(5 votes, average: 4.2 out of 5)  Loading ...

by Mike Zazaian September 13, 2006 - 3:01pm, 1 Comment

Microsoft looks to keep up with the Jonses by adding an internal HD-DVD drive to its year-old Xbox 360.

Microsoft is allegedly shopping around Taiwan for the right manufacturer of its second-generation Xbox 360, complete with internal HD-DVD drive. While Microsoft already plans to launch external HD-DVD add-ons for current Xbox 360 units later in the year, a permanent move to HD-DVD would give the console some flexibility in the expanding hi-def market. While HD-DVD isn’t yet the standard, it will compete with Blu-ray for the high-capacity media crown well into the Xbox 360’s 5 or 6 year release cycle.

Competing console manufacturer Sony will include Blu-ray as standard on its upcoming Playstation 3. Sony President Ken Kutaragi has been under fire for the decision, however, as the Blu-ray technology has contributed to what will likely be an immense $600 PS3 price tag for the console’s release in November.

While no release dates for the HD-DVD enabled Xbox 360 are set in stone, Digitimes reports that the updated console would ship some time in Q1 2007 at the earliest.

[via DigiTimes, TechCrunch]

(5 votes, average: 4.2 out of 5)  Loading ...

by Mike Zazaian September 13, 2006 - 3:01pm, 1 Comment

Microsoft looks to keep up with the Jonses by adding an internal HD-DVD drive to its year-old Xbox 360.

Microsoft is allegedly shopping around Taiwan for the right manufacturer of its second-generation Xbox 360, complete with internal HD-DVD drive. While Microsoft already plans to launch external HD-DVD add-ons for current Xbox 360 units later in the year, a permanent move to HD-DVD would give the console some flexibility in the expanding hi-def market. While HD-DVD isn’t yet the standard, it will compete with Blu-ray for the high-capacity media crown well into the Xbox 360’s 5 or 6 year release cycle.

Competing console manufacturer Sony will include Blu-ray as standard on its upcoming Playstation 3. Sony President Ken Kutaragi has been under fire for the decision, however, as the Blu-ray technology has contributed to what will likely be an immense $600 PS3 price tag for the console’s release in November.

While no release dates for the HD-DVD enabled Xbox 360 are set in stone, Digitimes reports that the updated console would ship some time in Q1 2007 at the earliest.

[via DigiTimes, TechCrunch]