XBox Live Video
on 11.07.06, 06:30am in media • share on facebook • comments (8)
As you’ve probably already heard, today Microsoft announced XBox Live Video (pictures here on Engadget).
While I won’t be ditching my Media Center Server any time soon (having a terrabyte of local content is priceless), this is definately up there on the cool factor. Now if I could only use an externally attached HD for more storage space - those HD movies are going to quickly kill my 20gb XBox HD.
Ken Partirdge (November 7, 2006 @ 10:13 am)
Releasing the Zune without video seems like a really bad idea. I was always thinking they were going to tie it in somehow to the xBox 360.
Maybe this is it.
Michael Brundage (November 7, 2006 @ 10:34 am)
You can plug the Zune into your Xbox 360 and play its videos on the big screen. (Just as you can stream videos from your PC or whatever.)
But Xbox Live Video has nothing to do with that — Xbox Live Video is all about being able to download content directly to your Xbox from Xbox Live Marketplace.
Grover Saunders (November 7, 2006 @ 10:56 am)
I dunno. Another online rental service (HD or not) doesn’t really do a lot for me. I was very excited until I realized that. Why do you need a bigger HD if you can only keep the video for a day or two?
And Michael, I think what Ken was referring to is that while you might one day be able to plug your Zune into the 360 and play videos, as of now the launch Zune will not play videos at all.
Fred (November 7, 2006 @ 11:10 am)
Steve-o, you need external storage for your media library?
Lacie Terabyte drives are around $600.
http://www.lacie.com/products/product.htm?pid=10128
You can chain them together until you run out of media or money.
=8^p
Steve (November 7, 2006 @ 8:24 pm)
Na, not that interested in the Lacie. I have a TB in my server now, and if I were to expand it, I would just add eSata drives.
Michael Brundage (November 7, 2006 @ 11:28 pm)
Yeah, I understood Ken’s post and know what the Zune is capable of. I worked on some of its integration with the Xbox 360.
When the Zune launches, you’ll be able to stream videos and music from it to your Xbox 360, just as you can today stream this content to the Xbox 360 from your PC or an attached USB storage device. This isn’t the same as being able to play video on the Zune as you walk around with it in your hand, but it’s more than “without video.”
And anyway, Xbox Live Video is independent of Zune.
Grover Saunders (November 8, 2006 @ 9:13 am)
Michael,
As I look back I realize that what you said is perfectly valid and I misinterpreted it. I still don’t see how you can consider what you describe as video support though. Saying the Zune has video features because it can store video files on it and other devices can access that video is like saying the Zune supports playing WoW because I can install it onto the Zune’s HD and then play it from my computer. Hell, by that logic an iPod or just about any other mass storage device can also stream directly to an 360.
If I’m misunderstanding this, please let me know. I’m definitely not trying to turn this into a Zune bashing, but that just seems a wee bit deceptive to me.
Grover Saunders (November 16, 2006 @ 6:51 am)
I know no one is paying attention anymore, but I wanted to come back here and note that according to the Engadget review of the device, it does actually play video. So…never mind.