We snagged a few shots of Microsoft's new
Xbox Live Video HDTV and HD movie download platform tonight. There isn't a whole lot to say since there was essentially zero mystery excepting seeing the actual XBL interface in person, but you should still click on to see a screen-by-screen of how you'll be wasting all those Microsoft Points this fall/winter.
Update: Microsoft called to let us know that the prices on the downloads (as photographed after the break) are actually not finalized, but are essentially placeholder values. We were told that the actual prices on these downloads would more than likely go down, so don't count on these figures being accurate at launch day.
So, let's get going with the media/video blade on the 360.
Well, well, that's new.
Got a couple selections pulled up here. Notice the expiry date on tha ATL.
So you've got your two download options there; preview will stream a live preview clip to that right box. Also notice how when you pay for HD content you get the SD version free (although in pay-per-day movies, this poses significantly less point)
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Again with V. Say, wasn't yesterday Guy Fawkes day?
More options; 14-day rental, but you know the stipulations.
Let's check out some TV. CBS perhaps?
Loading.
So here are our program listings on CBS, got a few brand-name titles going on here.
Drilling down into CSI: NY. Note the title and download rank twist nav.
Grab that ep.
And there's your purchase blade again.
Star Trek is being remastered in HD! It's not done yet though, so sit tight.
And, of course, one of our favoritest TV shows on the air today, Robot Chicken.
Plus preview. Sublime.
posted November 7th 2006 12:46AM
Baby steps. Eventually all the "cable" companies (Time Warner,Comcast,etc.)will just be another utility service, just providing the information line. Cable won't be able to compete as a "content" delivery service any longer.They will hang on for a few years for late adopters. The only thing that saves them now is the established ties they have with the networks. Lucky for Ted Turner he owns alot of content to sell. Most phone companies have at least positioned themselves to diversify into the wireless information line market. This about content delivery, and all the big boys are coming to play.
1.MS/360/Marketplace/Zune/Vista Hardrive
2.Apple/iTV/ITMS/Ipod(ish device)/mac
3.Sony/PS3/Connect(or whatever the hell that network is)/PSP/sony linux-ish OS?
Content companies like the movie/TV studios love it. All locked up nice and neat from their servers to your little box. Hell, it wouldn't shock me if once the market grows, Studios ended up saying "screw you NBC I'm taking this sitcom to M$ as LIVE network exclusive."
One problem they forgot about though..the Pirates are lurking in the mist waiting for the booty.
How long until we get a HD version of RVB?
I have to say the prices for TV are very, very disappointing. $3 for SD and $4 for HD per episode, regardless of length? Totally not worth it. Unless a season pass is a huge discount, at least.
Absolutely, they need to offer a Season for say ....9.99-12.99? Most likely 19.99 to start...Isn't that about what a box set of a Season of a typical show retails for on DVD?
So how much does 320 MS points translat into $$$$. I see everyone saying around $4. If that is the case then that is reCOCKulous. Unfortunatly the smart folks here at Engadget skipped the screen that shows how much the movie rental costs....
interface is fugly!!!!!!
I'm moving to Japa and planned to get an Xbox there. Is this service going to work over there?
Calling 720P "Hi-Def" is entirely accurate. HiDef standards call support many resolutions, 480p (though not really hidef, it's on the list & fox used to broadcast in it for years), 720p, 1080i, 1080p. I have a 720p 32" lcd at home and it looks pretty freaking hi-def to me. 1080p is a nice feature in the really really big sets (like 60" or more). In the vast majority of hidef sets sold today - the most common being the 32 - 42 inch flatscreens, that 720p is just the stuff. And believe it or not, 720p is pretty goddamn amazing at 120" too - lots of fabulous lcd/dlp projectors are native 720p.
1080p is a step up, but nothing compared to the leap between standard progressive dvd & 720p.
Had I a '360' I would absolutely partake of this feature.
This is just too expensive. $4 for ONE TV episode? Are you JOKING? Ok, yay, it's HD and it's "yours", but surely that price is just way too much? How much are movies going to be? They're bigger, but you only get 24 hours to watch it.
720p is definitely High Def.. in fact if you read the wikipedia page on it you'll see that most of the sports HD channels transmit using 720p since for video with lots of movement it's superior to 1080i... 1080i is superior for more static videos..you get greater detail...
You can watch the shows on CBS, NBC and ABC for free on their site, why would you pay for it?
seriously.. get HD cable a PVR and a DVD recorder or a 500Gig HD (i just bought one for $184 canadian) and you can own all those shows for the price of your existing cable
and you MS doesn't get to put the handcuffs on.. isn't anyone realizing that to play these movies that SUPPOSEDLY "you own for the rest of your life" you can only play them if you are an MS customer... look how MS treated it's Plays 4 Sure customers.. ok there was only 5 of them but.. they left them out in the cold..
go ahead and gobble this up.. but you only own these movies for life as long as you are married to MS for life too..
If a regular one hour thirty minute dvd can weigh in at around 9.4 gigs on a dual layer, how can this HD content be in such small file sizes??
If its just better compression techniques, then why cant a HD movie, like the files above, fit onto a dual layer dvd???
Why do Apple people complain about products that they are not going to buy due to favortism? They may do it out of jealousy. Anyways, its a cool lil feature that you dont need to pay for. The free video feature is sweet. So far I see no problems with a service like this. I like the interface too. I dont like to down other interfaces but the PS3 interface is bad. I hope Sony updates from the plain interface on the PS3. Microsoft and Sony are doing a good job in my eyes. Holodiscs are coming out next year. UHDTV is down the line. By 2010 these consoles will be obsolete and im sure that the next consoles made will possibly be the last. Technology is getting unreal.
Just one thing Microsoft really should do for a good handful of loyal Xbox 360 gamers and possibly soon to be xbxo 360 movie and tv watchers....INCLUDE A FREAKING ENGLISH SUBTITLE OPTION ON ALL TRAILORS AND FULL LENGHT FILM FOR CHRIST SAKE.
Wow I'm impressed.
First lets get it out in the air that I'm a MS fan. However, I do try to look at things in an un-biased way.
When you think about it this new feature is utterly INCREDIBLE. I mean who needs cable. Why pay for cable when you can just pay for what you want (in HD format too).
Maybe thats just me, a working college student that doesnt have all the free time in the world to just sit there and catch shows. This is a good thing; I can just download Smallville now. Ill never miss another episode. I dont even have to leave my house to rent a movie. Forget Blockbuster and Netflicks (well maybe not totally forget them, not all movies are available for downloadthats my guess).
Sure the fact that its a download is a drag (because of time required). But imagine yourself at home, right before dinner you switch the Xbox on and download that movie/episode you have wanting to watch. While you eat the content downloads and you are free to enjoy it after dinner.
I mean it doesnt really totally BEAT cable out, because you can turn cable on at any time and you have something to watch. But at the same time if you are like me you have a collection of those classic movies that you enjoy watching time and time again. So I guess you can just watch that if you dont have anything downloaded at the moment. Or you can download a couple of movies or episodes ahead of time. Im sure we will be able to download content while watching content. What about news you say?? Well I guess you can just watch it online or read it online (you already have internet, put it to better and more usemore bang for you buck) or listen to it while driving. Point is this WILL rival cable.
I did read something negative though. I dont know if its true. But a person left a comment and said that you had 24 hours to watch the content. If so that is very in-convenient, suppose I was to watch an episode and my girlfriend wanted to watch it too(the next day). I would have to download it again?? Clarification on this issue is needed, if true this is very inconvenient.
I think that overall the feature is a STRONG PLUS for MS and we the consumers. Then again maybe its just me. A person who barely uses cable/dish (we got both here). Because Im too busy working and with school, I usually just have time to watch my favorite show and thats about it.
Does anyone else see things the way I do, or opposite? Please comment.
Umm, movie studios are the ones who want DRM. Not MS, Sony or anyone can get away without some protection in the future. DRM sucks, but can we blame the studios? My groceries aren't free, why should my entertainment be?
Not only do we pay for cable/satellite, we have to watch the commercials on cable too, which we are ultimately paying for by sucking our sub-conscious dry. Does the 360 make us break to watch advertisements?
I don't see a direct link to the Zune, although both the 360 and the Zune integrate with the PC in your home ("the central hub"...to Microsoft's strategy), which is 90% likely to be running XP now and almost as likely to be running Vista in a few months to a year.
With the Sony locked into Blu-Ray investment which has been the PS3's only problems so far, Microsoft is going to own the market, as long as the content keeps coming! I'm so glad my wife got me the 360 for my early Christmas present!
PS: Rootkits...lol!!!
Greetings,
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