Rumor: MS Moving To New Platform...New Xbox Introduced in 2008 or 2009?

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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.

That sounds like a PS3 to me.  If true, this would be the biggest slap in the face of Xbox supporters.  3 to 4 years before you jump to the next Xbox?!  If true, how do they expect to be profitable like that?  The bigger question is how do they expect to hold on to their fans?  There are people that JUST bought the Halo edition Xbox 360.  They only get to hold on to it for 1 to 2 years when the 360 just launch at the end of 2005?  If I was still an Xbox owner, I would be extremely pissed.

All the information is wrong because it came from a site named PSU (Playstation Universe), right?   

I wouldn't think it would be that hard to figure out.  $50 difference, but you get an extra 20GB worth of space, a Blu-ray player, more power, WiFi, reliability, and Gigabit Ethernet.  The 40GB is definitely the better hardware buy.

How many games does one usually play during the holiday season?  3? 4? 5? more?  Well, there are games like Warhawk, Heavenly Sword, Ratchet & Clank Future, Eye of Judgement, Uncharted, the better graphical version of COD4, Rock Band, Half-Life, Army of Two, Assassin's Creed, Time Crisis 4, Haze, GT5: Prologue. 

Then, right after the holiday season there should be MGS4, Afrika, LittleBigPlanet, Tekken 6, Killzone 2, SoulCalibur IV, Heavy Rain, DC Universe, White Knight Story, etc.

Humm...  I would say it's probably the best buy.

The most perceptive part of that "article", is the omission of the words "Good Games" from the following statement:

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It has all the needed features (Blu-ray/DVD playback, free online service, built-in hard drive)

Quoting Unicus69:

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Quoting Ascended_Saiyan:

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All the information is wrong because it came from a site named PSU (Playstation Universe), right? 

The information may be correct, note I say 'may be', but the opinions expressed are definately suspect.  I have seen how you react towards articles written by people you claim are anti-playstation...why would you expect a different reaction towards an article from a site that is obviously pro-playstation?

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Humm...  I would say it's probably the best buy.

No surprise there.  You are a self proclaimed PS3 supporter.  That has to be taken into account when you express an opinion because that indicates a bias.

There is a similiar article from the DallasDaily news as well.  They just didn't have the charts.  The charts speak for themselves.  Take a look and see if there is anything missing from those charts that you would have included in those particular sections.

Being bias is not the problem.  Being bias due to emotion and hearsay is the problem.  Being bias because of facts (specs, options, etc.) is the only way to judge something fairly.

Quoting Calidain:

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Quoting Ascended_Saiyan:

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Quoting Calidain:

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Well certainly the 40GB PS3s will definitely help sales for SONY, but these retailers locally might still be sitting on those 60GB and 80GB versions left on their retail shelves through the holiday season with the cheaper version hitting the stores.

How is Halo 3 the last hoorah for the XBOX 360???  So what you are saying is that once the Halo 3 popularity wears off, the XBOX 360 will have nothing left to compete with PS3 in say 12 months let alone 8 - 10 years?!?  Do you drink heavily before you post and then use spellchecker to fix all the errors, because seriously sometimes you sound really stupid!!!

Then, please let me know what MS has to compete with the following ESTABLISHED games:

MGS4
MGO
Tekken 6
Killzone 2
The Getaway
Jak and Daxter
GT5
FFXIII
FFXIII Versus

That's not even talking about the OTHER games with great buzz for next year (like White Knight Story, Heavy Rain, DC Universe, Afrika, The Agency, etc.  It seems that it is you that sometimes sounds really stupid.

Honestly man, how can anyone take you seriously when it is obvious you read PSM (playstation magazine) with your hand down your pants!!!

Soooo, in other words, you don't have an answer for the titles I listed above.  Like I said, the last hoorah for Xbox 360.  This appears to be the height of their popularity.  What other game Xbox 360 has coming out that will probably sell 3 million copies in one month and help to push 500,000+ consoles out the door in the same time period?

Quoting Calidain:

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Quoting Ascended_Saiyan:

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Quoting Calidain:

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Well certainly the 40GB PS3s will definitely help sales for SONY, but these retailers locally might still be sitting on those 60GB and 80GB versions left on their retail shelves through the holiday season with the cheaper version hitting the stores.

How is Halo 3 the last hoorah for the XBOX 360???  So what you are saying is that once the Halo 3 popularity wears off, the XBOX 360 will have nothing left to compete with PS3 in say 12 months let alone 8 - 10 years?!?  Do you drink heavily before you post and then use spellchecker to fix all the errors, because seriously sometimes you sound really stupid!!!

Then, please let me know what MS has to compete with the following ESTABLISHED games:

MGS4
MGO
Tekken 6
Killzone 2
The Getaway
Jak and Daxter
GT5
FFXIII
FFXIII Versus

That's not even talking about the OTHER games with great buzz for next year (like White Knight Story, Heavy Rain, DC Universe, Afrika, The Agency, etc.  It seems that it is you that sometimes sounds really stupid.

Honestly man, how can anyone take you seriously when it is obvious you read PSM (playstation magazine) with your hand down your pants!!!

ROFL! 

Quoting Ascended_Saiyan:

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What other game Xbox 360 has coming out that will probably sell 3 million copies in one month and help to push 500,000+ consoles out the door in the same time period?

So whats gonna sell 3 million copies and half a million ps3s in 1 week then? MGS4? Reality check buddy: MGS3 sold 4 million copies worldwide total when PS2's install base was close to 100 million PS2s. 3 million copies in the last week of september (a v quiet month for game retail) and considering no one buys MS consoles in Japan, is a phenomenal amount and by the end of the year, Halo 3 may well have outsold Halo 2's 6.5 million.

Quoting stefc:

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Quoting Ascended_Saiyan:

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What other game Xbox 360 has coming out that will probably sell 3 million copies in one month and help to push 500,000+ consoles out the door in the same time period?

So whats gonna sell 3 million copies and half a million ps3s in 1 week then? MGS4? Reality check buddy: MGS3 sold 4 million copies worldwide total when PS2's install base was close to 100 million PS2s. 3 million copies in the last week of september (a v quiet month for game retail) and considering no one buys MS consoles in Japan, is a phenomenal amount and by the end of the year, Halo 3 may well have outsold Halo 2's 6.5 million.

You LOVE changing the parameters...don't you?  1 week?  That was 1 month.  Did you know that GT3 moved around 14 million units worldwide?  This GT will be the most realistic version yet!  You know what FF sells I'm sure.  Just look at the list I provided above and research the numbers.