XBOX 360 Wire

Exclusive Interview : YouTube on Xbox 360

On Sunday, we posted impressions and a review of YouTubeDriver which is now available to download from YouTubeDriver.com.

Yesterday, we had the chance to put some questions to it’s developer Bryan Fleming. We pressed Bryan on whether or not there is a market for viewing YoutTube on your 360 and if the product can support the $49.99 price tag.

360Wire: What made you decide to start the YouTubeDriver project - given that most 360 users are already connected to the internet where YouTube is freely accessible?

Bryan: Getting on the Internet is easy enough with the Xbx360, but you’re locked into the world of Xbox live. You can only view the video programming that Microsoft spoon feeds you. From the moment I got my XBox 360 I thought, “Why can’t I watch online videos on this?”.
Microsoft put a lot of work into the Media Center PC, but I don’t think that really took off for them. The Xbox 360 really has the TV experience nailed. It’s what they wanted the Media PC’s to do.
I really believe YouTube Driver lets you look into the future. You find the most obscure videos on there and watch them on TV. I don’t really watch too much TV anymore. “Nothing is on”. With YouTube I can watch anything I want when I want.

360Wire: YouTubeDriver basically converts the source files into WMV’s so they can be viewed by the 360 - do you plan to extend the functionality to other sites such as LiveLeak, NothingToxic and the likes?

Bryan: Certainly. YouTube Driver is a new undertaking. As customers request more sites I’ll add them in. Right now I want the software to do 1 thing and do it very well – Get Videos off YouTube and let you watch them on your TV.

360Wire: Your current version works with IE based Windows machine - when do you anticipate being able to support other browsers such as FireFox, and is there any possibility of a version for Mac?

Bryan: FireFox will be coming shortly. A Mac Version? I’m not sure if the Xbox 360 will connect to a Mac to view the Videos. But, hey, Microsoft has done stranger things.

360Wire:Microsoft can be very heavy handed on copyright breaches, something YouTube is having problems combating - have you had any complaints from MS or otherwise on the subject of allowing copyrighted material to be streamed by the 360?

Bryan: Not Yet. I think Microsoft solved this by putting limits on what the 360 can watch. They’ve really locked down the wmv video format to try to prevent this. That’s probably enough for them. Yes, YouTube has the bigger problem, but they’ve got deep pockets? Right?

360Wire: Your application currently retails at a $49.99 price point - what factors made you decide to stick with this price, and do you think the 360 fan base will support YouTubeDriver at that price?

Bryan: $49 isn’t really a lot of money these days. Here in the states it’s about the same cost as a tank of gas for your car. People want Technical Support. People want more features, well that takes money. You’ve got to remember most “freeware” isn’t free at all. Many times the developers put spyware into it and get a few cents per download or worse your email ends up on a spam list. I didn’t want to do that to people.
If it takes someone 100 hours to build you some software, and you pay $49 for it, how much did you get that person’s time for? While most people were watching TV on a Saturday night I was spending time trying to figure this stuff out for them It’s a fair trade in my mind.

360Wire: Have you any other projects in the pipeline for 360 owners which you’d like to tease us with for the moment?

Bryan: I’m spending my time with this one for now.

360Wire: What is your favourite 360 title released so far?

Bryan: I’m a big Battlefield 2 player. I like driving the tanks around. That’s always been my favorite game.

360Wire: What 360 title are you most looking forward to during the 2007 & 2008 period?

Bryan: Probably Halo 3!

360Wire: What games platforms do you personally own, and which do you spend most of your time playing games on?

Bryan: Xbox 360 all the way!

Thanks for your time Bryan.

Posted by Bleem - August 14th, 2007 -