Microsoft Preps External Blu-Ray Disc Optical Drive for Xbox 360. Microsoft Has Blu-Ray Drive for Xbox 360 Ready, Release Date Under Consideration [10/08/2008 07:34 AM] by Anton Shilov Unlike Toshiba Corp., which is still strictly against Blu-ray disc (BD) format, Microsoft Corp. has always said that it might release an external Blu-ray optical disc drive for the Xbox 360 video game system if there is demand. According to market sources, the software giant does have plans to offer its customers a BD option. Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology Corp., a joint venture between Samsung Electronics and Toshiba Corp., has been contracted to manufacture external Blu-ray disc drives for Microsoft Xbox 360 game console. While the exact specifications of the product are unknown, it is rumoured that Microsoft aims at $100 - $150 price-point for the device in order to compete against Sony PlayStation 3 with Xbox 360 + external Blu-ray drive combination. The main reason why Microsoft is unenthusiastic regarding Blu-ray is mandatory support of BD-Java interactive technology and Sony’s reluctance to adopt competing tech called HDi that was developed by Microsoft. Even though Microsoft managed to push its VC-1 codec onto both Blu-ray and HD DVD markets, the company’s negative attitude towards Java prevented it from supporting the former standard in general. As a result, the company used to sell external HD DVD drive for Xbox 360. Nevertheless, as high-definition movies gain popularity, Microsoft has to support Blu-ray in order to leave Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. without an advantage of offering BD support exclusively with the PS3 on the market of video game consoles. It is still unclear when exactly Microsoft plans to release its external Blu-ray solution for Xbox 360. Hypothetically, the company may launch it slightly ahead of the holiday season in an attempt to steal an advantage from the PlayStation 3. But since sales of Blu-ray are still on a low level, the software giant may decide to postpone the unveiling till Consumer Electronics Show early next year in order to get the most attention of the media with new device. Microsoft and TSST did not comment on the news-story. http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20081008073445_Microsoft_Preps_External_Blu_Ray_Disc_Optical_Drive_for_Xbox_360.html
Sometimes I miss the glory days of the format war... I remember when the HD DVD fanboys swore this day would never come.
Better late than never I guess...albeit I bought a PS3 on the thinking that MS would continue to be nonresponsive on the subject and drag their feet. So, thanks for nothing, MS. You couldn't even tell us ahead of time definitively but, instead, you kept everyone guessing.
i have the hd add on and i do like it, i got it as a gift and it does the job i have about 25 or so hd-dvds and may get a few more if i can find titles for cheap. the blu-ray add-on not sure if it will as well unless its priced at 100 or cheaper..there are a lot of players coming out that have dropped in price and probably will be at 200-300 for christmas season if they aren't already priced at that already. it would have been nicer if the hd drive was part of the xbox itself its a bit annoying to have two drives but it nothing that would stop me from buying an add-on if i didnt already have a ps3. now what if someone had the add-on would they also be able to have the blu-ray addon and have both connected at the same time? i guess i'll believe it when i see it
I still think HD DVD was great format and still is. $10 for a HD copy of a good movie. The Bluray option for the Xbox is good for people for owners of Xboxes who don't want to spend $300 for another product for the sole purpose of having HD content. http://www.avreview.co.uk/news/article/mps/uan/2342 HD DVD Resurgence By Duncan Madden HD DVD Well there's a logo we never thought we'd see again. But it seems the continuing economic crunch across the pond has breathed new life into the ultra cheap tail end of the HD DVD lifecycle. The Financial Times is reporting that the HD format, axed by its primary backer Toshiba after rival format Blu-ray's unstoppable domination, is seeing a resurgence in popularity thanks to aggressive price cuts from retailers. It's reported that HD DVD players are now selling for as little as $60 in the States, and thanks to the upscaling skills for standard def DVDs, the price cuts have been enough to entice new buyers over the far more expensive Blu-ray players. Simultaneously, the cost of HD DVDs themselves has been slashed, with new discs retailing on the likes of Amazon and Buy.com for a paltry $10. 'We expected to see a huge increase in Blu-ray sales [with] HD DVD dying, but it just hasn't happened', Jeff Wisot, vice-president of marketing with Buy.com, told the FT. 'HD DVD sales are still very strong'. At least the credit crunch has been good to someone then.
Well, it's nice to be able to get HD DVDs for $10 now, sure. And I'm not saying I dislike HD DVD. I just followed the format war very closely on HDD, and the HD DVD fanboys swore up and down that this day would never come.
Blu ray won, not because of technology but because of winning over big studios in the end. because, content is the most important when it comes to movies. no one could predict the business deals.
They pretty much had more studio support all along. The Paramount deal is what turned the tides, but only temporarily. The format war didn't need to go on for as long as it did, really, but at least it still managed to benefit people (B1G1 sales, and now cheaper HD DVDs).
I'm not dissing people who thought HD DVD would win. I don't consider it an inferior product by any means. I own a few HD DVDs, but I always thought that Blu-ray would win, mostly due to studio support. All I'm saying is that it's funny to see Microsoft finally come out with an add-on. Honestly, with Blu-ray hardware coming down in price, I'd much rather own a stand-alone than that.
And it's not a great thing that it lost. BluRay has a ton more DRM crap built in than HD-DVD did, and that is the primary reason the studios liked it better. Historically, Sony has lost bigtime in format wars, but this time the intrusive DRM schemes, coupled with the greed in the studios' eyes, won the day for Sony. Yay. Not that it bothers me much, I have both, so I will continue to buy HD-DVD's from Fry's for about 8 bucks until there just aren't any more left. And I have yet to buy a single BluRay disc, because I flat-out will NOT spend $26+ for a movie disc. Not gonna happen. When they wise up and start selling them fro the same price as regular DVD's now, $14 or less, then BR will become the de-facto standard. PS, if there is anyone out there with a HD or BR disc player who has not yet got the Planet Earth set, GET IT. IN-freakin-credible.
no, only if you have the xbox's that have hdmi output or use the vga cable for an older xbox. that would allow you to upscale the dvds to 720p, 1080i/p the xbox itself is a decent dvd player that's super fast. you can set the black level in the options screen for the dvd movies, which helps.
