Although Microsoft's marketing department likes to keep its execs on a short leash, you really should listen to its CEOs when they espouse launch schedules. They are, after all,
CEOs and tend to have the big picture (like dates) related to major projects that drive revenue. Recall 2008, when Bill Gates told the world that
Windows 7 would arrive in 2009 causing Microsoft marketing to
scramble-out a redaction attempting to reset expectations for a 2010 launch. With Windows 7 now officially
launching in October, well, guess who was right? Fast forward to last month when Steve Ballmer made a similar slip saying Project Natal would
arrive in 2010 causing Microsoft to issue a statement that a
launch date had not been confirmed. Now
DigiTimes is reporting that Aptina has won the exclusive rights to equip Natal with a 1.3 megapixel CMOS image sensor required for Natal's camera. More importantly, the Taiwanese rumor rag says that shipments of the "
new version of the Xbox 360 console" are slated for the second half of 2010 -- a date that
sounds like Fall to us as previous rumored. Of course,
DigiTimes was absolutely certain that Microsoft was integrating Blu-ray into future (that'd be 2008) Xbox 360 consoles too, so take this rumor for what it is: rumor.
posted Jul 22nd 2009 8:39AM
Interesting...
blood in your morning pee?
No comments?
Why yes, sure. Here's a comment:
I don't have a 360 yet and this will make me wait until E3 2010 to see what Microsoft says.
because its barely news... A rumor that Natal is coming out in one and a half years??? wow. Its that good that ill definitely be holding my breath for....
I'll wait for the new Xbox which will launch next year
"equip Natal with a 1.3 megapixel CMOS image sensor"
Wow. That'll be...kinda lame won't it? Scan in my skateboard (or ironing board). Who cares though right...because it'll be fun to always stand and play your games...lol
If the new version supports blu-ray ..i will finally jump on the 360 wagon, i bought a ps3 to play blu-ray movies and have the chance to get back into gaming. The latter has yet to materialize yet.
Why would Xbox ever go with BlueRay when they have HD streaming movies from Netflix. Yes the storage capacity would be nice for games, but I don't think they will but the competitions hardware in their console.
because streaming movies are low bitrate, usually not 1080p and don't have uncompressed audio, that's why not!
Did you want bluray movie support for the 360, or games on a bluray for the 360? The former seems pointless if you have a PS3 already, the latter is not going to materialize unless it's a completely new system, and in that case they'll probably wait till downloadable models become mainstream anyway.
@ Maff
How is a streaming HD low bitrate? Do you even know the difference between how the audio is compressed on the blu ray compared to how netflix compresses it? You sir are a dumb ass.
@ Predetermined
You bought a PS3 to get back into gaming? LOL how has that been working out? 360 getting blu ray this generation isn't going to do anything especially get PS3 owners to switch over. Does anyone really believe developers are going to be be developing games for DVD 360s along side BD 360s during the console's golden years? I think not.
Matt:
They're low bitrate because they are low bitrate. HD streaming videos are about 3-4mbit. Bluray is about 30mbit.
As to the audio, I don't think you know the difference between the two. Netflix uses two channel stereo audio, presumably compressed lossily with AAC. It has an audio stream data rate of, I dunno probably 128kbit/sec. Blu-rays can use multiple formats, but Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio are the most common. These provide 5.1 (or 7.1, but that is rare) surround sound, and it is lossless (some people call them uncompressed, which is not accurate).
Also, Netflix streaming has a VERY poor selection of HD movies. Blu-ray's is good (poor for older titles) and getting better.
http://www.engadget.com/2009/06/01/xbox-live-gets-live-tv-streaming-netflix-browsing/
@E3 they showed a segment that talked about Microsoft's new 1080p streaming service thats coming out so I really don't see any issue here except possibly for the users who dont have a great highspeed connection.
"Microsoft says you will need a broadband connection of at least 8 megabits per second in order to get 1080p streaming. Given that the average broadband download speed in the U.S. right now is just 3.9 megabits per second, most Xbox 360 users will not be able to use this service." -http://www.physorg.com/news163273221.html
Good thing I live in Canada and have a 16mbps connection but as for bluray lol the ps3 has never really been a contender for me might as well just wait it out and see where technology takes us. :)
bluray is completely useless now that we have 2 TB hard drives. 25-50 GB is absolutely nothing in terms of storage space when we can put 500GB on even a hot swappable mini laptop drive. Games streamed on demand and stored locally for performance is the ONLY future of gaming.
*Looks through drawer to find Rad Raced 3D glasses
Lol! Exact same here!
Ahhh... boo hiss boo!
It's not a 3D image, just a 2D shifted and recolored (so a flat image is either into or out of the page).
engads should do 3d day. all pics in 3d for a day. just to give people headaches.
and during ces too.
They should do animated png's one day, because it's 2009 and you can!
And try some of that new HTML5.0 stuff, I'm sure even oldfashinoned blogsmith allows you to enter it manually.
same, not 3D, but at least I'm ready for youtube 3D
Of course Bill was correct, he invented seeing into the future in 1987.
At this point does anyone honestly believe that Natal won't ship before holiday 2010?
I mean besides the people who claim all of the demos have been faked.
Well if balmer says 'maybe after 2011' then no I don't see it happen soon.
A 3D 360? Or just all out of regular 360 photos?
WTF my eyes!!!!
when did an add on become a "new version of the Xbox 360 console" so they put Natal in the same box maybe, but that is still not in any way shape or form a new console it is an ADD ON! it will be shipped in a separate box as well! This is such a non story it will of course ship next year for the holiday if they do not then don't bother it will be getting to late in this consoles life span........
Maybe Natal will require additional software on the Xbox or an additional logic chip.
Maybe Natal must be connected through means other than a USB port.
Maybe Natal will cost extra, so instead of ruining their lew-end line up, they will create an additional "system" at higher price points, in the same way that the arcade, pro, and elite are different "systems"
If they include blu-ray support with this rumored update, then there will definitely be a hardware revision involved. Not only the blu-ray drive, but also an additional or more powerful chip to display the movie.
Maybe you should get down from your throne.
Also, from an above comment, ever heard of a combo drive? that's where you can put lots of different discs in it. Developers will continue making games on DVDs, and we can watch movies on blu-ray. Hell, if the developers needed the extra space, then they could put the game on blu-ray.
Lrn2technology before posting on a tech blog.
"1.3 megapixel CMOS image sensor"
Oh my, it is the same than Eyetoys.
I know, right? 1.3MP??!?
That's what my cellphone from 2005 had. Would it really kill MS to use 3.2MP or higher? Can't be that much more..
It could be that due to processing issue. 1.3mp take less time to process than 3.2mp. If 1.3 is adequate enough to do what it suppose to do then it's fine. You're not gonna take any picture and printing it so there's no reason to make it any higher pixel count.
but if MS wants to do a more precise tools rather a Eyetoys, then the amount of resolution is pretty important if not vital to do it.
I thought the same. It can't be much of a price difference, and considering how important accuracy will presumably be, I'd rather have a higher megapixel sensor in there. I'm hoping there's a legitimate reason, other than price, for going with 1.3MP.
That's 1.3MP video, which is pretty good: 1.3 million pixels in every screen, possibly 50 or 60 times a second.
For comparison 720P is only .9MP. The PS3's video res is only 0.3MP
Your 2005 cellphone took 1.3MP still shots. Even the Nokia N97 records video at 0.3MP.
No, it is 1.3mpixel cmos, or you could say the max resolution available by hardware (i.e. for still images, not for videos).
But apparently this rumor is just (ahem) a rumor and nothing else.
I was told by someone in the gaming industry that Natal would be out by Christmas time this year.
Yeah sure.. he should tell MS about it, they will be pleasantly surprised.
Ever think they would say 2010 to throw of Sony to gain quick marketshare??
I was told by someone in the gaming industry that you're making shit up.
is this picture gonna pop out if I wear 3D glasses?
Nope, some commenter above already tried that.
Probably going to have Natal bundled with 360s.
probably the only way to use natal (later 2010 or may be 2011 or 2012.. or never) will be in a new console.
I'm thinking they'll probably have a separate SKU bundled with Natal, but leave the current SKUs as they are.
@MATT
Blue ray has a higher bit rate than netfix streams, blue ray supports HD/lossless 7.1 sound where netflix does not. the Irony of your post isnt lost on me.
I checked the aptina site, and boy these people are expert on speaking highly of themselves without saying anything.
'We believe in providing the best' 'we are committed to innovative technology at its best' and ladida like that, but there's little actual technical talk proving they have some expertise.
'provide increased strategic flexibility and a focus on imaging innovation.'
'We employ advanced, precedent-setting algorithms'
'She has a great personality'
'He's known to sometimes be not unkind to animals'
Just make it smaller and quieter and I'll be happy.
A steam roller can make it smaller and quieter at the same time!
xbox 360 with blu ray? That'd be an absolute reason to let ps3 die.
Fuck blu ray, its not worth a WHOLE new 360 console for, im happy with 1080p streaming thanks
except that even if Microsoft decides to move to Bluray the games will never ever be able to take advantage of Bluray because that would splinter the 360 market.
Doing it now will only give the 360 BD playback for movies, it will never be an advantage towards better games the way it is on the PS3