New Xbox 360 due for late '07 to handle IPTV?

According to a pre-CES briefing that Windows expert Paul Thurrott received from his Microsoft pals, the big M will be coming out with a new version of the Xbox 360 (Zephyer?) at the end of 2007, which will feature a larger HDD and some new hardware to enable that IPTV functionality Robbie Bach was talking about during the Microsoft CES keynote. It also stands to reason that such a Xbox 360 might be sporting a fancy new HDMI port and perhaps run just a wee bit cooler -- meaning HDCP and less fan noise, natural fits for home theater use. It still seems a bit unreasonable for Microsoft, which has been bragging about its 10 million strong installed base, to leave those early adopters out in the cold, but if that's the way it goes down we can't say we won't welcome the excuse to ditch the fan and disc drive hullabaloo of our current gen box.

[Via Digg; thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 14th 2007 12:59AM]

I can't see why the current xbox360 will be left out in the crowd, It has everything that's needed for IPTV and I'm sure Microsoft will release an upgrade HDD. In regards to HDMI, its pretty over rated, its only use over component would be lossless surround sound, the picture quality is pretty much identical (with some people preffering the smoother component look and others the HDMI).

My 360 makes no fan noise at all that I can discern, and it sits about 2 metres away from me in a non air-conditioned room on a tropical island.

I'm more interested in whether or not people outside of the US will get any IPTV service, I live in Thailand and it sucks that I can't get the programming/downloads available in the US (unless I go through a whole load of rigmarole first).

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 16th 2007 9:19AM]

I don't necessarily think you can safely draw the conclusion that the old 360's will not be upgraded IPTV. Everyone seems to be assuming that.

What is obvious is that a 120gb w/HDMI 360 is more media friendly and my guess is that when more content is rolled out, studios will release more HD content for the Xbox 360 w/HDMI, while the old 360 will get the SD versions.

Either way no one has the 20mbit/s bandwidth needed to stream HD content over the internet, so your still stuck with a pay-per-download-to-view service for HDTV. (Unless of course AT&T manages to own up their fiber lines for consumers promise, which I don't see happening in the next 5 years)

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 14th 2007 11:09AM]

I dont know how yours is quiet. My 360 is sitting in open air with plenty of circulation and its like I'm sitting in a wind tunnel. My biggest concern is HDMI for purposes of upscaling DVD's to 1080. The VGA workaround doesnt cut it for me. Yes my tv can handle that connection, but the color quality is severely lacking. I hope MS offers some sort of upgrade deal for those who already have a 360. But, alas, I doubt it.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 14th 2007 11:28AM]

It doesn't really matter a whole lot to me if the existing 360 can do IPTV or not. I mean, this new feature is very cool and all, but I honestly don't want my 360 held hostage to TV. Most of the time when I'm playing games (using my PC monitor), my wife is watching her girlie shows in the other room. If my 360 becomes our TV tuner, then I'm screwed. Besides, we are on Dish Network right now and they have great HD channels and a terrific DVR. I can't see changing that anytime soon.

By the time Microsoft's IPTV is truly ready to become a replacement for Satellite or Cable (which will probably be a good year after it comes out), then I'll consider just getting another 360 for that. At $400 (or even more), the price of a second 360 is comparable to most Satellite/Cable HD-DVR's anyway.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 14th 2007 9:35PM]

I can't see MS leaving the current 360 owners completely out in the cold (this isn't apple, where they want you to buy the latest/greatest in order to maintain your hipster card). MS will probably allow for some sort of upgrade path with the HD, but if you are really pinging for HDMI, you'll have to go with a new box. Then they can just nickel and dime you to death with the service, and other small items.