Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on drive - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

heybirder · 2006-05-08, 12:59 PM

One of Microsoft's annouced products:

Quote:

This new accessory will connect to the Xbox 360 console with a USB cable, enabling it to harness the power of the Xbox 360 console for the HD video outputs and digital surround sound.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/...dexplained.htm

krimson · 2006-05-08, 02:00 PM

Price will be released at the E3 press conference which is tomorrow around noon.

MarcP · 2006-05-08, 02:05 PM

Since it's a USB addon, I wonder how long it'll take before someone makes it work on a PC...

bobancle · 2006-05-08, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarcP

Since it's a USB addon, I wonder how long it'll take before someone makes it work on a PC...

Without a driver it won't matter much. There is no native HDDVD support in Windows so they can control where it goes by not issuing the neccesary driver to make it work.

MarcP · 2006-05-09, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobancle

Without a driver it won't matter much.

And the Linux community has hacked drivers for hardwares with no public APIs for years. It's always possible...

bgarner · 2006-05-09, 10:13 AM

A driver for the HD-DVD add-on will be out within 2 weeks after the release.

Not hard to create a driver for any device that has firmware memory.

And in case anyone doesn't know this, there already is a "driver" for the Xbox 360 drive when plugged into a PC.

bobancle · 2006-05-08, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krimson

Price will be released at the E3 press conference which is tomorrow around noon.

I wonder if they will also discuss the HMDI output connector as well, this will be required for HD-DVD at some point.

dukee · 2006-05-08, 09:49 PM

Quote:

This new accessory will connect to the Xbox 360 console with a USB cable, enabling it to harness the power of the Xbox 360 console for the HD video outputs and digital surround sound.

That's what I don't understand. If they aren't planning on having HMDI, then what's the point?

From this release, it looks like the device will use the component outputs on the XBOX 360.

C C · 2006-05-08, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukee

That's what I don't understand. If they aren't planning on having HMDI, then what's the point?

From this release, it looks like the device will use the component outputs on the XBOX 360.

It's been mentioned before -by Microsoft- that there's a HDMI cable coming out. Sorry I don't have a link, but I think it's in the Xbox.com site.

Very simply they can sell another set of cables, just like they do now with the component set, but HDMI.

heybirder · 2006-05-09, 08:24 AM

I thought current HD-DVD discs allowed full output over component. If and until they start restricting resolution over component it's not that bad an option.

Kenbo · 2006-05-08, 02:07 PM

USB eh? Does that mean it will plug into a pc as well?

james99 · 2007-05-15, 09:48 AM

Quote:

A firmware update to the HD-DVD add-on drive for the XBOX 360 will be released today May 15th.

No word yet on what the firmware update will do but expect better compatibility with discs and future interactive features.

You can get the update trough XBOX Live when you log on with the drive attached.

http://www.dvdtown.com/news/firmware...dvd-drive/4462

Bdub · 2007-05-15, 10:02 AM

The update also adds 1.5 Mbps DTS and WMA pro as options for the digital output of TrueHD soundtracks.

Before, the 360 transcoded TrueHD soundtracks into DD 640 Kbps, which was an improvement over regular DD. Now you have more options.

pynner · 2007-05-15, 12:41 PM

Got the update... finally! nice to listen to NIN with out the breakups and crackles..

BUT

wheres the DTS option.. its not in the xbox settings... and it's not being decoded by my amp. lil help?

P

Bdub · 2007-05-15, 01:01 PM

I had to scour the boards to find the answer.

Press "Display" on your remote to open the options screen. Then you can select the audio output.

2006-05-09, 10:13 AM	#6
bgarner Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Cambridge, Ontario Posts: 117	A driver for the HD-DVD add-on will be out within 2 weeks after the release. Not hard to create a driver for any device that has firmware memory. And in case anyone doesn't know this, there already is a "driver" for the Xbox 360 drive when plugged into a PC. __________________ Thanks, and have a great day! Gametag: IceSavior, PSN: IceSavior

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2006-05-08, 02:00 PM	#2
krimson Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Winnipeg, MB Posts: 130	Price will be released at the E3 press conference which is tomorrow around noon.

2006-05-08, 02:05 PM	#3
MarcP Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Airdrie, AB Posts: 3,855	Since it's a USB addon, I wonder how long it'll take before someone makes it work on a PC...

2006-05-09, 08:24 AM	#10
heybirder Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ottawa Posts: 346	I thought current HD-DVD discs allowed full output over component. If and until they start restricting resolution over component it's not that bad an option.

2006-05-08, 02:07 PM	#11
Kenbo Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 109	USB eh? Does that mean it will plug into a pc as well?

2007-05-15, 10:02 AM	#13
Bdub Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Fredericton Posts: 684	The update also adds 1.5 Mbps DTS and WMA pro as options for the digital output of TrueHD soundtracks. Before, the 360 transcoded TrueHD soundtracks into DD 640 Kbps, which was an improvement over regular DD. Now you have more options.

2007-05-15, 12:41 PM	#14
pynner Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Vancouver, bc Posts: 224	Got the update... finally! nice to listen to NIN with out the breakups and crackles.. BUT wheres the DTS option.. its not in the xbox settings... and it's not being decoded by my amp. lil help? P

2007-05-15, 01:01 PM	#15
Bdub Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Fredericton Posts: 684	I had to scour the boards to find the answer. Press "Display" on your remote to open the options screen. Then you can select the audio output.