Xbox 360 "Zephyr"

[Lee`]

Looks like Microsoft plan to bring out a 360 v2, that has HDMI (which isn't a surprise) and also a larger HDD.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/05/t...dename-zephyr/

[directhex]

i'm calling a fake on this

microsoft don't gain anything from what's essentially a minor incremental upgrade to the existing system - this is FAR more likely to happen when they've got their chip fab process shrunk, coupled with a system redesign (pstwo style)

[Stoo]

That and they're already using that codename for another project..

[Jonny M]

http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/...VpwzemjZKk.php

Seems pretty convincing?

[Tarffie]

http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/xbox3...t2-hdmi-01.jpg

http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/xbox3...mi-04_s400.jpg

They don't look the same to me...and the cutting on the second image looks like a shonky DIY job.

[theuncharmed]

I can see them bringing out a new HDD, in fact that's been confirmed.

But a new console for just HDMI ? Doubtful.

[trippinzippy]

The video on the first link seems pretty convincing, I suppose the only thing with that is when was it shot?, could it be a dev 360 before it was first released? and they dropped hdmi for some reason?

[bigblue]

I would like a HDMI socket but I'm not changing my machine for it. Saying that, maybe the original could be dispatched to media duties in the bedroom...

I would love to know more about the ANA/HANA scaler though.

[Tom Scott]

Well...

Originally Posted by Aaron Greenberg - Xbox Live Group Manager

"it was a critical design decision; we wanted the 360 to be high-definition, not just 1080p or some other standard. That's why we included component cables in the box; there is no HDTV that doesn't have a component in

Taken from the article about the 360 scaling chip here: http://arstechnica.com/articles/headstart.ars/2

I have no idea why they would feel the need to redevelop it to use HDMI, the HD-DVD drive is already out, and HDCP isn't going to be "enforced" for some time. The costs for the redevelopment of the console would be better spent elsewhere and I'm sure MS realise that.

The top pic in the engadget page doesn't have the "HDMI" logo on the back of the 360, yet it has all the Dolby Digital ones, wheres the optical out for DD as well? I also thought Zephyr was something to do with automated error reporting on Windows 2003 servers anyway.

Admittedly the scaling chip does have different codesand a different name of HANA instead of ANA, and they are releasing a "revised" 360 with a smaller, cooler CPU soon - so it could be true. I would be interested to see what the legal standpoint is on the fact that they shouldn't need to make the CPU cooler? Maybe all the recent 1080p update bricked consoles were down to the ANA scaler and they've simply redesigned that.

If it is true, they're going to irritate a LOT of people that have just bought them for christmas, which generally isn't a good plan.

[bigblue]

That was quick ! Cheers for that

I'm still curious as to how well it scales in comparison with similar chips in other products though. Obviously I'm not expecting stand-alone scaler performance but it'd be good to see how it fares against the current batch of TV scalers for example.

[Tom Scott]

The ana scaler produces excellent quality 1080p output from the 360 over componant and VGA. There was no slowdown from what I saw of it.

Just been looking at the following pic a bit more closely

http://pictures.xbox-scene.com/xbox3...t2-hdmi-01.jpg

Is it just me or do the top and bottom plastics not match on that picture, the bottom seems to have a much more glossy finish and the right hand side edge is defintely not flush fit.

[codepope]

Originally Posted by Tom Scott

The ana scaler produces excellent quality 1080p output from the 360 over componant and VGA. There was no slowdown from what I saw of it.

And so there shouldn't be, it is just upscaling 720P to 1080P, not adding anything to the source content.

Microsoft *could* get away with this if the mystery60 is launched as a top end box above the current Premium 360. All they have to do is incorporate a HD-DVD drive inside (on top of the HDMI and the 120GB HDD).

We'll know exactly how they will blow their one year plus lead to market at CES.

[Blackmage]

i think it's real Microsoft are going to be in problems if they call this the premium console. thats why everybody has started to name it the pro console.

[Pazza]

The idea of this xbox 360 sounds really good, I am not sure whether to buy one now or wait !!

But, taking a closer look at that picture after the doubts raised, I noticed the shadows and perspective angles appear not to be consistant.

[dancingtornado]

Originally Posted by Blackmage

i think it's real Microsoft are going to be in problems if they call this the premium console. thats why everybody has started to name it the pro console.

Very true, i will be very annoyed if this is real.

I might even consider giving up on the console.

[MysticBiscuit]

I love the song in that video
Just soo... cheesy..
And what is tux doing there?