PAL Xbox Elite - Aggressive Pricing On HD Movie Downloads
Plus, first pics of SPOnG's matt black new toy
By Adam Hartley
"We can courier it over to you later today if you'd rather not carry it home," the man from Microsoft said to me earlier today, handing me one of the first PAL Xbox Elites (pictured here) after I had been given the requisite demonstration of what's in store for Xbox Live in Europe this coming autumn/winter.
"No, don't worry, it's not that heavy", I informed him as I ran out the door grinning! Although I soon realised that there are a couple of problems with Microsoft's aggressively priced 120GB, HDMI-enabled super-console that have so far gone unreported. Firstly, there is no helpful plastic carrying handle on the box, as with the previous machines. Secondly, carrying the latest must-have bit of gaming-stroke-home-entertainment kit down The Strand on show for all to see, four days prior to the official release, marks you out as prime mugging material!
I jest, of course, and once I got the Elite safely back to base, I ripped it out of its box to take the pics you see right here. I'll be testing it out later tonight to see if the extraneous noise-levels are similar or (hopefully) lower than the Premium 360 I currently have sitting under the telly.
Microsoft assured SPOnG earlier today that the pricing for 360's HD movie download service in the UK - still on schedule for a pre-Christmas 07 launch - will be similar to the current pricing over in the US (where it costs $5 (£2.50) to download the latest HD movies for a fourteen-day rental period) with more details on the exact movies and other content to also soon be revealed.
However, if the pricing is set anywhere near that level, then a quick comparison with my local Blockbusters, that charges me £4 per night for a Blu-ray or top twenty DVD rental, shows that 360 HD movie downloads could soon be providing traditional high street DVD rental stores with some serious competition.
As well as being able to access the latest movies in glorious high definition without leaving one's couch, the 360's HD movie download service also has the added bonus of helping couples to avoid bickering over choices in their local Blockbuster. Which can only be a good thing for the improvement of marital stress levels across the UK. Happy, formerly-estranged movie-loving spouses (and Relate Councillors) across the land can send their thanks to Mr.William Gates (c/o America)
Watch this space for more on Xbox LIVE's movie download plans for Europe. SPOnG hopes to hear more on Microsoft's new relationship-improving high definition gaming technology from Leipzig later this very week.
"We can courier it over to you later today if you'd rather not carry it home," the man from Microsoft said to me earlier today, handing me one of the first PAL Xbox Elites (pictured here) after I had been given the requisite demonstration of what's in store for Xbox Live in Europe this coming autumn/winter.
"No, don't worry, it's not that heavy", I informed him as I ran out the door grinning! Although I soon realised that there are a couple of problems with Microsoft's aggressively priced 120GB, HDMI-enabled super-console that have so far gone unreported. Firstly, there is no helpful plastic carrying handle on the box, as with the previous machines. Secondly, carrying the latest must-have bit of gaming-stroke-home-entertainment kit down The Strand on show for all to see, four days prior to the official release, marks you out as prime mugging material!
I jest, of course, and once I got the Elite safely back to base, I ripped it out of its box to take the pics you see right here. I'll be testing it out later tonight to see if the extraneous noise-levels are similar or (hopefully) lower than the Premium 360 I currently have sitting under the telly.
Microsoft assured SPOnG earlier today that the pricing for 360's HD movie download service in the UK - still on schedule for a pre-Christmas 07 launch - will be similar to the current pricing over in the US (where it costs $5 (£2.50) to download the latest HD movies for a fourteen-day rental period) with more details on the exact movies and other content to also soon be revealed.
However, if the pricing is set anywhere near that level, then a quick comparison with my local Blockbusters, that charges me £4 per night for a Blu-ray or top twenty DVD rental, shows that 360 HD movie downloads could soon be providing traditional high street DVD rental stores with some serious competition.
As well as being able to access the latest movies in glorious high definition without leaving one's couch, the 360's HD movie download service also has the added bonus of helping couples to avoid bickering over choices in their local Blockbuster. Which can only be a good thing for the improvement of marital stress levels across the UK. Happy, formerly-estranged movie-loving spouses (and Relate Councillors) across the land can send their thanks to Mr.William Gates (c/o America)
Watch this space for more on Xbox LIVE's movie download plans for Europe. SPOnG hopes to hear more on Microsoft's new relationship-improving high definition gaming technology from Leipzig later this very week.
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Comments
Dreadknux 20 Aug 2007 16:22
1/4
Jammy git.
I'm quite intrigued though, if it's resolved the crap-out problems that have been beleaguering the current supply of 360s.
[edit] They really needed to update that list of games available on the back of the box though. Table Tennis? The time is now for Halo 3 plugging surely.
I'm quite intrigued though, if it's resolved the crap-out problems that have been beleaguering the current supply of 360s.
[edit] They really needed to update that list of games available on the back of the box though. Table Tennis? The time is now for Halo 3 plugging surely.
Joji 20 Aug 2007 16:38
2/4
Excellent, Come on Spong, where's that 360 Elite compo...?
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A 21 Aug 2007 09:59
3/4
I am wanting to hear about the new UK elite - where's the review???
zoydwheeler 21 Aug 2007 10:21
4/4
The review is this - it's black and has a 120GB hard drive and a HDMI cable and hopefully won't break like the old ones did. And it's pretty well priced at £299. 78%