Xbox gets video quality enhancements. Or is this a sneaky Xbox 2 deal?
New deal announced, new speculation arises.
News has arisen today of a deal between Microsoft and Focus Enhancements to provide the Xbox with a new graphical converter chipset.
Specifically, Focus will deliver a chipset that will provide broadcast quality TV-out technology for Xbox by accepting a variety of video input rates and resolutions from the graphics card, and converting them into video that can be read by HDTV, analogue TV or VGA monitor.
The only difference here is the VGA support and as you well may know, the Xbox can currently pump out HDTV-friendly signal up to a startling 720p (1280x720 pixels, progressive scan) resolution.
So is this deal just for the current model, or is Microsoft planning to incorporate VGA support into a shrunk-down, desktop-ready casing? Perhaps this is the first of many Xbox 2 deals that Microsoft finds increasingly difficult to keep under wraps.
“Beginning production for Xbox is a positive step in our relationship," said Thomas Hamilton, currently general manager of the semiconductor division and former president, CEO and co-founder of Tview, a Focus Enhancements company. "This confirms that companies implementing video design for products like set-top-boxes, which require scan conversion from PC graphics to standard or high-definition televisions see Focus as competitive.”
Set-top boxes!? The deal’s off!
More as it breaks.
Specifically, Focus will deliver a chipset that will provide broadcast quality TV-out technology for Xbox by accepting a variety of video input rates and resolutions from the graphics card, and converting them into video that can be read by HDTV, analogue TV or VGA monitor.
The only difference here is the VGA support and as you well may know, the Xbox can currently pump out HDTV-friendly signal up to a startling 720p (1280x720 pixels, progressive scan) resolution.
So is this deal just for the current model, or is Microsoft planning to incorporate VGA support into a shrunk-down, desktop-ready casing? Perhaps this is the first of many Xbox 2 deals that Microsoft finds increasingly difficult to keep under wraps.
“Beginning production for Xbox is a positive step in our relationship," said Thomas Hamilton, currently general manager of the semiconductor division and former president, CEO and co-founder of Tview, a Focus Enhancements company. "This confirms that companies implementing video design for products like set-top-boxes, which require scan conversion from PC graphics to standard or high-definition televisions see Focus as competitive.”
Set-top boxes!? The deal’s off!
More as it breaks.
Companies:
Microsoft
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