10-Nov-06 01:29:00
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, Peripherals
Alright, so we've got Microsoft's HD DVD player finally hitting the hands of elated Xbox 360 owners, rumors of a 100GB 80GB hard drive, and an "all systems go" on the console's forthcoming Live Video service -- how could there possibly be anything else up ole Bill's sleeve? Apparently the company is at least pondering the release of several other goodies in the (hopefully) near future, including a premium (read: black) wireless controller with backlit buttons ($59-$69), a "traditional joystick" for use with Xbox Live Arcade titles ($29-$39), a "mini-keyboard plug-in device" enabling text messaging and chat ($19-$29), and a long-awaited web browser built into Xbox Live (likely gratis). No, we didn't pull these four niceties out of a hat, but certain XBL members received a hint-filled survey that mentioned each of these devices (and bits of software) in particular, leading us to believe that at least some of these peripherals could...
Alright, so we've got Microsoft's HD DVD player finally hitting the hands of elated Xbox 360 owners, rumors of a 100GB 80GB hard drive, and an "all systems go" on the console's forthcoming Live Video service -- how could there possibly be anything else up ole Bill's sleeve? Apparently the company is at least pondering the release of several other goodies in the (hopefully) near future, including a premium (read: black) wireless controller with backlit buttons ($59-$69), a "traditional joystick" for use with Xbox Live Arcade titles ($29-$39), a "mini-keyboard plug-in device" enabling text messaging and chat ($19-$29), and a long-awaited web browser built into Xbox Live (likely gratis). No, we didn't pull these four niceties out of a hat, but certain XBL members received a hint-filled survey that mentioned each of these devices (and bits of software) in particular, leading us to believe that at least some of these peripherals could...
Source: Engadget
09-Nov-06 19:09:00
Filed under: Features, Gaming, HDTV, Home Entertainment, Peripherals
Well looky looky here, we landed an Xbox HD DVD drive. We're already all well aware of what it can and can't do; we just know you want the pics of the unboxing, it sitting next to the Xbox, and maybe a few bonus shots next to a real life HD DVD player. Hell, we'll even throw in some pics of it next to the competition (you know what we're talking about). Click on, enjoy!
Ah, that familiar sight.
There we go, that's what we were looking for.
The back.
The top, sorta.
Crack that one open, too!
Remote! Adapter! USB cable!
Stacked up on top.
The hardware in the box, unpacked.
Okay! Now, we're SO not taking responsibility for that sticker up on the back. Normally we just leave stickers on while photographing (unless it's on the facade, like...
Well looky looky here, we landed an Xbox HD DVD drive. We're already all well aware of what it can and can't do; we just know you want the pics of the unboxing, it sitting next to the Xbox, and maybe a few bonus shots next to a real life HD DVD player. Hell, we'll even throw in some pics of it next to the competition (you know what we're talking about). Click on, enjoy!
Ah, that familiar sight.
There we go, that's what we were looking for.
The back.
The top, sorta.
Crack that one open, too!
Remote! Adapter! USB cable!
Stacked up on top.
The hardware in the box, unpacked.
Okay! Now, we're SO not taking responsibility for that sticker up on the back. Normally we just leave stickers on while photographing (unless it's on the facade, like...
Source: Engadget
07-Nov-06 08:03:00
Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals
We knew we weren't crazy. Looks like at least one Xbox 360 was outfitted with a larger-than-normal drive at one of Microsoft's two fall HD download / update / launches event this evening (that'd be SF and NY). Which is good because if when Xbox Live Video goes, um, live on November 22nd and there isn't a larger drive, we have a feeling certain Microsoft customers (namely us) will start rioting and looting Redmond. Ok, maybe not -- but seriously, of all the rumors to track closely, how much longer do we have to keep watching for a freaking bigger hard drive? Oh, and click on for the HD DVD retail box -- this Plaid Ninja guy got it all.
[Thanks, Dean]
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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time
Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to ...
We knew we weren't crazy. Looks like at least one Xbox 360 was outfitted with a larger-than-normal drive at one of Microsoft's two fall HD download / update / launches event this evening (that'd be SF and NY). Which is good because if when Xbox Live Video goes, um, live on November 22nd and there isn't a larger drive, we have a feeling certain Microsoft customers (namely us) will start rioting and looting Redmond. Ok, maybe not -- but seriously, of all the rumors to track closely, how much longer do we have to keep watching for a freaking bigger hard drive? Oh, and click on for the HD DVD retail box -- this Plaid Ninja guy got it all.
[Thanks, Dean]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time
Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to ...
Source: Engadget
06-Nov-06 21:14:00
Filed under: Features, Gaming, Home Entertainment, Interviews
Last week, between extended PS3 sessions, we got a chance to sit down with Sony Computer Entertainment America's Senior Vice President of Marketing, Peter Dille, who chatted candidly with us about Sony's ambitions (and failures) in the market, design decisions made with the console, and where the PlayStation platform is going both handheld and console.
Thanks for meeting with me today. So I think maybe my biggest question right now is the amount of consoles that are coming in to the States and Japan. I mean, they've been getting cut and on launch day and we're now down to 480,000 worldwide?
I don't know that there's anything new to talk about there. I'm trying to recall the last public statement about the launch number.
Last one, I think, was last week. Japan went down by something like 20,000 units.
Yeah, I think that's right. There's not a whole lot to add in terms of the pub...
Last week, between extended PS3 sessions, we got a chance to sit down with Sony Computer Entertainment America's Senior Vice President of Marketing, Peter Dille, who chatted candidly with us about Sony's ambitions (and failures) in the market, design decisions made with the console, and where the PlayStation platform is going both handheld and console.
Thanks for meeting with me today. So I think maybe my biggest question right now is the amount of consoles that are coming in to the States and Japan. I mean, they've been getting cut and on launch day and we're now down to 480,000 worldwide?
I don't know that there's anything new to talk about there. I'm trying to recall the last public statement about the launch number.
Last one, I think, was last week. Japan went down by something like 20,000 units.
Yeah, I think that's right. There's not a whole lot to add in terms of the pub...
Source: Engadget
06-Nov-06 19:58:04
Did you know the code for the Xbox 360 HD DVD player is 4.7 million lines? In comparison, Windows XP has 40 million lines of code, and the old Windows NT 3.1 has around 4-5 million lines of code. So yes, the software to play back HD DVD movies has the same amount of code as your operating system from 1993. Why? Because all the decoding, playback, and other functionality is software based.
Fun False Fact: Did you know half of that 4.7 million lines just goes to inserting frames of porn in Disney HD DVD movies?
In actuality, a lot of the functionality traditionally done in DSP (digital signal processing) chips or other hardware components in regular HD DVD players has to be emulated in the software for the Xbox 360. The intricacies after the jump:
Video Codecs: H.264, MPEG-2, VC1Audio Codecs: Dolby Digital+, DTS, TrueHD, LPCM, MPEG
HDi: The HD DVD runtime engine.GDI: Drawing stuff like menus
AACS: Cryptography/DRM stuffMF: Audio/Video pipeline In fa...
Fun False Fact: Did you know half of that 4.7 million lines just goes to inserting frames of porn in Disney HD DVD movies?
In actuality, a lot of the functionality traditionally done in DSP (digital signal processing) chips or other hardware components in regular HD DVD players has to be emulated in the software for the Xbox 360. The intricacies after the jump:
Video Codecs: H.264, MPEG-2, VC1Audio Codecs: Dolby Digital+, DTS, TrueHD, LPCM, MPEG
HDi: The HD DVD runtime engine.GDI: Drawing stuff like menus
AACS: Cryptography/DRM stuffMF: Audio/Video pipeline In fa...
Source: Gizmodo
06-Nov-06 16:51:26
Amazon is offering up this HD DVD player for $400 shipped. The player was originally announced with a $500 price tag, Amazon has since knocked off $100 directly. No rebates, no BS. Also, buy 3 HD DVD movies with the purchase of the HD-A1 player and receive them for free, after mail-in-rebate.
You may want to do a bit of research before a purchase like this, some reviewers like the player and some others completely despise of it. – Travis Hudson
Product Page [Via Dealhack]
You may want to do a bit of research before a purchase like this, some reviewers like the player and some others completely despise of it. – Travis Hudson
Product Page [Via Dealhack]
Source: Gizmodo
05-Nov-06 23:13:00
Filed under: Gaming, HDTV, Home Entertainment
If you love cooked-books math as much as we do, get ready for some fun with the forthcoming $200 Xbox 360 HD DVD drive bundle: as reader Edison points out, initial shipments are bundled with King Kong on HD DVD (MSRP $40) and the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote (MSRP $30); if you apply for an Amazon card when pre-ordering the unit (did we mention it's now available for pre-order?) that drops it down another $30, making your unit "$100." We know, that's some pretty shady math to justify yet another $200 on the old credit card, so instead we'd recommend you just say you're treating yourself for being such a good girl/boy this year and not worry so much about what the thing's going to cost. C'mon, you're worth it.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time
Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 P...
If you love cooked-books math as much as we do, get ready for some fun with the forthcoming $200 Xbox 360 HD DVD drive bundle: as reader Edison points out, initial shipments are bundled with King Kong on HD DVD (MSRP $40) and the Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote (MSRP $30); if you apply for an Amazon card when pre-ordering the unit (did we mention it's now available for pre-order?) that drops it down another $30, making your unit "$100." We know, that's some pretty shady math to justify yet another $200 on the old credit card, so instead we'd recommend you just say you're treating yourself for being such a good girl/boy this year and not worry so much about what the thing's going to cost. C'mon, you're worth it.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time
Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 P...
Source: Engadget
04-Nov-06 16:49:00
Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment
After raising eyebrows by having no Blu-ray plans to show at its dealer show in Orlando a few days ago, LG finally announced its new BD100 Blu-ray player at the Best of Stuff show in London yesterday. The BD199 player shown previously was cancelled abruptly, and for a moment LG seemed ready to replace it with a dual format HD DVD / Blu-ray player, but the company later backed off those plans. The BD100 will include HDMI, component, composite, coaxial, and S/PDIF outs, whether 5.1 audio output via analog is included is unclear. 1080p Blu-ray playback and DVD upconversion is definitely part of the package, plus DivX, WMA and MP3 compatibility. LG officials refused to commit to a price or launch date, only that it would be "competitively" priced. Whether that means competitive in Australia, relative to the Toshiba HD-E1 HD DVD player (£499) or the Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray player (£1000) -- both were also on display at the show -- is ...
After raising eyebrows by having no Blu-ray plans to show at its dealer show in Orlando a few days ago, LG finally announced its new BD100 Blu-ray player at the Best of Stuff show in London yesterday. The BD199 player shown previously was cancelled abruptly, and for a moment LG seemed ready to replace it with a dual format HD DVD / Blu-ray player, but the company later backed off those plans. The BD100 will include HDMI, component, composite, coaxial, and S/PDIF outs, whether 5.1 audio output via analog is included is unclear. 1080p Blu-ray playback and DVD upconversion is definitely part of the package, plus DivX, WMA and MP3 compatibility. LG officials refused to commit to a price or launch date, only that it would be "competitively" priced. Whether that means competitive in Australia, relative to the Toshiba HD-E1 HD DVD player (£499) or the Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray player (£1000) -- both were also on display at the show -- is ...
Source: Engadget
04-Nov-06 16:49:00
Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment
After raising eyebrows by having no Blu-ray plans to show at its dealer show in Orlando a few days ago, LG finally announced its new BD100 Blu-ray player at the Best of Stuff show in London yesterday. The BD199 player shown previously was cancelled abruptly, and for a moment LG seemed ready to replace it with a dual format HD DVD / Blu-ray player, but the company later backed off those plans. The BD100 will include HDMI, component, composite, coaxial, and S/PDIF outs, whether 5.1 audio output via analog is included is unclear. 1080p Blu-ray playback and DVD upconversion is definitely part of the package, plus DivX, WMA and MP3 compatibility. LG officials refused to commit to a price or launch date, only that it would be "competitively" priced. Whether that means competitive in Australia, relative to the Toshiba HD-E1 HD DVD player (£499) or the Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray player (£1000) -- both were also on display at the show -- is ...
After raising eyebrows by having no Blu-ray plans to show at its dealer show in Orlando a few days ago, LG finally announced its new BD100 Blu-ray player at the Best of Stuff show in London yesterday. The BD199 player shown previously was cancelled abruptly, and for a moment LG seemed ready to replace it with a dual format HD DVD / Blu-ray player, but the company later backed off those plans. The BD100 will include HDMI, component, composite, coaxial, and S/PDIF outs, whether 5.1 audio output via analog is included is unclear. 1080p Blu-ray playback and DVD upconversion is definitely part of the package, plus DivX, WMA and MP3 compatibility. LG officials refused to commit to a price or launch date, only that it would be "competitively" priced. Whether that means competitive in Australia, relative to the Toshiba HD-E1 HD DVD player (£499) or the Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray player (£1000) -- both were also on display at the show -- is ...
Source: Engadget
03-Nov-06 23:52:55
The 360 HD DVD player may not be available just yet, but you can get some breathing room on everyone else this Xmas by pre-ordering yours today. Amazon has it only $199 with a release date of November 7. Goes great with the recent 360 update that enabled 1080p, but broke 360s, then was re-released. – Jason Chen
Product Page [Amazon]
Product Page [Amazon]
Source: Gizmodo
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