Xbox 360 as HD DVD Player: One and Only thread Here - Page 32

A trasncoder however, can convert them. I assume this is what he meant by adapter.

Any guesses to as when their will be a hdmi or dvi cable for the 360?

I pre-ordered the hd-dvd player from the gamestop store about two weeks ago. I thought that it would be in the store for pickup on the 8th but I just stopped by the store about an hour ago and they said it was pushed back a week till around the 14th. Is this true. According to their website it says it will ship the 8th:

http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=802558

and Amazon says the 7th:

http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-HD-D...F8&s=videogames

Was the gamestop store assistant just wrong. Does a store not get it the same time as online. Someone please clarify when we expect to be getting these.

When i payed mine off the guy [manager] said the 7th or 8th at the latest.Hope that helps

Question.

I have my 360 hooked up with the component cables to my reciever then component out to VGA IN on my projector. will this upconvert my SD DVDs? or do i need to buy like a VGA box and the 360 VGA cable? with a VGA extension cable?

Thanks,
Chris

p.s. i am of course asking about the HD DVD add on as i have this pre ordered.

This release from XBOX regarding an on-line upgrade to the 360 may answer some questions

Complete Dashboard Update Feature List


New Features

HD 1080p video mode support over VGA and component cables.
Xbox 360 HD DVD Player support.
Stream WMV video from a Windows PC running Windows Media Player 11, Zune software, or Windows Media Connect.
Play video from storage devices such as USB flash drives, Xbox 360 Memory Units, etc.
Play video from CD or DVD data discs.
Xbox 360 Wireless Headset support, including battery level indicator in the Xbox Guide.
Video support for 50 Hz HDTV modes (DVD only).
Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel support.
Set up automatic downloads of newly released Xbox Live Arcade trial games.
Support for upcoming release of XNA Game Studio Express (separate download and subscription required.)
Stream music, pictures and video from a Zune device.
Xbox Live Arcade

Lightning-fast enumeration and listing of all Xbox Live® Arcade games on the console.
Find games quickly with two new sort options: Recently Played and By Category.
Have all new Xbox Live Arcade games at the ready with auto downloads. Auto downloads optionally adds newly released trial versions of games to active downloads when you enter Xbox Live Arcade.
View full achievement info in Xbox Live Arcade, including icons, achievement point details, and descriptions.
Friends leaderboard: Compare yourself with friends and view leaderboard details right from the Xbox dashboard.
Tell a friend: Send a message to a friend about your newest favorite Xbox Live Arcade game.
DVD Player

Optionally disable notifications from Xbox Live while watching DVD movies.
Improved support for audio streams on incorrectly authored DVDs.
Better handling of unreadable discs.
Updated count-down timer.
HD DVD player support.
Added zoom support for non-anamorphic content.
Added support to Family Settings to block Unrated Content
Video Player

Improved support for extended all black scenes in WMV content.
Added support for Windows Media Video 9 Advanced profile video.
Screen saver now becomes active when videos are paused.
Now shares UI and player controls with DVD player.
Improved video playback while downloading from Xbox Live.
Added skip controls (forward approx. 30 seconds, back approx. 7 seconds).
Improved messaging around unplayable video content.
Added time elapsed and time remaining displays.
Improved playback of high bit-rate HD content on fragmented hard drives.
Improved visual quality of video playback.
Added selectable display modes: default and letterbox zoom.
Localization

New locale setting for China
Improved German translations in console settings.
Improved German translations in memory area.
Improved Japanese translations in Family Settings.
Added localized text for all supported languages in pictures area
Improved Spanish translations in camera effects.
Improved locale-specific decimal denominators.
Added localization support for title menu and main menu in the DVD player.
Added localization support for Attempting to Read Media system message.
Memory Area

Added support for Xbox 360 HD DVD Player content..
Added new page for viewing content size by category.
Other System Improvements

Updated support for new Daylight Savings changes coming in 2007.
Improved support for games to better handle host migration in multi-player matches.
Improved Xbox Live Vision camera support for changing room lighting while zooming.
Background downloaded videos appear in video area
Improved Xbox Live Vision camera support while using VGA.
Playing photo slideshows from PC now maintains picture folder hierarchy.
Improved user experience when playing and deleting videos from the Games or Media areas.
Improved handling of invalid characters during Xbox Live signup.
Better handling of watermarks in gamer cards.
Improved text for Windows Media Connect..
Improved UI performance in Media Center Extender
Improved connection support for Buffalo WZR-G108 wireless router when using Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter.
Redownload of deleted Arcade Games no longer re-enumerates all games on the Arcade page.
Improved visual display of text in themes.
Improved support for CD playback after signing up for Xbox Live and losing network connectivity.
Improved support for long names of items memory area.
Improved handling of gamer pictures downloaded from Xbox Live.
Improved background download notifications when downloading many small items from Xbox Live.
Improved support for custom backgrounds after returning to the Xbox Dashboard from the Account Management area.
Improved network reliability between Windows Media Center Extender on Windows Vista and Xbox 360 consoles using Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter.
Improved voice chat quality in Xbox Dashboard and in-game chats.
Improved messaging when failing to connect to Windows Media Center Extender.
Improved USB keyboard support when using a USB hub.
Improved consistency of user experience when deleting various types of content.
Improved handling of low storage space for background downloads.
Improved handling of Picture streaming from attached Digital Cameras over MTP protocol
Improved error messaging for optional iPod support download when storage devices are full.
Improved handling of multi-key repeating for USB keyboards.
Expanded Family Settings to include support for blocking unrated DVDs and videos.
Added ability to clear space from storage devices in download areas.
Added support for low-speed and full-speed USB keyboards.
Improved CapsLock behavior for USB keyboards.
Improved look and feel in Xbox Live Marketplace and Xbox Live Arcade areas.
Added redeem code option to Xbox Live signup.
Removed system message at the start of new downloads. Messages will be displayed for completed items.
Added support for CCV credit card validation field in Xbox Live Marketplace purchase areas.
Updated More Information instructions in the Xbox Dashboard for connecting an Xbox 360 console to a Windows PC to stream digital media content.
Added auto-scroll to long text descriptions in Xbox Dashboard UI.
Improved support for DVD insertion while playing a video file.

One last question... My tv tops out at 1080i, will I get better quality (CLoser to 1080p) if I use the VGA cable with a DVI adaptor ?

not sure if it has been posted yet, but Amazon sent an e-mail today saying the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive is back available for preorder. Ships the 7th.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00..._email_title_1

Probably not if you are using it for gaming or HD DVD. The VGA is still an analog signal, same as the component and running it through the DVI port won't change that. The 360 is suppose to upconvert SD DVD thru the VGA, so you may see improvement there. I have both cables and a TV that supports 1080p (thru the VGA), so I'm hoping I'll see a difference (between the two cables) with the HD add on, because I haven't really seen any yet. Certianly not to the point I'd recommend spending the money on the VGA cables if you don't already have them.

"Unlike DVD, where typical players pass the audio data from the disc through to your receiver, HD DVD requires that players mix sounds from menus and such in with the audio being played for the movie. The 360 player software decodes all the above codecs in software, mixes anything that needs to go together, re-encodes it into Dolby Digital and then sends that to your receiver. So, don't be alarmed when your receiver still says "Dolby Digital" even if you've selected DTS in the menus. "

This is direct from microsoft. Full excerpt here: http://blogs.msdn.com/xboxteam/archi...gence-day.aspx


The fact that they will convert all Audio to AC3 is seriously bad. It Means those movies with better soundtracks will suffer a loss. A good example of this is DTS audio.. DTS audio is a much larger file format and is less compress than AC3. A good comparison example would be.. DTS = CD Wave and AC3 = MP3.. AC3 is a compressed format. A good DTS audio track found on current dvd's could be for example approximately 1.1 gig, the equivalent AC3 track (dependant on bitrate) would be around 400 MB. While for music many claim MP3 to be the same, for the Low/high frequencies found outside of the music spectrum like what we need to drive our sub and astute sounds in a movie sound track DTS is a much better sound. Basically the Xbox 360 will be compressing the audio mixes to AC3, and from what they are saying because they need to also integrate the sound of the dash/alert popups during the movie, all audio will be recompressed to AC3? I hope this isn't correct, but that means it will take an original AC3 soundtrack and recompress it to another AC3 soundtrack with the addition of the dashboard sounds. Thats like Recompressing an MP3, or a JPG. Lets hope this isn't the case.. But it is bad news for the audiophiles who love their DTS.

Also since the CPU will both be decoding a very CPU intensive H264 video codec while also re-encoding all audio on the fly, the CPU fans will be running loud. if I have no media in my Xbox360, I still find the sound of the fan running demos, or sitting at the dashboard to still be annoying.

We knew that already, nothing new here.


That's a horrible example, it's more like DTS=MPEG-2 DD=VC-1 (or H.264). DTS is a lossy codec, same as DD or MP3.


That doesn't mean anything.


Nobody claims that, at least nobody sane.





Yes, as well as all the HD DVD supplimentary sounds, like IME, menues etc, just like every DVD player in existance.


HD DVDs use DD+ or DTHD, DTHD is lossless, and DD+ is better than DD.


The 360 addon isn't for audiophiles, that's what set top players are for.

No news here, and the DD is at 640kbs so supposedly will sound better than normal DD. amirm has already stated this and bkilian also answered this on page 31 of this thread.

Also hands on reports of the addon from the HD-DVD tour with amirm have said the Xbox and addon combo is very quiet.

bottom line, Will this HD-DVD add on make the last gen DVD's look better on the newer tv's?, and if so how much better?

If you connect via VGA it will upscale SD DVD's, I dont use this connection but other have reported the upconversion is very good. How good depends on your TV and the VGA connection working well together and your own opinion.

No, it's just a transport, it transports the data on the disc, be it DVD or HD DVD, to the 360.

The HD DVD drive will make no difference WRT DVDs vs the internal DVD drive on the 360.

LIARS, DAMN LIARS, and STATISTICIANS!!!

FIX YOUR LIES FOOL

EfJay has posted the correct information!

I think I am gonna go around on forums and post inaccurate information:

They won't raise your taxes, go ahead vote them into office, they are like Robin Hood. Believe what I say, they are a transport!

It appears that the FUD brigade is out in force about the addon and Dolby Digital. Here are some simple facts:

The 360 is advertised as outputting Dolby Digital 5.1
The HD-DVD addon is an OPTION for current 360 owners and is not a standalone player.
The 360 audio output is NOT crippled - it currently (and for the foreseeable future) does not have the correct output terminals for DD+ or TrueHD. BUT it does decode these sound formats on a HD-DVD movie and encodes them to the highest possible output available from the 360 - Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound.

By saying the output is crippled implies the 360 is capable of outputting DD+/TrueHD but has been prevented from doing so intentionally. This is not the case.

If you require increased capabilities the 360/addon combo cant provide there are 2 currently available and 2 more upcoming standalone players for you to choose from. The choice is yours.

But please, no more FUD about the addon. Take the facts and make the choice thats best for you and above all enjoy your HD-DVD experience. From the 8th, thats what I will be doing.

WORD!!!

I have already ordered TWO!

Quit misrepresenting facts STANGER! You are a disrespect to a Man Called Sting!

"bottom line, Will this HD-DVD add on make the last gen DVD's look better on the newer tv's?, and if so how much better?"

The Xbox 360 already upconverts DVD's to 1080P through VGA, the HD-DVD add on is not needed to upconvert DVD's.

Why do so many people here seem to think that the harder the 360 works the louder the fans are?

That's silly.

I can't wait for this HD-DVD add-on. Amazon shows a delivery date of the 8th for me with overnight shipping, I hope that holds true.

is there any news or rumors on when or if theres gonna be a fix for 1080p VGA on the Tvs this update doesnt work on ?
XBR2\\Sharp37D90U etc

Will the HD DVD come packaged with an update disc? I don't have broadband and I haven't been able to locate any information on an optional way to update the 360 to make it compatible with the new drive.

Why couldn't Microsoft have made it so that the audio gets encoded to 1509 kbps DTS like the A1/XA1? Only having 640 kbps DD doesn't make any sense to me.

Its supposed to come with the update disc

I just spoke to Microsoft's (supposedly) Swedish support, and not only don't they know when the add on will be released here, they also told me that if I buy it in the USA, I will not be able to use it on my PAL console.

Can anyone confirm this? I don't really trust them, the girl was nice enough, but she had to put me on hold after every question, so I don't really know what to believe.

It would also be nice to know if i simply need another power cable, or if I need more equipment, to change the voltage etc.

It's pretty clear that the drive will not be sold this week by it's absence in all the Sunday ads today.

We'll have to wait and see until next Sunday's ads are out for the following week.

I still don't get the big secret and lack of firm announcement on this thing...is the KGB controlling the MS promo dep't?

Yes, confirmed by MS.

[quote=efjay]It appears that the FUD brigade is out in force about the addon and Dolby Digital. Here are some simple facts:

The 360 is advertised as outputting Dolby Digital 5.1
The HD-DAVID addon is an OPTION for current 360 owners and is not a standalone player.
The 360 audio output is NOT crippled - it currently (and for the foreseeable future) does not have the correct output terminals for DD+ or TrueHD. BUT it does decode these sound formats on a HD-DVD movie and encodes them to the highest possible output available from the 360 - Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound.
[quote]

Okay sorry i didn't see the posts before. I just wanted to make sure that people understand what it is they are doing. People will be concerned that their DTS audio tracks are converted to DD. The one thing that I can still not understand, is if people are saying that DD+ sounds great, fine, however to me the unit is still re-encoding a compressed audiostream to another compressed audiostream, I can't see how this can't affect the sound quality. If I take a 256k MP3 (which is already compress ie. the original AC3 track) and recompress it on the fly to a 440k MP3 - you will suffer loss, since you are adding compression on something that was already compressed. Please explain to me.

I was also referring to the sound of the Xbox 360 fans, not the HD-DVD add-on.. the add on can be as quiet as a mouse, but it will still be overshadowed by the brutally loud fans of the Xbox 360.

Hmmm,

You've never heard of using sensors to throttle back or increase fan rpms to compensate for varying temperatures that result from changing processor load?

That's why.