have to commit for two years.

 

[Acert93]

I don't see how they will double the number of titles by March! End of their fiscal year is March 07 correct?

The HD-DVD number is very...strange, don't know what to make of that one...

I think MS's fiscal year ends in June? The period ending in June seems to be "4th quarter" for their earnings (example). Q1 ends at the end of September (example). But these companies have all sorts of calendars for different purposes--whatever suits them best I guess

But the 13-15M number was stated last E3 for their June 2007 target, so it all seems to line up. Btw, if they get get close to 15M and also have a price drop during or before summer I think with GTAIV, Halo 3, and the rest of their lineup they would be in position to exceed 20M in CY 2007. Not bad and would put them on pace for 45M-55M this generation like I originally guessed

 

[Tap In]

I think MS's fiscal year ends in June? The period ending in June seems to be "4th quarter" for their earnings (example). Q1 ends at the end of September (example). But these companies have all sorts of calendars for different purposes--whatever suits them best I guess

But the 13-15M number was stated last E3 for their June 2007 target, so it all seems to line up. Btw, if they get get close to 15M and also have a price drop during or before summer I think with GTAIV, Halo 3, and the rest of their lineup they would be in position to exceed 20M in CY 2007. Not bad and would put them on pace for 45M-55M this generation like I originally guessed

yep

20 million end 2007 but with Halo3 GTAIV and a $189 Core in 2008, we could see 65 million by Xbox 720.