Microsoft to offer HD-DVD drive as Xbox 360 accessory

[picklgreen]

Microsoft will offer a HD-DVD drive as the title reads as announced at CES today. What are your thoughts?

Link (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2006-01-04-xbox360-hd-dvd_x.htm)

[kevinw]

Here is an additional link-

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/jan06/01-04CES06PR.mspx

Xbox 360 Leads the Way in High-Definition Entertainment



Just a month after the global launch of the new Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, Gates discussed the product’s strong momentum in delivering high-definition hardware, games and digital entertainment experiences. Xbox 360 is on track to be the fastest-selling video game console ever, forecast to ship between 4.5 million and 5.5 million units worldwide by the end of June 2006.

Gates noted that Xbox 360 has also become a powerful application for high-definition television, adding that nine out of 10 Xbox 360 owners currently own or intend to purchase a high-definition television set.* He announced that more than 50 new high-definition Xbox 360™ games will be available by June 2006.

Building on Xbox 360 leadership in high-definition experiences, the company announced plans to deliver a new Xbox 360 external HD DVD drive in 2006. The new drive will offer millions of Xbox 360 owners the ability to easily enjoy HD DVD movies and will provide consumers with even more choices for experiencing high-definition content, in either physical or digital form.

Using Xbox 360 and the Xbox Live® service today, consumers are already able to access high-definition entertainment such as Xbox Live Arcade titles, game demos and high-definition movie trailers. Consumers can also use their Xbox 360 system to access high-definition television and movies from their Windows XP-based Media Center PC.

Gates’ keynote also showcased the momentum behind Xbox Live, announcing that more than half of all Xbox 360 owners are already connected to the online games and entertainment service, which boasts a worldwide community of more than 2 million members. He demonstrated Electronic Arts Inc.’s forthcoming EA SPORTS™ “Fight Night Round 3,” scheduled to be available in February 2006, and announced that a free, playable high-definition demo of the game is now available at the Xbox Live Marketplace, a one-stop digital download center where consumers can access high-definition games, music and movie content from leading industry partners.

[spottedfool]

I saw this...sweet. Now im curious of the price

[sensay]

The HD-DVD add-on better have an HDMI connection

From digitalbits.com
Here's a bit of high-def news (while, again, you wait for my CES report to conclude) that's sure to set some early adopters into a tizzy: the companies and studios behind the AACS (Advanced Access Content System) copy protection scheme (that's going to be used on both Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD) have officially decided this week to require hardware manufactures to prevent full 1080-line resolution video signals (1920x1080) from being passed through unprotected analog outputs (read: component connections). The decision as to whether or not to use the restriction will be left up to the content providers and will be triggered by a software flag on the discs on a case by case basis. What this means, however, is that most movie discs are only going to be displayed at full 1080 resolution through digital HDMI connections. If you don't have HDMI on your HDTV or projector (we're not sure if DVI-to-HDMI adapted connections will be affected), the best you'll be able to see through your component cables is an electronically down-converted 540 lines (960x540 lines). That's just a tad better than regular DVD, which weighs in at 480-line resolution (720x480). We knew this was coming, but still... ouch! The problem is that many early adopters - the very folks these new formats are going to have to hit with to succeed - have older displays that aren't equipped with HDMI inputs (although most new HDTV and projectors sold now have them). You can read more on this here at DVD Exclusive.

[spottedfool]

That or DVI..componenets will be ok but certainly limited per copyright

[mikehbkwm]

I would hope they would make sure DVI is supported. That would be stupid to make only HDMI the connection that will throughput 1920x1080. I've got DVI on both my HD displays. I plan on getting a DLP or LCD eventually for the living room and getting rid of the Mits.