Microsoft Confirms the Xbox 360 Elite - Announces Date and Price
Click here for the On10.net video showing off the new system
The new Xbox 360 Elite console is expected to begin arriving in U.S. stores on April 29.
REDMOND, Wash.  March 27, 2007  Microsoft Corp. today announced the upcoming availability of Xbox 360™ Elite, a new model of the video game and entertainment system that will include a 120GB hard drive, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, a high-definition cable, and a premium black finish for the console, wireless controller and Xbox LIVE® headset. Xbox 360 Elite has enough space for a library of Xbox LIVE Arcade games and thousands of songs, as well as downloadable high-definition TV shows and movies available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The new 120GB hard drive also will be sold as a stand-alone accessory to give current Xbox 360 owners greater choice and flexibility in their games and entertainment experience. Additional Xbox 360 Elite accessories, such as the black Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit and the Xbox 360 rechargeable battery, will be available separately. The Xbox 360 Elite and its accessories are expected to begin arriving in U.S. stores on April 29.
“Today’s games and entertainment enthusiast has an insatiable appetite for digital high-definition content,†said Peter Moore, corporate vice president for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “Xbox 360 Elite’s larger hard drive and premium accessories will allow our community to enjoy all that the next generation of entertainment has to offer.â€Â
Distinguished by its black finish and signature metallic detailing, Xbox 360 Elite will have an estimated retail price of $479.99 (U.S.) and will come packed with components and accessories for the ultimate high-definition entertainment experience:
•Xbox 360 Elite console. The console is equipped with a premium black finish and three powerful core processors capable of producing the best in HD entertainment (up to 1080p), 16:9 cinematic aspect ratio, anti-aliasing for smooth textures, full surround sound, HDMI output and DVD playback with upscaling capabilities right out of the box.
•Xbox 360 120GB hard drive. The 120GB detachable hard drive allows gamers to save their games and store television shows, movies, music, pictures, trailers, levels, demos and other content available from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.3 The hard drive is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $179.99 (U.S.).
•Xbox 360 Wireless Controller (black). This award-winning, high-performance wireless controller, now in black, features the Xbox® Guide Button for quick, in-game access to friends and music. It has a range of up to 30 feet and a battery life of 30 hours on two AA batteries. It is sold separately for an estimated retail price of $49.99 (U.S.).
•Xbox 360 headset (black). Now available in black, the headset lets gamers strategize or trade taunts while playing games and send voice messages to friends on Xbox LIVE.
•Xbox 360 HDMI cable. New to Xbox 360, HDMI allows consumers to get HD video (up to 1080p) and multichannel surround sound, all from one cable.
There will also be a black Play & Charge Kit.
There will also be a cord included with the Elite so that you can still use your surround sound system even if it doesn’t use HDMI. So the HDMI would be going into the TV, and the audio cord would plug into the normal slot the video/audio does now, and the end of that cord would have a Optical port and Red/White depending on your needs. For pictures of that click here. The Elite is not limited edition, and will be a permenant entry into the Xbox 360 SKU family.
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(Original post is below)
Associated Press - March 28th, 2007 (Yes, this is news from the future)
REDMOND, Wash. — Microsoft Corp. will sell a version of its Xbox 360 with a 120-gigabyte hard drive and a souped-up high-definition video connection in a bid to broaden the appeal of its popular console beyond video games.
Earlier versions of Xbox 360 came with 20 gigabytes of storage. But that filled up too quickly with movies, TV shows and games from the Xbox Live Marketplace online store, said Peter Moore, a corporate vice president in Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment group.
The new Xbox 360 Elite will sell for $479.99. Consumers who already own the $399.99 20-gigabyte model will be able to buy a snap-on 120-gigabyte hard drive for $179.99.
The new console and the drive are expected to hit U.S. shelves April 29.
Microsoft also added an HDMI connection, which sends high-definition content from the console to the TV without losing picture or sound quality, while also helping prevent piracy.
Xbox 360 was the No. 2 U.S. video game console after Nintendo Co.’s Wii in January and February, according to data from market researcher NPD Group. The Xbox outpaced Sony Corp.’s PlayStation 3, a $599.99 console that plays Blu-ray DVDs.
Microsoft’s decision to upgrade the Xbox 360 is the latest of many steps the software maker has taken to position its products at the center of home entertainment.
Microsoft has incorporated Media Center software, which can turn a computer into a digital video recorder, movie and music player, into all but the most basic version of its new Windows Vista operating system.
And Xbox 360 users can connect the console to their home network, then stream movies, music and other content from the computer to the Xbox and television.
Unlike Sony, Microsoft has not added a high-def DVD player to the console, but consumers can buy an external HD DVD player for the Xbox for $199.99.
On Wednesday, Microsoft also announced deals to bring new high-def video to the Xbox Live Marketplace, including New Line Cinema’s film “Snakes on a Plane” and coming releases from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment’s direct-to-video division.
Microsoft’s focus on downloadable high-def video sets the effort apart from the competition, Moore said.
He said the content fills a gap between cable companies’ DVR services for fresh TV episodes, Tivo Inc. and Amazon.com Inc.’s standard-definition content available over the Web, and Apple Inc.’s recent move to send iTunes movies and music to the TV from a Mac.
At the core, though, video game players aren’t going to choose their system based on its ability to play movies or television shows, said Anita Frazier, an analyst for NPD Group.
“To the extent [the consoles] do other things, it’s great, but this industry is all about the games,” she said.