This was from the 23rd but I didn't see anyone else mention it unless I was blind for a day.
Source
MICROSOFT has hit another snag with its Xbox games console.
Its HDTV pack has compatibility problems with Australian television standards.
The $39.95 pack is designed for playing games on high-definition television sets, but the technology giant has withdrawn it because it fell short of the promised functionality.
Microsoft would not be re-releasing the HDTV pack in Australia and would instead promote its Advanced AV pack, which was "more appropriate" for Australian systems, Xbox spokesman Simon Balderstone said.
He denied Microsoft had brought out an HDTV pack with the wrong specifications for Australian televisions.
The local HDTV standard was to blame because it capped resolution at 480i -- much lower than the resolution enabled overseas by the HDTV pack, he said.
Mr Balderstone said the pack had provided some, but not all, of the expected benefits. Video was of higher quality than that provided by standard AV cable by component inputs and Dolby digital 5.1 surround sound by digital optical inputs.
The drawback was that it did not enable game-play on HDTV. "The HDTV pack does not enable HDTV in Australia since the highest resolution in Australia is 480i," Mr Balderstone said.
"The progressive scan modes aren't enabled on the Australian system, so you can't get to the level of expected benefit here."
Only a few hundred people had purchased the pack and less than 10 had complained, but Microsoft had stopped shipping the pack, he said.
Mr Balderstone said there would be no product recall, but customers could swap the pack for an Advanced AV pack and a free game or obtain a full cash refund from the retailer.....
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I didn't realize that you fine folks in Australia can not display progressive scan modes, only interlaced. So you do get 1080i (HDTV) and 480i but no 480p and 720p. Anyone here buy the HDTV pack?
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