Microsoft is set to roll out HDMI on their high end Xbox 360 consoles. The move comes as the Company struggles to hold onto the hard core gamers and video enthusiasts who appear to be deserting the platform for the PS3 with Blu ray.
HDMI, the prevailing consumer standard for digital video and audio in HD, was already included on the Xbox 360 Elite console, a minor upgrade to the 360 which, aside from being a sleek black, also includes a larger hard drive.
Now the port will also appear on Premium consoles, thus allowing gamers to avoid having to tackle the awkward 360 video cable - and providing direct competition to the PS3.
HDMI is a proprietary standard, and Microsoft is having to pay a buck or so to the HDMI conglomerate which, ironically, includes Sony. Microsoft, along with Intel and other PC component makers, has been working on a copycat port dubbed Universal Display Port, which is basically exactly the same thing but made as a royalty-free standard.
It might be too late for consumer electronics, but PC players are still hoping to avoid paying too much to the CE companies on the back of HDMI's success.
In the meantime, gamers picking up Xbox 360 consoles made after July should find a funky little port waiting for them on the back of their console. Isn't life exciting?
Story source:
smarthousenews.com.au.
