It looks like Microsoft is getting closer to launching an Internet television service for Xbox 360. ZDNet’s Mary Jo Foley received some details on the company’s “Orapa” IPTV service, which will hit Xbox 360, Windows PCs, and Windows Phone 7. Here’s the skinny:
Orapa, in development now, is going to be a combination of Xbox Live and Microsoft’s Mediaroom IPTV, from what I’m hearing. It would give Microsoft a way to turn TV into a service that it could deliver to Xbox customers first, and Windows, Windows Phone and set-top-box customers, later.
Orapa will enable the mash-up of Mediaroom features, Xbox Live social features (like avatars and recommendations), Kinect sensing capabilities, and some of those forthcoming Ventura music/video services. Remember the circa-2007 rumors about Microsoft “Carbon,” an add-on for Xbox that was supposedly going to add IPTV video playback? Orapa seems to be the successor to that initiative, my sources say.
I’m so excited by the prospect of “cutting the cord” from (crap bag) Time Warner Cable. Right now Apple TV is the most interesting option, with its recently announced live HD streaming of NBA and MLB games in addition to a large selection of movies and TV shows. That said, I see a ton of potential with Orapa, simply because I’m confident that Microsoft will throw an obscene amount of money behind it (see Zune, Kinect, etc.).
My dream is for a console that lets me stream live HD of WWE programming, HBO boxing, Yankees games, and American Idol. Is that too much to ask?!?
I doubt I would use this. I have to have my cable anyway for internet purposes. If I cancel my cable TV then the price of cable internet by itself is the exact same price as the bundled package.
If AT&T would get off of its ass and speed up my cell phone internet then I will cancel all of my cable and just use my cell phone for my PS3 and 360. Currently I can connect to multiplayer but the lag is pretty extreme.
im with you ray, if i can get just a FEW channels on this thing…bye bye comcast!!!!!
does anyone play online mulitplayer with DSL?
is there considerable lag?
@Thundercracker
A few of my friends use DSL for MMOs and FPS. They have no noticeable lag compared to my cable. However they don't play FPS on anything but the 360 so that p2p connection levels the field for everyone except the host!