The Xbox One was announced earlier this week and Microsoft has been releasing a steady stream of information about the device in the days that have followed.
One big piece of news that has come out today about the latest Microsoft console is that it will support both 3D technology, as well as Ultra HD 4K. This news comes from Microsoft spokesman Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb in a Q and A session from Yahoo!
The announcement for 3D is a little unsurprising, considering that both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 support 3D as well. Whether the Xbox One would support 4K was a little more uncertain. 4K, or Ultra High Definition, is the next step in HD resolution, and seeks to replace 1080i/p as the standard. But it will be some time before we can expect 4K to become the standard viewing experience, as 4K televisions cost several thousand dollars, with some 4K televisions costing over $25 thousand. In addition, 4K does not lend itself to streaming well, as it has been estimated that a 4K movie would be about 100GB and have to be downloaded overnight.
Another question that arises from this announcement is how much 4K content the Xbox One will support. The PlayStation 4 will also support 4K content, but only photos and videos---not video games. If the Xbox One were to support games in 4K, it could be a major factor in the console's success down the road as 4K technology becomes more affordable and popular.
The Xbox One is due for release sometime later this year, though Microsoft has yet to release a exact date or price point for the console. Perhaps Microsoft is saving that information for the E3 event happening from June 9 to June 11.
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