DirecTV blade to bring HD TV and flicks to Xbox 360 Dashboard?

We heard of DirecTV's philandering with Microsoft at CES when they announced they had plans for Windows Media integration and were going to "Extend the DirecTV experience to the Xbox 360 system." Well it looks like they might not just be hooking up a DirecTV box to the 360 and calling it good, but might in fact be adding a whole new blade to the Xbox 360 Dashboard that would allow for HD movie and TV downloads along with "standard-definition streaming DVR (i.e., TiVo) functions." This is according to the Official Xbox Magazine, who marks the story as a rumor, but if it is true that means the Xbox 360 might just be giving the PS3 a run for its money in the media department after all.

[Via Joystiq]

[Paul Wilson @ Feb 17th 2006 11:36AM]

How can you say the xbox 360 is finally giving PS3 a run for it money. The PS3 isn't out yet. I think we have to wait and see what the PS3 ships with before making judgements.

[Benjamin Allen Grimsbo @ Feb 17th 2006 11:46AM]

This would be awesome.

[WyattERP @ Feb 17th 2006 11:47AM]

Might just give the PS3 a "run for it's money"? Huh? How is an alleged rumor of an upcoming feature (360 and DirectTV integration) give another alleged rumor (PS3 media capbilities) a run for the it's money? Man, that sentence doesn't make any sense. At this point in time, the PS3 does absolutely nothing for anybody, it's a non-existent console, a ghost. I'm all about diving into a juicy rumor here and there, but seriously, all that comment says to me is that the author is biased towards the PS3.

[WyattERP @ Feb 17th 2006 11:50AM]

Oh wait...I fell for it! Man, engadget, you guys are good! Nothing like flaming the gamers into fanboy comment wars to keep the traffic higher on your site. (slaps self)...you guys do this all the time! Why didn't I see it coming?

[jay @ Feb 17th 2006 11:51AM]

How are things between Paul Allen and Microsoft? I'd think that a partnership like this direct tv deal between MS and Charter Communications that Allen keeps putting mony into would be a sure thing.

[Alleyn @ Feb 17th 2006 12:19PM]

Yeah, i can't wait to download content onto the already crammed lil hard drive... How big do you think a HD version of Batman Begins will weigh in? 4 episodes of the simpsons and your HD is packed. Lame.

[NoSsy @ Feb 17th 2006 12:40PM]

Isn't DVR capability already exist? Well given you have Windows MCE2005 with dual tv tuner and a 100+GB HD.

[IK @ Feb 17th 2006 12:46PM]

LoL. Leave it to tech bloggers to not got it. By "extend" they mean ensure the media center extender fucntionality in the 360 works with the DirecTV support comming for Media Center. What's next? Raving about Intel ViiV "new name for old shit" Jive?

[Regula Blique @ Feb 17th 2006 1:01PM]

In regards as movie content I think that the PS3 will have better things to offer they do have sony pictures and others that are under them...and do u have to sign up with directv to get this im guesinng u do, Im straight we all know what happens when the storms come and mess up your signal. I own a xbox 360 but when the ps3 comes out thats going to get all the attention the 360 was just to hold off my next-gen wait and it really doesnt feel that must next-gen right now.

[CrazySoB16 @ Feb 17th 2006 1:56PM]

How can you say "Oh PS3 is going to be better" You don't even know what the interface is going to look like. For all you know it could jsut be a copy of the PSP firmware.

Xbox 360 isn't better than the PS3 and the PS3 isn't better than the Xbox 360. Simply becuase the PS3 simply does not exist.

[Alcaron @ Feb 17th 2006 1:59PM]

Might just give the PS3, which we know nothing about for CERTAIN, a run for it's money.

I love Engadget, but seriously, sometimes these posts are just stupid.

[Evan Adams @ Feb 17th 2006 2:27PM]

If I dont get a benefit for being a direcTV subscriber I'm going to be annoyed!

[oshean @ Feb 17th 2006 3:04PM]

Yes, but can DirectTV blade be hidden or removed from current set of 360 menu blades? I don't want that crap showing up there. More than likely the directtv will show up as a computer/external drive in the media blade section.

[Bearxor @ Feb 17th 2006 4:52PM]

Do some of you read this site everyday? The 'might just be giving the PS3 a run for its money in the media department after all.' line is because of all the rumors that have been happening lately about downloadable content off of Sony's HUB service.

Do you guys have nothing better to do than sit around and nitpick every little damn thing?

[MrFloppy @ Feb 17th 2006 7:13PM]

Well, I'll wait fot 1080p Batman Begins on PS3 :p

[fogd00d @ Feb 18th 2006 2:50AM]

Interesting, but ... what is with the newly and unnecessarily coined user-interface term, "blade" ?

The semantics of describing interfaces can be challenging enough at times, without marketing dicks or "I haven't made a name for myself yet" interface geeks coming up with more hokey terminology to try and grab a slice of the ADD generation's overly-pandered-to attention span.

Worse, its probably some horrific idea to try to "spin" (J's term) the thing to appeal to young Asian buyers. Blade! Oo! I guess "tab" or "page" or even "panel" was just too pedestrian.

Picture an unconvincingly-bald-chic leather glad geek busting into the boardroom with the breakthrough term they'd been looking for for a UI element of the 360's interface.

Makes you feel a little dirty, doesn't it?

))) )) ) ) B L A D E ( ( (( (((

(oo!)

[Ethan @ Feb 18th 2006 5:29PM]

"Xbox 360 might just be giving the PS3 a run for its money in the media department after all."? What the hell? Exactly what media features does the PS3 have... oh wait, I already know! IT HAS NONE. The PS3 isn't even out yet!

I would hope Engadget would be in with the times: forgetting that a console has yet to launch is a pretty big thing to forget. Someone should inform Mr. Miller that not only is the PS3 yet to launch, it's INTENDED features have yet to be announced.

Try again, Mr. Miller, try again.

[Modderbox @ Feb 18th 2006 7:17PM]

ZOMG FANBOY ALERT
K, who cares, im just happy ill be able to download tv shows on my 360, PLUS about the limited HD 50 bucks says microsoft releases a 100gig HD on the same day as the update.

[dij @ Feb 19th 2006 1:56PM]

"Well, I'll wait fot 1080p Batman Begins on PS3 :p"

HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!! WHAT AN IDIOT!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!

[Modderbox @ Feb 19th 2006 9:31PM]

i must cuncur with dij....batman wasnt recorded in 1080p HD, the highest it was recorded in was 720....ya....um....n00b?

[muffin man @ May 16th 2006 6:34PM]

Evan Adams has got a point. I got directV also, I better see some benefit. and Fogd00d I think likes to hear himself talk but he is correct also