Microsoft have just announced a new release of the Xbox 360:

Microsoft today announced the upcoming availability of Xbox 360(TM) Elite, a new model of the video game and entertainment system that will include a 120GB hard drive, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, a high-definition cable, and a premium black finish for the console, wireless controller and Xbox LIVE(R) headset. Xbox 360 Elite has enough space for a library of Xbox LIVE Arcade games and thousands of songs, as well as downloadable high-definition TV shows and movies available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The new 120GB hard drive also will be sold as a stand-alone accessory to give current Xbox 360 owners greater choice and flexibility in their games and entertainment experience. Additional Xbox 360 Elite accessories, such as the black Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit and the Xbox 360 rechargeable battery, will be available separately. The Xbox 360 Elite and its accessories are expected to begin arriving in U.S. stores on April 29.

Check out the press release for the full list of accessories.

While the press release has a lot of mention of the magic "HD" keyword, it doesn't actually seem to included with an HD-DVD player?

Awesome news about the HDD.

f*****s, I don't want to have to buy a new one just to get hdmi =(

yeah nothing worse then buying a product only to have it released a year later with features youd expect with the original,

but i guess its better then a gaystation3

179.00 USD = 222.287 AUD
United States Dollars Australia Dollars
1 USD = 1.24183 AUD 1 AUD = 0.805264 USD

niiiiice lol. suddenly all the features in the PS3 have a lot greater value when you pay only 20 USD more to have next gen dvd format.

f*****s, I don't want to have to buy a new one just to get hdmi =(

Well they can't exactly add proper HDMI support to the current Xbox 360, because it only outputs analogue video signals.

ah well if you are gonna spend big $$$ on a fancy massive TV with HDMI, I'm sure you can come up with the cash difference to sell your 360 and buy the Elite model. Besides, can't see HDMI making much difference in most cases to the PQ.

While the press release has a lot of mention of the magic "HD" keyword, it doesn't actually seem to included with an HD-DVD player?

I don't get this sentiment. Of course it's HD, it runs games and movies in hi-def resolutions (and comes packaged with sufficient cabling to do so). Having the ability to play HD-DVDs takes nothing away from the fact that's it's HD hardware.

I thought HDMI was only for movies and would only effect people with the HD-DVD add-on? downsizing their res if they don't have a HDMI secure to play it on? or am I thinking of something else?

I think your thinking of HDCP

I don't get this sentiment. Of course it's HD, it runs games and movies in hi-def resolutions (and comes packaged with sufficient cabling to do so). Having the ability to play HD-DVDs takes nothing away from the fact that's it's HD hardware.

Why would you release a new edition and highlight the HD capacity and then not make it so it can compete with the PS3 out of the box?

...aside from the obvious reason, so they can release The Xbox 360 Ultra Elite a few months later

elite? bah it should be Xbox 360 L337

maybe they realised it would be more expensive than a ps3 for everything, and wanted to save embarrassment after all that "why does it cost so much" marketing?

Microsoft are just testing the waters with the HD-DVD add-on. If HD-DVD beats Blu-ray, they'll probably add the drive, but at the moment they're not going to risk driving up the cost for a format that might flop.

Screw that, I don't want them adding the drive in, I like Microsoft's idea much better. Buy the console, if you want the added HD-DVD bit you pay extra and go buy it, instead of being forced to take it whether you want it or not.

The Elite is tipped to end up taking the place of the current Premium pack late in the year, so they're not going to include the HD-DVD in it because it needs to be aimed at the same price point the Premium pack currently is.

meh XBox

To harness the full HD res, you gotta also get 1080p display panel which lets face they aren't too many around yet and they are bloody expensive. Otherwise, it's point less to have HD res on up convert panel or rather the console will have to down convert the output.

Does that mean that all existing xbox games will have to be up covert if it's output via HDMI or are all the games can output at 1080p res? Seeing that the standard drive is standard DVD I'd say they'll just have to up convert the source..

I'd say it'd be upconverted cos 360 games only run in 720p/1080i. It can output at 1080p cos theres an option to set it in the dash, but the only thing that can actually use it is the HD-DVD addon.

Via VGA cable right now you can upscale your dvds to 720 and 1080p. Some games are starting to come out in 1080p support too. I think VT3 might be one (might be just ps3 version though, not totally sure).

HDMI will also allow you to upscale DVDs to aformentioned resolution.

^wouldn't that be like saying, now with iTunes and mp3 stores, music CD's will be obsolete. Although their role has changed dramatically, audio CD's are still used all the time.

The CD analogy is a bit silly because HDDVD unlike CDs is not yet and might never be a widely adopted format. What about SACD or DVD-Audio (DVDA hehe), the competing next-gen Audio formats that will probably never take off? Who's to say HD-DVD, Blu Ray or both won't end up the same way.

last edited by Dan at 18:10:39 30/Mar/07

Yeh I get your point.

I was having a think about DVD vs HD DVD. If you think about the transition from VHS to DVD, the biggest pro was the massively increased quality; the shiny, much smaller medium was just an added bonus. I think a big hurdle people struggle with is that the actual DVD and HD DVD look exactly the same... when it's really the quality of what is on it that should count. Having said that I am yet to see the two compared.

Yeah I think there's a huge risk of neither format being adopted also, especially due to the reliance on a HDTV to notice any real different between DVD and HDDVD/Blue Ray. The majority own SDTVs and are unlikely to fork out for a new format that they won't notice. I've got a HDTV (Only 720p) and I'm still yet to be convinced I need to upgrade to HD format movies (games on the other hand you notice the difference)

I don't think I'll bother buying either a HDDVD or Blu-ray player until they stop making movies I want to buy on DVD and I'm forced to.

i honestly dont think that consoles will be the decider of wether hddvd or blue ray will be the next format, for all we really know the people may be more accepting of having both formats and have dual players or both players in the living room. infact it may never kick off, and we might just keep using DVD's till media becomes streamed off the net to media centres installed in lounge rooms.

i wont bother with either format, not because i dont want to invest money into a product that may become redundent, but because i honestly have no need for either of them, i have a media box set up which i watch my media from over my network, if i was so inclined id hook up a capture card and record tv using it, but australian tv is that important to me and if i miss something i miss something. the amount of people i know using xboxs as media centres is quite large and i was amazed to see how many people who would never adapt to such a technology easily adapt to it, so i wouldnt be suprised if we f*** ass this different format s*** off and just stick with the .avi's

but honestly its so unpredictable i laugh at the whole scene.