XBOX 360 as Set Top Box - 11/7/2010!!

[txskeets]

Interesting article on Engadget.....this is a feature I have been waiting for....Lots of questions about this, but cant wait to see it happen!!

http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/07/atandt-u-verse-customers-can-use-xbox-360-as-a-set-top-box-starti...

[robino2001]

Just saw it as well... I'm absolutely stoked!  I actually had a need for another STB but was debating paying for the additional box.  I've never seen it confirmed, do we know for sure that we don't have to pay the additional fee to "lease" our own XBox 360?

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

It is unknown whether or not there will be a service fee for an Xbox used as an STB.  We shall see.

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

I'll bet there will be a fee for receiving content.

[txskeets]

According to the newly leaked slides on Engadget, there will not be a monthly charge to turn the 360 into a Set Top Box.  Check the Engadget link for the additional slides.

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

I already did, I'm just guessing.

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txskeets wrote:

According to the newly leaked slides on Engadget, there will not be a monthly charge to turn the 360 into a Set Top Box.  Check the Engadget link for the additional slides.

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[Logical_Dolphin]

I know it says that a Xbox 360 with a HD is a requirement, but I wonder if that is still true since the new Xbox 360 design $200 model that has 4GB would still work? To me that requirement is presuming one has the older Xbox design, which doesn't have that much internal memory...

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

Wonder if it allow storage/transfer of recorded content onto the external HDD?  New ones are 250GB IIRC.

Past discussions have also hinted that an Live Gold Acct. may be required for streaming (as w/Netflix on Xbox), but maybe this is different?

Know the article says this will avoid the monthly rental cost, but that doesn't mean there won't be a fee for content distribution.

[Logical_Dolphin]

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spd2demun wrote:

Wonder if it allow storage/transfer of recorded content onto the external HDD?  New ones are 250GB IIRC.

Past discussions have also hinted that an Live Gold Acct. may be required for streaming (as w/Netflix on Xbox), but maybe this is different?

Know the article says this will avoid the monthly rental cost, but that doesn't mean there won't be a fee for content distribution.

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I doubt it would do anything regarding storage and transfer of content, I believe this application strickly emulates an STB on the Xbox 360.

A Live Gold account is necessary for Netflix, Hulu Plus (Next Year), ESPN content, Last.fm, Twitter, Facebook, and online play. Since at&t is providing the disc and equipment (I presume to be a remote control and an IR reciever), I doubt Live Gold is required. It certainly isn't a requirement in the Telus version.

I don't know what a content distribution fee is, but at&t will have to add it since it doesn't exist as of now.

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

Was a thought, would be nice to have extra storage for some people.

I don't Xbox, just pay for the LiveGold subscriptions.

Content distribution, I made that up.  Still will be surprised if they charge nothing for this.

Just the kit with the new RF dongle remote (assume that's the one) is now going for $60.

Call me skeptical, I just don't see how they will make money on this.

Hope it is all free though!  Fingers crossed!

[robino2001]

I never took the time to look at the slides the first time I saw it... I bet/assume you/we will have to pay for the disc, remote and dongle - which sucks because I'd only need the disc... I (and many I bet) can pair it with a logitech remote and not need the rest  

[Logical_Dolphin]

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spd2demun wrote:

Was a thought, would be nice to have extra storage for some people.

I don't Xbox, just pay for the LiveGold subscriptions.

Content distribution, I made that up.  Still will be surprised if they charge nothing for this.

Just the kit with the new RF dongle remote (assume that's the one) is now going for $60.

Call me skeptical, I just don't see how they will make money on this.

Hope it is all free though!  Fingers crossed!

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IMO at&t is using any angle they can get to get U-verse subscribers, since I think the market in the US is more competitive than in other countries. So I think it is more about getting customers now, and profit from the subscription revenue later.

Where are you seeing th $60 price for the kit?

[eastbay176]

Also heard that they are testing for wireless STBs, so I'm assuming the Xbox is included in this. 

[michail77]

I wouldn't want to do wireless with video.  It could make some installs easier but that's asking for problems.

[Ronin559]

Awesome! I was considering going to the dark side (comcast) to lower my bill, but if I can lower it by using my 360 instesd of the extra STB I can save money there. Plus I have been begging to use my xbox as a stb.

Now I have to figure out if I should use the 360 in the living room as STB, and move the DVR to the game room, or just leave the DVR in the living room. I wonder if the 360 will have the Pause/RR/FF featrue when viewing live content? if so I will use the 360 in the living room, but if not and it acts just like the STB i have now, only Pause/recorded content RR/FF with.

Now all I need is for uverse to lower the subscription package required for steaming shows off my DVR to my iphone and I will have it all. I know I can up my plan to the U300, but I do not need that many channels, I only watch 20 or so channels i have now..

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

Not seeing a price, just going by the cost of the RF Remote now.  I already have one (got it for less).

You may be right.  Maybe grandfather early adopters in, then later charge a fee, like they did with STBs.

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Logical_Dolphin wrote:

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IMO at&t is using any angle they can get to get U-verse subscribers, since I think the market in the US is more competitive than in other countries. So I think it is more about getting customers now, and profit from the subscription revenue later.

Where are you seeing th $60 price for the kit?

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[conboy]

You need a 360 with HD to use with this service.

[spd2demun ACE - Master]

Logical_Dolphin mentioned that in an earlier post.

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conboy wrote:

You need a 360 with HD to use with this service.

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[smjames23]

Question about this....I have 1 DVR (VIP1225), 2 STB's (VIP1200) and 2 Xboxs. Currently the DVR is located next to my RG and is fed by Cat5. The STB's are fed by Coax to the bedrooms and the Xbox's are wired into the ethernet ports of the STB's. With no Coax port on the Xbox of course will I be able to eliminate the STB's?

[JefferMC ACE - Wizard]

I'm betting you'd either have to get some sort of external BALUN to convert back from unbalanced coax to balanced UTP or run a replacement Cat 5e cable the whole way.

[sportsman_1]

http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-making-xbox-360-an-att-u-verse-receiver

"Microsoft has been trying to make its Xbox 360 into much more than a gaming console. What once was a pure gaming system has quickly transformed into a centralized media hub for your entertainment center. You can set it up to stream from any networked PC with Windows Media Center, you can watch and manage your Netflix movies and listen to your last.fm stations, to name a few. Now, according to sources reporting to Engadget, AT&T and Microsoft are rolling out a new feature to the U-Verse broadband platform that will enable U-Verse subscribers to use their Xbox 360 as a U-Verse receiver. Since U-Verse allows for 4 HD connections on a subscription, this will nullify the need for another receiver for your gaming setup. It will be implemented in the form of a Dashboard app, and it will have all the same functionality as a normal AT&T box. The roll out will begin in early November, and the only prerequisite is that you already have one AT&T DVR box somewhere in the house; the Xbox can’t be your only receiver.

This is almost expected, as Microsoft is actually a partner with AT&T in its U-Verse venture.  The set-top boxes that AT&T gives to U-Verse subscribers are running Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV software, after all. It isn’t a huge leap to say that Microsoft would port the software to the Xbox as soon as possible. This also means that the service will not likely be coming to the other consoles. Microsoft likely plans on leveraging their relationship with AT&T to make a unique spot for their darling console as not just a gaming system, but as a true media center." 

[Logical_Dolphin]

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spd2demun wrote:

Not seeing a price, just going by the cost of the RF Remote now.  I already have one (got it for less).

You may be right.  Maybe grandfather early adopters in, then later charge a fee, like they did with STBs.

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That isn't what I meant. I'm suggesting the Xbox/STB compatibility feature is being used to incentivize subscribers to U-verse, much like the new iPhone/iPod Touch U-verse mobile App.

The new Xbox STB feature is great for those that have been waiting a long time for it, but I doubt that a huge amount of people are going to take advantage of it. Unless it is hugely popular, I doubt that at&t will be charging for it down the road, assuming they don't charge for it initially... 

[Logical_Dolphin]

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JefferMC wrote:

I'm betting you'd either have to get some sort of external BALUN to convert back from unbalanced coax to balanced UTP or run a replacement Cat 5e cable the whole way.

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Maybe that is what that dongle is for. It makes sense since most homes don't have whole house Ethernet connections.

[Logical_Dolphin]

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spd2demun wrote:

Logical_Dolphin mentioned that in an earlier post.

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conboy wrote:

You need a 360 with HD to use with this service.

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While that may end up being true, it seems to me that this requirement is based on the original Xbox 360 model, where the base model didn't have any more than 256MB of memory. Now the new Xbox 360  base model has 4GB of memory, which should be more than enough to install the STB application. I tend to doubt that anyone at at&t has tried it to see if it works... 

[michail77]

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sportsman_1 wrote:

http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-making-xbox-360-an-att-u-verse-receiver

"Microsoft has been trying to make its Xbox 360 into much more than a gaming console. ...

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If that were the case they should have put a bluray drive on it.

[SomeJoe7777 ACE - Geek]

I doubt the dongle will be a coax converter.  Microsoft and AT&T are probably figuring that if you have an XBox360, you already have connected it to your home network with Ethernet because that's how you have to do it to play XBox Live.

I'm betting the dongle is just a hardware protection device to allow the unit to be authorized to your U-Verse account.

[Logical_Dolphin]

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michail77 wrote:

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sportsman_1 wrote:

http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-making-xbox-360-an-att-u-verse-receiver

"Microsoft has been trying to make its Xbox 360 into much more than a gaming console. ...

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If that were the case they should have put a bluray drive on it.

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Actually Microsoft backed HD-DVD, they should have built that into its design for the format to have a chance. Putting a Blu-Ray drive in the Xbox 360 after loosing the format war, would have been an acknowledgement of that defeat...

[techguyaz]

From waht i hear the initial charge willbe $99.00 for remote control, HPNA dongle and the software. I cehcked with one of my friends and no monthly reooccuring charges.

Can't wait for this to cmoe out.

[Logical_Dolphin]

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SomeJoe7777 wrote:

I doubt the dongle will be a coax converter.  Microsoft and AT&T are probably figuring that if you have an XBox360, you already have connected it to your home network with Ethernet because that's how you have to do it to play XBox Live.

I'm betting the dongle is just a hardware protection device to allow the unit to be authorized to your U-Verse account.

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I'm going back to believing the dongle is a IR receiver, since it states "remote and dongle" on that briefing screen. The Xbox 360 probably can't receive IR signals from the standard Uverse remote, and needs the IR dongle to be able to use the standard remote.

I think at&t can authorize the Xbox 360 for your account through software... 

[snowangels1]

I spoke to customer service yesterday and was told that the kit was indeed $99 and no monthly charge, but was also told that a tech would have to come out and the $55 charge would apply. I have 4 stbs and 1 xbox 360, planning to get another as a Christmas present "for the house." I would love to be able to get rid of all stbs in favor of using the xbox. If you're not planning to stick around with Uverse, I guess you'd have to weigh the upfront costs. I will be waiting until Santa brings the 2nd xbox to save on the $55, rather than having a tech come out twice.