Microsoft's CES 2006 KeyNote: HD-DVD Addon Confirmed! Options

[Xbox-Scene]

Microsoft's CES 2006 KeyNote: HD-DVD Addon Confirmed! -- Posted by XanTium on January 4 21:49 EST
Microsoft's keynote at CES 2006 just finished. The videofeed of the full CES keynote is now available from Microsoft at 300kbps here, at 100kpbs here and at 56kbps here, only the audio is available from Major Nelson in mp3 here and wma here. The full transscript of the keynote is available from the Microsoft Press site here.
Below you can find our report of what they said about the Xbox360 (HD-DVD addon!) and Microsoft's official press release.

Our coverage of what they said about Xbox 360:
* They are showing Windows Vista (including pushing how great it'll be for gaming). They gave a demo of the next generation Microsoft Flight Simulator (expected in about a year) running on Vista and played with the Xbox 360 controller.
* Xbox coverage is starting ... we get a promotional video of the launch.
* Peter Moore on stage now ... talking about what they did so far (new partnerships, unprecendented global launch, announced original Xbox at CES 5 years ago, moving to market leaders, ...).
* They want to sell between 4.5 and 5.5 million Xbox360s by June 2006. Xbox 360 has an attach rate of 4 games and 3 accessoires per console.
* 3rd factory (Celestica) will be added next month for producing (assembling?) the Xbox 360, next to the Wistron and Flextronics factories.
* He's now telling how great Xbox LIVE is. 10% had LIVE on Xbox, 50% has LIVE on the Xbox 360 (gold and silver?).
* 4 million Xbox LIVE marketplace downloads since the Xbox 360 launch. Movie previews like Mission Impossible are very popular. Public of LIVE is as big as that of TV-shows like CSI.
* By March they are expecting 20 games on Live Arcade.
* Moore announced the Xbox 360 external HD-DVD drive (addon) for HD movie playback. No details, price or pictures for now. It'll be released 'this year' (2006).
* 9 out of 10 Xbox360 owners have bought or plan to buy a HDTV. 90% says primary reason to want a HDTV is the Xbox 360.
* More than 50 Xbox 360 high-definition games expected by the end of June.
* Al Bernstein (ESPN boxing analyst) is showcasting EA's 'Night Fight Round3'. Bill Gates as Muhammad Ali is playing against Steve Ballmer (Microsoft's Chief Executive Officer) as Frazier ... and Bill won. A demo of this game is now available from the Marketplace.
* The end.


Here's what they said about the Xbox360 in Microsoft's official press release about the CES keynote:
[QUOTE]
Just a month after the global launch of the new Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, Gates discussed the product's strong momentum in delivering high-definition hardware, games and digital entertainment experiences. Xbox 360 is on track to be the fastest-selling video game console ever, forecast to ship between 4.5 million and 5.5 million units worldwide by the end of June 2006.

Gates noted that Xbox 360 has also become a powerful application for high-definition television, adding that nine out of 10 Xbox 360 owners currently own or intend to purchase a high-definition television set. He announced that more than 50 new high-definition Xbox 360 games will be available by June 2006.

Building on Xbox 360 leadership in high-definition experiences, the company announced plans to deliver a new Xbox 360 external HD DVD drive in 2006. The new drive will offer millions of Xbox 360 owners the ability to easily enjoy HD DVD movies and will provide consumers with even more choices for experiencing high-definition content, in either physical or digital form.

Using Xbox 360 and the Xbox Live service today, consumers are already able to access high-definition entertainment such as Xbox Live Arcade titles, game demos and high-definition movie trailers. Consumers can also use their Xbox 360 system to access high-definition television and movies from their Windows XP-based Media Center PC.

Gates' keynote also showcased the momentum behind Xbox Live, announcing that more than half of all Xbox 360 owners are already connected to the online games and entertainment service, which boasts a worldwide community of more than 2 million members. He demonstrated Electronic Arts Inc.'s forthcoming EA SPORTS "Fight Night Round 3," scheduled to be available in February 2006, and announced that a free, playable high-definition demo of the game is now available at the Xbox Live Marketplace, a one-stop digital download center where consumers can access high-definition games, music and movie content from leading industry partners.
[/QUOTE]

Read the full press release (incl. lots of non-xbox related stuff) on microsoft.com.
Written live coverage (of the full keynote) is also available at engadget.com.

[mbratton]

check out what "peter" posted in the comments section on Engadget:

Xbox 360 Leads the Way in High-Definition Entertainment



Just a month after the global launch of the new Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, Gates discussed the product’s strong momentum in delivering high-definition hardware, games and digital entertainment experiences. Xbox 360 is on track to be the fastest-selling video game console ever, forecast to ship between 4.5 million and 5.5 million units worldwide by the end of June 2006.

Gates noted that Xbox 360 has also become a powerful application for high-definition television, adding that nine out of 10 Xbox 360 owners currently own or intend to purchase a high-definition television set.* He announced that more than 50 new high-definition Xbox 360™ games will be available by June 2006.

Building on Xbox 360 leadership in high-definition experiences, the company announced plans to deliver a new Xbox 360 external HD DVD drive in 2006. The new drive will offer millions of Xbox 360 owners the ability to easily enjoy HD DVD movies and will provide consumers with even more choices for experiencing high-definition content, in either physical or digital form.

Using Xbox 360 and the Xbox Live® service today, consumers are already able to access high-definition entertainment such as Xbox Live Arcade titles, game demos and high-definition movie trailers. Consumers can also use their Xbox 360 system to access high-definition television and movies from their Windows XP-based Media Center PC.



Gates’ keynote also showcased the momentum behind Xbox Live, announcing that more than half of all Xbox 360 owners are already connected to the online games and entertainment service, which boasts a worldwide community of more than 2 million members. He demonstrated Electronic Arts Inc.’s forthcoming EA SPORTS™ “Fight Night Round 3,” scheduled to be available in February 2006, and announced that a free, playable high-definition demo of the game is now available at the Xbox Live Marketplace, a one-stop digital download center where consumers can access high-definition games, music and movie content from leading industry partners

[kidkinetix]

... plans to deliver a new Xbox 360 external HD DVD drive in 2006

I think this will make all parties involved happy. I'm fine with that =]

Can't wait to Try FN3, downloading now off the marketplace.

[ILLusions0fGrander]

im fine with that also.. as long as it has nothing to do with any released games needing the HD-DVD unit.

thats when i get really pissed... you have to wonder if they planned this the whole time.

This post has been edited by ILLusions0fGrander: Jan 5 2006, 04:26 AM

[Dawg605]

I won't pay anymore than 100 bucks for the drive, but I like the idea and I hope lots of good movies come out with it.

I just wish Sony didn't do Blu-Ray. There are lots of good movies from Sony and other companies assossiated with Blu-Ray.

[Ranger72]

External? Boy I would like to see how that would look and work. Will it replace the HDD? I cant see it plugging into a USB slot and being able to transfer data fast enough to work properly.

[CattyKid]

External? Boy I would like to see how that would look and work. Will it replace the HDD? I cant see it plugging into a USB slot and being able to transfer data fast enough to work properly.

Well, USB 2.0 can go at up to 480 mbits per second. I know we don't see that speed, but the real worl'd speed can be mighty fast, certainly fast enough for HD media.

I saw the headline and was ready to sell my 360, good thing it's an add-on.

[ILLusions0fGrander]

im guessing, although it would be bulky, it would attatch where the hard drive would go, then the hard drive would attatch to it...

id say about a 150 dollar price tag if not more... who knows though

[JoBlo69]

i cant see an external HD-DVD drive working with USB 2.0...

but whatever.... ms better have there shit together with this.... am external hd-dvd drives sounds really tacky...

and its probly going to cost a shit load... like 200-300 bucks....

[Vipernig]

The only way would be through the usb port and yes USB2.0 would be fast enough to transfer the data, with a bust speed of 480kbps and a sustained 80kbps it is more than enough. Plus if it is USB 2.0 you can use the unit on your PC and hell probably a PS3 which will probably have usb 2.0 support. I for one would never buy it though. h264 AVC decoding is enough for me

[spIdeZ]

Why the hell didn't they make the original DVD drive able to be taken out....I don't want a bulky external drive. Oh well, I haven't bought a 360 yet, so I'll just wait and see what happens

[CattyKid]

The only way would be through the usb port and yes USB2.0 would be fast enough to transfer the data, with a bust speed of 480kbps and a sustained 80kbps it is more than enough. Plus if it is USB 2.0 you can use the unit on your PC and hell probably a PS3 which will probably have usb 2.0 support. I for one would never buy it though. h264 AVC decoding is enough for me

You mean 480mbps? Your talking, like serial or parallel ports there!

[amb7247]

Well I'll get one if they plan to put games on HD-DVD. If MS says an external HD-DVD will work then I'm sure it will. Someone with better information on how fast data moves in HD-DVD format may know.

it's 480Mbps.

[adfinder23]

If all it does is play movies, I'm not gonna pick it up. If it played games in HD-DVD games, I would. But they probably won't do that because it is definately a poor decision to make console owners buy more stuff just to make it work at it's best. But who's to say in three years when the game makers have a guage on how many Xbox360 owners own the HD-DVD add on, that they won't offer their games in both formats.

I'm not a technical wizard, so don't know if the above mentioned speed problems with USB connection would make HD-DVD gaming impossible.

As for playing movies, I'm sticking with my Xbox/360/DVD players until either the format war is decided or until I can get a combo bluray/hd player. And even then, the price has to go down. Depending on how well it looks on HD tv compared to standard DVD.

[Jasper44]

Developers who make games that need to be put on 2 or even 3 dvd's had better release them on hd-dvd as well so the people who want to shell out the cash for the drive don't have to swap discs(how next-gen is swapping discs????)