-
Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!
(Verge) Next Xbox will take over TV, interact with cable box
- Thread starter Wario64
- Start date
Killing_Joke
Member
No thanks. TV/Movie time is alone/cuddling time for me. Not sure why anyone would want to be connected to XBL all the time.
No. It's a Google TV. It won't record shows. It will just interface with the 3rd party cable box which does all the work. If your cable/satellite/whatever company doesn't work together with Microsoft (which many probably won't) then the Durango will probably just overlay on top of the box, but not interface. By interface I mean communicate. So the Xbox will be able to access what is on the DVR or control the cable box interface through a controller and not require IR blasters to be placed. If they can interface they may just ignore the cable box interface entirely and use a custom one developed by Microsoft. There are a variety of variables at play here.
Mr.Wreckless
Banned
If you like sports cable is a must.
And a lot of us dont like waiting a year to see tv shows. I want to see Mad Men and The Walking Dead as they air not a year later.
dreamcastmaster
Banned
Truth.
BluePigGanon
Member
I wonder if there's any chance having a Durango means I could get a cheaper cable rate, or vice versa (having cable means I get a Durango for less). Because as it stands, I'm good with Netflix and Hulu Plus... no interest in adding a $90 monthly bill.
I'm really excited to hear what this next console actually is, but it's going to be tough for them to win me over. I completely understand and agree with where they're going with the Xbox brand, but as someone who plays a lot of games, and love to play a lot of games, the Playstation 4 is looking to be a really good proposition.
The whole indie situation has me more worried than any proposed always-on or no used games stuff, even though I never believed those rumors. The bottom line is that if the Playstation 4 has more games, or it seems to have more games, and the online ecosystem isn't complete hot-garbage like the PS3's, then that seems like the safe bet.
With that said, I still think all bets are off. Microsoft isn't going to half-ass it like people expect them to. There are going to be huge exclusives, and there are going to be a few major features that seem amazing. I'm going to wait and see, but I'm really excited.
The whole indie situation has me more worried than any proposed always-on or no used games stuff, even though I never believed those rumors. The bottom line is that if the Playstation 4 has more games, or it seems to have more games, and the online ecosystem isn't complete hot-garbage like the PS3's, then that seems like the safe bet.
With that said, I still think all bets are off. Microsoft isn't going to half-ass it like people expect them to. There are going to be huge exclusives, and there are going to be a few major features that seem amazing. I'm going to wait and see, but I'm really excited.
There are already cable services that allow you to use an Xbox 360 as a cable box. It is likely this will continue, with something like a Durango being subsidized for cable owners (who are already paying like $5-10 per month to rent a less useful box).
Xilium
Member
My cable provider doesn't allow for third-party cable boxes or modems (just last month they were making a big deal about finally integrating TiVo into their proprietary boxes), so the set-top box thing is out of the question.
As for the Google TV like integration, I'm assuming something like that also requires some type of partnership with the cable provider and isn't something that is just plug-n-play. Seeing as we still haven't convinced our cable provider to provide us with HBO Go, I don't have any high hopes for them working with MS on this.
Basically, this stuff isn't a selling point for me.
As for the Google TV like integration, I'm assuming something like that also requires some type of partnership with the cable provider and isn't something that is just plug-n-play. Seeing as we still haven't convinced our cable provider to provide us with HBO Go, I don't have any high hopes for them working with MS on this.
Basically, this stuff isn't a selling point for me.
Not like it's going to be required. If it's like the other devices that do similar things it will be insanely easy to set up. The issues will be with your TV service and if they will support it. I'm skeptical with the number that will. I'm sure Comcast will as they are the local service in Redmond so i'll probably be happy with this box, but cable companies are notoriously shitty when it comes to this stuff.
James Sawyer Ford
Banned
This really isn't a big deal to me, and in many ways seems like a step back.
Honestly, I just want ONE device in my living room.
That device, I want to play games, stream movies, stream TV/music content, and browse the web.
I don't want to have another cable box from overpriced TV subscription services on top of an Xbox Live fee, on top of a Netflix fee.
TV truly needs to be transformed for streaming and cable boxes and providers need to be a thing of the past.
Honestly, I just want ONE device in my living room.
That device, I want to play games, stream movies, stream TV/music content, and browse the web.
I don't want to have another cable box from overpriced TV subscription services on top of an Xbox Live fee, on top of a Netflix fee.
TV truly needs to be transformed for streaming and cable boxes and providers need to be a thing of the past.
vincent vega
Member
I just want to play some games :/
And... in what time frame do you actually see that happening? Seems like companies are fighting like hell to keep things the way they are.
I don't think you'd be saving very much. These features, while they influenced the design of the console, are primarily software.
To go off on a tangent, I really want to know how many Wrestlemania XXIX PPV's sold on the 360. I'd venture it's going to be a safe bet that this Wrestlemania will be the greatest selling of all time by far.
That's the stuff that's really interesting. Using stuff without requiring a cable connection sounds fantastic. I'd love to just buy HBO, MLB TV, and Netflix instead of just getting a whole cable subscription.
That's the stuff that's really interesting. Using stuff without requiring a cable connection sounds fantastic. I'd love to just buy HBO, MLB TV, and Netflix instead of just getting a whole cable subscription.
MidgarBlowedUp
Member
yo dawg we heard you liked advertisements so we put advertisements on top of your advertisements.
seriously though, some ass is going to run the PS4 through the Xbox720 and confuse people.
seriously though, some ass is going to run the PS4 through the Xbox720 and confuse people.
statham
Member
you can do that.
vincent vega
Member
Sweet. Xbox 720 day 1
abstract alien
Member
Why is everyone acting as if MS won't allow you to play games? I don't understand.
I'm getting the impression that people are disappointed that the Durango will cost as much if not more than the PS4, not because it's more powerful and has better gaming features, but because you can watch cable television better with it.
That's just my perception of people disappointed with this news. The actual reality surrounding Durango's features may be different but their expectations seem to be that.
That's just my perception of people disappointed with this news. The actual reality surrounding Durango's features may be different but their expectations seem to be that.
Neander
Member
Exactly. This thing can be used exclusively as a gaming machine. But for some, having extra features is somehow a bad thing.
GoofsterStud
Member
This just in. 720 can play PS4 and is BC.
Love that HDMI in and the right PR spin.
FunnyBunny
Member
So, cable runs through my XBOX.
That allows instand, no boot switching between live programming, video apps (like Netflix) and games.
I'm okay with this.
That allows instand, no boot switching between live programming, video apps (like Netflix) and games.
I'm okay with this.
Games? Lol.
And software doesnt have a cost?
travisbickle
Member
Even you must have seen the false equivalence when writing that.
Restricting consumer rights through DRM is not the same as hooking your cable box to your console.
dragonflys545
Member
What games? They announced some games already?
Alx
Member
Software development costs are mostly compensated by people paying for the services/games. Besides, they don't add-up with the number of console produced. Actually the more consoles are sold, the easier it is to get the money back.
Hardware costs are mostly compensated by people buying the hardware, because the more hardware you sell, the more those costs increase.
So everything considered, software development doesn't increase the price of the console for the consumer. Or else you would see people complaining for any OS feature not directly linked to gaming (like listening to music and browsing the web).
Freshmaker
I am Korean.
Captain Power revival.
BladeoftheImmortal
Member
Wasn't google tv a failure?
1st Course
Member
ThisWreckage
Banned
The jack of all trades is the master of none. It honestly seems like the strategy of throwing everything at the wall and praying that a majority of it sticks.
Chocolate & Vanilla
Fuck Strawberry
Will this functionality work whilst the Xbox is in a low power state?
if it is as useful as the TiVo has been outside the US then it will be a giant failure outside of US. Also if they need to make content deals with cable providers it will fail outside of US as well. 3-5 major and up to 10 smaller cable providers in every country will make that function utterly useless.
hopefully they will release a cheaper durango/720 without that function
I feel bad for the families that will allow their kids' Xbox to be hooked up to the main TV. The good news is that parents would learn a lot more about their kids and also learn some new cuss words while watching their favorite shows... 
I'm assuming that shit could be turned off, but that would drive me crazy.
Just keep taking a sip of your drink making it pause every other minute on her. Could be pretty entertaining.
I'm assuming that shit could be turned off, but that would drive me crazy.
Just keep taking a sip of your drink making it pause every other minute on her. Could be pretty entertaining.
baphomet
Member
I've had a google.tv with a pass through for awhile now. If they're banking on this being a huge reason to get a new Xbox I think they're going to be massively disappointed. The only thing that will be nice is to be able to have the Xbox live menu pull up over your tv to check messages or whatever. And since its just passing video through its not going to be able to interact with it in any significant way.
Considering Sony make google.tv boxes with hdmi pass through in them, If they haven't confirmed it has one already I expect them to reveal it at e3. Both system will be able to pull an overlay up over your current television.
Considering Sony make google.tv boxes with hdmi pass through in them, If they haven't confirmed it has one already I expect them to reveal it at e3. Both system will be able to pull an overlay up over your current television.
BrokenSymmetry
Member
Yes, I, and everyone I know (in The Netherlands) doesn't have a "cable box", but we all put a CI+ smartcard directly into the television. I don't see how the Xbox can play any role in this scenario...
Alx
Member
I'm quite sure the console will be able to do some processing of any video stream passing through. That was hinted in recent articles like this one, mentioning MS activity in video recognition :
http://kotaku.com/hints-of-a-next-gen-xbox-tv-strategy-a-multiplayer-qua-472072240
baphomet
Member
While I agree something like that is interesting, I wouldn't have any use for something recommending me other things to watch. On the Wii U you can list your favorite shows and it will give recommendations. This just seems to do it by analyzing what you're watching. I probably don't watch tv like the average person, but I already know exactly what I want to watch. If my tv is on its because there's something I know is on and want to watch it.
Even things like google.tv don't know exactly what channels you do and don't have. It can have a pretty good idea, but it doesn't know for certain if you have a channel. Getting a recommendation for a show on a channel you don't have is just going to be more frustrating than anything.
I'll wait until we get some concrete information on what it's actually going to do, but I honestly don't have very high expectations for the integration. It'll be a way to pull information up over what you're watching, but until they show us, I'm assuming that will be mostly what it is.