Lummy

The video is what gets me excited. On demand High def films :) The only problem is backing up the HD so I don't have to buy a film again and again...

http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/28/xbox-360-elite-now-official/

"Xbox Live Marketplace will also begin vending content from Paramount and Universal (and their properties)."

so it won't just be Netflix. maybe netflixs is just rentals? Paramount and universal for sale?

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/xbox-360-elite-interview-with-microsofts-albert-penello-247635.php

"Gizmodo: That 120GB drive in the Elite and the stand-alone drive is big enough to hold a lot more HD movies. Will there be more downloadable content with the Xbox Live Marketplace service?

Penello: There's going to be a couple of other announcements coming later in the week around Marketplace and some new partnerships we have there. I can't really share a lot of the details right now, but there's going to be some more exciting news around Marketplace later in the week. "

This would suggest netflix isn't the only on demand supplier. Aswell as a lot more about the elite version.

W00t! Lummy FTW

http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/27/microsoft-to-announce-xbox-360-elite-tomorrow/

Gizmodo suggests here that one of the two reveals will be the xbox 360 elite version. So I was kind of right, if they show the updated media firmware.

The other I'm sure as I have stated will probably be the Halo 3 beta which is already showing signs on the bungi.net sight when you look at the statistics.

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Lummy FTW


We look at interesting times. IPTV is what media has been waiting for. The perfect solution for on demand TV. This could be the start of something beautiful but sadly microsoft (uber monopoly) controlled. Well, better the devil you know, especially when he offers you a halo 3 beta ;p

The Addition of the netflix chairman to the Microsoft board says to me that there is going to be some kind of alliance between the two. (This is confirmed) The arrangement happened on the 26th of this month, just two days ago. http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=7&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.microsoft.com%2Fpresspass%2Fbod%2Fhastings%2Fdefault.mspx&ei=et0JRrToFIGa0wShl6SKCA&usg=__loexyCk6PezgAAhVl0V5PEm5fSo=&sig2=mKYTqeNTtq4EvJh6KZ0e5w

In the previous thread here someone also confirmed that the zune.net site was down (unconfirmed). Alongside the xbox.com site and Xbox live.

When you put the previous two paragraphs together you get a story that say the Xbox will be serving media to your zune. The fact that Netflix already streams videos may suggest that their plans are moving to DRMed video being served over the 360 to be watched (in high def?) and being able to watch it on your zune on the go. Maybe it will be baby steps and they will start out just streaming video to your box but I think not.

Microsoft will have to take aggressive steps to curb the apple tv's head start in getting IPTV to the living room. Although neither is a complete solution , yet, it is clear that this is what they both aim for. As features, moving towards these goals, are being added to both the devices. Will we see tv shows being sold over the 360 iTunes style in the next two days? Maybe not. Will we see video from netflix on the 360? Definately.

http://on10.net/Blogs/larry/breaking-two-exclusives-in-two-days/ this site would suggest we have two features coming. I would say they are

1) Video better implemented on the 360, maybe the zune aswell. with an eye on proper IPTV.

2) Halo 3 Beta. :) Party over here.

In conclusion, the apple tv, 360 upgrades promised, netflix arrangements, longer than expected maintence. All within one week? This has got to be the start of something beautiful.

My vote is Still on media. I'm thinking IPTV, maybe it's too grand.

But someone said the zune site was down, so if that's true the fix will definitely be media related. (unsubstantiated). It was one of the comments here, maybe o another thread.

I also heard about the netfllix chairman being on the microsoft board. http://on10.net/Blogs/larry/breaking-two-exclusives-in-two-days/
look at the comments. Though this is also unsubstantiated. If this is true then the American's will see films broadcast dvd rental style (in high def? Maybe but probably not because of bandwidth problems) straight to their computers. And then if they start getting the rights to tv shows just airing you could get an IPTV style setup.

Because is there any difference between media streaming rentals over the net and proper IPTV? Apart from the business model that is?

Though these ideas would mean that Netflix would need to get rights for just-broadcast shows iTunes style.

With the apple TV just out, it is clear that their intention is to go the IPTV route. Since the plan has always been to make the 360 an IPTV device as well as a console, maybe this is Microsoft's repost to get IPTV working before Apple. The timing between these events, within a week of each other, can't just be coincidence.

Does this sound to unrealistic? I don't think so.

Again I apologize for bad grammar and spelling, it's almost 4 in the morning over here.

My thoughts on the subject are this.

Consider the fact that the Xbox.com site is down aswell. This is odd. It makes me think that they don't want to reveal features on the site that will be appearing on Xbox Live. But the whole site? This makes me think that this is fundamental. Why take down the whole site when you just have to add one small part about a beta test?

This makes me thik it's not a beta test. What do we know that is big and coming out soon? IPTV is what. IPTV is the biggest part of the 360 for Microsoft as it can get the console in non-gaming houses. This would also require a fundamental redesign of a of the Xbox site. I'm also suggesting this because there is talk of the elite 360 coming out with the IPTV version of the firmware on it's release. This presumably means that in the factory xbox 360s this has already been implemented during manufacture (though this could be done at a later date for shipping timing this is unlikely). This would mean that Microsoft could have designed this already. Why sit on this update if it is already complete? Therefor today's larger than usual maintenance could be the explanation as it would be a complete redesign of Xbox live and not a simple small addition live a new backwards compatibility profile. Though it could also be a large implementation of many new online game profiles...

The real question is why is bungie.net not down. Was it's recent redesign in preparation for this day and they just got it done a little bit early? Maybe they thought it was pointless waiting for the beat to come out while sitting on a new look. Or maybe they wanted to test it for a while before releasing the beta details so it didn't come crashing down with a missed flaw and ruin the big day when everyone would check out their site. This is a possibility (how recently was the update? I forget). Maybe there are only simple small changes that need to be made on the bungie site with the beta.

But my money is on IPTV as all the xbox language sites have come down. There is no good reason to take down the whole site unless it creates problems with the connected xbox live statistics and logins. Or unless it is a fundamental change to all the sites that are being precisely timed so there are no early leaks. Though if it was this big would somebody not has said something before now? Would there not need to be big media contracts that we would have surely heard about? Though surely if Microsoft are releasing the IPTV version of firmware in April (or even later) we would have heard something about big media deals buy now. Unless they are being kept hush hush, which would seem to be the case.

Thought it is likely that America will be the only country to reap the benefits of IPTV as they have companies that do this now (unless I am mistaken). Britain (where I am from) will be getting companies next year doing this. BT for instance. Unless you count Virgin media as they send their TV and Internet over the same cables.(which I don't). Though this would explain why they have not made nice over the sky deal which removes sky one from their packages. This would not be a problem with IPTV as companies are able to sell their shows straight over the Internet like iTunes does with Lost e.t.c.

Bear in mind this is mostly complete guess work, but maybe somebody will see patern in my writings that they to recognise and have some more information.