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Intrigue! It looks like Microsoft was hedging its high-def disc bets with the revelation that it was in talks with the Blu-ray folks “all along.” Even though it currently backs HD DVD, the truth of the matter is that the Xbox 360’s high-def disc playback is largely a matter of built-in software. The implication is that with the flick of a switch Microsoft could add Blu-ray support to the 360.
It should be noted that even though Microsoft currently is in HD DVD’s corner, its actual, long-term position on the format war seems to be “yeah, this is all temporary.” Save for Steve Jobs, no executive, to my knowledge, has been as bullish on digital downloads of movies, high-def or otherwise, as Bill Gates.
But yes, Microsoft was in talks with Blu-ray. Let the mudslinging begin.
Sitting Down with Microsoft’s Jeff Bell [1UP.com via Xbox-Scene]
Dude, your reporting sucks. It’s shoddy news like this that have kept CG from being taken serious by the mainstream. But maybe that’s on purpose.
However, to clarify, Microsoft has been in talks with Blu-ray over a piece of technology called HDi which is included in HD-DVD, hoping they would be able to sell it to the Blu-ray folks as well to get interactivity and internet downloads etc. into Blu-ray.
This has absolutely nothing to do with integrating a Blu-ray drive or having an external Blu-ray drive for the Xbox360, or changing the software on the Xbox360 to support Blu-ray.
Next time don’t post right after your daily visit to the Weed vending machine.
Thanks for this info, we will link to this from our Blu-ray Duplication blog!