X360 HD-DVD to use USB

[wco81]

This new accessory will connect to the Xbox 360 console with a USB cable, enabling it to harness the power of the Xbox 360 console for the HD video outputs and digital surround sound.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/news/events/e32006/articles/20060507-hddvdexplained.htm

It sounds like that would mean it outputs video through the analog component port. So MS would be hoping that the studios don't release titles with ICT set.

Or they could say downrezzed pics are still better than any DVD picture.

Or they could come out with some kind of a DVI/HDCP dongle. Of course, there were predictions by some here on the boards who were predicting some kind of HDMI or DVI cable.

 

[DemoCoder]

I love the FUD

HD DVD also offers new "twin discs" that have an HD DVD version and a DVD version on the same disc. This gives consumers an easy and affordable way to build their movie collection that will take full advantage of every TV in the house—whether it's the HDTV and new HD DVD player in the living room, or standard def TV and DVD player in another room, car, or even PCs and laptops.

Blu-ray's option is to require consumers to buy two discs at full price, an HD version and the standard DVD version separately.

They act as if the only thing Blu-Ray can tell you do to is buy 2 discs are 2x the price, which is not the only option. If BR discs are sold and studios and retailers feel DVD is important to make the BR sale, BR discs could be sold with a second DVD in the same jewel case for a small difference in price.

I don't see a dongle in the cards. Whey they gonna plug it in, and how much is it going to cost to make a dongle with analog->HDMI capability? I see a future new XBox360 SKU where they correct the design flaw of not including a TMDS transmitter.

 

[Tap In]

HD DVD also offers new "twin discs" that have an HD DVD version and a DVD version on the same disc. This gives consumers an easy and affordable way to build their movie collection that will take full advantage of every TV in the house—whether it's the HDTV and new HD DVD player in the living room, or standard def TV and DVD player in another room, car, or even PCs and laptops.

I did not know that ... very convenient


also...

So what's the suggested price for the Xbox 360 HD DVD player? "Stay tuned. We decided to save that good news for another day, but we're clearly out to make this an affordable option for Xbox 360 owners," said Penello.

2 days to find out :smile:

 

[rounin]

HD DVD also offers new "twin discs" that have an HD DVD version and a DVD version on the same disc. This gives consumers an easy and affordable way to build their movie collection that will take full advantage of every TV in the house—whether it's the HDTV and new HD DVD player in the living room, or standard def TV and DVD player in another room, car, or even PCs and laptops.

Blu-ray's option is to require consumers to buy two discs at full price, an HD version and the standard DVD version separately.

?



http://www.blu-ray.com/ifa2005/

JVC was showcasing their BD/DVD hybrid media (33.5GB), which was developed to ease the transition from DVD to Blu-ray by creating a disc that will play in both BD players and DVD players. The hybrid disc is basically a single-layer BD-ROM (25GB) and a dual-layer DVD-ROM (8.5GB) in the same disc, which can be read in both players as the Blu-ray layer is transparent to the red laser used in a conventional DVD player.

A JVC representative offered a live demonstration where he first put the hybrid disc in the BD player and played the video in high definition (HD), he then transferred the disc to the conventional DVD player which seamlessly played the same video in standard definition (SD). According to the JVC representative the BD/DVD hybrid will be part of the BD-ROM specification, which was also confirmed by a BDA representative at the show.

EDIT: IIRC, HD-DVD hybrids only allow 15 gig single layer HD-DVD layer to be used with a double-layer DVD layer on the other side. So...what happens to the other 15 gigs

 

[wco81]

So far, I think the initial HD-DVD hybrid pricing wasn't that attractive. Was way more than a DVD and more even than an HD-DVD.

That means a person with only a DVD player interested in buying hybrids so they can use the HD-DVD version in the future would be paying MORE now to view the DVD now.

It's interesting that they would emphasize the hybrid as a factor in the format wars.

The weaker studio support compared to Blu-Ray is really glossed over.

 

[NANOTEC]

?

http://www.blu-ray.com/images/media/jvc.jpg

According to information gathered from AVS, JVC has completely abandoned their hybrid BR discs due to incompatibility issues in getting the discs to play in more than 50% of existing DVD players. In fact they have moved to hybrid HD DVD manufacturing and ditched hybrid BR completely.

As to bundling BR/DVD together, why would studios do that when people can just take the DVD disc and sell it while keeping the BR disc?

EDIT: IIRC, HD-DVD hybrids only allow 15 gig single layer HD-DVD layer to be used with a double-layer DVD layer on the other side. So...what happens to the other 15 gigs

Wrong. In two days Warner will release the first hybrid HD DVD movie to the market with 30GBs on one side and 8.5GB on the other. Oh btw board rules prohibit posting images larger than 800x600.

So far, I think the initial HD-DVD hybrid pricing wasn't that attractive. Was way more than a DVD and more even than an HD-DVD.

That means a person with only a DVD player interested in buying hybrids so they can use the HD-DVD version in the future would be paying MORE now to view the DVD now.

It's interesting that they would emphasize the hybrid as a factor in the format wars.

The weaker studio support compared to Blu-Ray is really glossed over.

HD DVD hybrids only cost $5 more than standard HD DVD so please stop posting FUD.

 

[rounin]

According to information gathered from AVS, JVC has completely abandoned their hybrid BR discs due to incompatibility issues in getting the discs to play in more than 50% of existing DVD players. In fact they have moved to hybrid HD DVD manufacturing and ditched hybrid BR completely.

Now for some links from reliable sources . I have yet to read any releases on this subject so lets not take rumors and circulate them without providing acceptable proof.

Wrong. In two days Warner will release the first hybrid HD DVD movie to the market with 30GBs on one side and 8.5GB on the other.

I see. I read that on a website just now again (this one) so I'm not completely making things up.

HD DVD's hybrid discs are also reported to allow for a dual-layer standard DVD layer, but only a single 15GB HD DVD layer, which may put such discs at a disadvantage in picture and sound quality due to the limited "bit budget.

EDIT : Quite the editor aren't we . Fixed original pic.

 

[DemoCoder]

As to bundling BR/DVD together, why would studios do that when people can just take the DVD disc and sell it while keeping the BR disc?

Today you can buy DVD 2-disc sets that have widescreen and fullscreen versions on separate discs. Seems like they're not too worried, eh?

 

[Tap In]

so.... about that HD DVD peripheral from MS for the 360 that will use USB connections to the box...

What's the chance that they will add an HDMI dongle?

 

[rabidrabbit]

30GB/8.5GB HD DVD hybrid is unfounded? Somebody better tell Warner the bad news then because they plan on releasing it in 2 days.

Are they releasing info on the 30GB/8,5GB HD-DVD in for of some press release or showing the discs behind glass at E3, or are they actually releasing it so that they'll be available to buy?

 

[NANOTEC]

Are they releasing info on the 30GB/8,5GB HD-DVD in for of some press release or showing the discs behind glass at E3, or are they actually releasing it so that they'll be available to buy?

May 9th is the release date for the movie which will use hybrid HD DVD.

Unfortunately for you, edits have times posted as to when the post was last edited. Now here comes the logic leap for you : which came first and which came second, the last edit to post 15, or your post 20? (THIS MAY BE A TRICK QUESTION !!!!)

And unlike you I say where and what I'm adding in hence they're not "ninja edits". But then again, we are talking about you

2 days.

 

[Rys]

Cleaned the thread up a bit. Please keep it on-topic and unconfrontational. I won't open it a 2nd time

 

[Brad Grenz]

so.... about that HD DVD peripheral from MS for the 360 that will use USB connections to the box...

What's the chance that they will add an HDMI dongle?

A dongle would be a non-starter since it doesn't actually solve any problems. It would just be an external analog to digital converter which doesn't help with the whole secure digital to digital HDCP paradigm. The only thing it would help is if you, I don't know, ran out of component inputs on your TV, but had an open HDMI socket.

 

[one]

What if the HD DVD drive has a decoder chip and an HDMI socket? In that case the USB connection from an Xbox 360 only handles control information and iHD interactive menus.

 

[pipo]

I don't think that's very likely.

This new accessory will connect to the Xbox 360 console with a USB cable, enabling it to harness the power of the Xbox 360 console for the HD video outputs and digital surround sound.

I think they would have bragged about that in the article... It would also add extra costs.

Anyway, we'll soon find out.

 

[rabidrabbit]

What if the HD DVD drive has a decoder chip and an HDMI socket? In that case the USB connection from an Xbox 360 only handles control information and iHD interactive menus.

Would that slow the menu operation even more from what it is (on the 1st gen players at least)?

 

[wco81]

The decoding would have to occur in the console, or else the drive would have to have an SOC to decode the streams.

Putting the SOC and an HDMI on the drive would make it expensive. The sentence quoted suggests the X360 would be doing the decoding.

Even if it decoded on the drive, you wouldn't be able to pass the uncompressed video stream over USB.

Now, if the X360 doesn't have an HDMI with HDCP, that's one thing. But what about the rest of the data path before the video output?

One of the AACS requirement is to have a protected video path all the way through. Was the X360 designed with PVP in mind? Aside from the lack of HDCP outputs that is.

 

[Hardknock]

All major studios have agreed to not release Movies with ICT until atleast 2009.

And with MS having worked out something with Toshiba it'll probably be much longer than that.

Great news for all, because I hate all this DRM stuff.

 

[Titanio]

All major studios have agreed to not release Movies with ICT until atleast 2009.

Really? Is there are a story on that somewhere?

I know many studios had talked about not using it, immediately at least, but HD-DVD's biggest supporters, Warner & Universal, have or had been the most ardent proponents of ICT.

Either way, 2009 isn't very long away..it'd be ridiculous to release something that could only guarantee to offer HD-out until then.

I'm curious now to see how it'll work, though. I don't think MS would rely on uncertain adoption of ICT.

 

[Phil]

I'm curious now to see how it'll work, though. I don't think MS would rely on uncertain adoption of ICT.

Maybe they would if they plan on integrating a HD-DVD drive into the Xbox360 sooner or later anyway... Perhaps this add-on drive should be looked at, as a cunning move to simply make a presence and not let PS3 have any sort of advantage, even if the cost is an add-on that won't be usuable after a few years.