Sony "in talks" with Microsoft about a Xbox 360 Blu-ray drive
By Darren Murph 
posted Mar 6th 2008 3:55PM
posted Mar 6th 2008 3:55PM
About 48 milliseconds after the format war was officially over, rumors started running rampant (again) about Blu-ray making its way over to Microsoft's latest console. Now, however, those rumors actually have some legs -- well, at least a leg. According to Stan Glasgow, Sony Electronics US president, "Sony is in talks with console rival Microsoft about offering a Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360." For whatever it's worth, the exec also noted that it was having similar discussions with Apple, which has yet to even offer a Blu-ray option on any of its machines. Unfortunately, not a peep was uttered about potential launch dates and the like, but you can rest assured that we'll be keeping an ear dangerously close to the ground.[Thanks, Andy]
It would make perfect sense. MS has nothing to lose.
Too bad my 360 doesn't have HDMI.
every xbox has hdmi capabilities, you might just have to buy a certain av cable so it can have hdmi. probably worth it, if you plan on getting the blu-ray drive, if it ever does come out..
Early Xbox 360 units don't have HDMI ports. That was a hardware revision.
Mine doesn't unfortunately.
"Bax
Bax @ Mar 6th 2008 4:20PM
every xbox has hdmi capabilities, you might just have to buy a certain av cable so it can have hdmi. probably worth it, if you plan on getting the blu-ray drive, if it ever does come out.."
no , every xbox 360 doesnt. just elites and newer models as of last fall. older xbox 360s do not have hdmi, just a/v and component.
nono, you can get hdmi for your "non hdmi" console. you just need the Xbox 360 hdmi a/v cable.
This is one example:
http://www.extreme-mods.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=XB360-1080IHDMICABLE&Click=12
Just do what I do and use the VGA cable it does a fine job
only problem is the 360 would be a downgraded bluray player unless the elite model would be hmdi 1.3 since all hdmi xbox 360 systems are 1.2
yea, it would be a downgraded blu-ray player, but aren't most of them?
That adapter doesn't offer real HDMI functionality, it's just a signal conversion.
LOL bax your an idiot. An analog to digital converter for the hdmi is not the same as hdmi. I might as well claim my NES has hdmi then since I can buy a A-D converter for that too and upscale the picture to 1080p. Early xbox 360s DO NOT have hdmi connection. Any 3rd party cable you buy which offers one is mearly downgrading the quality to do so. I specifically bought an elite just for hdmi (before pro hdmis were out). I have still only used 3gb on the 100gb hard drive.
Could the actual goal of Apple and Microsoft's involvement in high-definition DVD formats simply to be to slow things down until their downloadable content platforms get a foothold? I find it interesting that: the two companies picked different sides, made a lot of noise around their involvement with Blu-ray and HD DVD (respectively), but actually did very little to promote the success of either format. Apple did nothing and has yet to put a BD drive into any of their computers. Microsoft released the Xbox add on-drive, but conspicuously failed to do obvious things (e.g., bundle the HD DVD drive with a cool new matched-color console) that would have driven sales. Doesn't it make you wonder whether there might be something to these conspiracy theories?
I find this very weird as well. I understand how they would want to push their movie downloads (and hopefully they work out so that the prices on these rentals drop), but I still can't wrap my head around Apple's stand. I view their computers as professional machines for people who are in Graphics/Production fields. I think they are missing the market for people who are going to want to create and author high def content. It might still be too early for normal consumers, but desktop publishing could use some HD support from Apple.
got cross posted :D
I hope we get a "theatre" version; new case like a receiver, RS232, WIFI, internal BRD, and QUIET
That would be awesome.
So what happens if we have the hd-dvd drive too? Will we have a 3-drived console? lol that would be funny...
I will not be getting one of these. Judging by how the HD DVD addon sucked, I'm gonna guess that a Blu-Ray addon will suck just as much.
What's kind of ironic about the whole thing is that it's pretty much guaranteed that the next version of the Xbox (Xbox 720?) will have an internal Blu-ray drive. Ultimate vindication for Sony's risky decision with the PS3.
I've had an Xbox 360 since launch day, and pooh-poohed the PS3 until I finally decided that Blu-ray was going to win the format war, and Sony released the 40 GB model for $399. Now that I've lived with the PS3 for awhile I absolutely love the thing.
"What's kind of ironic about the whole thing is that it's pretty much guaranteed that the next version of the Xbox (Xbox 720?) will have an internal Blu-ray drive."
It does? Blu-ray won, so Microsoft is "forced" to put a Blu-ray drive in the next xbox? They can choose other formats HVD, have Toshiba develop a Gaming-centered format (since Toshiba is buddy buddy with them), etc. Just because a format won doesn't mean that they have to go with that format. I mean look at the wii. DVD won along time ago, yet look at it sell like hot cakes without the ability to play DVDs.
I'll believe this when I see it, it is very hard to imagine MS promoting anything sony and giving there opposition any sort of 'leg up'
My Sony KDS60A3000 automatically upconverts all my XBOX 360 games to 1080P via component cables. HDMI not needed :) Looks just as sharp as my PS3 via HDMI if not better.
don't think of it as promoting sony as much as a "me too" kind of act to keep the value of the 360 relevent.
with the blu victory, people will look to the ps3 for a great player, game, and media streaming device, and all for a price lower than that of any 360. and even though the 360 will still be a bit short (hdmi 1.2, high cost of console + BD drive + memory for profile 2.0 complience, etc,..) at least that's a bullet point they woun't have to completely concede.
remember, this is the company that at E3 2005 was so cocky that even before sony said what the ps3 was going to be capable of doing that the 360 was the "most powerful next generation games console". and with gears of war being the only big anticipated release this year, they can't give any point's away.
besides, it's not about sony! microsoft can join the BDA just like any other company can, (yes even toshiba after they swallow a little pride)
There is already Sony tech in MS machines and vice versa. Just including a DVD / CD player in the 360 would ensure that but I'm sure it goes further. Likewise Sony lets you play WMA & AVI files so I'm sure there is some licencing going the other way.
Anyway no one is forcing Microsoft to include Blu Ray. They could if they wish let the 360 stick with DVD but then it runs the risk of suffering badly by comparison to the PS3. So they have to decide whether they include a BD player in at least one model or risk looking obsolete compared to the PS3.
Doesn't matter to me, I've gone to Digital Downloads!
"you can get hdmi for your "non hdmi" console. you just need the Xbox 360 hdmi a/v cable.
This is one example:
http://www.extreme-mods.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=XB360-1080IHD"
This takes the analog output and converts is to HDMI. That is fine if what you want is an a 720p or 1080i analog signal converted to HDMI, but if the image constraint token is invoked, you'll be getting a low res image on the HDMI cable. What's worse -- no HD audio.
We already now the X-Box can do 1080p via the vga conection, that converter cable takes the vga signal and converts it to HDMI. So if they do invoke image constraint token it will still work just like it would work with vga. Unless VGA wont work on the token either!?
Microsoft stated, when they released the HD DVD add-on, that if BLu-ray won the format war, they would offer a Blu-ray add-on.
My guess is that it will be $199 MSRP, and that they will hold it there for an inordinately long time in order to benefit their downloaded content business.
I just picked up one of their HD DVD add-ons right before the 5-free promotion expired, even though I don't have a 360, because I can use it with my Linux box.
Maybe there is a much brighter light down the road this year than we all thought in the Toshiba/MS/Intel Alliance. I copied the following post from Swanni's TV Predictions website. A lot of great information over there. You can follow the web address at the bottom of the page to visit the site and read the full article from Toshiba's CEO and Swanni. In short; very soon we will be looking at Toshiba players and XBox consoles SD-DVD drives capable of creating a new true 960p image from a 480i frame of content and then scaling and outputting it at 1080p or 1080i. You will be able to get HD level performance from all of your SD-DVD discs. This will be great if/when Toshiba produces new players capable of Super Resolution SD-DVD and playback compatibility with HD-DVD discs. MS can and probably will use these new Toshiba Super SD-DVD drives internally within their newer versions of the XBox 360 and offer a Blu-Ray Addon as an accessory. Those drives and discs will be capable of outputing true 720p/960p/1080p/1080i games. The XBox 360 would then be a drop dead gorgeous Kick "A" piece of equipment (capable of handling anything). And they will be compatible with MS HDM-i technology. It looks like MS and Toshiba hedged their bets in a good way on HDDVD after all. The posts from the article follows:
Did Toshiba Dupe HD DVD Owners?
Wednesday, March 5, 2008, 05:27 AM
JohnQ
Wednesday, March 5, 2008, 07:22 PM
Is Swanni ignorant or deliberately misrepresenting Toshiba?
The "future upconversion" is called Super Resolution. It takes nine frames of 480i content on a DVD (the current frame, plus the four preceding and four following frames), then in real time, it uses this data to create a new 960p image.
Toshiba uses a variant on the CELL processor to do this (SpursEngine).
Toshiba has demonstrated this in real life at CES.
Toshiba originally intended to introduce it in televisions, but now that HD DVD is out of the picture, they will use Super Resolution on DVD players. They have said the players will be priced below Blu ray, and are apparently willing to license it to other CE companies (Sharp has been mentioned for Super Resolution processing HDTVs in addition to Toshiba).
Super Resolution is great for those of us who already own large DVD collections, as it can make our existing film libraries look better than they do with the standard upconversion used by current DVD players, Blu ray players, and HD DVD players on standard DVD content. Upconversion can be nice, but Super Resolution processing is far better. True HD is wonderful, but Super Resolution will make existing DVD collections easier on the eyes. After all, how long will it be before all of your favorite films are even released on Blu ray disc?
JohnQ
Wednesday, March 5, 2008, 07:30 PM
I forgot to mention, the type of technology used in Super Resolution processing is what has allowed Intelligence Agencies to turn crappy quality video and images into an information asset. Apparently it is also used by astronomers.
Toshiba's Super Resolution can now be done in "real time" and it can be introduced at an affordable price to the public (thanks in part to Sony essentially funding the R&D on the CELL processor and driving its production costs down).
http://www.tvpredictions.com/forum/comments.php?y=08&m=03&entry=entry080305-052744
I hope your right, but after reading that article, your assumption with the XBox seems a reasonable stretch to say the least!
A 480p image stretched to 960p, 720p, 1080p or any other resolution is still a 480p image. It will never, ever look as good as a true 1080p image. Anyone who claims otherwise is lying.
Of course there may be circumstances where the difference is not important or not noticeable. For example you might have a small TV, or bad eyesight, or sit far enough away you can't make out the difference. I expect however that most people in possession of 40" set sitting at a normal distance could still see the difference quite easily. Whether HD matters for most movies is another thing to think about. Many movies may not lose much from being SD.
BTW the PS3 has an DVD upscaler feature that many regard as one of the best around and the quality *is* good, but it's just interpolating data and still doesn't compare to proper HD. There are comparison shots around where someone does side by side comparisons of movies in upscaled SD and HD and the difference is very obvious.
oh well. whatever works for them. i dont have an xbox 360 nor any investment in hd movies so... good luck to the consumers!
I hope MS doesn't release a Blu-Ray add-On for the 360. It's NOT NEEDED. It would only be used for Movies anyway, and why Support SONY, when MS has Movie Downloads going NOW in SD and HD. A Movie playing drive is just not needed, let alone that DRM infested, Rushed out to the Marketplace unfinished crap format that it is. Keep it away, and I hope the next Xbox also has nothing to do with Blu-Ray. Forget the Blu-Ray garbage, lets go with a Holographic drive. With 1.6 Terabytes up to 100 Terabytes of Data storage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holographic_drives
I don't need, nor want a freeken Blu-Ray player in my house, I won't buy, rent, or borrow a Blu-Ray movie EVER. I'll stick with DVD's and Rent HD Movie downloads.
Who cares, two words, Oppo Digital. They are in the works for their first BD player. The rep on the phone stated it will be out by end of year to March of 2009.
A buddy of mine works in the media center side of things at MSFT and he has seen and used a 360 with a Blu-Ray drive in it for awhlie now. I talked to him a couple of weeks ago and he was telling me about it and that it will be released. This was before Toshiba canned HD-DVD.
I'd buy one. :)
Hopefully it will cheaper this time around?
I hope they dont include it in the Xbox 360. I remember when Microsoft said they would release the Elite that had HDMI, 120gb HDD, Black. People(like me) freaked because all of the sudden our original xbox's became obsolete. I scrambled to find a trade in at GameStop, and ended up getting an Elite. I know a few people who acted the same as me and it was Microsofts way of getting more $$. If they release a blu-ray 360, people are gonna freak, and just buy more or trade in. I say just keep it an add-on and put a Blu-ray player in the new xbox in 2010.
You "freaked" because the Elite launched? Its not like the non-hdmi white 360 was going to stop working at any second.
Do you freak and replace your car every year because the new model comes out?
How about your PC? Intel and AMD ship new chips every few weeks. Do you toss it out the window the moment the new one ships?
HA HA to the HD market, sony will always be on top. oh ya and to you 360 guys maybe you shouldn't have be so happy to buy a new system just to play halo. that game sucks i would rather play orange box and it is terible. my PS3 has hdmi and blu-ray all ready so all this means is there will be more PS3 exclusive games in the future unless M.S. puts out another 360, maybe they can call it "720" or "red ring of death".