Sign in Subscribe
Software industry

Xbox 360 to Support Hi-Def Video via External HD DVD Drive and Xbox Live

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Microsoft's Xbox 360 games console is poised to revolutionize the gaming experience by supporting the delivery of high-definition (hi-def) video through an external HD DVD drive and its online subscription service, Xbox Live. The company announced its plans to release the HD DVD drive at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in May 2006, with a release expected towards the end of 2006. This move will enable users to watch hi-def content on their console without the need for additional devices. The Xbox 360 will also distribute hi-def video content directly to the console's hard disk drive via broadband, starting with film trailers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Microsoft plans to release an external HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360, which will support the delivery of hi-def video content.
  • The HD DVD drive is expected to be released towards the end of 2006, when a greater selection of HD DVD software titles will be available.
  • Users will be able to watch hi-def video content on the console without the need for an additional device, such as a hi-def set-top box or hi-def DVD player.
  • The initial available video content on Xbox Live will be limited to film trailers, with Paramount's Mission Impossible III being one of the first available titles.
  • The existing Xbox Live servers are unable to stream video footage, and the limited capacity of the Xbox 360's hard drive (20 Gb) is another obstacle to overcome.
  • Microsoft is exploring the possibility of delivering full-length feature films on Xbox Live in the future.

Statistics:

  • 6 HD DVD titles were on sale in the US at the time of writing (no specific date mentioned).
  • 20 Gb is the capacity of the Xbox 360's hard drive (Microsoft: Microsoft, 2006).

Sources:

  • Microsoft: Cliff Joseph, "Xbox 360 to support high-definition video via online subscription service", Personal Computer World, 2006 (no specific date mentioned).
  • Microsoft: Microsoft Press Release, "Microsoft Announces plans for Xbox 360 HD DVD Player", Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), 2006 (no specific date mentioned).

Read more