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Posts with tag digitimes

Xbox 360 with Blu-ray to spark price war with Sony PS3?

by Thomas Ricker, posted Apr 2nd 2008 at 4:23AM

DigiTimes is feeling pretty confident about the rumors they started yesterday regarding the Xbox 360 with integrated Blu-ray. They are so confident that they're predicting a price war as Microsoft takes on Sony's PS3 at its own game. Their sources claim that the Blu-ray Disc drive will cost Microsoft between $95 and $100 -- much higher than the $18 to $20 DVD drives already found in the Xbox 360. Microsoft is of course, expected to sell its new Blu-ray rig at a loss as is customary in the console market. Sony may then be forced to lower the cost of the PS3 and/or retaliate by increasing Lite-On's cost for the Blu-ray components (like the BD-ROM pick-up heads) purchased from Sony. Whatever the result, the competition would be nothing but good news for consumers of HD media... you know, if the rumor is true.

2008 a make or break year for plasma manufacturers?

by Richard Lawler, posted Apr 1st 2008 at 10:42AM


The plasma market has seen some upheaval recently, but according to Digitimes' famous "industry sources", a poor 2008 could mark the end of an era. Matsushita (Panasonic), Samsung SDI and LG are looking to ship seven million, six million and four million units, respectively, or else between increased pricing pressure and expansion from LCDs, sources claim that not only will expansion cease, PDP manufacturing will start to be phased out. We've already seen prominent plasma manufacturers hedging their bets with LCD investments, but with more promising display technologies still "coming soon" we hope plasma hangs around a while longer.

Next generation Xbox 360 with built-in Blu-ray coming in 2008?

by Thomas Ricker, posted Apr 1st 2008 at 5:07AM

Ok, here we go again. Despite Microsoft's attempt to quash Xbox 360 Blu-ray rumors, they're back... with a vengeance. According to "industry sources" speaking to DigiTimes, Lite-On is developing built-in Blu-ray Disc drives for the "next generation" Xbox 360 game console. Lite-On is expected to begin shipping the new BD players for assembly in the second half of 2008. DigiTimes also claims that the new, presumably smaller Xbox 360 will reduce the power supply from 210-watts to 170-watts. So... care to comment, Microsoft?

Update: As noted by our readers, Falcon-based 360s are already running at 175-watts.

Taiwan drive makers response to NEC Blu-ray / HD DVD combo: Thanks but no thanks

by Richard Lawler, posted Oct 12th 2006 at 10:26AM

This is getting really tired.It seems like every time we're progressing towards a cheap and easy compromise to the Blu-ray / HD DVD format war hope is quickly snatched away and replaced with a stinging dose of harsh reality. This time the bad news comes courtesy of Digitimes, speaking to various Taiwanese optical disc-drive manufacturers, who reports they are not particularly enthused by NEC's just-announced dual format chipset. Despite its low cost, the prospect of manufacturing drives with optical heads for both formats and other costs is still too expensive to be worthwhile. The only good news seems to be that they did not rule out the future possibility of multi-drives -- perhaps once Ricoh's all-in-one laser is finished -- just not yet.

Microsoft redesigning Xbox 360 to include internal HD DVD?

by Richard Lawler, posted Sep 13th 2006 at 8:27AM

That's the latest rumor from Digitimes' manufacturing sources (also home to the blue laser shortage and $199 HD DVD add-on rumors), who indicate that Microsoft is looking for manufacturers for the drives. Although the external Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on will be made by Toshiba -- or Lite-On -- it's not impossible that they would follow their strategy for the current DVD drives by sourcing from multiple builders. According to the rumor a console featuring an integrated HD DVD drive could be ready in the first half of 2007 "at the soonest", although we wouldn't be surprised to see it in the latter half of the year as manufacturing costs continue to drop. Other Xbox 360 rumors like HDMI, 250GB HDD, black casing and DirecTV PVR integration continue to languish in obscurity, waiting for confirmation by unnamed sources.

Blu-ray vs. HD DVD on hold for blue laser shortage?

by Richard Lawler, posted Aug 29th 2006 at 10:44AM

As much as we like to talk about the ongoing format war between Blu-ray and HD DVD and our readers comment on it, the simple fact is that very few of us actually own either format yet. This is definitely related to the high prices and growing pains early adopters are subject to but the fact is neither one is available in significant quantities yet. As more manufacturers prepare to jump in to the battle this holiday season they may not be able to because of their shared reliance on blue lasers. Only a few companies worldwide produce them and none have been able to get very good yields. Even Sony, who produces blue lasers for themselves and others, has predicted a shortage as they seek to roll out the Playstation 3 and BDP-S1 and according to this article, have suspended shipments to others. For manufacturers who have to rely on someone else for a supply, this could mean a delay until 2007 before many players and drives are launched.

Initial release of Viiv Media Center PC's not to feature Digital Media Adaptor support

by Richard Lawler, posted Jan 2nd 2006 at 1:54PM


Digitimes is reporting that Intel's line of Viiv media center PC's, set to launch at CES this week, will not feature support for Digital Media Adaptors. According to Alex at eHomeupgrade, this also means no Media Center Extender or Xbox 360 streaming support.

Ugh, I hope the other features Intel will unveil make up for this lack of functionality (apparently it will be added in June in a Viiv 1.5 release). We'll have all that news and more in our CES coverage later this week.

Update: Alex updated to mention he's not sure exactly what Digitimes means by the statement, which I have to agree with, it's really vague, especially since we don't know exactly what Viiv is all about yet. Like Windows Media Extender would, in my mind, be a function of the Media Center OS, so why wouldn't the PC's be able to do it, unless there is more to it than that, I guess all will be revelaed in a few days.




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