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Xbox 360 Sees New HD-DVD Player Update

Posted by Chris Pereira Categories: Accessories, Hardware, Internet, Xbox 360, Xbox Live,
Owners of the Xbox 360’s HD-DVD add-on will be the recipients of a new auto-update next time they try watching a movie while connected to Xbox Live. The new additions (tweaks, really) are minor, but the more improvements, the better. Those without access to Xbox Live will be able to download the update from Xbox.com later this week.
The list of improvements:
- Added option for user to select from the following audio output formats via TOSLINK or HDMI: -Digital Stereo (2 channel PCM) -Dolby Digital 5.1 -DTS 5.1 -WMA Pro
- Added “Dynamic Range Control” toggle for digital audio output
- Improved HD DVD networking support
- Improved HD DVD title compatibility
- Improved performance with MPEG-4 AVC / H.264
- 1080p via HDMI is supported on the Xbox 360 Elite with HDCP compliant displays
- Improved parental controls
Read More | Major Nelson
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Wal-Mart to Sell $250 HD-DVD Player, Will Customers Notice?
Posted by Michael Cardiff Categories: Accessories, Hardware, PlayStation 3, Rumors, Xbox 360,
With all this talk of PS3s, 360s, and Wiis going around, it’s easy to forget that there’s also a next-gen video format war going on - one which will likely have severe repercussions for either Sony or M$. Well, the latest shot in the High-def disc format war has been fired, and this time it’s mega-retailer Wal-Mart that may help tip the scales in HD-DVD’s favor (or at least give Blu-Ray something to worry about).
This week, Wal-Mart announced that they would be producing and distributing an HD-DVD player that well be the cheapest available, coming in at around $199-$299. I haven’t spent much time in Wal-Marts (I find them noisy, messy, and crowded when compare to other retailers… oh, and generally evil). So I’ve got to ask… is Wal-Mart really a place where you want to pick up your next piece of high-end (or at least, moderate-end) electronics? My impression was that most of the folks who shop there probably aren’t too tuned-in to the next-gen DVD formats, and may not even own an HDTV set to take advantage of such hardware. Still, perhaps the lure of a ridiculously cheap HD player will pull a few bargain-hunting techno-fiends towards their blue glow. And hey wait, while we’re on the topic shouldn’t Target be the one promoting HD-DVD (think: slick red cases!), and Wal-Mart be the one promoting Blu-Ray? That would make much more chromatic sense, at least.
Read More | IGN.com
Oblivion Developer: Blu-Ray is Slower
Posted by Michael Cardiff Categories: Corporate News, PlayStation 3, Rumors, Xbox 360,
The latest shot in the HD-DVD / Blu-Ray battle has been fired, this time coming from Oblivion developer Bethesda Software. According to the developers of the game, the Blu-Ray drive data rates are slower than those on, for instance, the Xbox-360’s DVD drive. Says Todd Howard at Bethesda:
“Drive speed matters more to me [than capacity], and Blu-ray is slower.”
What does this mean? Well, in general, longer load times and more cacheing to the harddrive. In fact, in order to get Oblivion to load on the PS3 as fast as it does on the Xbox-360, Bethesda duplicated key data from the game, storing it on multiple places in the disc to lower access times. There’s no word on how much of the code was duplicated, but it still seems to go against Sony’s message that developers need 50GB of storage space. It sounds like, if the drive were faster, the HD-DVD standard of ~30GB / disc could be adequate.
Read More | Gameworld Network
NPD: Xbox 360 HD DVD Sells 92K In US
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Accessories, Hardware, Xbox 360,
NPD continues to report on holiday sales data; this time the research firm tells Next Generation that the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive has sold 92,000 units since launch. The numbers break down into 42,000 in November and 50,000 in December, or roughly 2 percent of the Xbox 360 install base. With Microsoft claiming that the HD-DVD drive is selling out at retail, this would suggest either that Microsoft is having a hard time producing units or that they are limiting drive production for some other reason. While the HD-DVD drive competes with Sony’s Blu-Ray format, the Xbox 360 add-on might also be seeing competition from the Xbox Live Video Marketplace. Even though users can only rent HD movies via the service, owners of the Xbox 360 premium system don’t have to pay out for additional hardware. Every PS3 comes with a Blu-Ray drive, so total sales for that format look good, but one will have to look at movie sales rates to get a true indication of the relative popularity of the competing formats.
Read More | Next Generation
Unboxing Gallery: Xbox 360 HD DVD Player

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Galleries, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Video Games,
The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player can be considered to be the cheapest way to add high definition movies to your entertainment center - that is, if you already own an Xbox 360 console. We picked up one of the new HD DVD Player add-ons for the Xbox 360, and grabbed a bunch of unboxing images for your enjoyment. You can find all 20 images in our Xbox 360 HD DVD Player unboxing gallery.
Read More | Xbox 360 HD DVD Player Unboxing Gallery
MS Skips the HD Format War, Goes Straight to Digital Distribution?
Posted by Michael Cardiff Categories: Internet, Rumors, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Marketplace,
Rumors are circulating that, in addition to playing HD-DVD movies, the Xbox 360 will soon be a digital entertainment hub for downloadable video content. This sounds like something that would take a lot of time and infrastructure, but who knows - those are two things MS definitely has in spades. Plus, by avoiding the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray format war, Microsoft could puts Sony in a tough position. Either Sony has to start offering downloadable movies as well (thus cutting into their hopes for Blu-Ray), or the Xbox 360 just starts looking a little stronger in the features list.
SHSIBAE has learned that Microsoft will begin offering downloadable HD movies later this month. At launch time– rumored to be around Nov. 22–over 1100 hours of video will be available to rent or purchase through an XBOX 360 connected to XBOX Live. Feature length movies will require a ten minute caching period before viewing, which should be just long enough to make some popcorn, grab a beer, and find your favorite blanket.
We’ll definitely be looking for some sort of non-denial denial from Microsoft, but it never hurts to dream, eh? The idea of downloading movies to your Xbox 360 and watching them minutes later sounds amazingly sweet.
Read More | MaxConsole.net
Official Xbox 360 HD-DVD Drive Price Announcement
Posted by Michael Cardiff Categories: Accessories, Corporate News, Xbox 360,
Microsoft has finally announced their (unsurprising) price for the HD-DVD add-on drive. And it’s…. (drumroll please!) $199.99. So, if you buy a platinum system with the HD-DVD add-on, you’ll be spending a remarkably PS3-looking $599.98. Of course, what with the recent Fry’s deal and other bundles appearing all over the place, that combo might be quite a bit cheaper by the time the PS3 launches (or it at least might come with a few games in addition!).
Both Microsoft and Sony’s strategy are interesting in their own ways. While the Xbox 360 with HD-DVD add on doesn’t really look all that sleek or enticing, it does offer consumers the option of choosing whether or not they want to enter the Hi-Def DVD format war fray. And while Sony’s console looks ridiculously expensive, it does offer pretty much the same features as a 360 + HD-DVD combo, but in a sleeker package. It’s looking more and more like it’s going to be a close race for #1, but that could all change if MS decides to get really competitive with their pricing.
Read More | Xbox.com
Xbox 360 HD DVD Pre-Order Available on GameStop.com
Posted by Christopher Sasaki Categories: Accessories, Hardware, Xbox 360,
GameStop.com now has the Xbox 360 HD-DVD Drive available for pre-order online. Pricing, as previously mentioned, is $199.99 and currently includes the King Kong HD-DVD Movie pack-in. According to GameStop, the drive will be available on 11/30, a couple of weeks after the Playstation 3 and the Wii release. With the Playstation 3, Wii, Zune, and the HD-DVD shipping this holiday season, it looks like there’s going to be a ton of hardware competing for consumer dollars in November and December.
Read More | GameStop
Xbox 360 HD DVD Player To Retail At $200 In USA

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: HDTV, Home Entertainment, Movies, Video Games,
Microsoft has finally announced pricing for their HD DVD Player add-on for the Xbox 360 in North America, making it know that the unit will sell for $199.99 USD. While no date has been set, Microsoft did give us a few extra notes - the HD DVD Player will included the HD DVD version of King Kong, along with the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote control. With the next Xbox 360 dashboard update comes the ability to output the signal in 1080p, allowing Full HD compatibility.
While not super-cheap, getting and HD DVD Player for $200 can’t be seen as anything other than a bargain, as the cheapest standalone unit runs for $500 USD - and that one can’t even play Xbox 360 games.
Read More | Playfeed
Xbox 360 HD DVD Player $200 In North America

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Accessories, Corporate News, Xbox 360,
Microsoft has finally announced pricing for their HD DVD Player add-on for the Xbox 360 in North America. While no date has been set, the device will sell for $199.99 USD, and will included the HD DVD version of King Kong along with the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote control. For those not in the know, the HD DVD Player allows you to view HD DVD movies, delivering six times the resolution of a standard DVD. With the next Xbox 360 dashboard update comes the ability to output the signal in 1080p (same goes for games, which will be upconverted.)
While not super-cheap, getting and HD DVD Player for $200 can’t be seen as anything other than a bargain, as the cheapest standalone unit runs for $500 USD - and that one can’t even play Xbox 360 games.