http://gizmodo.com/5387238/ballmer-talks-natal-says-blu+ray-add+on-for-xbox-coming
Ballmer Talks Natal, Says Blu-ray Add-On for Xbox Coming
In the first segment of our exclusive Steve Ballmer interview series, the Microsoft CEO and I talk about Natal, the blurring of console generations, and the surprising assertion that "you'll be able to get" Blu-ray add-on drives for Xbox 360.
When I asked Ballmer about adding Blu-ray to the Xbox, he said:
Well I don't know if we need to put Blu-ray in there—you'll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories.
Though he says it with certitude, the timing of any kind of Blu-ray accessory is unclear. Could he have mispoken? Certainly. However, when I asked Xbox spokespeople about Ballmer's revelation, they responded:
Our immediate solution for Blu-ray-quality video on an Xbox 360 is coming this fall with Zune Video and 1080p instant-on HD streaming. As far as our future plans are concerned, we're not ready to comment.
Microsoft PR is good — we trust them to say no if they're not making one, and in this case, the best strategy is a "no comment". Which turns out to be a comment.
Of course, his Blu-ray comment may not mean that Microsoft is coming out with an external drive—he may have just been shooting down the idea that the Xbox 360 will ever have an internal Blu-ray drive, by saying that any Blu-ray the Xbox gets would have to be external. On the other hand he did actually say, "You'll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories."
As you can see in our back-and-forth, Ballmer plays his cards close to the chest, but in my sit-down interview with him, he shared a lot. Prior to the Blu-ray business, Ballmer and I talked about Natal, and the excitement that Matt and Mark experienced when they stepped into the chamber back at E3. When I asked him if Natal was Microsoft's attempt to do away with concept of game console generations (thereby prolonging the life of a given platform indefinitely), Ballmer smiled knowingly and said "We'll see."
Stay tuned for more exciting Ballmer moments (and facial expressions) over the next day, and then the full uncut interview video on Friday.
Send an email to Wilson Rothman, the author of this post, at wilson@gizmodo.com.
Too late?Yea.
Ballmer Talks Natal, Says Blu-ray Add-On for Xbox Coming
In the first segment of our exclusive Steve Ballmer interview series, the Microsoft CEO and I talk about Natal, the blurring of console generations, and the surprising assertion that "you'll be able to get" Blu-ray add-on drives for Xbox 360.
When I asked Ballmer about adding Blu-ray to the Xbox, he said:
Well I don't know if we need to put Blu-ray in there—you'll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories.
Though he says it with certitude, the timing of any kind of Blu-ray accessory is unclear. Could he have mispoken? Certainly. However, when I asked Xbox spokespeople about Ballmer's revelation, they responded:
Our immediate solution for Blu-ray-quality video on an Xbox 360 is coming this fall with Zune Video and 1080p instant-on HD streaming. As far as our future plans are concerned, we're not ready to comment.
Microsoft PR is good — we trust them to say no if they're not making one, and in this case, the best strategy is a "no comment". Which turns out to be a comment.
Of course, his Blu-ray comment may not mean that Microsoft is coming out with an external drive—he may have just been shooting down the idea that the Xbox 360 will ever have an internal Blu-ray drive, by saying that any Blu-ray the Xbox gets would have to be external. On the other hand he did actually say, "You'll be able to get Blu-ray drives as accessories."
As you can see in our back-and-forth, Ballmer plays his cards close to the chest, but in my sit-down interview with him, he shared a lot. Prior to the Blu-ray business, Ballmer and I talked about Natal, and the excitement that Matt and Mark experienced when they stepped into the chamber back at E3. When I asked him if Natal was Microsoft's attempt to do away with concept of game console generations (thereby prolonging the life of a given platform indefinitely), Ballmer smiled knowingly and said "We'll see."
Stay tuned for more exciting Ballmer moments (and facial expressions) over the next day, and then the full uncut interview video on Friday.
Send an email to Wilson Rothman, the author of this post, at wilson@gizmodo.com.
Take my love, take my land..
07:05 AM
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01:47 AM
On top of all that as well, most people still don't give a shit about blu-ray and what it offers. You could be sending out 720p movies that are maybe 2.5gb in size or less and that'd suit almost everyone just fine. #steveballmer
12:24 AM
It will be more convenient to people to actually take their tablet, read the news via subscription. (Oh and eco friendly too)
It will be even easier to get that damned movie at the video on demand store than the video club, why? There's always a copy sitting there for you, and you don't have to face a storm, go in the snow, everything is delivered straight to your X-BOX 360. (While confronting the elements or just take a god damn walk to the video store is healthier.)
Whether you see it like that. Physical distribution began to see it's end with the fall of CD formats as the premium. Apple is doing insane sales by letting your download your crap and put it on your MP3 player. The iphone only brought further advancement with media support and all that incredible crap.
Nook, from Barnes and Noble (Wish they were up here in Canada) is what I can call, the start of the downfall of book as a publishing matter. I do not say it will be wiped. But we can start thinking about having libraries as more physical approach.
In the end, Microsoft or another company of the sort will probably leap-frog the market with an innovative way to get videos with Blu-Ray quality without having the player nor the expensive disk, just plain data straight to your device. #steveballmer
12:29 AM
there may not be physical media but there will be physical download cards for whatever.
Any company going a download only route at-least for the next 5 years will cannibalized some of its sales by doing that for people that cant get internet either because of location or because of price. #steveballmer
12:22 AM
It's also easier to access my movies over wifi from my Mac Pro into my PS3, sorry Balmer, I never went for the XBox 360 and simply find Macs to be more appealing than PCs. The old alternative, having to move around a $30.00 disc, risking damaging it, dedicating physical space for it, etc, is just not worth it for me anymore. #steveballmer
12:19 AM
Seriously, can we PLEASE have a $250 blue ray add-on? That would be most good... most good. Honestly, DVD thru HDMI in my G10 is not terrible, I can manage... no need for BD. Also, to (finally) end PS3 vs XBOX debate, BD is not a great reason to buy PS3. You controllers have been the same since PS1... get a job, Sony. #steveballmer
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@soffles: See, now this I agree with, XBox party was always was happened with us. Sure, we each shared heartache and broken furniture over an unsaved FF game, but we all just played CS over LAN, or Halo, or replayed Fable to see who could beat it under 5 hours. XBox was a win.
@safil: Yeh, the XBox Live payments are miniscule compared to the experience. I'm sure Sony can play catch up, and maybe they should ask for $40 each now, so that they can come up with something better. It's gaming... stick to the basics and you won't fail. Wii, kicks ass any day, even if you have to spend $8 on PongToss to relive your fraternity days if only to find out that bouncing the ball will get you the win... #steveballmer
12:15 AM
That said, nice little interview. It's interesting to hear that they're looking at Blu-Ray, though I think he has the future of movies right in that things will be moving to a digital distribution model, even Blu-Ray players seem to acknowledge that to an extent with access to NetFlix and other digital distribution methods and on-line extras from physical media.
It's also good to hear that they are taking Natal as it comes and seeing where the users want it instead of forcing the market to conform to their wishes. I do wonder what he meant by "on XBox or other scenarios''. #steveballmer
12:12 AM
Can't beat that #steveballmer
12:14 AM
Can't beat that #steveballmer
12:16 AM
Can't beat that #steveballmer
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12:37 AM
My point went way over your head.
Nobody. Wears. Their. Headset. On. PSN. #steveballmer
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this is why I love gizmodo. #steveballmer