Buried in an interesting NY Times story about in-home movie theaters (A Movie Library in Your Living Room) is a tidbit about how Microsoft is testing movie downloads to the Xbox 360.
When it comes to home video, the Xbox 360 has the potential to be a triple threat. Not only does it let users have access to PC-based media files over a home network, but its Xbox Live service, the Internet network that connects Xbox users around the world, can distribute movies and television shows directly to the box. Microsoft proved this recently when Xbox Live offered a 45-minute special download of the Sci-Fi Channel’s “Battlestar Galactica.” Does that mean that the Xbox Live team might soon go into the video-on-demand business?
I guess I now have an excuse to pick up an Xbox 360...
Thanks to Greg for sending this in.
Stand aside Tivo. This could be the killer app of video downloads. It's connected to the TV, and it has the potential to make downloads easy.
Posted by: gir | October 18, 2006 at 07:58 AM
But it's Micro$oft. Mr. Softie.
"All Your Data Are Belong To Us."
Resistance is Futile. Assimilate or Die.
Posted by: type-cast | October 18, 2006 at 12:49 PM
Currently 360's only have a 20GB hardrive and mine is almost full. They should have released the thing with a larger hardrive to begin with. Imagine having to swap 3 or 4 hardrives before you can find the content you want.
Posted by: WebDevil | October 18, 2006 at 04:44 PM
Interesting twist. Seems like it would be fraught with DRM issues ala Unbox. The hard drive issue might be problematic too. Still, interesting twist to the whole download scene.
Posted by: superfunhappy | October 19, 2006 at 12:04 AM
Now I'm not sure whether to get PS3 or Xbox 360. I'm guessing that Sony will have some sort of download strategy too.
Posted by: Edward R Murrow | October 21, 2006 at 02:03 PM