XBox 360 - Compatible With HD DVD/BluRay Streaming?

[Rasczak]

I guess nobody knows the answer to this yet - but I'm interested in hearing people's opinions:

Will the current version of the XBox 360 be compatible with streaming content from a HD DVD or BluRay disc playing on a networked PC?

The question is of interest to quite a few in this forum I should imagine: even though HD DVD and/or BluRay compatibility will require an new optical drive and an upgrade to Windows Vista alot of people are probably looking to their PCs as intrim high def players until the UK market takes off (if it takes off). In which case, given the lack of mainstream media servers, the 360 is an ideal choice for streaming from PC to home cinema.

But will the current 360 allow this for AACS protected titles? For BluRay I guess the answer is probably no - Microsoft have made no secret of the fact they do not like the format and will not support it in Vista. But for HD DVD the situation looks more complicated to me.

I think it is certain to say the 360 as is will not support high def streaming of content from HD DVD discs - it is not secure given the lack of HDMI connection and thus this will probably be found exclusively in a new version of the 360. But Vista supports integral downscaling of AACS protected material and thus is there any reason why a 360 can't stream SD content from a HD DVD playing in a Vista PC? I can't think of any.

Just my ramblings on a subject I know a few of us here are interested in - but perhaps those who are eyeing up a new 360 with a view to streaming high def content might just want to wait and see if a new HDMI version of the 360 makes an appearance around about Easter time...unless you want high def discs streamed in SD.

[DanDT]

Originally Posted by Rasczak

I guess nobody knows the answer to this yet - but I'm interested in hearing people's opinions:

Will the current version of the XBox 360 be compatible with streaming content from a HD DVD or BluRay disc playing on a networked PC?

The question is of interest to quite a few in this forum I should imagine: even though HD DVD and/or BluRay compatibility will require an new optical drive and an upgrade to Windows Vista alot of people are probably looking to their PCs as intrim high def players until the UK market takes off (if it takes off). In which case, given the lack of mainstream media servers, the 360 is an ideal choice for streaming from PC to home cinema.

But will the current 360 allow this for AACS protected titles? For BluRay I guess the answer is probably no - Microsoft have made no secret of the fact they do not like the format and will not support it in Vista. But for HD DVD the situation looks more complicated to me.

I think it is certain to say the 360 as is will not support high def streaming of content from HD DVD discs - it is not secure given the lack of HDMI connection and thus this will probably be found exclusively in a new version of the 360. But Vista supports integral downscaling of AACS protected material and thus is there any reason why a 360 can't stream SD content from a HD DVD playing in a Vista PC? I can't think of any.

Just my ramblings on a subject I know a few of us here are interested in - but perhaps those who are eyeing up a new 360 with a view to streaming high def content might just want to wait and see if a new HDMI version of the 360 makes an appearance around about Easter time...unless you want high def discs streamed in SD.

Yes, as it stands, the X360 can only stream SD content - or certainly not HDDVD or Bluray titles as the HDCP will block you unless you have HDMI, and X360 doesn't even have digital output so a "HDMI cable" won't cut it as it will just convert the signal. Kinda like hacking it.

And it's not that MS "don't like Bluray". They just don't like Sony and obviously they will oppose them in any way they can, seen how Bluray and PS3 are very tightly connected to each other and will be very tough to overcome.

MS has been touting the X360 as the HD Media Center for our houses, but apart from games, it's nothing like that. In the meantime Sony slapped them back with PS3 which will be HD in every way possible.

[Rasczak]

Yes, as it stands, the X360 can only stream SD content

I thought it could stream high def over an Ethernet connection? Have to admit I haven't tried it yet though.

or certainly not HDDVD or Bluray titles as the HDCP will block you unless you have HDMI

Yes, but as I say Windows Vista will allow non HDMI output from HD DVD (and possibly BluRay if drivers are provided) in standard def and so what I'm wondering is whether it will be possible to stream that output.

[Stephen Neal]

Originally Posted by DanDT

Yes, as it stands, the X360 can only stream SD content - or certainly not HDDVD or Bluray titles as the HDCP will block you unless you have HDMI, and X360 doesn't even have digital output so a "HDMI cable" won't cut it as it will just convert the signal. Kinda like hacking it.

The 360 is happily streaming HD recordings in HD made on US Windows XP Media Center installations. As you say the BluRay/HD-DVD issue is HDCP related - however HD OTA recordings made in Media Center are playing fine.

MS has been touting the X360 as the HD Media Center for our houses, but apart from games, it's nothing like that. In the meantime Sony slapped them back with PS3 which will be HD in every way possible.

I think it is better to think of the 360 as a Media Center Extender, not a Media Center itself.

If you live in the US you could put one XP Media Center PC in a rack in the garage, and put 360s under every TV around the house and happily watch live HD and SD TV. (There are now hacks to allow MCE to correctly work with the Firewire outputs from US HD cable boxes, so you are no longer restricted to OTA HD only)

[DanielTS]

REVIEW: XBOX 360, media-centric features
http://packetswitched.blogspot.com/2...-features.html

720p High Def Windows Media video (Friday Night Lights and Robots, downloaded from WMVHD.com) DID PLAY, and looked spectacular. The close-up of the robot below is actually only a small part of the full picture. Trust us, it looked very good (at least progressive scan DVD quality, if not better). This was perhaps the most pleasant surprise of the entire evening.

The AACS Usage Rules associated with a title determine the set of authorized actions that a player may perform.

AACS managed copy files, from a HD DVD / Blu-ray player, encoded in VC-1 or in MPEG-2 HD, stored on a PC Vista MCE with Image Constraint Token not set as AACS usage rule => streaming => Xbox 360 => non-HDCP display

1st Blu-ray titles in MPEG2-HD: 18 Mbps
1st HD titles in VC-1: 16 Mbps
What is the Xbox 360 max video stream bitrate ?

[cassidy]

360 will even play .ts files if you rename them and have a media centre PC, connected over ethernet.