QUOTE(thax @ May 18 2006, 04:12 PM)
You are correct, however it is possible for MS to embed a simple and cheap analog to digital converter right in the cable. The analog stream from the console would be output pre-encoded, so the ADC would only need to reformat the stream to be with the HDMI specification.
That is true, and I agree with you completely on that. But what if the content publisher (Universal Studios, etc) wanted copy protection. For the HDMI cable to have full copy protection, a digital signal must be maintained from the reading device (DVD drive, etc) to the television. Unless pins 12 and 13 (currently unknown) on the 360 video connector are the carriers for that signal, content might not display properly, or at all.
Of course, this doesn't apply to content publishers who don't push for the draconian DRM scheme that's part of the "standard", but you never know.
EDIT: Okay, I'm retarded. I was reading this and for some reason, thinking that the 360 would be playing HD-DVD content. Maybe I should think before I type, perhaps? Oh well, what I said still stands...somewhat. Maybe. A little bit. A tiny bit?
This post has been edited by hignaki: May 19 2006, 04:22 AM