New 360 coming this year after all?
A 360 version 2 has been spoken about for a while now, and has dominated the headlines throughout January. As has IPTV and how that will work. Now it seems someone with inside information has either accidentally released details Microsoft wanted no-one knowing, or hasn’t a clue himself.
Paul Thurrott, well-known from the SuperSite for Windows and co-host of a relatively new podcast “Windows Weekly”, has said that a new 360 is on the way in late 2007. If you skip to around the 27:55 mark of the podcast, you’ll hear him speak to his co-host Leo Laporte about the situation. He clearly states that:
- A new 360 will be released in late 2007
- The new 360 is the only way that you can benefit from the upcoming IPTV service
- A bigger Hard Drive will be bundled with the new 360
- The new 360 is “pretty likely” to be quieter
The “Television Tab” may not work on your current 360.
The new 360 will simply have new circuitry for the IPTV, possibly a slightly new design to make the 360 quieter, and a bigger Hard Drive. I’m sticking this down as a rumour for the simple fact that I’m pretty sure Mr. Thurrott wasn’t meant to say anything about it, as Microsoft probably have the intention of announcing something officially.
Considering Thurrott’s background with the SuperSite for Windows he does have a lot of inside connections at Microsoft, and coming from him the information is credible to some extent, we will just have to see whether Microsoft is going to say something on the matter, you never know. So for now look upon this as a rumour, and nothing at all is really certain about whether the current 360 revision will support IPTV or not.
Thanks Danl for the submit.
Sounds nice!
Denied by Bill Gates himself. IPTV will operate on a set top box.
… which is the 360. IPTV will work on the 360, we’re just unsure of which version (v1 or this rumored v2)
I just want to be able to buy a bigger HD and transfer my saves over, ill be happy then.
So wait, the current Xbox’s dont support DirectX 10 and now we have to buy another machine if we want the latest services? Will this one support direct x 10? Sort your act out Microsoft, this is getting a bit shoddy. (if this is all true that is)
lol where the hell did you pull that out of? Directx 10 if it did i would expect it to be caalled something different and also have a 700 price tag on it DX10 cards alone are 500 dollars.
Also Gates himself said that iptv will run off of a set top box the only thing a new version would bring is quieter fans and maybe a memory upgrade.
It still sucks that some games cant run on the 360 at all. I understand PC’s are more powerful, but the fact we cant get some games at all is very sad.
You make no sense.
He’s unhappy that eventually PC games will be so advanced they wont run on our static console. PC’s continue to advance at a fast pace. The 360 can be leading edge only for so long.
The good news is they can usually pull some programming tricks for years and years before it becomes too dated to keep up.
im callin bull on this one…. microsoft wouldnt mae it so the only way to use IPTV would be a new… they announced it for the currnet 360, so people would get pissed off if this was true… even more pissed if the HDMI 360 thing was true… and derka is right.. IPTV will separae on a separate top box, not a new 360….. as for the bigger hard drive, they will probaby release a new one
my 360 broke so ishould wait or send it toms for 140 dollars
the new xbox is the xbox with the 65nm proc, thats all, no hdmi
coojo microsoft will replace it for free. Do that!
This has already been established. The IPTV version of the XBox 360 will be provided as an alternative to the normal set top boxes distributed by AT&T, etc. It will NOT be available at retail. For expected set top box functionality, modifications are necessary to have the console be more of an always on device so it can record schedule programs, etc. even while you thinks it is off or are playing a game.
Well I remember reading an article last week about IPTV, Microsoft says they are focusing on the actual IPTV providers giving out Xbox 360’s with service. So it requires buying a new 360 or it is included at discounted price by the service provider. They then talk about later down the road enabling IPTV for current customers. I suspect most providers at first will require you to get the device from them, simply for support issues and customer service as well as screwing you to spend more. It’s likely the HDD size is the real major difference.
Microsoft can then later provide an add-on harder (possibly?) for current Xbox 360 owners that accounts for any hardware modifications that were needed. Also service providers at this point may also allow you to bring your own 360 with a larger harddrive which will be available at that time as well.
Thurrott says at 33:00 that he does not work for Microsoft?? I thought it is noted he does work for them? Maybe a past employee and thus the reason he decided to leak all this info? Or is he even a Microsoft employee at all?
http://www.windowsitpro.com/windowspaulthurrott
Paul Thurrott apparently DOES NOT work for Microsoft, he works for Windows IT PRO - a publication that is not a Microsoft entity.
The way he talks about Microsoft’s products obviously gives you the idea he is not under Microsoft’s employement either.
Since he is not under Microsofts employement I would really be suspecious about what inside information he may or may not have. He clearly says hes not 100% sure what IPTV requires or was prior to CES so again it’s very suspect if he is 100% in-the-know if a hardware revision is really needed for IPTV to work.
Obviously the IPTV providers will provide an XBOX 360 to their customers, it is not known when or if current 360 users will be able to bring their 360 to the provider for service.
Ross picked up some things about Paul wrong. Thurrott has been maintaining the SuperSite for Windows for years, and is in general known for being very well informed and connected on Microsoft stuff. He should be quite reliable as a source, but does indeed not work for Microsoft.
Thanks for pointing out, I had actually already corrected the mistake before I saw your comment
I can’t think of any sound technical reason why current 360s wouldn’t be able to handle the IPTV service. Would someone care to enlighten me?
The hard drive size is a practical issue when recording, but it can’t have much impact on live viewing alone. Likewise, for DVR capabilities, an IPTV stream received over Ethernet isn’t going to be much different than a marketplace download, so there’s no new hardware required there. And as for playback, I’d simply point out that current devices can handle HD video just fine. Since this specific IPTC service is Microsoft-backed and defined, I doubt there’s much more than a VC-1 video stream involved.
I suspect that 360s may be bundled with service through some providers, but given the FCC’s record vis-a-vis CableCard, I doubt that consumers will be forced to buy a 360 with service. MS’s efforts with the IPTV providers are likely focused on ensuring that the 360 works with each service.
What would be really cool is if the set top box leased from IPTV providers was an XBOX 360. It would put millions of 360’s into homes that don’t have them and kill SONY in N.A. Plus who owns their settop box now? I don’t know anyone that does they all “lease” them from Comcast. I’d switch to IPTV to have a 2nd 360 in my home.
As much as it pains my wallet to admit it, I would buy a new 360 if it featured: HDMI out, A digital scaler (HANA?), A quieter disc drive, A significantly larger hard drive and I would love it if the internal disc drive was a HDDVD drive instead of a regular DVD9. After buying a dissapointing PS3 I love my 360 even more, it is an amazing gaming machine! I dont mind paying for quality and if Microsoft delivers a much improved version of a product I already use so much, I will probably buy it. Now how will Microsoft appease all those pissed of 360 owners that will show up with torches and pitchforks outside Gates’ office when they announce this?
no way is a completely different version of the 360 possible. Microsoft isnt retarded. I could maybe see adding the HDMI pory, and it should be quieter and less hot because of the 65nm processor instead of the current 90nm. They won’t make it like, incredibly more badass than the 360 that we already have.
My God!
Paul Thurott is NOT a microsoft employee… He was an MVP (Most Valuable Professional - he may still be, even if he no longer actually does anything for it).
But he is often wrong on what he says on Microsoft products. He has people on the inside that talk to him, but he also pulls some stuff out of his .ss sometimes… Go look at the commments people leave on his blog.
I’d take EVERYTHING he says with a BIG bag of salt…
Just saying
New circuitry for IPTV ? What else is needed on the current 360 other than a bigger hard drive and software updates to start streaming mpeg video from an IPTV service provider ?
Current 360 owners will be pissed if MS releases a v2 of 360, unless they offer a small price trade in program or something similar…
To the editors. I’m not certain, and a few minutes of research can’t confirm or deny, but I’m pretty sure I recall Paul Thurrott saying on a podcast that he does NOT work for Microsoft. He has a LOT of contact with them, but I’m pretty sure he makes a living talking about MS products, not working for them directly.
Anyone confirm either way?
Just a quick note about the HDD and IPTV. IPTV is said to use server side caching and storage. Meaning everything is streamed, including “recorded” content. This according to 1UP’s podcast this week.
i want a free upgrade…YEAH RIGHT LOL ROFL LMFAO
I don’t think anybody knows anything about this IPTV thing. I hear so many different stories. It needs a seperate set top box, then I hear it doesn’t. I hear it needs a bigger hdd, then I hear everthing is stored at the ISP. So, no larger hdd is needed.
I don’t think enough is known about any of this for anyone to say anything.
Also, I listen to that podcast weekly and heard that discussion the other day. I took what he was saying as something someone on here would saying after reading all the rumor sites.
If microsoft released a 360 mark II then it would be their biggest downfall, everyone remembers SEGA with their greedy Version2 machines and tons of add-ons.
yea i agree. i would be pissed off as well as 10 million other current xbox 360 owners. thats like saying hey well if you want to play this “new game” you have to buy a “new console”. then another year later o well if you want this “new service” you will have to buy xbox version 3.
sounds fake
IPTV was said to work with a software update
Microsofts IPTV service will run on server-side. The servers will use an IPTV-specific OS, and stream the content to an xbox 360 similar to how we stream video from PC to the 360.
An interview over at Engadget said Microsoft are looking into many possibilities about the distribution of the IPTV/360 service. It is likely that IPTV providers will initially ship out 360s as set top boxes, but Microsoft didn’t rule out an Xbox Live update, or a CD which is distributed from the provider with the correct software to enable IPTV. They said the 360-side of IPTV is purely software, so there is no need to manufacture new hardware. One of the only differences you’ll probably find with set-top boxes from providers will be a branding of their service somewhere within the dashboard or on the console.