More details revealed for Xbox 360 with Mediaroom IPTV

Microsoft Corp. on Mon. debuted an Xbox 360 console with Mediaroom IPTV software at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV.

With a software disc to be provided by the content provider, users can self-install Mediaroom software to add an extra icon in the Media blade of the Xbox 360.

[Bill Gates]

May as well announce SOMETHING for the 360 since EVERY news 9/10 is BAD NEWS.......AHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHA

Sony is having VH1's "Best Week Ever"...AHAHHAHAhAHAHAHA

[OC_MurphysLaw]

I love the idea, but if all you need is a software update disc...how is the 360 going to pull in the TV channels and information? I kinda assumed there would be some kind of converter box that the coaxile cable would plug into, etc... Do they intend to feed all the info via the internet and stream it to you? I just dont get it....

Anyone seen pics of it working on the 360?

[hella whip]

In the UK the Xbox IPTV will be through BT. I own BT Vision which is their IPTV service that they have already and it is basically a freeview recorder that gets its signal through an aerial along with on demand content. I suspect that the Xbox IPTV won't come with the freeview part just the on demand (Streamed content) stuff.

[TheMART]

I guess they'll provide the signal over the internet when its IP TV, which is your provider, modem and ethernet connector. No coaxial cable to go in your 360, just the ethernetcable dude...

Pics? There have been video's around the net from the presentation with TV channels

[Blademask]

Step 1.

Fix RROD issues

Step 2.

Look into Multi-Media Applications.

They are just half assing themselves out to get something out faster than the competition, but they are forgetting that the 360 isn't 'living room' friendly. You have 900 'add ons' and its just plain noisy. Tack on RROD rates with people using it as a 'dvr' with a tiny HDD... or blazing fast usb hdd. Just isn't going to work. I love the ideas, the 360 just isn't the machine to do this on. Not until they can prove to consumers that they care enough about them to not have to even worry about RROD. Warranty is fine, fixing the problem is much better.

[TheXgamerLive]

Step 2, I think they know a hell of a lot more than you do, lil boy who lives in his mom's basement.

[candystop]

Iptv has been in the works for years so i can assure you it isn't being half assed! As far as the rrod goes I believe that they have already solved that issue and by the time this service rolls out they will probably have a better refined system or it may launch with the xbox 720!

[gamesR4fun]

ya I hear the new falcons runhas quiet has the ps3 wich would b fine for this still not sure if it will catch on...

[allatain]

by the sounds of it,
You'll have to buy the 360 Hard Drive add-on, from your Media Provider (AT&T, Cable, Dish Network) you'll receive a software disc and some kind of hardware to turn your 360 into a Receiver, and beable to use the 360 as a DVR.

I think this is serious BS, just another way for MS to get owners to buy a way too expensive hard drive and plus, Who in this world can actually keep their 360 on 24/7 because this is what MS is asking you to do.

PS forgot to hit reply, This is a response to Dlacy13g's question

[hella whip]

Which is why I think intitially there will be no traditional TV channels as such through IPTV, certainly not in the UK as BTs IPTV service is just On demand content.

[Ureval]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is IPTV? Does this essentially just turn your Xbox into a cable box and DVR?

[hella whip]

IPTV will is a way of delivering TV content on demand. Its not a recorder as everything is on demand nothing is live you just select the content when you want to watch it. At least thats how it is in the UK. The video quality of the on demand content isn't as good as freeview but will probably get better as Broadband speeds get higher or compression gets better.

[Ureval]

But can you watch things as they air as well or do you have to wait for content to be updated. And what are the costs like for something like that?

[allatain]

will you be able to watch content should Live go down again, I mean your getting content from a service provider not MS so I think, as a consumer, people should be able to watch it without having MS check to make sure

[hella whip]

I can only comment on what BT provide in the UK which is going to be the same that the Xbox has in the UK. There is no live content through BTs IPTV service, Their is a wide selection of programming available on a Pay as you go basis, I think its around about £1.99 a tv episode £2.99 for a film. They have a TV replay feature from the BBC and Channel 4, I think most/all this content is free at least at the moment it is. It offers subscription packages to sections such as music videos, Tv programs or sport (Not live sport). I only got BT vision a few weeks ago so can't say how often it updates.

[Ureval]

So really its not much different from what Live offers now, just more content.

[hella whip]

Yes not much different to what is on offer now except maybe the subscription part and as yet there is no HD content. I suppose it will allow a lot more content as companies like HBO, Warner, BBC and Channel 4 all use it to provide content. Its basically streaming rather than downloading the TV shows.

[Sayai jin]

Digital downloads will be way of the future. The near future.

[allatain]

Sony has a implementation of sorts to, but only available in Japan, and can be brought to Europe, its sad that they can't really get it into the US market, and Hopefully in a few years, we can get internet fast enough to be able to download HD content thats at least 50 mins long without a huge wait

[Sayai jin]

Yeah all the big companies do. Anyone that once to be succesful will grab a hold. Sony will get a chance to get to market it in the near future in NA. I remember hearing about this when I was in Japan in 2006. Bubbles for you.

[power of Green]

"LAS VEGAS — Jan. 8, 2007 — At the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Microsoft Corp. today announced a new solution that will bring together two of its leading entertainment products, the Xbox 360™ gaming console and the Microsoft® TV IPTV Edition software platform, to create a unique digital entertainment offering. IPTV on Xbox 360™ is expected to be available to consumers by holiday season 2007 and will be offered by providers that are deploying TV services over broadband networks based on the IPTV Edition software platform. The solution was unveiled during Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates’ CES keynote address Jan. 7.

The integration of a video gaming console with Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services is intended to deliver a first-of-its-kind entertainment experience. IPTV on Xbox 360 is expected to give consumers all the advantages of an advanced TV service along with the benefits of next-generation gaming, as well as unique new capabilities that the integrated solution brings. Xbox Live®, the largest online social network in the living room, will be seamlessly integrated into the experience, providing consumers with a wide range of community-based features, such as voice chat, sending and receiving text and voice messages, and accessing Xbox Live Marketplace, all while watching TV. For example, while a TV viewer is enjoying his favorite football game, he can receive a message from a friend inviting him to a join voice chat while watching the game, or to play a game of their own with EA SPORTS™ “Madden NFL 07” on Xbox Live.

“Both Xbox 360 and Microsoft TV IPTV Edition by themselves deliver unique and exciting entertainment experiences today, but IPTV on Xbox 360 is truly a solution that is greater than the sum of its parts and will enable even more exciting experiences to delight consumers, service providers, content providers and game developers alike,” said Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division. ”By integrating these industry-leading solutions, we are delivering on our promise to drive innovation and enable new connected entertainment experiences for consumers in a way that only Microsoft can.”

With the addition of IPTV Edition functionality, Xbox 360 builds on its position as the centerpiece for high-definition digital entertainment in the living room, offering the best in next-generation games, TV and movies along with the ability to share experiences online with the industry-leading online game network, Xbox Live. Xbox 360 continues to extend its lead with more than 10.4 million consoles sold in 37 countries since launch.

The Microsoft TV IPTV Edition software platform enables a best-in-class digital TV service that offers advanced features such as instant channel zapping, a rich and responsive user interface, video on demand with branded video-on-demand storefronts, digital video recording and high-definition television. Some of the world’s largest telecommunications service providers have chosen IPTV Edition as their IPTV software solution, with scale commercial deployments currently under way with AT&T in the United States, BT Group PLC in the United Kingdom, Deutsche Telekom in Germany, T-Online in France and Swisscom in Switzerland".

((I found a more detailed list of fuctions and features before but can not find it anymore).

You
can watch live TV but all these things obviuosly depends on the provider. The XBL winter update also had IPTV enabling additions.

[hella whip]

I think live TV will probably not happen for a few years yet in the UK at least as even Virgin media (a cable company) whose internet speeds are the highest in the country (upto 20Mbps) aren't doing live tv through its HD set-top box. Maybe in America its different though.

[power of Green]

One things for sure its suppose to deliver unmatched video compression and more to devering HD player quality HD content and greatly improve overall quality of all content.

[stennexxx]

M$ just trying to beat Sony to the punch but it might backfire. RROD is a factor because of the amount of heat that will probably be generated leaving on the system. Media room on a disc? What about HDD space. M$ must be planning to sell larger capacity drives for cheap. HD DVR and downloads of digital content require large amounts of space. Anyway good luck. M$ gets no more of my money.

[TheMART]

"Microsoft currently offers standard and high-definition programming through the Xbox Live online network. Content partners include Viacom, Warner Bros. and Disney.

Microsoft last week said that it has reached 17.7 million Xbox 360 units sold worldwide to date."

Two things, we see Warner there, so even going BluRay on disc, the 360 will get the stuff digital. No discs to scratch yeah for downloads!

Second 17.7 mln. 360 units sold to date.
Nice, with PS3 on 8.65 mln., that's and advance of 9 mln. units.

[Partisan]

Wrong mart if you watch the keynote they said they shiped 17.7m worlwide not sold correct me if im wrong.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

VG Chartz yesterday had an article that clarified the point that all 3 of the console makers when reporting "sales" figures are using shipped to retailer figures, not sold to consumer figures. As far as all 3 are concerned when they ship to a retailer those units are bought and paid for so they consider them sold.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

that said...if they came out with a subscription based add-on to watch a group of on-demand content, etc... similar to what cable does...I would be inclined to sign on. I am not big on pay per view...but am agreeable to pay services that include all content, etc. Give me an HBO subscription and I am all over it.