SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. slashed $50 from the price of its Zune digital media player Wednesday, the same day Apple Inc. was expected to unveil additions to its market-leading iPod line.

The 30-gigabyte Zune now costs $199, the Redmond, Wash.-based software maker said on its Zune Insider blog.

“It’s part of the normal product life cycle, something we’ve had on the books for months,” wrote Cesar Menendez, a Microsoft employee and Zune Insider blogger.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20605943/

Now they just have to announce that the Zune will be available in other countrys if they want a good user base. ...

Might the tide be turning in HD-DVD's favor?

According to DVD Town, it looks like Microsoft is now willing to talk about the supposed money that changed hands between it and Paramount to support HD-DVD.

The result?

According to Microsoft this never happened.

Here's what "Kevin Collins, head of Microsoft's HD-DVD unit" now says in an official statement:

"Microsoft did not provide any financial incentives to Paramount/Dreamworks' recent decision to support HD-DVD."

Responding to other articles he read on the Home Theater Forum, he states, "This type of 'reporting' amazes me and I challenge anyone to provide proof around these statements. They are unfounded and inaccurate."

There is still no final word on what Toshiba's role is in this if any at all. However, Paramount does acknowledge that variables "like manufacturing cost, low prices on players and technology advantages" helped in their decision making process.

Also, in a story from Tech Newsworld, their opinion writer Rob Enderle sees the cost of manufacturing Blu-ray discs to be the format's eventual downfall.

However, he doesn't necessarily think that HD-DVD is going to win the format war either.

In his story he writes, "I was one of the folks who thought that Blu-ray was going to eliminate HD-DVD and by this time HD-DVD would be toast. In fact, I was one of the analysts who helped convince Time Warner to hedge its bets and go with both formats. However, this was all before I knew the cost of the Blu-ray technology, and it was based on the assumption that Sony would never be stupid enough to price itself out of the game console market, effectively giving it to Nintendo and Microsoft."

He then goes on to say, "Not only was Blu-ray too expensive, the technology wasn't as far along as Sony led us to believe. The delays not only make the PS3 too expensive; they made it late. That was effectively a one-two punch, knocking Sony out of the lead so far in the game console business. Now, Sony is dead last by a significant margin."

"So instead of the PS3 ensuring Blu-ray's success, right now it appears that Blu-ray may have effectively killed the PS3, at least in terms of market leadership. We'll have to wait until the PS4 before Sony has a chance to come back."

On the subject of neither format winning he writes that there won't be one uniform standard "until both one standard is clear and the related players drop below $200. They need both to happen or the market won't move. Currently, Blu-ray is running at more than twice the target price on players and HD-DVD is about 15 percent over target. In the case of the Xbox 360 accessory, it's actually about 15 percent under target."

"This means that if the studios have any chance this year of getting a large ramp -- and I would include Wal-Mart , Amazon and anyone else that sells HD movies -- it has to be HD-DVD. Blu-ray simply can't get there."

Lastly he goes on to write, "I think all realize, or should, time isn't unlimited either. We are already talking about what comes after HD-DVD and Blu-ray, and scalers are getting so good that increasingly many are arguing that you don't need either now. In other words, while Blu-ray can't win, in my view, there is still an excellent chance the market will simply bypass both if one doesn't ramp to high volume this year. In that instance, everyone loses."

"I think Paramount and DreamWorks saw this outcome and are trying to avoid it. While they did get an estimated $250 million incentive to move, that doesn't change the result. The studio execs likely realize if revenues don't improve, many of them may not be around by this time next year... So, as of right now, I think it is reasonably obvious Blu-ray lost. The only question is whether HD-DVD will be allowed to win; and the decision may be up to Time Warner or Disney and not Sony or Toshiba."

One might think that with consumers voting with their wallets that Blu-ray was going to easily win this format war. What is interesting, if what is written above is indeed the case, is that manufacturing costs seem to be dictating what the market will bear even though it doesn't seem that HD-DVD is 100% the format that the market wants.

http://www.movieweb.com/dvd/news/40/22340.php ...

Thats right, one of the most anticipated Racer's of 2007 have been dated, PGR 4 will be released in North America on October 2! A week after Halo 3! So while you wait why not pick up a copy of PGR 3 if you don't already own it?

http://www.xbox.com/en-ca/community/.../0823-pgr4.htm ...

via highdefdigest.com



So basically he says he wanted to fit in with the crowd...when he was drunk. ...

For those who are following the HD format wars, they know that Paramount and Dreamworks are the 2 studios that are currently neutral, meaning their films get released on both formats. Today, rumors have come out that they both may be thinking of going over to HD DVD's side, because of certain cash donations given to them by the DVD Forum.

Up until now, Paramount and DreamWorks (live action) were releasing in both Blu-ray and HD-DVD formats. The reason for shifting catalog exclusivity to HD-DVD would appear to be substantial upfront dollars. We expect these dollars could have a meaningfully positive impact on Viacom's film profitability in 2H '07 and full-year 2008.

Separately, it appears that DreamWorks Animation is set to announced that 3-5 key titles (some catalog, some new releases, but details are still fuzzy) over the next several years will be made available exclusively in HD-DVD.

While we are somewhat surprised to see DWA favor a format given its smaller number of releases in a year similar to Paramount, we suspect the driving force of the decision was upfront payments to increase their support of HD-DVD. Given DWA's size, the financial impact on EPS in 2008-2010 could be a positive catalyst for the stock (we are still assuming that Shrek The Third is coming out in both formats in November 2007).

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.co...vd-format-war/


I really hope this is true, since I am one of those people who bought the HD DVD add on for 360. ...

So, Conviction is confirmed for PC and Xbox 360. But what about the other consoles? Double Agent was a 360 exclusive for a whole week. On this issue, Danny could give us a firm answer. “It’s NEVER gonna come out on the PS3 or the Wii.” It’s a logical decision. Nintendo’s console simply doesn’t have the graphical horsepower, and he candidly told us how the PS3 can’t handle AI nearly as well as the 360.

http://www.gameplayer.com.au/Home/PR...af49&v7Pager=3

Im guessing they say this because they are crippled by only 256MB of ram on both. ...

Update: Microsoft has confirmed the addition of HDMI ports to all newly manufactured Xbox 360 premium consoles. "Yes, we are offering an HDMI port for Xbox 360 simply as another choice in Xbox 360 owners' games and entertainment experience," a Microsoft rep told Shacknews in an e-mailed statement. "Retailers are gradually introducing HDMI-enabled Xbox 360s into the channel to meet demand."

Regarding the possibility of an HDMI output on the $279.99 SKU, the Microsoft rep said, "We have not announced any plans to add HDMI to the Xbox 360 Core System." Microsoft would not reveal whether any other additions had been made to newly available Xbox 360 models, such as the inclusion of a 65nm process. "We are constantly updating the console's more than 1700 internal components and therefore will not comment on details of specific components or manufacturing processes," the rep added.

Original Story: Shacknews community member Magus reported finding an HDMI port on an Xbox 360 premium console he purchased today at a Target store in Atlanta, Georgia. The newly discounted prices for Xbox 360 SKUs went into effect today, with the premium selling for $349.99.

The HDMI output was introduced as a feature of the black Xbox 360 Elite this spring, but Microsoft made no mention of including the feature in upcoming iterations of the premium or core Xbox 360 SKUs. An image of the HDMI-enabled console provided a manufacturing date of July 4, 2007. The documentation included with the console contained an illustration of the HDMI port as well, and referenced the option to use an HDMI cable for video output.

Microsoft has said the upcoming Xbox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition console will include an HDMI port when it is released in September.

Story: http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/48351


Pictures: http://www.shacknews.com/screenshots...8063&id=103384

My 360 died on me 2 days ago, I haven't sent it in yet and I hope when I do send it in it will come back with a HDMI port. ...

Microsoft development studio Rare is working on a DS version of its acclaimed Xbox 360 game Viva Piñata.
Developed at the UK-based Twycross studio, the game promises to be "a full-sized Viva Piñata game in your pocket," according to Rare, with the game set to include new characters as well as expanded features and game modes.
Earlier this month Microsoft announced that Viva Piñata: Party Animals for the Xbox 360 was in development at Krome Studios, and that the original title will also be coming to PC's via the Games for Windows initiative.
Rare has developed a number of titles for Nintendo handhelds since being snapped up by Microsoft in 2002, including puzzle game It's Mr Pants, published by THQ.
Microsoft had denied the studio would be working on DS titles in the past, but eventually admitted Rare has taken delivery of software development kits and was working on a project for Nintendo's best-selling handheld console.

From: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=27173

What I want to know is why Rare is still making games for a Nintendo console, a rival console! ...

I know this is a bit old but the site was down then!

It's been hinted at before but now it's for real! Coming November 20, 2007, the dazzling Star Trek Remastered series is being released in a 10-disc HD DVD/DVD combo-disc set, marking the first release of Trek product in the high definition format.

The article is a bit lengthy so here it is:

http://www.startrek.com/startrek/vie...63.html?page=0

Heres a small breakdown:

*It will be on a combo disc, with both sides having diffrent features.

* It will cost about $217

*It is currently exclusive to HD DVD and partially DVD

* ...