Microsoft to produce Blu-ray player for XBOX360

[Zotar]

Neil Thompson, head of Xbox in the UK has said today " Whatever format wins it is highly likely we will offer a solution."

Ever since they didn't build an HD-DVD player into the XBOX360, Microsofts support of HD-DVD has always looked shakey to say the least, and even recent rumours about an upgraded version of the 360 (Code-named Zephyr) indicate that it also wouldn't have a built in HD-DVD drive, but I don't think they ever quite let the cat out of the bag to this level before.

Hec, they've even had to release another statement declaring they fully support HD-DVD in an attempt to try to put out some of the fires that this comment has started.

[joeorc]

Originally Posted by Zotar

Neil Thompson, head of Xbox in the UK has said today " Whatever format wins it is highly likely we will offer a solution."

Ever since they didn't build an HD-DVD player into the XBOX360, Microsofts support of HD-DVD has always looked shakey to say the least, and even recent rumours about an upgraded version of the 360 (Code-named Zephyr) indicate that it also wouldn't have a built in HD-DVD drive, but I don't think they ever quite let the cat out of the bag to this level before.

Hec, they've even had to release another statement declaring they fully support HD-DVD in an attempt to try to put out some of the fires that this comment has started.

yea just think...DRAGONS LAIR......
FOR HD-DVD.....

[Filterlab]

Excellent decision Mr Thompson.

Obviously taking note of the market trends.

[frankc4s]

Rather nice of Sony to dish out free HD tvs ad Taxis for the Brits who camped out for 36 hours to get A PS3

[juha]

The sad choice for a title in this thread misleads people to come and read about something that is FACT, when all that was said is that Microsoft might incorporate - OR NOT - EITHER HD-DVD or Blu-Ray, depending on the winning format - on their hardware.



*sigh


J.

[Blackraven]

This is a backstab to the very format that they gloated and supported since the start of this war (or in reality, was just *pretending* to support )

MS can never hide their true intentions forever anymore. :P

So you think Blu-ray will be the winner of the format war??

[Filterlab]

I do, that's why I've opted for a Blu-ray player over an HD-DVD player. Consumer figures already suggest a 65:35ish preference to Blu-ray and now with the release of the PS3, which is a huge global influence, the gap can only get larger.

With Sony carefully waiting until their Blu-ray drive was ready before they released the PS3, it means there's no further purchase for high definition necessary by Sony's customers. Unfortunately not the case with the Xbox360.

In addition to those major influencing factor, there appears to be more studio support for Blu-ray, maybe due to the storage capacity of the medium, maybe for some other reason. As it stands it's 8 versus 5 major studios, that's a whole lot of power in the film industry.

I'm personally hoping that I've not made a huge mistake in purchase a Blu-ray player. Certainly in terms of quality it really is outstanding, both image and audio wise, so there's no doubting it as a media type. However, things can change as history tells us.

The niggle in my mind is that Sony's Beta video system was far higher quality the JVC's VHS, but VHS won the day. OK, Sony made an absurd gaff with their royalty decision, something they didn't repeat with the PS1 & PS2 (on the software side). However, what of HDCD and SACD? Undoubtedly very high quality (SACD more than HDCD) but they seem to have come and gone without making a huge impact on the average consumer.

Oddly the average consumer seems to have gone for the diminished quality format (MP3) as a viable alternative to CD.

So there's no pretence that both new HD formats are leagues above DVD, but the consumer is an odd animal. What I can say is that Blu-ray appears to be doing better than HD-DVD.

[Werewolk Killer]

I told ppl when the Xbox came out and it did not have the HD drive was that MS felt they needed a headstart on the upcoming PS3. I also said that the other reason why the HD drive was not included was because they KNEW that HD was going to lose.

You see, all of the format war press has hindered the sales of PS3. Why buy something if the tech is not going to be there. Look at HD only one comany makes the units, and only three studios make discs. MS had to have know that HD had the cards stacked against it. Hell HD does not even support burning or data storge. So how was that going to replace DVDs which are used for both.

I know this sounds crazy but, I feel that the only goal of HD dvd was to undermine Sony and the PS3 effort. Sony was one of a couple of companies that came up with Blu-ray and 85% of CE companys support the format. But when every you see Blu-ray you see Sony in any negative press about Blu-ray.

Just something to think about.

[baccusboy]

Guys, I don't care who wins, also long as we get a clear winner (my feelings will change if I buy a PS3 soon).

There is no clear winner yet, because the only people who have bought these things are audiophiles and video gamers who either have coin, or are die-hard players.

Neither format is near a pricepoint that interests mass audiences. Those of us who own a Bluray, HDDVD Player, PS3, etc., are early-adopters. We are willing to pay more than the average joe for something we prize and love. When we do that, we think in terms of things such as getting the highest quality possible, best picture, most available media, etc...

The general public will look at these two formats and think: Price and movie selection. The quality is already there in both formats. Sure, the Sony audio is better, but what percentage of people out there have systems to notice the difference?

The format war is far from over, because early adopters include audiophiles/videophiles and rich gamers who probably are into all of the above.

The "support" and exclusivity of various film production companies will waver as long as there is an ability to make money off of the other format.

Things won't get interesting with these players until prices drop below $299. I can see HDDVD going that route first. But will they have enough movies by then to interest a mass audience?

Until then, we're not a solid sample from which to judge the outcome of the format war -- we are merely interesting fodder for speculation.

Think in terms of this: How many people reading this forum would have paid more for Beta becuase it was a superior format? Probably most everyone! But Beta didn't win in the end. So far, the PS3/Bluray/HDDVD players are only within reach of people who would have purchased Beta over VHS in a heartbeat.

What does that tell you?

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by baccusboy

Things won't get interesting with these players until prices drop below $299. I can see HDDVD going that route first. But will they have enough movies by then to interest a mass audience?

Maybe far below that.

Why will the masses adopted it? They've never adopted for only for quality in the past.

No to quadrophonic over stereo
No to DCC over cassette
No to SACD/DVD-A over CD

Every attempt to launch a high quality format that was basically the same form factor as the existing format, has remained niche or failed miserably. In the end the mass audience prefers the selection and price of the existing format.

This idea that somehow a price point of a new toy is reached and the mass market suddenly gets excited and runs out and buys it, is simply not true. They have to have wanted it for years, and have been held back by the price.

DVD offers everything the mass market needs. Why should they ever abandon it for higher prices and lower selection?

Originally Posted by baccusboy

Think in terms of this: How many people reading this forum would have paid more for Beta becuase it was a superior format? Probably most everyone! But Beta didn't win in the end. So far, the PS3/Bluray/HDDVD players are only within reach of people who would have purchased Beta over VHS in a heartbeat.

What does that tell you?

Perhaps people need to start looking at it like HD discs are Betamax, and DVD is VHS.

Why did VHS win again?

Gary

[baccusboy]

You make some interesting points.

DVDs don't look that bad compared to a lot of the HDDVD and Bluray disks.

Watching sporting events, where things are shot with a Hi-Def camera is one thing. Watching movies is another.

I can see where the average Joe might not be impressed enough to buy into it.

[DavePS3]

Agreed Baccus... compared to SD dvds running at 480i or 480p, there's a big difference but from a really good upconverting DVD player running SD dvds in 1080i compared to Blu-Ray 1080i, the difference is about 20%.

[ZX-VETTE]

Originally Posted by baccusboy

Guys, I don't care who wins, also long as we get a clear winner (my feelings will change if I buy a PS3 soon).

There is no clear winner yet, because the only people who have bought these things are audiophiles and video gamers who either have coin, or are die-hard players.

Neither format is near a pricepoint that interests mass audiences. Those of us who own a Bluray, HDDVD Player, PS3, etc., are early-adopters. We are willing to pay more than the average joe for something we prize and love. When we do that, we think in terms of things such as getting the highest quality possible, best picture, most available media, etc...

The general public will look at these two formats and think: Price and movie selection. The quality is already there in both formats. Sure, the Sony audio is better, but what percentage of people out there have systems to notice the difference?

The format war is far from over, because early adopters include audiophiles/videophiles and rich gamers who probably are into all of the above.

The "support" and exclusivity of various film production companies will waver as long as there is an ability to make money off of the other format.

Things won't get interesting with these players until prices drop below $299. I can see HDDVD going that route first. But will they have enough movies by then to interest a mass audience?

Until then, we're not a solid sample from which to judge the outcome of the format war -- we are merely interesting fodder for speculation.

Think in terms of this: How many people reading this forum would have paid more for Beta becuase it was a superior format? Probably most everyone! But Beta didn't win in the end. So far, the PS3/Bluray/HDDVD players are only within reach of people who would have purchased Beta over VHS in a heartbeat.

What does that tell you?

I don't think your assumptions on price points are that accurate. People are willing to pay more for audio / video equipment than in the past. Could you imagine spending over $1,000 on a TV just 5 yrs ago? Definitely not. HDTV sales are booming now and people want to take advantage of the technology. There's another post in here about Casino Royale becoming the fastest 100k selling disc ever, even quicker than the first 100k selling standard def dvd. High def is here to stay and the vast majority of backing is with Blu-ray.