Xbox 360 HDMI cable still a possibility?
Just when we were getting used to the reality of no digital video outputs for our Xbox 360s, a hardware manager for Microsoft has re-stoked the rumor fires. Despite the claims of some that such a cable may not technically be possible, the FiringSquad quoted Microsoft's Rob Walker as stating that the company is "still discussing" what to do if movie companies begin to restrict high definition playback to digital outputs only, that they are "looking into" making an HDMI cable for the Xbox 360, and of course another no comment on the price of the HD DVD add-on. The remarks came during a panel discussion at the Gamefest conference where Microsoft also announced tools to allow users to make their own games. At this point we don't know what seems more (or less) plausible, that Microsoft is willing to sell a device even if by their own admission they don't know if copy protection could soon render it useless -- a potential weakness for the cheaper Playstation 3 variant as well -- or they have an agreement in place to guarantee analog outputs will continue to work for some time and this is all just subterfuge.

















Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
plaque monster @ Aug 15th 2006 8:54AM
Is the ATI chipset HDCP compliant? No? Whats the point then? And, i guess they could always do a VGA--> DVI---> HDMI cable and call it HDMI.
pete @ Aug 15th 2006 10:22AM
It's easy - just let the 360 ignore the ICT for HD-DVD playback.
It's such a closed platform, and there really isn't any consumer priced componet capture devices out there.
Shouldn't Microsoft have enough pull with Toshiba to pull this off? Or is it even Toshiba's call?
Belcho @ Aug 15th 2006 8:02PM
Did anyone see that one picture of the HD-DVD attachment? It looked like there was a hole in the back for what looked like to me an HDMI connecter.
Someone who's seen that pic please correct me if I'm wrong.
TJ @ Aug 15th 2006 10:56PM
The holes were USB and Power plugs.
How 'bout Microsoft just bully the studios into never, ever, ever using ICT? That would win 'em points in my book!
Belcho @ Aug 16th 2006 12:10AM
Look at this pic.
http://bink.nu/photos/news_article_images/images/14430/original.aspx
I see a power cord port on the left, 2 USB ports on the right underneath the bracket for the wireless adapter. Beside the USB ports there's a small little port that appears to be in the shape of an HDMI connector.
Anybody have any other idea what this is for?
hysonmb @ Aug 16th 2006 6:49AM
That other port is the miniUSB connection. That's that one that will connect the drive to your 360. The other to are so you can connect devices to the HD DVD drive.
ArKiLe @ Aug 16th 2006 10:30AM
I hope they do make an HDMI plug for 360. I want HDMI badly for my 30 inch widescreen HD. I want to know I have the best quality video I can afford! :)