Microsoft says No to Blu-ray for Xbox 360

Against earlier reports Microsoft said yesterday that they are not talking to Sony about getting Blu-ray drives for the Xbox 360.

Reuters got the word from Aaron Greenberg, group product manager for Xbox 360 that Microsoft is not currently in talks with Sony or the Blu-ray Association to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience.

Microsoft is apparently betting entirely on digital distribution of media content. I think they will put themselves in a corner, only a handful people really have the bandwidth to get 1080p HD video over the net (you know who you are, you lucky Verizon FiOS customers).

The silver discs will still be with us for a long time. Blu-ray player prices are actually going up right now because there is no competition. This will drive even more customers to the Sony PS3 as it is still the best deal for a Blu-ray player - affordable and already future proof.

Source: www.i4u.com

Rumorang: Lite-On not manufacturing Xbox 360 Blu-ray drives, Microsoft insists

Microsoft has again flipped the 'light off' on the glowing promise of Blu-ray for Xbox 360. Of the latest reports spread from Digitimes that Lite-On would begin shipping Blu-ray drives for Xbox 360 later this year, Microsoft told Techradar: "Lite-On is not manufacturing Blu-ray drives for Xbox 360. As we have stated, games are what are driving consumers to purchase game consoles and we remain focused on providing the largest library of blockbuster game available."

Additionally, Microsoft used its swift denial as an opportunity to plug Xbox 360's Video Marketplace, saying, "For our customers who want a premium movie experience we offer the largest library of on-demand HD content available" ... and oh, don't forget, a budget-priced HD-DVD player!

Source : www.joystiq.com

New Xbox 360 Jasper chipset could lower prices and kill Sony off

Now that Xbox 360s with the new smaller and more reliable Falcon chipset are rolling off the production line, it seems Microsoft are already lining up a replacement. And this baby could potentially steal the Wii’s market, and leave the PS3 expensive and floundering.

The Mercury News Blog is reporting today that a new motherboard codenamed Jasper is being readied to replace Falcon by as early as next August, just in time for next year’s holiday shopping season.

Jasper consists of a smaller 65nm graphics card and smaller memory chips than the existing Falcon. The Falcon board was introduced as a way of reducing costs and also the chances of overheating, the cause of the so called Red Ring of Death that plagued early Xbox 360 consoles and is still costing the company money to solve.

It’s thought that the new Jasper chipset will further reduce this problem, and almost guarantee your beloved console won’t suddenly pack up and need to be sent for repairs.

The other advantage is of course the even lower costs of production, as the smaller graphics and memory chips will both lower how much it costs to manufacture each console. This could, and let’s face it, should be a saving that Microsoft passes on to its customers.

After the Falcon started shipping, the cost of an Xbox 360 was lowered by $50 so come next August that should be the least we expect to see happen.

If Microsoft can push Jasper out sooner than next August we could see two intriguing and important developments in the battle for console supremacy in the marketplace. For one, the Xbox 360 would come down in price nearer to the price of a Wii, and take it comfortably in to the realms of casual gamers everywhere. And secondly and most telling, unless Sony pull a severe price cut out of that top hat of theirs then the PS3 could be killed off as a contender for the top spot.

Seriously, if most people had the choice of a Wii or Xbox 360 for $300 or a $500 PS3, what would they do? We’re not talking hardcore gamers here, we’re now in the middle of kids and parents casual gamers heaven. The PS3 just wouldn’t be able to compete at that price and in that type of competitive marketplace.

Source: http://gamer.blorge.com