We seem to have a failure to communicate
Looking through the citations, I see no mention of XTV at all? Is that actually the official name for it, or
one that used as a colloquialism? Or is it the name you coined? I only see reference to Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV).
'XTV' is being used by some analysts and in some rumors to refer to the either the codename or marketing name for an MS created internet television service. Based on how most of the stories were written, it didn't sound like they were referring to the underlying tech. It was simply the name of the service ... just like Netflix.
My point was simply that the discussion was getting confusing at times since it wasn't always obvious what people were referring to when they stated XTV.
Yes, that's my impression, XTV is X-tended TV and not a product. It can be more properly thought of as a term that everything falls under not a specific Microsoft implementation. I did not make mysef clear, everything you talked about previously is accurate and falls under XTV but is not the entirety. And yes, depending on who you read, the term changes.
XTV (X-tended TV) is not a separate device that has to be booted and your TV switched to that input...this is probably the best way to describe XTV as X-tended TV where it is convenient for the user to access the internet or video chat with someone while watching TV. Smart TV is XTV but a game console can not support XTV unless it's convenient for the user.
HDMI 1080P +
HDMI Pass-thru + HTML5 browser (with windows overlay) +
low power modes are
currently necessary in external boxes like game consoles to support XTV and the PS3 has everything but the bolded. Everything else to support a full XTV as envisioned by the PDF I cite below can be implemented in Software provided standards support it.
Smart TV is also a generic term that describes the same set. XTV is used by Sony in whitepapers to describe something like Google TV but in a TV that does not need a HDMI pass-thru. It's now called smart TV but current implementations are still a subset of what is coming.
A Quote from the Xbox 720 draft doc: Xbox360 "Will not support a
full range of XTV platform scenarios (e.g. 1080p video + Video Chat +HTML5 Apps)" points to a subset that game consoles can support and
this PDF outlining a companies xTV offerings points out XTV as you described it and Microsoft may support; that XTV is not going to be supported this 2012 season but, who knows, may be supported by the end of 2013 with support for it built into the Xbox720 and PS4.
Back to my point;
more XTV features are coming this Sept and both game consoles NEED a refresh to support it. Both (Xbox360 anyway) consoles have been predicted to be in a sales slump in 2013 and we are now seeing that trend. Both consoles need a reduction in price this holiday season. For PS3 or Xbox360 to be truly accepted as a consumer friendly (XTV) part of a home TV or Home Theater they need HDMI pass-thru and more integration as well as an easier to use remote and UI. You can now back up to my post Xbox361=Xbox project 10 coming this 2012 holiday season= game console XTV.
Project 10 = Xbox361 ? X-Tended TV and 10 is roman number X
http://www.egmnow.com/articles/news/rumor-microsofts-next-xbox-codenamed-project-ten-coming-next-year/ said:
The current codename for the next Xbox is “Project Ten”
It will be coming in time for next year’s holiday season (2012)
The UI will be heavily based around Microsoft’s “Metro” style of user interface (the current interface for Windows Phone 7, and the style both the Xbox 360 and Windows 8 are moving to)
The console’s OS will have Microsoft’s Silverlight technology deeply embedded in it (potentially for uses such as media functionality)
Microsoft will be going the “Apple route” with Project Ten, meaning the console will extensively integrate with Windows 8 and Windows Phone for better cross-platform functionality
Xbox 361, cheaper Xbox360 with more features scheduled for 2012 which is the same as Xbox project 10:
Page 50
HDMI pass-thru (IF the PS3 had this then Google TV would be possible)
HD-Homerun => access to a Homerun Digital TV tuner (just software support needed) I've got one and it's a 2 digital tuner (Cable and Air) connected to network.
XTV with full 1080P and overlays (Not possible on Xbox 360)
More is implied here, HDMI pass-through implies always on low power modes, Xbox361 as the only input to your TV with it controlling your picture with overlays, windows with information from the web and more.
So this is similar to what we were speculating a PS3.5 would have.
Xbox361 and Slimmer Slim PS3.5 released this holiday season?
HDMI pass-thru + low power modes + extremely hard to shrink Cell to 28nm + it should be a SOC for a reduction in costs = A VERY major redesign most likely using AMD building blocks which means the major Cell redesign would likely be 2 AMD plugin compatible 2010 Sony patent 1PPU4SPU wafers and AMD downscaled GPU with standby power modes. This only lacks one PPC to emulate a Xbox361 and one PPC in a 360 was dedicated to OS tasks that, AMD building blocks will be doing. Both PS3 and Xbox360 could be emulated on this SAME SOC. ARM cortex A5 in the SOC for DRM (TRUST).
Once software to emulate a 360 and PS3 on AMD building blocks using the same Cell wafers is made, only a small rewrite is necessary to do the same if those same wafers are in a PS4 SOC which might be identical to a Xbox 720 SOC. These speculations only because it's possible + BSC rumors and this Jul 2011 domain registration.
microsoft-sony.com sony-microsoft.com No redesigned and cheaper PS3.5 and no BC for PS4. No Xbox361 and likely no PS3.5 or BC for Xbox 720 or PS4. Economics as the PPU+SPU economy of scale makes it practical to do all and not practical to do only some.
And in another Forum Brad Grenz has this to say:
Brad Grenz said:
MS looks to be sidestepping all those issues (None of the cable companies in the US have any intention, that I know of, of going full IPTV and thus allowing MS to avoid having to have some sort of decoding hardware in their box.) by relying on HDMI pass-through. It won't matter who you sat or cable provider is, just plug the hdmi out from their box into the 720, run another hdmi cable from the 720 to the TV and the xbox can seamlessly control the whole thing. They'll be able to record, change channels via hdmi-cec and overlay an Xbox Live interface and notifications. The implication in the document is that kind of functionality (sans dvr) would be introduced this year with the redesigned Xbox 361.
I couldn't say it better. This would be the first time the Xbox360 would have CEC which was introduced to the PS3 with the slim model. Both of us guessing but it's a pretty sure bet.