14 DAY TRIAL // In the world of console gaming competition seems to be getting fiercer by the day, as images of an Xbox 360 motherboard with HDMI port leaked on the Internet, via Xbox-Scene.
Could it be that Kaz Hirai, president of Sony America was wrong in his assumptions and Microsoft is finally getting something new out? From an outsider's point of view, this new development might be exactly what they need to gain the edge against the Playstation3 heavily promoted gadget.
The High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is an industry supported, uncompressed, fully digital audio and video interface. HDMI provides an interface between any compatible digital audio and video source, such as a set-top box, a DVD player, or a receiver and a compatible digital audio/video monitor such as a digital television (DTV).
The picture could very well be a fake, but Xbox fans chose to start an argument none the less. Details regarding packaging or even price are not available, but in the good marketing sense that Microsoft accustomed us to, the HDMI port should be released well after the original Xbox 360 outlived its primary sales expectations. Microsoft recently announced they are not planning on releasing a console with integrated internal HD DVD. However, the external version was presented at E3 this year. With the release date of PS3 approaching fast, there's no telling if they're going to pull the rabbit out of the hat.
Certainly this twist of events opens up interesting possibilities. A digital output would certainly come as good news for those out there with new HDTV sets. Eventually these movies will become HDCP protected (Image Constraint Token flag) therefore the HD-DVD addon should be useful. It's all good until recent Xbox 360 buyers start speaking their minds. People who invested well over 400$ In their Xbox 360 feel that such a release will morally wore out their consoles, making them second rate machines if not obsolete altogether.