ChrisHicks

Microsoft has announced the newest release in their immensely popular XBox 360 lineup. Named "XBox 360 Ultimate" this newest model will include sought after features such as Netflix search, Hulu, Youtube and more. Microsoft has stated that the consumer has been requesting a better Netflix experience and they have listened. Teaming up with the Netflix group they have come up with what they have called "the best Netflix search to date" the new search allows a user to search through the entire Netflix catalog of films/tv shows in a way similar to that of a Tivo. You will also be able to set up season passes of TV shows so they will go directly to your streaming queue as they become available through the service.

Hulu is now also streamlined into the system. Users will now be able to view the newest shows on their 360s without the hassles they have to go through now. Before users had to use such methods as running software from companies such as PlayOn on their PCs and then running that through their XBox 360s which presented some challenges in and of itself for most users. Now it's just one of many tabs located in the XBMC.

And in a surprising twist, Microsoft has announced Blu-ray support with its newly installed 10x read BD player. Sony has stated that Blu-ray is the ultimate disc based format for years now and Microsoft has finally agreed. Microsoft lost out on millions of dollars due to the fiasco known as HD-DVD but states that they have "gotten it right this time" with the inclusion of Blu-ray. When asked about future games appearing on the BD disc platform Microsoft would only reply with "we shall see". Take that for what you will but what does that mean for the current user base? Our guess is that Microsoft will release a separate USB Blu-ray drive in the same way the released their now defunct HD-DVD drive.

Other things in store for the XBox 360 Ultimate include a quad core processor codenamed "Leviathon-X". Microsoft has said this new processor will run a solid 30 degrees cooler than the current 360s. Other tweaks done for additional cooling has been done but Microsoft hasn't stated what. We'll have to wait until the unit is released to get a first hand look of the internals of this new box.

The 360 Ultimate will also one day feature DVR functionality. Microsoft has decided to port over their award winning Windows 7 Media Center over to run on the 360 Ultimate. Users who wish to use feature will need to purchase a $199.00 accessory which will allow for cable card support with dual tuner capabilities. Because of this Microsoft will now ship the 360 Ultimate with an 1TB drive pre-installed.

Microsoft also stated that they will eventually add things such as web support to allow users the option to browse their favorite web pages directly from their couches. An optional Microsoft branded Bluetooth keyboard/mouse combo would be released to coincide with this feature. No price has been set on that as of yet. Microsoft also announced that they are releasing a 3rd version of XBox Live named of course XBox Live Ultimate to coincide with the release of this new 360. The cost of this service will be 99.00 per year and with that members will be treated to such exclusives as free Netflix weekends with live group chats, exclusive free content and the ability to play Live Arcade games for free.

Microsoft addressed concerns from users about the RROD issues and they guarantee that they have eliminated that completely with the 360 Ultimate. They have announced that all new 360 Ultimates will ship with blue LEDs replacing the now hated red lights. When asked why the change Microsoft replied with "well, since we are in the process of streamlining all of our products and with the inclusion of Windows 7 in this newest XBox 360 we felt a BROD was much better than the hated RROD. Now all of our errors color match."

Does Microsoft finally have the "Ultimate" Playstation 3 killer with this newly announced XBox 360? Only time will tell...

Michael Corvin

flashburn

0/5

Decker

Welcome to the Internet!

dom56

I hate the first day of April.

Save Ferris

ARG FINALLY BLU RAY?? I should have never bought a PS3!

dino88

I hope that was a copy/paste and you didn't spend time typing all of that out. It still won't blow me, so I don't see what's so "ultimate."

chuckd21

For fuck's sake...

SoonerDoc

Funny and all, but I would settle for an Xbox360 that doesn't die after 14 months. Now THAT would be ultimate Microsoft !!

MoviePage

Ohhh! Is funny because includes every change that people ask for!

ChrisHicks

lol, it was a copy/paste.

The sad part is a friend was telling me his newer release 360 just died. He bought it for the HDMI. He said it made it a year and the optical drive is now dead(open tray error). I fear turning mine on these days.

Hokeyboy

I fucking hate April 1st. It allows the exceedingly lame and trite think they're remotely fucking funny.

DVDChris

Where's the link to the source of this April Fools joke?

Groucho

I read the OP and immediately threw my current 360 out the window. Now, where do I go to buy a replacement before game time tonight?

ChrisHicks

It was sent to me in an email. I just copied it and dumped it here.

mkdevo

thanks for that!

edstein

I liked my find better.



http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/iC...rousel_iCade_1

ChrisHicks

I'd seriously buy those.

chuckd21

I'd buy one of those too.

K&AJones

I be more ecxcited if they announced a seperate BD player (Like the HD player they had). I know about the spring update for portable HD or flash drives. It be nice if the cap (16GB) were to be raised but since they're coming out with the 250GB I guess we can only hope for later. need to worry about the current owneres and units first and then move with something later on.

foxdvd

or you could just go to the other forum...and get that 365 days a year....

Liver&Onions

Rob V

Sweet! I want one! And after watching Modern Family, I want an iPad too

Liver&Onions

locking because thankfully that dreadful day is done