Toshiba Working With Microsoft On New Entertainment Xbox

[diabolo]

Rumor

Toshiba Working With Microsoft On New Entertainment Xbox

By David Richards | Friday | 19/10/2007


Microsoft, according to insiders at Toshiba owner of the HD DVD patents, claim that Microsoft is working on a brand new Xbox that will incorporate not only a new HD DVD drive but a large hard drive and new entertainment software that is a spin off from its struggling media centre offering.
The device is being developed in response to the PS3 driving sales of games software and Blu-ray content in several countries. A recent Sony Brand Wave study conducted in five countries including the UK, Australia, France Germany and Spain revealed that a key reason that consumers are buying a PS3 is because it includes a Blu-ray player.

Recent GFK research reveals that the recently launched Xbox 360 HD DVD attach player is not selling well. Another factor that impacted early sales of the Xbox 360 was that Microsoft failed to include a HDMI port - omitted because Microsoft wanted to cut down the costs of the console in an effort to compete up against the PS3.

The new Xbox device, while allowing for extensive gaming capability, will be positioned as an entertainment hub that includes gaming and extensive wireless networking capability as well as 1080p playback. There is also talk of it including a dual HD TV tuner and EPG capability and a docking port for an MP3 player. For Toshiba, the device is critical if it is to be successful in beating Sony and the Blu-ray promoters.

Also being discussed is the development of an open standard docking port similar to the 17 pin iPod port. This would allow all manufacturers to use the same port for docking.

A senior Toshiba executive in Singapore told SmartHouse that "An Xbox with a built in HD DVD drive is critical. They and we are working on it. It also has to be more than a gaming machine. Microsoft recognise this. A version of the device may also be sold under the Toshiba brand name".

Scott Browning, the Marketing Director of JB HiFi Australia's second largest consumer electronics retailer said, "The device is a lay down mis`ere and essential for the HD DVD camp. We are told that one is coming. The PS3 has been extremely successful for Sony in getting Blu-ray off the ground and for Microsoft, the omission of a built in HD DVD player is set to hurt sales going forward as consumers are aware that the PS3 comes with a Blu-ray player."

Both Toshiba and Microsoft have also explored the possibility of a new open standard chassis system that allows an Xbox to be slotted into a HD TV screen over 40-inch. The open standard bays will allow hard drives to be upgraded and expanded similar to the way that users can upgrade the hard drive on a PC.

Another big problem for Microsoft according to insiders is getting the heat and noise output from the current Xbox 360 under control so that the new device can run silently while a movie is being played. It is known that Toshiba has been working with Microsoft on this issue as it has extensive experience in notebooks and "quiet" drives. Currently most iPods incorporate a Toshiba drive.

Another benefit for Microsoft in moving to a new Xbox platform is that it can introduce new components that are less likely to fail. Currently the PS3 has a failure rate of under two percent. Recently Microsoft was forced to allow for a $1.3 billion charge against warranty claims following reports of up to a 30 percent failure rate of the original Xbox 360.

The new device is expected to be released late in 2008 or at the 2009 CES show in Las Vegas.

[Helo]

YES!!! I'M SO EXCITED! I'm so glad their finally planning the 540! This will be great, I've gotta tell my deaf, blind, mute, lame friends!!! I'll sell one of his kidneys for this one. YAY MICROSOFT!

Have I crossed the boundary into iq degredation yet?

[AnimalMother]

Wow, not Microsoft has their own PSX.

[Helo]

There's so much lame smack down going on in the smackdown forums these days that I'm considering sewing somebody for domestic abuse!

I love hidef, movies more so. I suppose I wouldn't have been made aware of this possible development without this thread, but clearly the MicroSoftTush Alliance might need to work on the eliminating the possibilities of high fail rates before going public with the 540. 30% is outrageously high for a game console. This must be the cause of 30% of cases of domestic violence, where 30% of the people involved are the children, with an additional 30% of the kids being the abusers. I wonder what the attach rate is of an abusive kid & 360s?

[Kotatsu Neko]

Sounds interesting, but also expensive, and as someone already said - a lot like the failed Sony PSX.

I don't understand the talk of a new multimedia interface - Xbox already is a media center extender, which is an excellent piece of software and does not need replacing. (it just needs updating, to include XVID etc)

[Arkadin]

I guess we know now what might be on tap for CES 2008 from the HD-DVD camp!

[ippirate]

Originally Posted by Kotatsu Neko

Sounds interesting, but also expensive, and as someone already said - a lot like the failed Sony PSX.

I don't understand the talk of a new multimedia interface - Xbox already is a media center extender, which is an excellent piece of software and does not need replacing. (it just needs updating, to include XVID etc)

I may be wrong, but it sounds more like they are making it a Media Center-type box, not just an extender. I say this only because they are stating that they are putting in 2 HD tuners and a larger Hard Drive. If they do that, I hope that they can find a way to get Directv Integration working. My Media Center does not work well with Directv at all, but DTV seems to have more Hi-Def content than anyone else at the moment...

I just hope that this is a next gen box, not just another 360 so that game developers can use the extra space to build larger games...

[corduroygt]

I'm sure the $600+ device will sell like hotcakes NOT!

[speedracex]

If the PS3 is the deciding factor in the Hi-Def war, then I think this device is a little late for Microsoft and HD-DVD, I realize that most people who have a 360 have had at least 2-3 of them due to warranty issues, but who’s going to re-buy an entire system? I feel bad for anyone who even had to rebuy a 360 because they wanted HDMI, that sks

[Nighthawk]

Originally Posted by corduroygt

I'm sure the $600+ device will sell like hotcakes NOT!

Ya, I'll pre-order one now, price is no obstacle.

[tranzparentl]

Originally Posted by speedracex

If the PS3 is the deciding factor in the Hi-Def war, then I think this device is a little late for Microsoft and HD-DVD, I realize that most people who have a 360 have had at least 2-3 of them due to warranty issues, but who’s going to re-buy an entire system? I feel bad for anyone who even had to rebuy a 360 because they wanted HDMI, that sks

It kinda sucks that some people have to buy a new console to get new features but it's better than not having the option for those features at all.

It is also better to release a new version with MORE features not LESS features.

[Coaler]

Originally Posted by corduroygt

I'm sure the $600+ device will sell like hotcakes NOT!

Originally Posted by Nighthawk

Ya, I'll pre-order one now, price is no obstacle.

I didn't see an MSRP mentioned....Are you Microsoft Insiders? I didn't think so.
Please stop the FUD.

[DueNorth]

Originally Posted by Arkadin

I guess we know now what might be on tap for CES 2008 from the HD-DVD camp!

"late in 2008 or at the 2009 CES show"

Now how did it become CES 2008? Wishful thinking?

By that time, the war maybe over.

[DAMNSAM77]

This so called entertainment xbox to be released in late 2008 or CES 2009??? I am just quoting the original poster.


Wow they are REALLY rushing that new consolem, aren't they? Does anyone here think the format war will continue past this summer/fall 2008? If so you are then dreaming my friends....


If there is not a clear Format winner in a year from now, BOTH BD AND HDDVD will be WORTHLESS and CONSUMERS WILL NEVER GET INVOLVED!!!

Lets all hope that by Spring/Summer 2008 this whole mess is over with. By June of 2008, the format war would have taken 2 years by then since it started in 06/2006. Its already a HUGE BIG Industry/Consumer embarassement that it lasted this long...

Lets all hope this war is over in the next 6-8 months! Someone throw in the towel already!!!

[DueNorth]

I would expect Microsoft to work on a new Xbox by that time and perhaps they would include HD-DVD on it, but to work on a in between product which still uses Xbox 360 as the core would be like Microsoft Windows Millenium (for those people who remembered what a flop it is).

Maybe the new one will be called Tbox 720?