The new Xbox will reportedly be heavily focussed on multimedia content
With Microsoft’s big Xbox Reveal just hours away, industry analysts have suggested the new Xbox 720 could find itself in better shape to tackle the multimedia market than Apple TV.
Although a games console at its core, Fred Huet, an analyst and partner at Greenwich Consulting, has predicted the new Xbox, like the PS4 before it will be heavily focused on its multimedia capabilities, with the device to act as a home entertainment hub of sorts. The analyst, who has a background in technology and multimedia markets, has also speculated that the console could even stand a better chance of tackling the multimedia market than Apple TV.
“Apple has been pushing Apple TV for so long now and iTunes is the ideal base for that, but at the moment, the likes of the PS4 and the new Xbox have a bit of an advantage as they are a bit more open than Apple’s link with iTunes” Huet said speaking with TrustedReviews.
He added: “I think the way the Xbox interacts with other devices in the home and content providers will help make it a one stop box for not only your multimedia, DVDs and Blu-ray but your games and video content. This makes it a very powerful platform.”
Analysing the gap between the existing Xbox 360 and the upcoming new Xbox, he added: “The current system is a platform that you can essentially do everything on. Looking ahead to the new Xbox, he predicted that “This will be more of a winning combination than in Apple TV which is a little too narrow focused.”
While stressing that the games sector will remain the new Xbox’s bread and butter, Huet has hinted that the rise in multimedia capabilities could see Microsoft target new markets with its next-generation device, even taking on Smart TV platform holders such as Samsung and LG.
“Microsoft has got a lot of media clout nowadays, much more than they used to,” Huet said. “The question now is what are they going to introduce that will put them ahead of what the Samsung and the Sony TVs are offering. TVs have caught up with consoles, but multimedia is going to be the next big gain for Xbox.”
Further Reading: New Xbox: What to expect
