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Why Microsoft Won't Have Blu-ray on the Xbox

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the wtb-final-fantasy-on-360 dept.

Ian Lamont writes "Ever since Toshiba stopped production of HD DVD players, many Xbox 360 owners have been wondering when Microsoft will offer some sort of Blu-ray option for the Xbox 360. The answer: Probably never. Microsoft's product manager for the Xbox 360 has told Reuters that Microsoft is not in talks with Sony or the Blu-ray Association. Why not? The Industry Standard points to HDi, an obscure Microsoft technology that was part of the HD DVD interactivity layer. HDi may be dead on physical media, but it could potentially be applied to other Microsoft HD-compatible technologies such as Xbox Live Arcade and Windows Media Center, and be part of a long-term play to own a big share of the market for HD content delivered over the Internet."

6 of 395 comments (clear)

  1. Another reason... by oahazmatt · · Score: 4, Informative

    Another reason for not including Blu-Ray capabilities... Like I'd be able to hear the movie?

    This isn't a troll. I love my 360, I do. But I've used it to watch DVDs and stream videos from my laptop, and honestly, even in the most well-ventilated of spaces, the console is just too loud for me to enjoy it as a media center at all.

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  2. Re:So when you want Blu-ray content... by Dorkmaster+Flek · · Score: 5, Informative

    It makes perfect sense if you realize that the PS3 is the only really future-proof Blu-ray player on the market right now. That, and the fact that it's almost the same price as a stand-alone player, plus you can play games, media, and install Linux on it.

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  3. This sucks by rikkards · · Score: 3, Informative

    XBox Live is about to take a kick in the teeth in Canada. Rogers has announced that they will start capping their bandwidth this June. If you go over it will cost you $2/gig (up to $25) extra per month. Until now we have been fortunate. Not sure if Microsoft has taken something like this change into account especially with higher quality videos creating larger data costs for the end user. At this point if no Blu-Ray player is coming, I go out and buy a separate Blu-Ray player (or PS3) and rent movies than risk going over my limit. I already pay Rogers enough.

  4. Um, ah, Microsoft and Corel are partners by microbox · · Score: 5, Informative

    M$ bought a huge chunk of Corel, and probably control the company these days. I'm never seen any analysis of the fallout of this deal, it was a while ago.

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    1. Re:Um, ah, Microsoft and Corel are partners by michael+path · · Score: 3, Informative

      This is simply not correct. Microsoft's share was purchased by Vector Capital acquired Microsoft's share, before buying the company outright.

  5. DLC is not true HD by HalAtWork · · Score: 3, Informative

    The videos are only 720p, the bitrate is not high, and it's a problem to transport the videos to bring to someone else's house to watch (you have to bring your 360) much less another room in the house. You can't purchase movies and keep them, and it costs $6 to rent one. You need a Live account. The selection is not that great. Although it might be a good companion, it's just not a suitable replacement for Blu-Ray.

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