What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Now that Toshiba has finally accepted defeat on the HD DVD format http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7252172.stm and as Microsofts partner, when do you expect a Blu-ray add-on to the xbox range?

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

What now for Xbox360 HD DVD? - Might make a good door stopper or whatever.

Hopefully they'll bring out a blu ray player for the 360, sounds like a too good an opportunity to pass up in terms of competition. If people are buying the ps3 just for the blu ray player then M$ are bound to do the right thing (if they are allowed to of course).

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Why would I want to use it as a door stopper?

Just because you eventually won't be able to buy new HD DVDs is no reson just to get rid of it. I plan on keeping hold of my player so I can keep watching the 16 HD DVDs I already own.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

You could buy another one and use them as bookends in between watching X for the 20th time. :p:

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Just look on ebay mate loads off films on there just picked up the reaping for £9.;)

---------- Post added at 18:01 ---------- Previous post was at 18:00 ----------

They would be allowed too if they wanted sony dont own the rights to blu ray.;)

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Thats poor guess work. We dont know how much Sony have a stake in Blu-ray, all we known is that they are a major company involved with it.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Sony would love the 360 to sell blu-ray, helps their profit really

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

So would not selling them it? Im not trying to say which would be the best for them or anything, its just its not as easy saying well Microsoft can have it if they want it, they might not even want it.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

MS & Toshiba are discontinuing the 360's HD DVD drive:

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/23/x...le-theyre-hot/


To be expected, really.


As for a BD drive for the 360... MS have never ruled it out, & have said they'd do it if the demand is there.


If MS do ever decide to release a BD drive for the 360, I can't see Sony stopping them (even if they wanted to stop them), as surely all MS would have to do would be to pay for a licence from the BDA.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Which Sony are apart of, and one of the major companys. All Sony would have to do, if they wanted is to flash some cash at the other companys. Whatever happens, its not as easy as saying Microsoft can have it if they want it.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Very true, but if memory serves, Sony and Microsoft have been in the same position before. When MS launched both the Xbox and Xbox 360, Sony would have been in a similar position to refuse licences to DVD technology. They didn't.

It's also entirely possible that from time to time, both the Xbox and Xbox 360 have included Sony parts in their manufacture.

We don't know if Microsoft will get the rights to include BD drives either in the XBox 360 or in external caddies, and we don't know if they'll even apply for them. One thing I have learned (over the last 15 years or so) is that Microsoft tend to "hedge their bets" and are capable of changing direction extremely quickly if their strategy fails*. In fact, Microsoft have been known to move considerably faster than much smaller companies. Something which is nearly impossible with large companies. The fact that Microsoft staff have said that BD is a possibility backs this up, even though Microsoft have not said it officially.


*One example of this: In 1993/94, Microsoft said that the Internet had no future. They announced that within a year or so, we would all be using MSN, and browsing using "MSN Explorer" (an AOL-like program). 4-6months later, they had the first version of Internet Explorer out, a major website launched (Microsoft.com) and had pretty much wound up development on MSN. I know they have an MSN now, but it bears little resemblence to their plans.

---------- Post added at 22:56 ---------- Previous post was at 22:47 ----------

As for whether Sony will licence the tech if asked to, I'd say they would. DVD suceeded partly because it was one standard. A user could buy a player from any manufacturer, and a disc from any manufacturer and barring certain early problems (The Matrix with it's then new branching option springs to mind), they could be fairly certain the disc and their player would work together.

DVD achieved excellent sales very quickly (it was bettering VHS within 2 years). HD-DVD and Blu Ray have had a slower takeup, and I personally think the main reason is that the two formats being available has caused confusion, and put Joe Soap off buying for now. I personally believe BD will really take off now, but I don't believe Sony (or the BDA) can afford to lose the several million potential customers who already own 360s, and may or may not want PS3s (or any other box) under their TVs.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

According to this article:- http://blogs.pcworld.com/gameon/archives/006503.html they think we will be looking at a standalone blu-ray player for xbox360 by May or June of this year.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

The public noises coming from Microsoft at the moment seem to suggest that they are steering towards the digital download direction which is a very risky path to take. It's unlikely that a mass take-up of digital distribution would succeed for the forseeable future unless ISPs can offer real high speed broadband without traffic management restrictions or caps. There's also the issue of people preferring to have a physical product for their money and whether or not it will be possible to change this mindset at all.

In reality I suspect that there are a few big wigs at Microsoft currently locked in a room flipping coins.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Not forgetting the awful DRM issues aswell.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Xbox 360 HD DVD drive is having a price-cut to £39.99

http://aceybongos.spaces.live.com/bl...FD2!9612.entry


OK, dead format, but there's still loads of discs out for it, which should also be going cheap.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Could be a toughy one if they do bring out a blu ray player for the 360, the main factor will have to be the price of course. If it's about half the price of a PS3 (or thereabouts) then I reckon people would just buy the console instead.

Then on top of that if you buy a new 360 and want the blu ray player then it could end up costing more than the PS3.

Besides that, there still is the noise factor of the 360 itself, and those with 1080p would have to get the Elite version of the 360.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Yep! GAME are now offering the HD DVD Player at the reduced price of $39.99
see here:- http://www.game.co.uk/Xbox360/Hardwa...-HD-DVD-Drive/

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

That's a pretty expensive door-stop :D

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Why? All versions of the Xbox 360 now come with HDMI and all versions of the Xbox 360 are capable of 1080p.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Oh right, my bad then, I thought you needed to have the HDMI connection to get 1080p. :)

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

I think you do for HD DVD's but then again, all Xbox 360's now come with HDMI.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

I thought the main difference between the two formats (content rather than physical and ignoring any extras) was the Blu Ray had Mandatory encryption (ie: the producers had to use it), where as HD-DVD they had the choicd to use it.

Still, seeing as most studios would probably choose to use it, you would need HDMI anyway.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Well mine don't as it's an older one, hence what I wrote earlier. For me to get full 1080p I'd have to buy another newer version 360. So best to invest in a PS3 'IF' that is the case.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

I think the Xbox is capable of 1080p through all it's connections, but to watch any HDCP protected content (pretty much every HD DVD or Blu Ray disc), you'd need an HDMI output.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Its just the way you said it. All Xbox 360's , even the older ones are 1080p for games. Im sure you need HDMI to be able to watch HD DVD's in 1080p though, but I may be mistaken.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

If it's not one thing it's another ain't it. Thanks for the clarification though.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

afaik the new premium consoles with the falcon chipset have hdmi

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

All new Xbox 360's now have HDMI.

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

360 max. resolutions for different connections & different uses -


Component:

Games can be output up to 1080p

HD DVDs can be output up to 1080i (AACS restrictions - nothing to do with the 360 itself)

DVDs can only output up to 480p/576p (progressive scan NTSC/PAL) (CSS restrictions - nothing to do with the 360 itself)



VGA:

Games *and* HD DVDs can be output up to 1080p*

DVDs can be upscaled up to 1080p*.

[* VGA is not subject to the same AACS/CSS restrictions as component, despite also being analogue & unsecure, due to some sort of loophole over it being primarily a PC connection method]



HDMI:

Games *and* HD DVDs can be output up to 1080p

DVDs can be upscaled up to 1080p

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

check this out!!

http://www.game.co.uk/Xbox360/Hardwa...-HD-DVD-Drive/

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

And check out post number 17 further up on page 2 ! :D ;) :)

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Fine, if you want to be like that you might want to check what currency we use here in the UK because the last time i checked we did not use dollars.

Smarta@@e!!

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

lol!:D that's what happend's when you don't configure the keyboard properly :)

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Only the Elite comes with a HDMI cable though

Re: What now for Xbox360 HD DVD?
 

Those only cost a few £ on ebay... (the HDMI cable not the Xbox's)