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zippyjuan
05-10-2006, 09:29 AM
Microsoft to Release HD DVD Drive for Xbox 360 by Christmas.
Xbox 360 to Get HD DVD Player by Year End

Category: Multimedia

by Anton Shilov

[ 05/09/2006 | 11:48 PM ]


Microsoft Corp., the world’s largest maker of software and the developer of Xbox 360 game console, said during the E3 show in Los Angeles, California, that it would release an HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360 by holiday season. The drive will be external, but the company claims that it would be able to act as an HD DVD player when paired with the console.

Microsoft did not unveil many technical details concerning the player, but the pictures of it indicate that it would have mini-USB as well as two USB 2.0 connectors. Currently it is unclear whether Microsoft’s Xbox 360 supports high-bandwidth digital copyright protection (HDCP) technology, a compulsory feature for HD DVD movies playback. Besides, the company indicated that more than 50 new high-definition Xbox 360 games would be available by June 2006.

Microsoft also did not announce pricing of the external Xbox 360 HD DVD drive, but the combined value of Xbox 360 premium pack and the external HD DVD optical drive is unlikely to be higher compared to Sony’s PlayStation 3 version that can playback Blu-ray discs – $599. Moreover, Microsoft already said the Xbox 360 would be “affordable”.

“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 Albert Penello, director of global marketing at Xbox division of Microsoft.

Microsoft said it would ship 10 million of Xbox 360 game consoles before rival Sony Corp. launches its highly-expected PlayStation 3 in mid-November.

Microsoft Xbox 360 console is based around microprocessor developed by IBM, high-definition visual processing unit designed by ATI Technologies, I/O controller engineered by SiS and some other key components. The gaming machine will provide a broad set of multimedia capabilities in addition to games. Depending on the bundle, Microsoft Xbox 360 costs $299 or $399.



http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20060509234737.html
VTGreg
05-10-2006, 02:32 PM
It will be very interesting to see how much they charge for the drive since so much is being made about the premium model of the PS3 costing $599. That won't seem so expensive if XBox 360 offers a HDDVD drive for an additional $200.
ProMinx
05-10-2006, 06:29 PM
The price for the HD-DVD unit alone was accidentally posted and quickly retracted today on Microsoft's xbox.com website. The price posted for a few minutes this afternoon was $199, but no price was listed for any sort of 360/HD-DVD combo package.
InfiniteNothing
05-10-2006, 07:20 PM
I thought the XB360 didn't have HDMI? Won't the add on buyers get screwed if/when movie makers start implementing the ICT flag?
IrishSS
05-10-2006, 07:49 PM
I thought the XB360 didn't have HDMI? Won't the add on buyers get screwed if/when movie makers start implementing the ICT flag?

One would imagine so...
ProMinx
05-15-2006, 11:58 AM
I thought the XB360 didn't have HDMI? Won't the add on buyers get screwed if/when movie makers start implementing the ICT flag?


Looks like the big MS has this covered. XBox 360 HDMI (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/microsoft-hdmi-cable-announced-sorta-173678.php)
InfiniteNothing
05-15-2006, 03:01 PM
That's good news but not an official announcement. There's just no details on pricing/capabilities/implementation of the cable. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I didn't think the XB360s even supported HDCP. Honestly, I'm just happy MS is putting these drives out. Since they are USB I'm betting someone will develop drivers (or maybe it'll even be native) and we'll all get cheap HD-DVD drives for our PC.
Agent Plissken
05-16-2006, 09:53 AM
*Cough* Sega CD... *Cough* Sega 32x... *Cough*
Add ons dont work... get a clue Mr. Gates.
InfiniteNothing
05-16-2006, 10:03 AM
That's not quite apples to apples. Maybe if Sega came out with the Sega laser disk you'd have an argument.
Agent Plissken
05-16-2006, 08:05 PM
What do you mean? Original format cartrige, new format CD. For xbox 360, original format DVD, new format HD-DVD.

For both, no companies will fully support the add on, because their base market is larger for the original.
InfiniteNothing
05-16-2006, 08:36 PM
I say laser disk because it was a highly sought after video format. The add on isn't for bigger better games (like it was in the previous sega systems). The add on is for watching movies.
Devhux
05-16-2006, 09:44 PM
This description really makes me wonder about that cable:

"Showcase stunning Xbox 360 high-definition graphics with the component connection on your HDTV. Play high-quality audio with the included stereo connection or use the optical audio port for digital sound."

There's no physical HDMI connector on the 360, and getting a component to HDMI adapter wouldn't work either as you're going from digital to analog, and back to digital (the ICT flag would detect the analog conversion and drop the resolution).
Agent Plissken
05-17-2006, 03:47 AM
I say laser disk because it was a highly sought after video format. The add on isn't for bigger better games (like it was in the previous sega systems). The add on is for watching movies.

Oh is this add on only for movies? I thought it would play HD-DVD games too...
InfiniteNothing
05-17-2006, 08:22 AM
Yeah, this is mainly for movies. No one knows if HD-DVD games will come out.
Cubsfan
05-17-2006, 08:25 AM
Couldn't they somehow put this port on the addon drive?
InfiniteNothing
05-17-2006, 08:33 AM
This description really makes me wonder about that cable:

"Showcase stunning Xbox 360 high-definition graphics with the component connection on your HDTV. Play high-quality audio with the included stereo connection or use the optical audio port for digital sound."

There's no physical HDMI connector on the 360, and getting a component to HDMI adapter wouldn't work either as you're going from digital to analog, and back to digital (the ICT flag would detect the analog conversion and drop the resolution).
Here's a bit from the features from Lik-Sang:

Official Microsoft Xbox 360 Component HDAV Cable
This seems like quite a magical cable.


Couldn't they somehow put this port on the addon drive?
Then it's a stand alone small form factor HDDVD drive for $200 :) Why bring the XB into the picture at all.