Microsoft has confirmed that Halloween is the day for an Xbox 360 update treat. The Xbox Live download brings over 85 new features and enhancements. In addition to game play features, the update will add support for 1080p (game play and video playback) over VGA and component cables and support for the forthcoming HD-DVD player.

TechDigs.net interest in the Xbox 360 and this update is 1080p support. With the $200 HD-DVD player add-on coming in early November, Xbox 360 fans appear to have an inexpensive way to upgrade to a new hi def video format without having to make the full-price commitment. For home theater enthusiasts who are also gamers, the Xbox 360 (HD-DVD format standard) and Sony Playstation 3 (Blu-ray format standard) represent a reasonable way to dip your toes into one of the two new hi def platforms. Stand-alone hi def boxes must come down in price before we'll recommend that you get in the middle of the HD-DVD/Blu-ray format death match. For those who do get a stand-alone box, there's a good chance that you'll spend $500+ now only to possibly pay again later when a winner emerges. Remember the Betamax.

However, if you game and have or want an Xbox 360, testing the waters by spending an extra $200 to get HD-DVD is not a bad deal. Conversely, when the Sony Playstation 3, with its built-in Blu-ray drive is available for $499, it will represent a good deal if you were going to buy the game platform anyway. With either platform, you'll get to play some games and enjoy some high def rentals while the industry wrestles. We only hope video playback is better than Xbox and Playstation 2 boxes are.

So, maybe it's time to get a bit excited about 1080p on the Xbox. For a complete list of the Xbox 360 enhancements, visit xbox.com.

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