HD-DVD Over USB on the 360

[bapenguin]

The doubters can now be silenced. HD-DVD on the XBox 360 will be connected via a USB cables. (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/news/events/e32006/articles/20060507-hddvdexplained.htm)

This new accessory will connect to the Xbox 360 console with a USB cable, enabling it to harness the power of the Xbox 360 console for the HD video outputs and digital surround sound. As an accessory, it becomes another shining example of the flexibility of Xbox 360 designed into the console in order to grow and add new features. It's also just one of several new accessories being announced at E3.
Still no word about HDMI support though. This could be detrimental as some studios will downsample the HD video if it's over component video.

Remember... USB only needs the bandwidth of the compressed audio and video, not the bandwidth of the uncompressed.

[KidCactus]

They really should have included more USB connections on the back of the console.

[Vandenh]

"HD DVD also offers new "twin discs" that have an HD DVD version and a DVD version on the same disc. This gives consumers an easy and affordable way to build their movie collection that will take full advantage of every TV in the house"

Is this true? And if so.; why wouldn't Bluray be able to do this??

Anyway.. make the HD-DVD player 100$ and it might work....

[NoName]

"HD DVD also offers new "twin discs" that have an HD DVD version and a DVD version on the same disc. This gives consumers an easy and affordable way to build their movie collection that will take full advantage of every TV in the house"
That's an incredibly good idea right there. If I had a choice between a plain DVD or that for a few bucks more, I'd get the duel disk just planning for the future. Good way to get your foot into people's living rooms.

[Mr. Crowley]

If studios turn on the ICT flag on later discs then this player is trash since it doesn't have an HDCP compatible HDMI or DVI output. Does MS have enough clout to prevent studios from eventually turning on the flag? I doubt it.

[bapenguin]

If studios turn on the ICT flag on later discs then this player is trash since it doesn't have an HDCP compatible HDMI or DVI output. Does MS have enough clout to prevent studios from eventually turning on the flag? I doubt it.

The only thing I could see is maybe...MAYBE the built something into VC-1 to allow the player to circumvent it regardless?

Otherwise I completely agree.

I still think either format is a waste of time.

[MasterEvilAce]

They really should have included more USB connections on the back of the console.
USB hub splitter thing could be sold

[sol740]

I personally can't wait for the Hi-Def DVD player to be commonplace. It just sucks we have to wait through a format war to find out who wins. I've been looking forward to hi-def on my projector since I got it. And don't say, "it won't look any different cause its already upconverted " because upconversion looks like ass compared to an actual source. Plus I recently cancelled my HD cable because they were raping me for like 5 channels a month. I don't care who wins, I just hope its a short battle. Though "blu-ray" sounds kinda gay.

[MrMeatshake]

The only thing I could see is maybe...MAYBE the built something into VC-1 to allow the player to circumvent it regardless?

Otherwise I completely agree.

I still think either format is a waste of time.

interesting point - u think the storage devices are pointless? or you just want to avoid the face//off between the two standards? if you think the storage devices are pointless, are you leaving high-def videos alone for now?

has no-one tried to find a compression method that will fit 3 hours of high-def signal on a DVD? is that REALLY impossible? you can fit a whole DVD-quality film on a CD (just) if it's compressed with something decent like DivX. is this not an option?

[TRiLoGY]

has no-one tried to find a compression method that will fit 3 hours of high-def signal on a DVD? is that REALLY impossible? you can fit a whole DVD-quality film on a CD (just) if it's compressed with something decent like DivX. is this not an option?

hmm.. DivX is not good enough quality for me..

[Grifter]

Monkeys Rock!!!

[rjcc]

"HD DVD also offers new "twin discs" that have an HD DVD version and a DVD version on the same disc. This gives consumers an easy and affordable way to build their movie collection that will take full advantage of every TV in the house"

Is this true? And if so.; why wouldn't Bluray be able to do this??

Anyway.. make the HD-DVD player 100$ and it might work....

Blu-ray can do that also, altho no discs have been announced.

A Jennifer aniston flick is ocming out/just came out on the HD-DVD flip disc

http://www.hdbeat.com/2006/04/26/warners-hd-dvd-dvd-combo-disc-addititonal-titles-announced/

[bapenguin]

interesting point - u think the storage devices are pointless? or you just want to avoid the face//off between the two standards? if you think the storage devices are pointless, are you leaving high-def videos alone for now?

has no-one tried to find a compression method that will fit 3 hours of high-def signal on a DVD? is that REALLY impossible? you can fit a whole DVD-quality film on a CD (just) if it's compressed with something decent like DivX. is this not an option?

There are plenty of hi-def movies that fit on a standard DVD. There were even some released already.

And yes, it's the whole face off thing. The storage is nice, but IMO not quite needed yet.

[Morratut]

I still will wait till only 1 format is available then and only then will I buy a HD movie player. At this time it could go either way.

[crashedout]

If it:
-has HDMI
-upscales regular DVD's
-under 100

I see it as a no-brainer. If not, I will probably skip it and wait for the format war to settle down as well.

[boratika]

I was sure I had something to add, but all I can think of now is that HD-DVD has too many sylables. And maybe too many Ds.

[Roc Ingersol]

If it:
-has HDMI
-upscales regular DVD's
-under 100

It's just streaming data to the 360. So it'll use the 360's a/v connection and it's up to the 360s media software to upscale. (I've got to imagine they'll give you the option)

The price point has pretty much got to be right around $100. That's where the USB HD DVD drives aimed at the PC segment will start.

[TegSkywalker]

I have my Xbox 360 connected via the VGA cable. Does this mean I won't get the benefits of the HDMI resolutions? I thought I heard somewhere that component cables will not be supported with the DRM in HD-DVD, yet VGA and HDMI will be ok.

[koorb]

"HD DVD also offers new "twin discs" that have an HD DVD version and a DVD version on the same disc. This gives consumers an easy and affordable way to build their movie collection that will take full advantage of every TV in the house"

Is this true? And if so.; why wouldn't Bluray be able to do this??

Anyway.. make the HD-DVD player 100$ and it might work....
Yes indeed this is very possible and is part of the HD-DVD disk design (not just a last minuet fix). A similar feature is available on Official XBox Magazine disks where if you put the disk in an XBox you get the XBox menu, and if you put the disk in a 360 then you get the 360 menu.

I haven't hared that a similar facility is part of Blue-Ray and I understand that this is one of the points where Microsoft and IBM was unhappy with the standard, but then maybe Sony wanted to keep it out to speedup development (as they where very behind) and this is will also be a good way of forcing people to go and buy Blue-Ray drives, thus making adoption rates higher.

[eatme]

There have been a lot of hints at HDMI output. I don't know how they'll pull that off, but they've been strongly hinting at it. Maybe some other USB add-on?

[Roc Ingersol]

The 360 still has a proprietary connector like the xbox did. They'll just need an HDMI adapter and a software update.

Whether the 360 down-samples analog output would be up to the software.

[rjcc]

The 360 still has a proprietary connector like the xbox did. They'll just need an HDMI adapter and a software update.

Whether the 360 down-samples analog output would be up to the software.

Not necessarily, what I've hear (I don't know tihs for a fact) is that an HDMI or DVI connector requires more power (electricity) than the 360's analog output is equipped for.

Notice the PS3 has two HDMI outputs AND a proprietary A/V out. They're totally different.

[DigitalFirefly]

It is possible the USB connection is just for communication between the Xbox and the HDDVD player. The DVD player itself may have its own HDMI output.

[Pumped'Up]

Usb??? Wtf??? yes, it better include HDMI output on the unit and use the USB connection only for comm w/ the 360.

[absolut taco]

If studios turn on the ICT flag on later discs then this player is trash since it doesn't have an HDCP compatible HDMI or DVI output. Does MS have enough clout to prevent studios from eventually turning on the flag? I doubt it.
Can someone explain why studios would require HDCP for full hi-def? Wouldn't they want their shit to look "the best" on any hi-def TV?

[bapenguin]

Can someone explain why studios would require HDCP for full hi-def? Wouldn't they want their shit to look "the best" on any hi-def TV?

Because they are greedy bastards and "next-gen" is all about copy protection for them. They could give 2 shits about us the consumer. That's what this whole format war is really about.

[absolut taco]

Because they are greedy bastards and "next-gen" is all about copy protection for them. They could give 2 shits about us the consumer. That's what this whole format war is really about.
But it will only be a question of time before a HDMI to DVI / Composite adapter is out that tricks the HD-DVD / Bluray player into thinking it's connected to an HDCP device. Or is it more complex than I think it is?