Wanna see IPTV in action on the Xbox 360?

by Kevin Kelly { Jan 8th 2007 at 12:35AM }

If this doesn't make you tingle all over, then you need to check your pulse. It's only been since November that we've had movies available to download on the Xbox 360, and soon it'll be live and recorded television as well. In the months after that, the console will slowly take over your kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, leaving you fully assimilated into Microsoft's SkyNet service, offering sentient oversight of all of your bodily functions.

For now, revel in the goodness of Engadget's Xbox 360 IPTV interface gallery, and check out the video of this baby in action on Microsoft's Channel 10 site. TiVo, you'd better start working overtime.

Tags: dvr, gallery, interface, IPTV, live tv, television, TiVo, TV, video, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox360

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Tony @ Jan 8th 2007 12:53AM

Awesome. Plain and simple.

If they get this right, awesome.

Ben @ Jan 8th 2007 9:17AM

Sooo, will this have crazy awsome compression? Or are we still looking forward to a bigger HD? Or maybe is that what the home media server is supposed to fulfill? Thoughts?

~Ben

Bootes @ Jan 8th 2007 1:11AM

It doesn't really offer anything special, and good luck finding someone that will sell you IPTV service with content you care about.

Pixelantes Anonymous @ Jan 8th 2007 1:11PM

The most exciting feature for me, as a gamer, on this thing would be the rumored built-in capability to record gaming sessions.

Not that the DVR/IPTV stuff isn't exciting either, but still.

TiE23 @ Jan 8th 2007 1:23AM

Bah, raised my hopes. I thought they just added this so I rushed to my 360 and found nothing. Should have mentioned that this won't be coming out for almost a year.

SickNic @ Jan 8th 2007 1:44AM

I've been waiting for a change in the way we watch TV. When are we going to get an iTunes type service that lets us subscribe to certain shows only, or maybe buy a channel. I hate paying 80 bucks for 120 channels when i only watch 20 of them regularly.

I really hope this is where MS is going with their IPTV. I wouldn't hesitate to dump comcast for a service that lets me buy what I want, and not get stuck with some large overpriced package deal.

Blu-ray Movies @ Jan 8th 2007 3:08AM

I am still alittle confused about IPTV!

cybereality @ Jan 8th 2007 1:51PM

Wow, this sounds awesome. When this comes out, then all you really need is an Xbox360 to play basically everything. I don't even bother watching TV, but if they had it on Xbox I would use it.

If Microsoft really wants to win all they need to do is have PlayboyHD on Xbox360 and everyone will buy it. Seriously.

Spiritualized @ Jan 8th 2007 8:55AM

Can it hybrid with Wellington Bear Calculator?

Havok @ Jan 8th 2007 6:31AM

A bit off topic, but which Xbox theme is that?

Alex @ Jan 8th 2007 8:20AM

Interesting ... if you live in the US. Probably this won't be available elsewhere just like the Video marketplace :/

#6 Havok, I think that's the Carbon theme, you're supposed to have it on your 360.

IceBoxCake @ Jan 8th 2007 7:51PM

It's the CARBON theme.

Kriskb @ Jan 8th 2007 9:27AM

Wow. MS is moving in the right direction with this. I don't have a 360 yet but do have an HD tv. The downloadable HD content is what convinced me I need to get a 360. I will have one by the end of 2007.

Just for perspective. I did not own an OG xbox and I NEVER planned on getting a 360.

DBX00 @ Jan 8th 2007 3:26PM

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3155888 (date 12/13/2006)

Sony has already announced that they will a TV tuner and Tivo features in the 3rd quarter of 2007. If you already have cable, a tv tuner is a better option. IPTV is the telecoms answer to cable/broadband service offering. IPTV is provided by AT&T and is for the most part like any other service with the exception that the content is streamed over the internet instead of dedicated lines. Clearly, this can cause some issues if you don't have the bandwith to support internet usage, watching multiple tv's, and VOIP service at the same time. In my opinion, it sounds good in concept but the bandwith to really make it work is just not reliable enough for mainstream use. They should just add a TV tuner and Tivo functionality.

Ironhide Delta @ Jan 8th 2007 10:26AM

Ehhhh, what he said about it great for the US. When's Canada going to get the downloadable movies and such, let alone this IPTV? Think you Joystiqers can get the scoop on other country launches for the movies?

DBX00 @ Jan 8th 2007 10:25AM

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3155888 (date12/13/2006)

Sony has already announced that they will a TV tuner and Tivo features in the 3rd quarter of 2007. IPTV requires you to subscribe to the service like most of us subscribe to cable television. It's offered by telecom companies (mainly AT&T). The only real significant difference is that you utilize your internet bandwith to stream the content to your television. It sounds nice in concept, but practical issues come up with the inconsistency of internet bandwith and replacing multiple cable boxes in bedrooms, living rooms, etc. Why would I purchase this service if it isn't replacing my existing cable/DVR service. I'd rather Microsoft also offer a TV tuner to connect to my existing cable provider.

Stephen @ Jan 8th 2007 3:47PM

I think some of you are confused about Microsoft IPTV, the IPTV that will work with the 360 will be the IPTV from you service provider such as AT&T, Verizon, Bell Canada. It is essentially TV over you DSL line only it has more features than standard digital cable. This essentially means if you are IPTV subscriber then you can use you 360 as a set top box/DVR

Hushed Casket @ Jan 8th 2007 3:40PM

@11: "I'd rather Microsoft also offer a TV tuner to connect to my existing cable provider." You should check out Windows Media Center which works very well with or without an XBOX 360.

Alexander @ Jan 9th 2007 6:24AM

14. Wow, this sounds awesome. When this comes out, then all you really need is an Xbox360 to play basically everything. I don't even bother watching TV, but if they had it on Xbox I would use it.

If Microsoft really wants to win all they need to do is have PlayboyHD on Xbox360 and everyone will buy it. Seriously.

Posted at 1:51PM on Jan 8th 2007 by cybereality

yea all we need is PlayboyHD

Scott @ Jan 8th 2007 3:47PM

I think the big question at this point is on the actual IPTV end. We already know that the 360 can handle video transmitted through the home.

What kind of service will IPTV provide? What content? What will the requirements be? What speed of internet connection will you need? How many different 360s/set-top boxes will be able to have IPTV streamed to it? How much will it cost? Where will it be available? etc etc etc

Scott @ Jan 8th 2007 3:50PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U-Verse

Wiki link to AT&T's IPTV initiative, U-Verse.

https://uverse1.att.com/launchAMSS.do
Link to AT&T's U-Verse site.

http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=5838
Link to AT&T's U-Verse Press Release site.

Shady Brady @ Jan 9th 2007 10:30AM

If you think about the compression they will use for HD content along with the 8mb internet pipe most of us have now, you can use your Vonage VOIP, TV and internet without the lag of the old speed of 1.5mb. Comcast is allowing unlimited speed burts for 13-26 sec at a time which will help allow the streaming content to load faster

fluxin @ Jan 8th 2007 4:09PM

For some reason I believe that the xbox is channeling the video pushed through the Motobox that is sitting to the left of the xbox. When the channels change so does the channel number on the motobox. It also appears that it may be catching the previous and next channel to stop lag between channel switching. Then again I have no idea for sure :D

zbeast @ Jan 8th 2007 8:20PM

I already have satellite TV why would I gobble up my already hard to get internet bandwidth for something like this? The same suck TV delivered in a different way.
If I could use my xbox for playing my downloaded divx encoded videos that would be cool but no this wont do that.

John Verco @ Jan 8th 2007 5:03PM

The most incredible feature of this IPTV may be the ability to chat with someone over XBox Live while you and the other person are watching a show on IPTV. This will make watching TV a very sociable experience and a lot more fun.

v1cious @ Jan 8th 2007 5:12PM

will this cost anything extra? seems like a cool idea in theory, but i wonder how well it streams. also if they can this, why won't they add a web browser?

ManekiNeko @ Jan 8th 2007 8:39PM

This is great news! If the Playstation 3 is really a computer as Ken Kutaragi claims, and the Xbox 360 is really a computer as Bill Gates claims, that means that the Wii is by default the best-selling game system of this generation! Way to go, Nintendo!

JR

IPTV Exists for Free, Seriously @ Jan 8th 2007 9:38PM

It already exists for free, just use the browser with xbox 360 to visit tv sites like http://www.freetube.us.tc www.peekvid.com and you can watch all the tv or shows you want for free, with no extra subscription that engadget would charge.

JBDragon @ Jan 8th 2007 10:58PM

The Sony thing is over a YEAR away. You can already Record TV on your PC and then display it though the 360 using the Media Center. The Digital Media Center PC's which use a Cable Card so you can watch your Cable Company's Digital Channels, you can link your 360 to one of those also and watch your Digital Cable channels. I have a SDTV tuner card in my PC and get all my Analog Cable channels, and a HDTV tuner card and it's hooked to my antenna where I get my Digital HD channels about 5 of them. 1 I don't even get on Cable anyway, which is a Plus. I can record 2 channels at once and watch a 3rd Recored and stream it all directly to my 360. In fact I can stream to more then 1 360 from just 1 Media Center PC. I think the Limit is 5 Media Center Extenders to 1 PC depending on processor speed and they would have to be wired. You can only do 1 wireless.

Yes not BUILT-IN like maybe on the PS3 that's over a year away, more like a year and a half or more away, MAYBE. Sony had to say something with all that MS has released and will release later this year. There are so many options with the 360, you have your pick. IPTV just adds to it.