Xbox 360 v2 : Codename Zephyr

[WelshBluebird]

spartan, you kinda skirted around the topic there lol, any chance you can confirm that picture is real or fake? Or if it was a prototype like people or suggesting?

But judging from your reply, we'll either see a 360 with a HDMI port, or a HDMI cable for the 360 pretty soon?

[jackwanders]

if it IS real, it looks like a prototype, for reasons stated earlier (no dedicated audio output, unfinished port holes, etc).

To finalize this, put it into production and get it out to stores, I wouldn't be surprised if this was something that hits shelves sometime in November, when holiday shopping gets going again.

[Commodore Max]

You mean 9 million +

I wish they come out with some offer where paying 100$ or more can fetch you the new one and the old one gets exchanged.

Its kind of sad because not only the old xbox360 produces a lot of heat but doesnt even have an HDMI port.

9 million and one. I got one recently.

There is a positive side to this, Microsoft can't make too many changes to the performance of the console, otherwise you'd end up with games good for half of the consoles, which is pretty unlikely. I think an exchange program is not impossible, and I think they will probably come up with something like that.

That's assuming this rumor is true of course ...

[intrinity1]

this would be one of the coolest things they have come up with for the 360. I just hope they offer some sort of trade in thing cuz I just got my 2nd 360 and am not looking forward to buying a 3rd.

[Andrew Lyle Global Moderator]

if microsoft releases another xbox360 console, it will be the "ultimate" version or something along those lines, with HDMI, HD-DVD, and possibly a bigger hard drive? they won't be making HD-DVD games however.. because it makes 10,000,000 xbox360's useless.

[Lurchybaby]

tell me about it...I got mine like a month ago :(

Heh, I just bought mine yesterday :/

[WelshBluebird]

9 million and one. I got one recently.

There is a positive side to this, Microsoft can't make too many changes to the performance of the console, otherwise you'd end up with games good for half of the consoles, which is pretty unlikely. I think an exchange program is not impossible, and I think they will probably come up with something like that.

That's assuming this rumor is true of course ...

according to the source (Engadget), the differences will be the 65nm CPU (which will make the system cooler), the 120GB HDD (which is external) and an HDMI port (which doesn't affect preformance anyway). So IMO, there is no chance of the a newer version preformaing faster than the current model. As you said, it would mean games wouldn't work on older models anyway. And if that happened, I could imagine MS being sued (at least in the US anyway lol).

[magik]

Assuming the photo is not a fake, I'm pretty sure I remember a 360 just like this one (with built-in HDMI output) was reported to have been shown behind closed doors at E3. It was simply to show off the console's ability to output in HDMI. As you can see from the photo, it lacks the Universal A/V Output Port that all 360s have and that wouldn't make sense to take it out completely as some people may need to use Component or need to use VGA instead of HDMI. It's illogical to take out the Universal A/V Output and instead replace it with a single output, HDMI. Thus, this must be (if the photo is real) a simple demo box showing off the capability of an HDMI out which gives further proof to the claim that an HDMI cable for the Universal A/V Output is in the works by Microsoft.

[Matrix XII]

I hope it comes out, even though I have an original 360. Why are people so ready to complain about a good thing? Would you rather MS just sit on their ass and do nothing? If it is real, I'm sure they'll have some sort of trade in program, it's all for the better anyways.

[Neonix1]

You need to read up on how HDMI Works. HDMI sends both digital and analog audio. You need to run the HDMI into a surround sound receiver and it will decode Dolby Digital, DTS, ETC... If you don't have a surround sound receiver with an HDMI input then Microsoft will probably sell a special HDMI cable that breaks out the digital signal into toslink connector, just like on the VGA and component cable.

Also, TV's with HDMI connectors usually have Audio-Outputs that you can connect to a receiver that does not have HDMI capabilities. So anyway it's a win-win situation.

[DirtyLarry Veteran]

Is there really issues of developers running out of disc space for their games? 8GB seems like an awful lot of space for any game these days.

I would say definitely not. The proof is in the pudding. Check out the size of the demos available for the PS3. Pretty much the same sizes as MS demos being offered, around the 650-850 MB mark.

In regards to this rumor, I just cannot see how they would get away with doing it without upsetting a whole lot of people, no other way to put it.

[TokyoKiller]

People speculating that this is a development kit here is a picture of the Xbox 360 development kit from the back.

As you can see there is no HDMI port, There is 1 USB, 1 Ethernet and 1 A/V

Also a quick search on Google Images with the terms "360 HDMI" pulled out this image:

Apparently dating back from July 2006, this was discussed on the Xbox Scene forums, http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=529543

Looks like this is almost true.

Edited January 5, 2007 by TheGriffin

[magik]

^ Right, but this doesn't necessarily have to be a standard 360 Dev-kit. My theory is that this is an HDMI Demo-kit simply showing the consoles ability to output in HDMI. I believe a Universal A/V to HDMI cable is in the works and soon to be released.

[TokyoKiller]

Honestly if this ever comes out in retail stores to replace the Premium system then here is me hoping my Xbox 360 fails as I have extended warranty from Futureshop so I can just go pick one up at anytime.

[jackwanders]

Assuming the photo is not a fake, I'm pretty sure I remember a 360 just like this one (with built-in HDMI output) was reported to have been shown behind closed doors at E3. It was simply to show off the console's ability to output in HDMI. As you can see from the photo, it lacks the Universal A/V Output Port that all 360s have and that wouldn't make sense to take it out completely as some people may need to use Component or need to use VGA instead of HDMI. It's illogical to take out the Universal A/V Output and instead replace it with a single output, HDMI. Thus, this must be (if the photo is real) a simple demo box showing off the capability of an HDMI out which gives further proof to the claim that an HDMI cable for the Universal A/V Output is in the works by Microsoft.

You raise a good point. With the universal A/V port, why wouldn't MS just develop an HDMI cable that plugs in via the existing A/V port?

There are certainly enough pins to go around (19 in HDMI, 30 in the A/V port). I can't imagine that it'd be that difficult to make it work.

[TokyoKiller]

Who said they removed the universal A/V port?

[obsolete_power]

What the? We're talking about over a year since launch. And you're calling anyone who bought their console in that period of time stupid? Don't be foolish.

Stupid? Everyone? What about the people who bought it after the launch? What about people who got theirs in 2006? What about the people who got it in January?

That's a bit harsh to call all those people stupid. I don't think they deserve anything.

No no, I was referring to people that bought it on launch! That's what it said in my post, anyways, I misunderstood the topic so disregard my previous post, sorry everyone (all 7 million of you)!

[Pc_Madness]

^ Right, but this doesn't necessarily have to be a standard 360 Dev-kit. My theory is that this is an HDMI Demo-kit simply showing the consoles ability to output in HDMI. I believe a Universal A/V to HDMI cable is in the works and soon to be released.

And I still insist that the port isn't digital, hence they're making a version of the 360 with HDMI, cos you all whinged for it...

[d3nuo]

i just bought my 360 (another one!) and i'd love for this to come out in a few months or so, i'm sure someone would be more than happy to save $100 on a barely touched (but oft used) 360.. unless Microsoft does some sort of tradeup discount which would be so awesome!

i realize that at this point it's conjecture but i hope its soon a reality

[obsolete_power]

Looking forward to this one! Should be great!

[Circaflex]

WOW i just bought my 360 last weekend because it was a huge deal, ill really be ****ed if this comes out

[dnast]

Well the Xbox 360 is fully capable of playing DRM'ed movies downloaded from the Internet isn't it? Was'nt Microsoft planning a Movie purchase/renting function in Xbox Live? (they may already have it, i don't know, i don't own an X360). If that's the case i'm pretty sure the MPAA and movie studios would require that the X360 had HDCP for HDMI output, otherwise people would be able to make perfect digital copy's of every movie the X360 outputs via HDMI... And you know the MPAA wouldn't allow that!

Also, the HD-DVD addon player for the X360 outputs HD-DVD through the X360 video output doesn't it? The HD-DVD addon doesn't have it's own HDMI output?... If that's the case, a Xbox360 with a HDMI cable but without a HDCP encryption chip would be able to output unencrypted HD-DVD streams which also would allow people to make PERFECT digital copy's (pure stream copy's) of HD-DVD's... This will never ever happen.

Basically, they (Microsoft) need a HDCP chip physically inside the X360 to be compliant with the HDMI standards.

From what I understand, movie studios won't be using that content protection until at least 2010. Otherwise, the millions of people that bought HDTVs before HDCP came about would be SOL.

As far as the topic, I'm guessing they're still planning on releasing an HDMI cable for current owners or I'll be ****ed, too. I don't know why people are comparing the 360 to a PC in this regard, because the whole point of a console is that you don't have to keep replacing things every 12-18 months. Also, I don't understand why some people say they expected the hardware to be upgraded throughout its life in this way because I can't think of any successful home console that had new revisions that added features that could only be had by buying a whole new console - especially not this early into its life and at the current price point. It wouldn't make sense and would **** off quite a few people.

[spenser.d]

^ Right, but this doesn't necessarily have to be a standard 360 Dev-kit. My theory is that this is an HDMI Demo-kit simply showing the consoles ability to output in HDMI. I believe a Universal A/V to HDMI cable is in the works and soon to be released.

Bah...I posted that on page 6 already...the pic and all. Not sure why this thread is still going. I don't think it's real.

-Spenser

[Spartan_X]

spartan, you kinda skirted around the topic there lol, any chance you can confirm that picture is real or fake? Or if it was a prototype like people or suggesting?

any electronic device that is not released to the general public is considered a prototype... :laugh: :rofl: :p

if microsoft releases another xbox360 console, it will be the "ultimate" version or something along those lines, with HDMI, HD-DVD, and possibly a bigger hard drive? they won't be making HD-DVD games however.. because it makes 10,000,000 xbox360's useless.

that is correct, at Microsoft we're ###### not morrons... :devil: :blush:

Assuming the photo is not a fake, I'm pretty sure I remember a 360 just like this one (with built-in HDMI output) was reported to have been shown behind closed doors at E3. It was simply to show off the console's ability to output in HDMI. As you can see from the photo, it lacks the Universal A/V Output Port that all 360s have and that wouldn't make sense to take it out completely as some people may need to use Component or need to use VGA instead of HDMI. It's illogical to take out the Universal A/V Output and instead replace it with a single output, HDMI. Thus, this must be (if the photo is real) a simple demo box showing off the capability of an HDMI out which gives further proof to the claim that an HDMI cable for the Universal A/V Output is in the works by Microsoft.

I can't tell you what all the fuss is about but I'm sure it will make you happy... :happy: :yes:

[spenser.d]

CES really couldn't come any slower...

-Spenser