Microsoft to unveil higher-end Xbox 360

According to Dean Takahashi, the, ahem, dean of the Xbox beat, Microsoft is getting ready to launch a brand new edition of its video game console, the so-called Xbox 360 Elite.

Takahashi, the author of behind-the-scenes books about both the Xbox and the sequel, wrote in his San Jose Mercury News column Saturday night that the new console will go on sale soon for $479 and will feature some new, more advanced tools.

Microsoft isn't saying what the details are, Takahashi wrote, adding that he thinks the Xbox 360 elite will sport an HDMI connector, a 120 gigabyte hard drive and IPTV capabilities, but seemingly not a built-in HD DVD player.

Takahashi did qualify his predictions by saying that Microsoft had declined to confirm the details and suggesting his information had come from several sources.