Microsoft's Xbox 360 To Offer 1080p Movie Downloads This Fall

  • By: HomeTheaterReview.com,

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"Hello I am a Mac." "And I am a PC."

Today the PC smacked back with an announcement that Microsoft's highly popular Xbox 360 video game platform that is also now an effective movie download system - will this fall be able to download 1080p video.

1080p movies are larger in file size and more bandwidth hungry that the current standard for HD downloads set by Apple's highly successful iTunes and Apple TV products which are currently 720p. Non-enthusiasts say 720p is enough resolution for most consumers using smaller HDTV sets. True fans of film and high definition video note the vastly better looking 1080p video resolution as a major step forward.

Microsoft will need to update its library of movies to 1080p which is no small feat as they alluded to today in their press release. 1080p video matches the quality of video found on Blu-ray without the need for the physical disc.

Little was said about the audio options of the disc as the HD audio tracks on Blu-ray are also very bandwidth intensive. Time will tell if Xbox 360 will also offer Dolby TrueHD and or DTS Master Audio as part of their 1080p download service. Audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts will want this feature for their HDMI enabled theater. If Microsoft can deliver the audio and video goods - consider this a bitch slap back at Blu-ray who beat out Microsoft and Toshiba's HD DVD high definition disc format in early 2007.

Also don't be surprised to see Apple to match the resolution of the Xbox 360's downloads via its Apple TV and or iTunes store in weeks or months to come as Apple is still the market leader in audio and movie downloads.

  • Comment on this article

  • By D

So do these downloads have the ability of 40mbps bit rate for video? IT might be 1080P but at what bit rate? Also the X-Box is way too noisy to be in a nice Home Theater.

But you know I like owning a library of films. And for me that is physical media not a digital bit whirling around on a hard drive.

  • By Jerry Del Colliano

Dan,

Thanks for the insightful comment!

I think that the video on an Xbox 360 will not be the same as Blu-ray NOR will there likely be HD audio but in a pinch - its a good source to have in a home theater.

Personally, I like Apple TV but at 720p I would LOVE to see them up it to 1080p. I know that's a lot of work BUT.... we - the home theater enthusiasts (and Mac users) - want the BEST in HD

  • By terry

The newer XBOX's don't have the same noise problems as the old ones... plus the noise from the old ones came from the DVD player. When you download the movies, there is no spinning from the DVD player and consequently no noise.

Enjoy

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