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 July 22nd 2009 8:39AM
wake me when Leisure Suit Larry comes out with Natal support
If the 360 becomes more reliable with a lower-cost Hard Drive, then I think I'll love Xbox.
I work in a lab where we just hired an electrical engineering grad who spent the past 6 months working at IBM. He said that he was working on a very specific component of the circuitry for the new Xbox. After hearing this I attacked him with further questions thinking that it was the next generation console but all he knew was that in the "new" system the CPU and GPU were being moved to same chip. He said that otherwise he knew of no performance changes with most other modifications aimed at decreasing the system's energy consumption and making for cheaper production. He said that the system was behind schedule(mostly due to inefficient team work, ~100 some people spread over the world) but was wrapping up when he left earlier this year.
Perhaps they are also trying to address RROD issues(reducing energy consumption, heat production, and thus premature component failures) but that conclusion is based on nothing more than knowledge of the immense financial losses brought on by the problem.
RRODs are done for and have been for some time. About a year and a half ago they moved to 65nm CPUs and 65nm GPUs which lowered cost, energy consumption (smaller PSU voltage needed), and heat. Further reducing the CPU/GPU only means MS is looking to lower their cost more and probably deliver another price cut next year.
3D!
that picture actually makes my eyes hurt. its weird.
me thinks we should try to join two rumors in one.
first they say new xbox console, w/ natal right?
and now shane kim confirms xbox handheld more or less,
MAYBE, this new "console" is said xbox handheld with natal integrated into it already, after all most of the games natal seems to run and arcade quality which would mess with a handheld in terms of graphics. all it would require is adding the camera hardware etc to the handheld.
I'm really hoping it's 2010. I really want to see how it's going to be pulled off. E3 was great and all but the potential is massive.
Awesome Fool
http://www.project-natal.com
I think Natal will be for the next-gen Xbox system.
That picture give me a headache just looking at it. Is that the output from upcoming Fujifilm Real3D system?
a visual concept just poped into my head? the 360 gets slimmed down to mini projector size (not pico) with natal built onto the faceplate. natal already looks like a face plate to me anyway. and like a "mp" have a tripod mount underneath. the whole unit just small enough to be able to place anywhere around a room. this would rival the aesthetic wii appeal?
compacting is the next step, not upgrading to a new level of hardware. i remember when this gen came out the techs said that graphical power was at a maximum (for human perception) with this gen. don't believe it? remember it takes state of the art software development or good games to have the hardware truly manifest itself.
the last portion of this gen, i feel, that looks SO unrealistic is the herky-jerky, robotic, pre-programmed movements/animations of characters on screen? I can't believe nobody else has really mentioned this? take assassin's creed. (for instance) on a big screen, high def, it looks amazing. until your character starts moving. what natal is going to bring, is the translation of real "body language." it will actually be you strutting your stuff in a game. people will actually be able to recognize you by the way you walk or the way you swing a sword? that's immersion! forget the pre-programmed animation of the halo "teabag" you can do what ever you want. I wouldn't doubt it if a dance competition phenomenon erupted in the next halo? however, real dancing skills are required? don't be scared nerds.... you might actually be able to rip it up like james brown. you probably have never tried.
sweet
I wont consider An Xbox untill it supports blu-ray