Toshiba denies denying Xbox 360 with built-in HD DVD rumor Options

[Xbox-Scene]

Toshiba denies denying Xbox 360 with built-in HD DVD rumor Posted by XanTium | October 25 20:02 EST | News Category: Xbox360

From engadget.com: [QUOTE] Ok, here's a strange one. Remember how yesterday, Toshiba supposedly nixed the rumor of a Tosh-branded Xbox 360 with built-in HD DVD[see news]? Well, get this: we were contacted by Nelsom Bostock Communications, Toshiba's PR company (in the UK at least), and asked to take down the post (which we haven't). According to NBC, "The comment that ran initially on stuff.tv in relation to the Xbox 360 was a misquote." The quote that Toshiba's PR company wants us to run says, "Toshiba has no comment to make on this matter. The Xbox 360 is not a Toshiba product." [/QUOTE] Full Story: engadget.com

[Acer1985]

interesting... i hope it does come out, id buy it

[Eddie_the_Hated]

Not a suprising move on Toshiba's part, but it doesn't really illuminate the situation any further.

I still say BS.

[0794]

Not a suprising move on Toshiba's part, but it doesn't really illuminate the situation any further.

exactly, we are still left to both wonder and speculate further about what all this means.

i am sure that MS called Toshiba and pushed this "denial of the denial" on them...

who knows if this is true and i really don't care - we will deal with these new boxes when and if we ever see them...

[Software2]

Why would MS want Toshiba to deny the denial? All that would accomplish is making people hold off on buying a 360. Why get it now if coming soon you can get the good version?

This is the first time I've ever raised an eyebrow about an internal HD-DVD player, because it's the first time there's been anything remotely substantial from an involved party. However, my money's still on this just being a "business-as-usual" legal statement. Nothing to see here, move along.

[Elemino]

All I know is MS better do something soon. The 40GB PS3 arrives in my store on the 2nd of Nov. Although it has 80GB less storage space than an elite.. it does have hdmi, (it's original selling point) built in wifi, and it plays bluray discs. For an elite to do the same you would have to add $280 worth of equipment (omitting the hard drive). Not to mention it already costs $50 more.

This post has been edited by Elemino: Oct 26 2007, 03:15 AM

[iLLNESS]

couldnt this just mean a hd-dvd bundle?

internal could mean in the box, or in the console itself theoretically. itd be a smart move to bundle it. if they can get a standalone unit for $200, why couldnt they get basically an external enclosure with hddvd for half that?

drop the bundled games, add in a hd-dvd and movie, and some arcade games for a lil more and u got a good deal imo

[Foolscrow]

All I know is MS better do something soon. The 40GB PS3 arrives in my store on the 2nd of Nov. Although it has 80GB less storage space than an elite.. it does have hdmi, (it's original selling point) built in wifi, and it plays bluray discs. For an elite to do the same you would have to add $280 worth of equipment (omitting the hard drive). Not to mention it already costs $50 more.

There's just a few problems with this:

What are you going to play on the PS3? To date (and almost a full year after it's initial release), there are only a handful of exclusive titles worth playing.

$ony dropped more than just the size of the harddrive on this unit. The backwards compatiblity (something that they thumped their chests about since day one) has been removed completely from the unit. The card reader has also been dumped. Personally, I'm not sure exactly why they keep juggling the size of the harddrive anyway, since one of the selling points for the PS3 is the ability to remove and upgrade that anyway. It really seems to me, that the PS3 is just like it's Blu-ray counterpart...a half finished spec.

Which brings me to my final point: what good is BR capability, if there has yet to be anything resembling an announcement concerning profile 1.1 compliance? There was one official remark regarding a system update for the PS3, yet there was nothing said concerning whether or not this update will bring the PS3 up to spec for profile 1.1 (for those who don't know, all existing BR players...ps3 included...are currently operating under profile 1.0, which was a temporary spec for the Java menues and interactivity. As of Oct. 31, profile 1.1 is due to become the standard...after numerous delays. If, and when it is released, all existing standalone players, and possibly the ps3 will lose a good deal of functionality, since the spec requires hardware upgrades.). IF it allows for full functionality under the new Java spec, this is a selling point; otherwise, it's an obsolete movie player from day one.

[axess68]

Sulu: How do ya figure? First, we're going to Altair. Then, we're going to Vulcan. Then, we're going to Altair again. And now, we're going to Vulcan again.

Checkov: I think I'm beginning to get Space-Sick.

This post has been edited by axess68: Oct 26 2007, 04:47 AM

[Reaper527]

What are you going to play on the PS3? To date (and almost a full year after it's initial release), there are only a handful of exclusive titles worth playing.

$ony dropped more than just the size of the harddrive on this unit. The backwards compatiblity (something that they thumped their chests about since day one) has been removed completely from the unit.

i just wanted to provide a link to this incase anyone has any doubts (bold lettering at the bottom of the "features")

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product_id=020285

on topic, i find it very strange that they would deny the denial, but its just a PR firm. i wouldn't take the move too seriously. i see this the same way as when the legal firm from id sent someone who made a gears of war plushie and put pics on the net a cease and desist order, then the higher ups in the company retracted the C&D and complemented the doll (front page article from about a year ago). just a case of the left hand not knowing what the right is doing.

This post has been edited by Reaper527: Oct 26 2007, 05:08 AM

[Elemino]

Well I never really thought about the backwards compatibility being that big of an issue. For one.. I don't own a PS2 and never owned a PS1 either. That wasn't an issue for me. All I know is I have a brand new HDTV and I have no HD player. Yes I can get the HD DVD attatchment, but since my 360 doesn't have HDMI it's cheaper to get a 40GB PS3 if I want full 1080P. I know nothing of this profile 1.0 and 1.1 (and I sell bluray players & finished an additional training module on it today). I'd like to know how much functionality I'd lose. Considering I never watch or use the extra content that comes on discs, I doubt it would affect me though.

[Chancer]

Considering I never watch or use the extra content that comes on discs, I doubt it would affect me though.

It probably won't, but it makes some good ammo for people who don't like the PS3.

If 360 machines start to include HD-DVD built in then they are doing the very thing most people said they were not interested in 6 months ago.
The people who wanted games paradise bought the 360 and could pay to add Hi Def Movie capability. The people who had no desire for the Movie playback on HD-DVD were not forced into it.

[Foolscrow]

Well I never really thought about the backwards compatibility being that big of an issue. For one.. I don't own a PS2 and never owned a PS1 either. That wasn't an issue for me. All I know is I have a brand new HDTV and I have no HD player. Yes I can get the HD DVD attatchment, but since my 360 doesn't have HDMI it's cheaper to get a 40GB PS3 if I want full 1080P. I know nothing of this profile 1.0 and 1.1 (and I sell bluray players & finished an additional training module on it today). I'd like to know how much functionality I'd lose. Considering I never watch or use the extra content that comes on discs, I doubt it would affect me though.

The only reason that I make it a point to include the removal of backwards compatibility, is due to Sony's PR statements about it, during the PS3's launch window.

Depending on the size of your HDTV, and how far you're going to be sitting from the screen, 1080p may not be that much of an issue. There's a chart floating around online, that illustrates at what point you'll be able to see the difference between 720p/1080i vs. 1080p. There's a lot of myth and rumor surrounding certain aspects of HD (the necessity of HDMI being part of it). While HDMI does carry digital signals, it is also fairly restrictive on the DRM front. To be honest, I can't tell the difference between 1080p HDMI and 1080i component feeds from ANY of my gear (displayed on a 42" LCD screen).

The various profiles on BR pertain primarily with the menu system, and the interactivity with the extra content. It's not something that can be fixed with a simple firmware update, since it 1.1 (and eventually 2.0) are hardware based upgrades. Profile 1.1 will make it a requirement for Blu-ray players to have a higher amount of onboard memory, as well as secondary audio and video processors (currently, the only way to include PIP commentary on a BR disc, is for their to be a second copy of the film, with the commentary PIP hard encoded to the film. HD DVD has used these secondary encoders from day one). Essentially, 1.1 will add interactivity in line with CD-i. Unfortunately, there are no players on the market or planned for release anytime this year that meet with the profile 1.1 compliance deadline of Nov. 1 (there are rumors that claim the PS3 might be able to get some of the functionality, given it's hardware specs; however there has been nothing to confirm or deny this, to date). The only company to publicly state that they are working on a profile 1.1 model, to date, is Denon...and they've postponed it until 2Q of 08, due to the difficulties in ensuring that older discs will work with the new profile. This is assuming that 1.1 even sees the light of day, considering it's been postponed at least twice before (There are software aspects as well, but IMO, they're overshadowed by the hardware issues right now).

Worse still, is that after 1.1, there is a profile 2.0, scheduled to be released sometime in 08. The purpose of this is not only MORE dedicated, onboard memory; but finally mandating that an ethernet port will be standard, to allow for behind the scenes firmware updates, plus online functionality (something else that HD DVD has had since day one).

Is it just me, or does it seem that BR is still unfinished, and that they're trying to get the consumers to pay them to betatest their gear?

What kills me, is that not only is the (newest) deadline for the new profile/hardware fast approaching, but the BDA is allowing the manufacturers to continue to pump these soon to be obsolete players into the market.

My personal take on this: if there are games that you want to play on the PS3, it may be worthwhile to pick one up. If you're trying to grab one as a cheap BR player, however, it might be a good idea to wait until the answers to this whole mess come out.

[FCTE]

I picked up the HD DVD add on today and I'm quite impressed with it, but there are many titles on Bluray that I also want and a few PS games I want like Warhawk. I'll probably pick a 40GB up at the $400 price point or wait it out until it hits $350.

I really can't stand this generation with not only the console wars, but also the added HD format wars. I just want great games and HD movies. I wish exclusivity would die off, if you like the Sony brand buy one, if you like MS buy one, but have the ability play all the games on either. I think brand loyalty could still float the sales, Japan will always float Sony anyway.

With the HD formats, why can't they just make all of the movies in both? They both sell and they still make their money. I don't see the big deal if we break away from the one uber format, why can't we have two and have consumer choice? Ridiculous.

I mean..........I picked up Terminator 3 on HD DVD, but 1 & 2 are on Bluray. Bogus.

This post has been edited by FCTE: Oct 28 2007, 06:48 AM

[Foolscrow]

I mean..........I picked up Terminator 3 on HD DVD, but 1 & 2 are on Bluray. Bogus.

Actually, that's one of the nice things about HD DVD...no region coding. There are quiet a few Blu-ray 'exclusives' in the US, that are available on HD DVD...if you're willing to pay an extra buck or two for the import (don't worry, they play fine, and are in English...I've tested about 5 or so titles myself). Check out xploitedcinema.com for a list. You'll be happy to know that T2 is one such title (available thru amazon france).

With the HD formats, why can't they just make all of the movies in both? They both sell and they still make their money. I don't see the big deal if we break away from the one uber format, why can't we have two and have consumer choice? Ridiculous.

From our standpoint as consumers, it would seem that this would be the best option...let consumer demand determine the format, not the studios. Too bad business doesn't work like that, anymore.

There are all kinds of reasons not to do this, from the business standpoint. First, the costs involved with production are not similar...BR is much more expensive, and from certain reports, the pressing process has notoriously low yields (sometimes only 40% of the batch is usable). Secondly, while both formats use AACS copy protection, BR has increased layers of DRM...which obviously, the studios love. BD+ (one of the extra DRM measures) has been rumored to be linked to the infamous Sony patent that locks discs to one machine.