Xbox 360 HD DVD Player
USB 2.0 |
The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player is a discontinued accessory for the Xbox 360 console that enables the playback of movies on HD DVD discs. Microsoft offered the drive for sale between November 2006 and February 2008. It was initially sold for $199.
's chief of Xbox operations, Yoshihiro Maruyama, Microsoft would not release Xbox 360 games in the new disc formats.On February 23, 2008, the Xbox 360 HD DVD player was abandoned by
Special black versions of the drive, along with black media remotes, were given to members of the Xbox 360 HD DVD development team. Unlike other black accessories which were created alongside the black Elite console, the black HD DVD drive was never made available to the general public.[7]
Technology
The HD DVD player connects to the Xbox 360 using a mini USB connection.[8] All of the audio and video processing and output come from Xbox 360 itself. The unit can also function as a USB hub, with 2 ports on the rear. It also includes a clip for attaching the wireless network adapter to it, much like what Xbox 360 consoles of the time had. The device also has an integrated 256 MB memory unit which is used for storage of HD DVD data and is accessible to the user for saving other data such as saved games.
The drive plays standard
Compatibility with PCs
The Toshiba optical drive used in the unit can read compact discs and DVDs in addition to HD DVDs when connected to a host that supports reading these formats (such as a PC). As the drive communicates via a generic mass storage protocol over USB the drive can be used as a standard optical drive on computers and operating systems that support USB optical drives. The operating system must have a UDF 2.5 driver to read data from HD DVDs. In addition a software player capable of playing HD DVD titles is required for playback of video. The 256 MB internal Memory Unit on the drive which is used for storage of HD DVD features is also accessible by manually installing USB Mass Storage drivers. Once installed, this can be formatted for use as a storage device although it will no longer function on an Xbox 360 unless it is reformatted.
Windows XP does not have a built in UDF 2.5 driver, instead requiring a third party one to be installed to access data on HD DVDs. Newer versions of Windows and
In the box
The retail package of the HD DVD player contains the following:
- Xbox 360 HD DVD Player
- Setup disc
- AC adapter
- USB cable
- Universal Media Remote(full sized version)
- Batteries
- User manual
- Free HD DVD Title (in certain areas): King Kong (US/Canada/Australia), Batman Begins (Mexico)
Notes
- VGA or HDMI cables. When connected via component or D-Terminal cables, 1080p content is downscaled to 1080i or lower.[11]
- Output of DTS(optional feature available within the HD DVD audio settings) are available as output, although HD audio can be enabled when used on PC.
- In the Amazon.comincreased the offer to a total of nine HD DVD titles when used with a mail-in rebate.
- Following its discontinuation, the HD DVD Player was reduced to $49.99 in the US and £39.99 in the UK, and still included the $19.99/£19.99 (SRP) Universal Media Remote, essentially making the price just $30/£20. On May 1, 2008 Xtra-vision reduced the price to £6.99.[citation needed]
References
- ^ Xbox 360 adds 1080p, HD DVD drive is $170 US for November 22nd in Japan - Engadget
- ^ "Smarthouse - Accessories". Archived from the original on February 4, 2007. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
- ^ Boyer, Brandon (January 18, 2008). "NPD: 2007 U.S. Game Industry Growth Up 43% To $17.9 Billion". Gamasutra. Think Services. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
- ^ "Gates Outlines Vision for the Digital Lifestyle and Showcases New Products and Technologies From Microsoft Archived July 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Microsoft, January 4, 2006
- ^ Format War Over: Microsoft Xbox 360 HD DVD Player Officially Discontinued
- ^ "Moore: Blu-ray Xbox 360 add-on possible" Archived October 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Gamespot, January 10, 2006
- ^ "Special Xbox 360 Elite black HD DVD drive up for auction". Joystiq. April 9, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
- ^ "First Look: Xbox 360 HD-DVD Drive - IGN".
- ^ "No HD DVD games for 360", Eurogamer, November 1, 2005
- ^ "DVD Player: Plays HD DVD discs authored in DVD Studio Pro only". Apple. Retrieved December 12, 2007.
- Engadget HD. Archived from the originalon July 10, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
- ^ "Xbox 360 HD DVD Player Moves to $179, Adds Five Free HD DVDs" (Press release). Microsoft. 27 July 2007. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
Today at Comic-Con International 2007, Microsoft Corp. announced it will lower the price of the popular Xbox 360 HD DVD Player from $199 to $179 ERP (United States only) starting Aug. 1, 2007, and will add five free HD DVD movies for anyone purchasing an Xbox 360 HD DVD Player between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30.