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Did the XBOX 360 just kill the TV?

S

str1f3

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Aug 24, 2008
1,859
0
I hate Microsoft but I might have to pick up an XBOX 360. It offers every feature that the TV offers and more.

Example: Project Natal

Last.fm support
Facebook & Twitter chat
1080p video streaming

Microsoft is doing everything  should have done. It's sad that  has not done anything with it except a storage upgrade since it was originally launched. The way it's going  will own music but the XBOX will own the living room.
 
wow, when is that coming out? I hope it isn't too expensive and actually works!
 
I have an Xbox 360 and an AppleTV. The biggest problem with the Xbox 360 and media functionality is that it is really loud.

Also, I think the whole use of Microsoft points or whatever instead of actual currency is a scam. The only reason to do something like that is to trick the consumer into thinking they are spending less money than they really are.
 
BaldiMac said:
I have an Xbox 360 and an AppleTV. The biggest problem with the Xbox 360 and media functionality is that it is really loud.

Also, I think the whole use of Microsoft points or whatever instead of actual currency is a scam. The only reason to do something like that is to trick the consumer into thinking they are spending less money than they really are.
Click to expand...

I heard my friends' 360 fan once and it is loud. I agree with you about the Microsoft points. I think it's a scam to collect every extra penny they can which amounts to millions with their user base.

I'll even say they build shoddy hardware. That being said it's only $100 more than the TV and has a ton more features. The seal on the deal, for me, would have been the rumored Hulu app. As it is, I'm watching the Dave Matthews Band on Hulu right now.

I'm wondering where is the TV going? It's like the bastard child (along with with the mini) of the  product line. They could have at least made iphone apps work on the TV with a keyboard and mouse option. As it is now you have to hack it to even use an external hard drive.
 
The new 360's are much quieter than the original models. However, they're still noisy compared to the Apple TV.

Microsoft is really going for the gold here. By this fall, the 360 will support media practically anyway you want it (Zune streaming movie rentals in 1080p, Zune Video Marketplace, Last FM, Netflix, Windows Media Center, Windows Media Connect/DLNA, DVD, thumb drive, etc).

The only thing missing is Hulu, TV show rentals/subscription, IPTV* and podcast support. Apparently, they're working on launching a 360-based music service in September.

Oh yeah, and Blu-ray will never be an option.

*IPTV is supported in the UK with Sky and technically as a platform by AT&T U-Verse. However, it's not available for everyone.
 
BaldiMac said:
...Also, I think the whole use of Microsoft points or whatever instead of actual currency is a scam. The only reason to do something like that is to trick the consumer into thinking they are spending less money than they really are.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if that's entirely true... whenever I've purchased points (or points for the Wii) the conversion to retail price is the same.
 
One MAJOR issue with XBOX 360 and HD is that it will only play WMV-HD and I don't know about you, but that's a major deal breaker for me. I have 40 or so blu-ray encoded to m4v at 720p and the xbox360 will not play any of them and my ATV plays them fine, Also the xbox360 will not passthu AC3 if I am not mistaken with the m4v files. Unless with this upgrade here they changed something, it is not worth it for me at least. Another deal breaker for me also is the interface for streaming from a media library is subpar, no album cover, desc, ratings, etc....
 
I own both an Apple TV and a 360. The Xbox can do all the things that the Apple TV can do, and even more. But the Xbox 360 doesn't deliver the same kind of user experience that the Apple TV does. Microsoft really need to sort out the interface on the Xbox's dashboard.
 
macuser154 said:
I own both an Apple TV and a 360. The Xbox can do all the things that the Apple TV can do, and even more. But the Xbox 360 doesn't deliver the same kind of user experience that the Apple TV does. Microsoft really need to sort out the interface on the Xbox's dashboard.
Click to expand...

You can play m4v blu-ray rips on it?
 
Project Natal is awesome....

Amazing possibilities....

Check out this demo of a game "Project Dimitri" using Project Natal. http://is.gd/M7mj

We're now really seeing the XBox's 3.2GHz six-thread tri-core PowerPC being run at its maximum potential.

I know this is all due for Christmas 2010 but it's cool they've delivered the SDK already.
 
To play Netflix videos on an X360, you have to be a live gold member, this adds another $6 to $7 to the monthly "tv" pot on top of the netflix subscription. Doesn't make sense why they require the live gold sub, it's not like it even goes through MS's infraestructure.
 
As far as I have found you can only get surround sound from .avi files through to your receiver. I tried ripping a couple .avi movies but couldn't get the settings to work well. Netflix through it looks pretty close to HD and it passes through to my surround sound well. The only problem with Netflix is their selection is pretty horrible for streaming. They have only a few new titles and a ton of older stuff.
 
MacLovin78 said:
As far as I have found you can only get surround sound from .avi files through to your receiver. I tried ripping a couple .avi movies but couldn't get the settings to work well. Netflix through it looks pretty close to HD and it passes through to my surround sound well. The only problem with Netflix is their selection is pretty horrible for streaming. They have only a few new titles and a ton of older stuff.
Click to expand...

IMO a ton of "crappy" older stuff.
 
macuser154 said:
I own both an Apple TV and a 360. The Xbox can do all the things that the Apple TV can do, and even more. But the Xbox 360 doesn't deliver the same kind of user experience that the Apple TV does. Microsoft really need to sort out the interface on the Xbox's dashboard.
Click to expand...

when did the 360 get the ability to access the itunes store and download all of its contents, movies, rentals, tv shows, hd podcasts, music...etc...?

I'm getting a 360 soon, but to say the 360 can do everything the ATV can do is FAR from the truth. Fact is, either one has certain capabilities the other does not.
 
There is software out there you can install on your mac that allows you to stream from your iTunes/Iphoto libraries and Movies directory to the Xbox360 virtually eliminating the need for iTunes.
 
macuser154 said:
I own both an Apple TV and a 360. The Xbox can do all the things that the Apple TV can do, and even more. But the Xbox 360 doesn't deliver the same kind of user experience that the Apple TV does. Microsoft really need to sort out the interface on the Xbox's dashboard.
Click to expand...

I agree with this - I have them both as well. The xBox does what the AppleTV does, spec for spec, but it sure isn't as nice or nice looking to use. Kind of like Mac vs. PC.
 
I think it does pose a huge challenge to the AppleTV. But for me, the Mac mini + Boxee killed the AppleTV.
 
Roessnakhan said:
I think it does pose a huge challenge to the AppleTV. But for me, the Mac mini + Boxee killed the AppleTV.
Click to expand...

I think we need to come up with a more universal definition of "killed". :)

A Mac Mini is more than 2.5x the cost of an AppleTV. Unless you don't have another computer, I don't really see the advantage of your setup.
 
The xbox 360 is too loud for living room media use period. The interface isn't as slick and user friendly as appletvs either.. so I'll stick with my appletv as the main media hardware, and hopefully apple will release an updated version.

Microsoft should just stick with games. I don't like anything more based on their software.. vista killed anything "microsoft" for me.

Mo
 
richardhunt said:
To play Netflix videos on an X360, you have to be a live gold member, this adds another $6 to $7 to the monthly "tv" pot on top of the netflix subscription. Doesn't make sense why they require the live gold sub, it's not like it even goes through MS's infraestructure.
Click to expand...

well, if you actually use the xbox360 to play, huh, games, than it doesnt add anything extra, really; as you are already going to buy the year subscription anyways. Also, amazon regularly (sometimes bestbuy as well) has a 12+1 month subscription for $29.99. That is a smoking deal, and equates to like 2.40 a month.

Now if you go month to month, then yes, it is $7 or $8 a month...
 
str1f3 said:
I hate Microsoft but I might have to pick up an XBOX 360. It offers every feature that the TV offers and more.

Example: Project Natal

Last.fm support
Facebook & Twitter chat
1080p video streaming

Microsoft is doing everything  should have done. It's sad that  has not done anything with it except a storage upgrade since it was originally launched. The way it's going  will own music but the XBOX will own the living room.
Click to expand...

Why would you hate Microsoft? Were you thinking the same and they released the OS before you did ?
 
theITGuy said:
Netflix+Hulu on my X-box would signify there will be a funeral at my home for Comcast :D

Cheers.

-J.-
Click to expand...

I'm curious how you'd address losing the sports, news channels and things like the History Channel? I bailed on Comcast years ago but have missed those here and there.
 
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