HDMI Ports To Be Included With Xbox 360 Premium?

Originally Posted by Shacknews.com

Update: Microsoft has confirmed the addition of HDMI ports to all newly manufactured Xbox 360 premium consoles. "Yes, we are offering an HDMI port for Xbox 360 simply as another choice in Xbox 360 owners' games and entertainment experience," a Microsoft rep told Shacknews in an e-mailed statement. "Retailers are gradually introducing HDMI-enabled Xbox 360s into the channel to meet demand."

Regarding the possibility of an HDMI output on the $279.99 SKU, the Microsoft rep said, "We have not announced any plans to add HDMI to the Xbox 360 Core System." Microsoft would not reveal whether any other additions had been made to newly available Xbox 360 models, such as the inclusion of a 65nm process. "We are constantly updating the console's more than 1700 internal components and therefore will not comment on details of specific components or manufacturing processes," the rep added.

Original Story: Shacknews community member Magus reported finding an HDMI port on an Xbox 360 premium console he purchased today at a Target store in Atlanta, Georgia. The newly discounted prices for Xbox 360 SKUs went into effect today, with the premium selling for $349.99.

The HDMI output was introduced as a feature of the black Xbox 360 Elite this spring, but Microsoft made no mention of including the feature in upcoming iterations of the premium or core Xbox 360 SKUs. An image of the HDMI-enabled console provided a manufacturing date of July 4, 2007. The documentation included with the console contained an illustration of the HDMI port as well, and referenced the option to use an HDMI cable for video output.

Microsoft has said the upcoming Xbox 360 Halo 3 Special Edition console will include an HDMI port when it is released in September.

Source

This is great news for gamers who plan on getting Xbox 360. This is the only time I've actually regretted to get an Xbox 360 around the time it was released. What's great is that it comes at no extra cost. I highly doubt Microsoft will contribute to the Core 360 in any way. I'm surprised they haven't taken it off the shelves yet, actually.

So future Xbox 360 owners, make sure you check for that HDMI logo while eagerly buying your new 360. As for the rest of us who already own an Xbox 360: go cry in the corner.

This is awesome!

Eh to HDMI. It's only a type of connection.

The bigger news is that they're using the more reliable chipsets in all the 360s now. It also makes the only advantage the Elite has is the HDMI cable included, the larger HDD, and the black color.

Originally Posted by Mr. Wonderful

Eh to HDMI. It's only a type of connection.

Digital is virtually always better than analog.

Originally Posted by Dark Link

Digital is virtually always better than analog.

Most but the newer higher end TV sets convert it to analog then back to digital. While you do get no degradation in most cases from source to TV input, which can happen with cheap component cables, you're still not getting that source->what you see pristine quality. Of course, digital computer output is different.