Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft.
Speculation is mounting that Bill Gates will leave his last Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas as chairman of Microsoft with a bang. Specifically, it has been suggested that he may use his keynote speech to announce the licensing of the Xbox brand to Toshiba for a gaming digital video recorder.
While this is simple guesswork at this point, the chief guesser is The Seattle Times - normally a solid source for Microsoft news. The newspaper suggests that the video recorder would feature a HD-DVD drive, a hard drive and, of course, Xbox gaming capabilities. It also speculates that this would be part of a larger push to license the Xbox brand to other companies.
Another piece of juicy speculation is that Gates - who may well appear with president of Microsoft’s Entertainment & Devices Division, Robbie Bach, as he discusses gaming - will announce the introduction of a 360 with an internal HD-DVD drive.
On a note that's less gaming-focused but still of interest to 360 owners, it's suggested that Gates may focus on media streaming in the home. The Seattle Times' Brier Dudley reports, "Microsoft's play here is software for 'extender' devices, such as new models from Netgear and Linksys that pull media stored on a Windows system to televisions and stereos around the house. Gates will probably highlight those and a new television from Hewlett-Packard that has extender technology built in, so it can stream content from a Media Center or home server wirelessly."
The 360, of course, is already sat in your living room and connected to the telly, making it an obvious focus for any streaming technology from Microsoft.
Gates' keynote is scheduled for this Sunday. Check back on SPOnG for the highlights.
Source: The Seattle Times
While this is simple guesswork at this point, the chief guesser is The Seattle Times - normally a solid source for Microsoft news. The newspaper suggests that the video recorder would feature a HD-DVD drive, a hard drive and, of course, Xbox gaming capabilities. It also speculates that this would be part of a larger push to license the Xbox brand to other companies.
Another piece of juicy speculation is that Gates - who may well appear with president of Microsoft’s Entertainment & Devices Division, Robbie Bach, as he discusses gaming - will announce the introduction of a 360 with an internal HD-DVD drive.
On a note that's less gaming-focused but still of interest to 360 owners, it's suggested that Gates may focus on media streaming in the home. The Seattle Times' Brier Dudley reports, "Microsoft's play here is software for 'extender' devices, such as new models from Netgear and Linksys that pull media stored on a Windows system to televisions and stereos around the house. Gates will probably highlight those and a new television from Hewlett-Packard that has extender technology built in, so it can stream content from a Media Center or home server wirelessly."
The 360, of course, is already sat in your living room and connected to the telly, making it an obvious focus for any streaming technology from Microsoft.
Gates' keynote is scheduled for this Sunday. Check back on SPOnG for the highlights.
Source: The Seattle Times
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Comments
SuperSaiyan4 2 Jan 2008 12:15
1/6
Its gonna happen, at the end of the day its obviously cheaper to just include a HD-DVD drive in the Xbox 360 than an add-on but heres the problem...If you start making HD-DVD games what about all those millions of 360 owners that have DVD drives? Or the few with the add-on? What then?
I think it will be the biggest disgrace in the gaming industry to announce HD-DVD based games for those that either dont have HD-DVD player or have no interest etc.
I traded in my Premium for an Elite now I might have to go trade in my Elite and add-on for this new model since I like having the latest stuff but not everyone is going to want to do that...Not all of the 14+million 360 owners anyways.
I think it will be the biggest disgrace in the gaming industry to announce HD-DVD based games for those that either dont have HD-DVD player or have no interest etc.
I traded in my Premium for an Elite now I might have to go trade in my Elite and add-on for this new model since I like having the latest stuff but not everyone is going to want to do that...Not all of the 14+million 360 owners anyways.
pudge 2 Jan 2008 13:43
2/6
Microsoft is so behind sony for everything that is HD and recording and just copying everything sony does
Sony has blueray hd - Microsoft does hddvd
Sony comes out with hdmi - Microsoft comes out with hdmi
Sony makes a video to tv recording component and tv service - Microsoft announces the same thing
If u look at what microsoft is doing is accesoriesing there console.. ps3 is way more of an all in 1 package.
Microsoft needs to stop copying and start being inventive.. something they have not done in a long time
Sony has blueray hd - Microsoft does hddvd
Sony comes out with hdmi - Microsoft comes out with hdmi
Sony makes a video to tv recording component and tv service - Microsoft announces the same thing
If u look at what microsoft is doing is accesoriesing there console.. ps3 is way more of an all in 1 package.
Microsoft needs to stop copying and start being inventive.. something they have not done in a long time
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SuperSaiyan4 2 Jan 2008 13:54
3/6
Err no they are NOT copying.
Microsoft annouced PVR a year ago yet it still remains in the air.
HDMI is an industry standard connection it doesnt matter who uses it its a connection.
Sony is the one who is behind on HD by not even supply the consumer even a HDMI cable in the box yet Microsoft gives you all the cables you need with the Elite both HDMI and Component.
No Microsoft does not have HD-DVD thats Toshiba's technology, Microsoft is simply backing HD-DVD.
Overall Microsoft have been concentrating on the games and the hardware whilst Sony has been on the blu-ray front with lack of games or exclusives.
Their announcement of a recording device is a copy of Microsoft's PVR, however with Sony they keep you waiting.
And we all know what happened to the PSX which was supposed to boast a huge hard drive and other features...It flopped.
So before you or someone else jump on the PS3 fanbaby brigade we can all say who copied who till the cows come home.
In this case its very common for each company to use each others ideas in sometimes in a different method.
Toshiba make a TV Sony make a TV so whats the big deal?
Microsoft annouced PVR a year ago yet it still remains in the air.
HDMI is an industry standard connection it doesnt matter who uses it its a connection.
Sony is the one who is behind on HD by not even supply the consumer even a HDMI cable in the box yet Microsoft gives you all the cables you need with the Elite both HDMI and Component.
No Microsoft does not have HD-DVD thats Toshiba's technology, Microsoft is simply backing HD-DVD.
Overall Microsoft have been concentrating on the games and the hardware whilst Sony has been on the blu-ray front with lack of games or exclusives.
Their announcement of a recording device is a copy of Microsoft's PVR, however with Sony they keep you waiting.
And we all know what happened to the PSX which was supposed to boast a huge hard drive and other features...It flopped.
So before you or someone else jump on the PS3 fanbaby brigade we can all say who copied who till the cows come home.
In this case its very common for each company to use each others ideas in sometimes in a different method.
Toshiba make a TV Sony make a TV so whats the big deal?
deleted 2 Jan 2008 16:53
4/6
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
Its gonna happen, at the end of the day its obviously cheaper to just include a HD-DVD drive in the Xbox 360 than an add-on but heres the problem...If you start making HD-DVD games what about all those millions of 360 owners that have DVD drives? Or the few with the add-on? What then?
OK where did they mention that games would be on HD DVD? That will never happen, and they are not putting the HD DVD in the Xbox 360, they are talking about licensing the 360 tech to go inside a Toshiba built HD DVD Player/PVR giving it media centre extender properties and 360 gaming ability ON DVD DISCS! This is kind of like what Panasonic did with the GameCube, no one will lose out, no disc format is changing and Developers will still develop for the bare minimum 360 system
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
I think it will be the biggest disgrace in the gaming industry to announce HD-DVD based games for those that either don’t have HD-DVD player or have no interest etc.
Again I mention you are reading something that’s not there, its doest say this, and you need to read it all before posting at least preview what you post!
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
I traded in my Premium for an Elite now I might have to go trade in my Elite and add-on for this new model since I like having the latest stuff but not everyone is going to want to do that...Not all of the 14+million 360 owners anyways.
No one is forced to upgrade to the elite and it offers nothing more than an HDMI connection and bigger HD, no one will have to upgrade to this if it happens, I really think you need to read the news again and understand it before trolling.
My opinion is that this is great idea, for peeps looking to get a HD DVD player or PVR or Media Extender or 360 why not have the lot in one box, just as long as Tosh use a designer who can make it look sexy and its not as big as my 40” TV who can moan!
James 3 Jan 2008 08:49
5/6
i have read other articles were toshiba have completely denied they are going to do this. It is logical given the success of the PS3 and Blu-Ray to have a SKU with a built in HD drive...
SuperSaiyan4 3 Jan 2008 13:19
6/6
haritori wrote:
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
Its gonna happen, at the end of the day its obviously cheaper to just include a HD-DVD drive in the Xbox 360 than an add-on but heres the problem...If you start making HD-DVD games what about all those millions of 360 owners that have DVD drives? Or the few with the add-on? What then?
OK where did they mention that games would be on HD DVD? That will never happen, and they are not putting the HD DVD in the Xbox 360, they are talking about licensing the 360 tech to go inside a Toshiba built HD DVD Player/PVR giving it media centre extender properties and 360 gaming ability ON DVD DISCS! This is kind of like what Panasonic did with the GameCube, no one will lose out, no disc format is changing and Developers will still develop for the bare minimum 360 system
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
I think it will be the biggest disgrace in the gaming industry to announce HD-DVD based games for those that either don’t have HD-DVD player or have no interest etc.
Again I mention you are reading something that’s not there, its doest say this, and you need to read it all before posting at least preview what you post!
SuperSaiyan4 wrote:
I traded in my Premium for an Elite now I might have to go trade in my Elite and add-on for this new model since I like having the latest stuff but not everyone is going to want to do that...Not all of the 14+million 360 owners anyways.
No one is forced to upgrade to the elite and it offers nothing more than an HDMI connection and bigger HD, no one will have to upgrade to this if it happens, I really think you need to read the news again and understand it before trolling.
My opinion is that this is great idea, for peeps looking to get a HD DVD player or PVR or Media Extender or 360 why not have the lot in one box, just as long as Tosh use a designer who can make it look sexy and its not as big as my 40” TV who can moan!
I aint trolling, you are.
Thanks for the heads up though.