OXMUK

Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb has been running around social media this week, updating us on the Xbox One controller, headset and a few other bits and pieces. Here's a rundown of his recent Reddit activities, delivered in the wake of that unboxing video last week.

Hryb doubts that Xbox 360 and Xbox One players will be able to party-chat. "Based on what I know of the voice system, I would be surprised if this was possible," he wrote. "The Xbox One uses an all new wide bandwidth (read: better voice quality) CODEC, so I doubt they are compatible."

Hryb also revealed that the microphone has a light to indicate when it's muted, and has flat, tangle-free wires (pause for applause). The included HDMI cable is 4K-rated, though even the almighty One won't be able to run a 3D game at that resolution.

"As far as the HDMI cable is concerned - I wanted to be perfectly clear that it was 4K rated," he added. "It seems anytime a product feature is mentioned there is the inevitable round of very specific questions. I wanted to take care of that right up front."

If you're still unconvinced by our arguments that Xbox One won't be sold without Kinect, consider the following: the One can use the sensor's IR blaster to replicate the functions of a TV remote (backed by the IR repeater on the rear of the console itself). "The Kinect sensor is also an IR blaster - probably the most powerful you've ever used on an A/V kit. You probably won't need to use a mirror... instead of a battery powered remote with small IR transmitters...you've got the Kinect which is high powered and has quite a few more."

Hryb has been getting a lot of stick on social media for being "out of touch" with gamers. How does he handle this kind of vitriol? "Some days are better than others....but it can wear on you after a while."

http://www.oxm.co.uk/60255/more-xbox-one-details-xbox-360-party-chat-hdmi-kinects-ir-blaster/

Wait. what does this mean? i can say to kinect "surround set ON" and "volume UP" and kinects uses it IR instead of my remote to control my surround set?

I agree, what or how does it do it exactly?  I had/have high hopes to run my whole setup through the XBone.  It would be nice if they could do a seperate demo of just a real life living room setup.  Showing how they connect thnigs and how it can control everything.  It's time to do real demos and not just tweet or whatever about it.

they haven't specified, but i dont see why it couldn't. It should be able to act just like any other media remote(that uses IR). I hadn't even thought of surround sound and stuff like that. They do need to tell us more or show us more.

Some MS guy on GAF: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=75375675&postcount=950

IR Blaster. Kinect has and IR blaster array built in. Can turn on your TV, Cable Box, etc. so when you say “Xbox On” it will actually power your equipment, switch inputs, etc. (I know, TV TV TV but when you get to see it, you’ll understand.). As someone pointed out, if for some reason your setup doesn’t work with Kinect IR blasting, you can get a cable and connect to the port in the back.

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wish they showed any of it..

Doubt this will work :(

If using Kinect worked in a majority of setups, they wouldn't have put an IR blaster port on the console.