• Microsoft Confirms Going with Bluray

    Microsoft Confirms Going with Bluray

    Techtree News Staff, Mar 12, 2008 1952 hrs IST

    Microsoft has finally confirmed it's trying to figure out the best possible way to connect with the Blu-ray format.

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Just two days back, we reported that Sony is busy wooing Microsoft to add Blu-ray support to its Xbox 360 gaming console.

The effort's paid off (or so it seems) -- with Microsoft now confirming that it's trying to figure out the best way to connect with Blu-ray. The company also seems to be working on ways to include device driver support for Blu-ray drives in its Windows operating system.

Incidentally at the Mix '08 conference in Las Vegas, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said, "We have already been working on, for example, in Windows, device driver support for Blu-ray drives and the like, and I think the world moves on."

"Toshiba has moved on. We have moved on, and we will support Blu-ray in ways that make sense," Ballmer had said rather pointedly.

Before Toshiba went public with withdrawing its HD DVD format, Microsoft had HD DVD players as add-on along with their Xbox 360 gaming consoles.

But with HD DVD all but dead and Blu-ray the winner, Microsoft had no option but to stop manufacturing HD DVD drives for its Xbox 360 console.

What wasn't clear though was whether Microsoft would finally go with the Blu-ray format. The latest admission from the company clears that confusion.

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Discussion Board
(7) Comments
JMS
,Toronto, on Mar 13, 2008 02:47 AM
Hello the disks really dont matter at this point...if I have to get up and change my dvd 9 disk after 12 hours of play...I needed to get a drink and go to the bathroom anyway. Its not a deal breaker or even a issue for 95% of game players...that is unless your the owner of the 3rd place console...lol
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Nivin
,Brisbane, on Mar 14, 2008 05:11 AM
Hm.. you still don't see the big picture. Gaming consoles are not just used for gaming as such but for playing other digital media as well. You should know that DVD is fast becoming outdated and High-Def formats are replacing them. Blu-Ray has been leading the competition and HD-DVD was trailing behind it. Since all the US retail stores (Wal-Mart, Best Buy) etc. announced they wouldn't be selling HD-DVDs anymore, and as a result Toshiba withdrew from further developments of the HD-DVD format itself. So the big picture is, in the near future, people who have an Xbox 360 and want to see High-def movies on their Xbox 360 console will either have to rot, or go and invest in another standalone blu-ray disc player which costs minimum 400+ at the moment, OR, go get a PS3 which costs 400 bucks. If it was me, I know what I'd get. So either way, its bad for microsoft, coz 1) it makes its console inferior, and 2) to watch blu-ray movies, people are gonna buy PS3s. Thats why Microsoft HAS to go behind the whole Blu-Ray format now.
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john
,London, on Mar 13, 2008 03:33 PM
If any of u idiots think this has nothing to do with the 3shitty, you are sadly mistaken and stupid!! How do u feel now after all that shit u were talking the yr stupid console 1st came out?? U 3shitty boys are unbelieveable!! OF course it has to do with the 3shitty!! If they didn't implement it u would have any games 2 years from now. Just admit your crap console is inferior, it so obvious now even Microshite are admitting it so to do anything else would just be plum dumb inbred shit!!
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Jake
,Luton, on Mar 13, 2008 09:41 PM
Ha ha. You're a funny guy. Don't let some games consoles wind you up. Calm down.
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Rye
,internet, on Mar 13, 2008 11:28 AM
this article is retarded. microsoft's support for blu-ray has NOTHING to do with the xbox 360. they are simply providing device drivers for blu-ray players on their window operating system for those who buy the drives.
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Arro
,Seattle, on Mar 13, 2008 07:34 AM
Well if they continue to make their BD add-on as noisy as the HD-DVD add-on, people will still jump ship. I have a HD-DVD Add-on and man it is sure noisy as heck.
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Gamerhead
,London, on Mar 13, 2008 12:16 AM
Eh, you got it the other way around. It's Microsoft busy wooing Sony to use Blu-ray. They could have gone straight to the Blu-ray Disc Association but Sony has a big say in what goes on with Blu-ray. It's Microsoft who needs Blu-ray to limit the amount of potential lost sales from people who plan to buy consoles with HD disc capability.
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