In Microsoft's latest attack on Blu-ray, its SVP of Interactive Entertainment, Don Mattrick, has reiterated the company's commitment to high definition streaming and downloads rather than physical discs.
"I think that what people want is digital high-def content, I think that's what our box provides, and we've announced several movie partners - and one in particular, Netflix, for the streaming technology," he said.
"People love being able to download and interact instantaneously with high-def content. I don't have to go somewhere, I don't have to buy a disc, I don't have to pay a 12-14 dollar or 6-7 pound premium to do that. I don't have to have my face be two feet in front of my TV to see the difference," he continued.
Is that last statement alluding to the fact that current downloads can't match Blu-ray in terms of overall audio and video quality, but that most consumers on average-sized HDTVs won't be able to tell the difference anyway? It seems so, and it's certainly a way of putting a positive spin on the current limitations of over-the-Internet high definition content.
Downloads aren't going to cut it with high-end movie buffs for quite some time, but Microsoft is no doubt hoping that the masses will accept a loss in quality for the sake of on-demand convenience and cheaper cost.
(Via The Game Reviews)
