Skip to main content

Microsoft to Bring IPTV to the Xbox 360

Microsoft to Bring IPTV to the Xbox 360

As part of its CES announcements, Microsoft has announced plans to bring Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) to its Xbox 360 gaming system. As envisioned, the technology with enable Xbox 360 owners to tune into television content streamed to their consoles via the Internet and home broadband connections, and integrate with other IP-based services on the Xbox 360 like instant messaging, voice and text chat, and even gaming.

"Both Xbox 360 and Microsoft TV IPTV Edition by themselves deliver unique and exciting entertainment experiences today, but IPTV on Xbox 360 is truly a solution that is greater than the sum of its parts and will enable even more exciting experiences to delight consumers, service providers, content providers and game developers alike," said Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division. "By integrating these industry-leading solutions, we are delivering on our promise to drive innovation and enable new connected entertainment experiences for consumers in a way that only Microsoft can."

The XBox 360’s IPTV capabilities will be built on the existing Microsoft TV IPTV Edition platform, which Microsoft claims will offer capabilities for a rich on-screen interface on the Xbox 360, with advanced features like channel zapping, video-on-demand, digital video recording, and high-definition television programming—Microsoft’s announcement is essentially that it intends to make the Xbox 360 into a client for its already-underway IPTV efforts, similar to other set-top-box solutions. Unlike the video download service offered via Xbox Live, Microsoft will not be serving as a content provider for IPTV services to the Xbox 360. Instead, subscribers will have to subscribe to an ISP or other compatible IPTV service which supplies compatible programming. Microsoft’s current partners for IPTV are telecommunications companies, not studios or television distributors: AT&T, Deutsche Telecom, British Telecom, C-Com, and Swisscom are already on board, and already deploying Microsoft’s IPTV service using set-top boxes.

Timetables for IPTV services on the Xbox 360 haven’t been released, but Microsoft says it expects the service to be functional in time for the end-of-year holiday season in 2007. Take a deep breath now if you plan to hold it.

Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
There’s a rare deal on the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones today
Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones seen in black.

The massively popular Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones rarely appear in headphone deals, so if you've had your eye on them for quite a while, you're in luck because they're currently $51 off on Walmart. From their original price of $400, you'll only have to pay $349, but only if you hurry because we don't expect stocks to last long. You're going to miss out on the offer if you take too long, so don't hesitate -- add the wireless headphones to your cart and check out as fast as you can.

Why you should buy the Sony WH-1000XM5
The best headphones that you can buy right now are the Sony WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones, and it's not even close. At the heart is their outstanding wireless sound, supported by top-quality active noise cancellation that uses two processors and eight microphones to block all unwanted sound, as well as crystal-clear hands-free calling using four beamforming microphones and advanced audio signal processing. The wireless headphones also offer Bluetooth multipoint connection so that you can quickly switch between different devices, touch controls for functions like adjusting volume and calling your digital assistant, and Speak-to-Chat and Quick Attention features to stop your music and let ambient sound in without having to take them off.

Read more
Sony’s premium soundbars will finally get support for VRR, ALLM
Sony HT-A7000 Dolby Atmos soundbar close-up of top panel.

It's been a long time coming, but the wait is almost over. Sony's premium home theater soundbars are set to receive a software update that will add support for variable refresh rate (VRR) and auto low-latency mode (ALLM), two HDMI 2.1 gaming features that have been absent since these products launched.

The soundbars in question are the Sony HT-A5000, HT-A7000, and the multi-wireless speaker HT-A9 system. All three are scheduled to receive the update this fall, but Sony has declined to share specific timing, saying only that there will be more information closer to the rollout date.

Read more
What is Roku? The streaming platform explained
A roku powered TV hanging on a wall running Roku OS 12.

How do you get your Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, or Prime Video fix? Chances are it's through a streaming device or smart TV, and there's a good chance that it's through a Roku device or one running its pioneering streaming operating system. At this point, cord-cutting is old news, and Roku was one of the earliest companies to drive the adoption of web-based streaming with its self-contained, app-driven devices.

Today, watching something "on Roku" is standard parlance and the company's popular platform can be found baked into some of the biggest TV brands in the world as well as in its own lineup of streaming devices sticks, and set-top boxes. Even so, that doesn't mean you totally get what a Roku actually is. What is Roku? How does Roku work? Do you need a subscription to use it? Is it just a device you buy, or is it software?

Read more