Microsoft to launch external HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360
Posted on 05/01/06 13:32 by Johnny                             
Microsoft to launch external HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360

Bill Gates revealed in is keynote at CES that Microsoft plans to launch an external HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360. No details on what it will cost and when it will be available were given, just that it will ship later this year.

Building on Xbox 360 leadership in high-definition experiences, the company announced plans to deliver a new Xbox 360 external HD DVD drive in 2006. The new drive will offer millions of Xbox 360 owners the ability to easily enjoy HD DVD movies and will provide consumers with even more choices for experiencing high-definition content, in either physical or digital form.

 

An external drive does not sound like very neat solution in my opinion so hopefully Microsoft will launch an Xbox 360 with a built-in HD DVD drive later too. The current Xbox 360 version also misses an HDMI connection which might be necessary to output HD DVD movies in full resolution so it will be interesting to see how Microsoft plans to solve that problem.

 

If you want to read more about what Gates said in his speech you can do so here.

Source: Microsoft

Reactions
Discuss this article with your fellow community members! We appreciate your valuable input, but please keep the reaction policy in mind and make sure your reaction is constructive.
By Saruman, Thu 5 Jan 2006 13:56
Well, with all the bad publicity surrounding the first release of the Xbox 360, they have to do something and they probably will mod the original so that it will come with built in HD-DVD drive and also build in the HDMI connections in the Xbox 360 2.0. I have a feeling that they will be forced to also use the HD-DVD drive to be a game drive, too, once the PS3 comes out (I believe PS3 is still supposed to use a BR drive, right?).
By Xecuter2, Thu 5 Jan 2006 17:08
Xecuter2External? puke
By shimman, Thu 5 Jan 2006 18:28
i don't think hd dvd is necessary for gaming unlike what sony wants us to think. why? much of game disk is filled with video data, but unlike ps3, xbox360 probably uses vc1 which i believe an mpeg4 thus reduces storage requirements. there should have been talks between hd dvd group & ms; the external unit might come with a signal converter from scrambled analog to hdmi or maybe hd dvd group let ms ship certain number of units future version probably uses hdmi with built in hd dvd i don't know why they are making a big deal out of the output because many dvds are made by capturing the screeen using high resolution cam which can be done even if the output is protected by hdmi
By u_n_s97, Thu 5 Jan 2006 19:13
No wonder... They want to get a fortune for that too... (just like for their 20 GB HDD...puke) regards, Stephen
By CORRSA, Thu 5 Jan 2006 20:43
A FOOL AN HIS HER MONEY ARE SOON PARTED ! sony crash n burn too

Name: Email:



Your comment:

Receive notification on new comments?