X360 HD-DVD to use USB

Would MS even consider a future unit with digital output (making original owners wanting that support to have to buy the X360 again)?

 

not sure how reliable or if this applies but since this topic was brought back up and after all the "hub bub" here over the past year regarding component vs HDMI (this pertains to $499 PS3 with component only as well as MS's HD DVD plans)

http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/technologie/0,1518,415853,00.html

 

Still no HD audio but yeah, that was one of the possible solutions.

 

You'd have to ask MS that, but if the current output doesn't have any digital display capabilities then this is always a possability.

 

no, PC graphics cards with HDCP (there's an overpriced X1600 with it) have that Silicon Image HDCP chip. I think the separate chip is a requirement, even. ATI claimed support while it was up to the card manufacturer.. and nobody wants to bear the higher costs only for allowing some crippleware from Hollywood made to piss off the consumers.

 

Thats ok though, the idea is that the end to end (GPU to DVI) is not HDCP comliant and ATI was responsible for that. In the 360 Xenos itself is not what does or does not provide HDMI or HDCP compatibility.

 

http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=319&products_id=8540

 

Its not a requirement. Some of the HDMI enabled boards that you see coming out are using an extra chip because it can mix in an S/PDIF audio feed for HDMI sound, as well as provide HDCP support. ATI support HCDP in the chip and there is specification for an extended ROM that can be manufactured with the HDCP key in - this would alleviate the need for another chip, however the ROM is more expensive than the standard ROM and no-one has taken it up yet.