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Toshiba Denies 360 With Built-in HD DVD

Posted by Zonk on from the there-is-usually-fire-where-there-is-smoke dept.

A few days ago we discussed the possibility of Toshiba working on an Xbox 360 with a built-in HD DVD component and HD tuners. Today, GamesIndustry.biz has word from Toshiba denying that they're working on that unit. "'It's got nothing to do with us,' said a spokesperson to gadget site Stuff. 'But we know Microsoft doesn't want to include the HD DVD so as not to limit the user's experience.' Microsoft currently sells the HD DVD player as a separate peripheral for the Xbox 360, and offers various deals for users who want to upgrade their console to a hi-definition movie player."

5 of 50 comments (clear)

  1. Corporate doublespeak by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    'But we know Microsoft doesn't want to include the HD DVD so as not to limit the user's experience' What?
  2. Good by ADRA · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I hope this brain child never hits the light of day, at least not for a long time.

    Why "Built-in HD-DVD" is dumb
    Having built in HD-DVD drive will allow MS to push HD-DVD storage enabled games that utilize the extra capacity. This will piss off all the existing users from playing those games and force them to upgrade their systems. The only saving grace on MS side would be to make it ABSOLUTELY clear that the upgraded HD drive will NEVER be used for game content.

    Why "HD tuner" aka QAM is dumb
    The HiDef TV market is currently locked into Encrypted QAM in North America and the only way to bypass the "rent/buy box from provider" is to use a cablecard decoder which is very broken and restricted to 'certified' hardware. There may be some channels broadcasted over the air unencrypted but you can be damn sure that all cable companies will switch to encrypted sooner or later, and at their whim. I'll put hd-cable to the same place in my heart as Hidef cable. In the cold. Call me back when there are open(non-private-key-encumbered) pervasive standards to

    --
    Bye!
    1. Re:Good by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 3, Informative

      I really don't see how any developer would make HD-DVD 360 games because of that very reason. Why cut most of your market out like that? Just take a look at how long it took for a lot of game distributors to standardize on DVD even if the drives were only $10 and you couldn't buy a computer without a DVD drive for years now.

      I can't find anything that said that the XBox tuner would be QAM-only. Over the air works just fine and can't legally be encrypted.

      "I'll put hd-cable to the same place in my heart as Hidef cable."

      I wasn't aware that "hd-cable" was something different from "Hidef cable".

  3. PVR, not HD-DVD by rtechie · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The rumor is that there will be a new bundle priced higher than the Elite (probably around $600) that will include a larger hard drive (I'm told 200 GB), a Cablecard-ready TV tuner, bundled Media Remote, and possibly a DVD recorder (don't hold your breath for that last one). No HD-DVD, though it's supposed to be an HD-capable PVR that records up to 720p.

  4. QAM not as limited as you think by SuperKendall · · Score: 3, Informative

    The HiDef TV market is currently locked into Encrypted QAM in North America and the only way to bypass the "rent/buy box from provider" is to use a cablecard decoder....

    Actually, this is not entirely the case - on Comcast I get all basic digital channels, including local HD channels, on clearQAM. It's true more advanced channels or premium HD content require encrypted QAM support.

    Also of course, there is over the air HD in a number of markets now...

    A built in HD-TV tuner is of more use than you think.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley