Xbox Live gets 1080p Zune video store, Netflix browsing, Twitter and Facebook integration
By Nilay Patel 
posted June 1st 2009 2:12PM
posted June 1st 2009 2:12PM
Today from the E3 stage in Los Angeles, Microsoft announced plans to dramatically improve their HD video offering through a new technology that enables instant on 1080p streaming with 5.1 audio with Zune video on Xbox 360.
This implementation is as close to a "disc in the drive" experience as possible over the Internet. At a high-level, here is how it works:
- Video startup is nearly instantaneous because of the back-end proprietary Microsoft technology developed by Zune that seamlessly transitions between many different bitrates and resolutions of video.
- Video playback will start at a low bitrate for fast download time and then ramp up to a higher bitrate and quality, up to 1080p with 5.1 audio.
- Features such as smooth fast forward and rewind that users have only seen before with local physical media.
- Social: We unveiled Movie Party, a feature where you can go to the movies with your friends whether you are sitting on the same couch or in living rooms across the country. Starting this year, you can share a virtual theater, see your Avatars (a virtual you) on the screen – all while you listen to each other laugh and cry together at the movie through voice chat on Xbox LIVE.
- New Regional Partners: Now, for the first time Xbox LIVE members in the UK and Ireland can watch live or on-demand TV with BSkyB on Xbox. Never miss a moment of your favorite live TV shows, sports, movies and family-friendly entertainment – even share your favorites with up to seven friends in an Xbox LIVE Party.
- Global Expansion: The 1080p streaming HD Zune video experience on Xbox LIVE marketplace is expanding to 10 new regions this year, making movies and TV shows available in 18 total countries including US, Canada, UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Australia, and New Zealand. (Note: content and partners vary by region)
Disclaimer: OS X and Linux User here.
When it comes to MSFT, my motto of late has been hate the OS, love the Console.
It's hard for me to tell what MS's plans are when it comes to their OS, everything seems scattershot, shoddy, and behind the curve.
But regarding the 360, RRoD issues aside, they seem to have a clear plan, solid execution, and are now showing themselves to not just be ahead of the cuve, but after today's announcements, making the curve.
Their vision for the future of home entertainment, while one I wasn't completely on board with at first, looks great from over here. XBOX Live, Netflix streaming, 1080p streaming from Zune marketplace, 1 vs 100, and now this "Natal" thing...gotta say, it seems their system is finally reaching maturity (and it looks like the first of the current crop to be doing so).
Not a big fan of the Facebook/Twitter integration, but I guess we'll see how well that works out. For now, it seems kinda like trend-hopping, and I'd rather MS put their time into longer-term goals than integrating with relatively young, unproven players. Could be interesting, depending on how they do it, though.
I had a blast playing 1 Vs. 100 Beta tonight LIVE!!! Was on for like 2 Hours. It'll be on again LIVE on Saturday. Lots of FUN, and it's like the real thing expect your playing for real, either the One, One of the 100, or one of the people watching LIVE. At one point there was over 50,000 playing LIVE at tonights game. Live Announcer, Major Nelson Spoke a little bit during Intermission a couple times. Real Prizes when the Game is out of BETA. I was in Second place until the last question that I got wrong and knocked me way down for one of the games. Some lucky guesses. Quite a few of the games I did really bad on. 1 person did get to be the One, and once the One and the one left BOTH got the answer wrong and both lost. Can't for it to get out of BETA, and also the other Prime-time Games that will also be coming out.
It's a entirely different gaming experience. LIVE HOST, REAL PRICES, of course there is some Minor Advertising, but what do you expect.
I'm not really into facebook, never was with myspace either, and twitter just seems silly. Nothing better to do then post every little thing you do, and others to read every little thing you do? I just don't get it. Seems kind of boring and a waste of time. Maybe with the Natal you can just Talk to each other face to face.
I totally agree here, its not to say that these services werent offered before at other places but now they are all being offered to the mainstream market and thats where its gonna hurt their competitors. Sony and Nintendo have really got to step it up, Hell, even the PC has to step it up, there are 30 million 360's out there, there doing something right (not sure how many are re-buys after the first one RROD).
No disrespect to Sony either because they are getting the hint and they have a long life ahead of them still, so we can wait.
Yeah, all this stuff is cool, but what about a damn web browser? Come on MS, I'd even take a crappy IE port at this point.