In a revised statement, Microsoft says it has “no plans” to introduce any Blu-ray add-on for the Xbox 360. But—despite the fact they watched the same video you did—they claim Ballmer was referring to the PC.
Here’s the full statement:
Steve was referring to Blu-ray accessories for the PC. As we have said in the past, we have no plans to introduce a Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360. In fact, the future of home entertainment starts this fall when Xbox 360 becomes the first and only console to offer instant-on 1080p streaming HD movies. With a library of thousands of TV shows and movies to choose from, Xbox 360 owners can instantly watch the movies they want, when they want, in the highest form of high definition.
This more clearly worded denial probably should have come last night, when we first asked for comment, instead of the more open-ended one provided at the time. Whatever…easy come, easy go. However, the idea that Ballmer was referring to the PC—which already has Blu-ray drives—rather than simply saying something that wasn’t true, that’s a little more questionable.
Steve Ballmer Exclusive Interview Series:
Part 1: Ballmer Talks Natal, Says Blu-ray Add-On for Xbox Coming
Part 2: Ballmer on the Smartphone Race: “It Doesn’t Matter What the Critics Say”
Part 3: Ballmer on Zune: Sometimes You Get It Right The Third Time?
Part 4: Ballmer on Those Crazy Ballmer YouTube Videos
Red T-Rex
October 23, 2009 at 6:11 PM
Microsoft screwed up their chance when they sat on the fence in the HD v’s BluRay battle. The XBOX addon was a bit lame and should have been the option to pre-existing console owners not the only way of getting HD. Toshiba did so well for so long basically on their own all it would have taken for Microsoft to commit to HD DVD built into the XBOX (maybe just the ELite model) and help launch some PC’s with built in HD DVD and BluRay would now be dead.
Not sure that available bandwith and quota costs are at the point to support the streaming option yet for the masses but it’s not too far off.
Report Permalink