my prediction:
- diskless, SSD medium & online content
- SSD medium writable, hence save games or console ID lock will be possible
- external dvd drive sold separately for backward compatibility of x
360 games
- new controller that can provide feedback to kinect, something like ps move or wii u + kinect
- 2014 launch

if i got more than 50% correct then u guys belanja me kfc

we shall wait n see...
no doubt they want to eliminate 2nd hand games, but to totally ignore the backward compatibility is a grave mistake.
if i already had a library of xbox360 games, to buy a new console that cant play it i'll have a second thought,
but if the new console is backward compatible with my old games? then i'll quickly get the new one to replace my old console.
elimination of 2nd hand games cant start with current gen games, as the infra n mentality is not there yet
but for next gen then its possible

I'm willing to bet my both nuts that MS won't go for bluray

there is no way MS will be paying royalties to their biggest console competitor
for each bluray disk/drive, MS will have to pay a certain amount to Sony, which will be laughing all the way to the bank

either MS develop a new optical media (which is very unlikely), or just stick with the current SSD technology, which is getting cheaper, writable, and fast (doesn't need installation anymore!)

wait n see who owns whose nuts first

hello~~~??? why everyone still think disk based? SSD? anyone heard of that?
advantage of SSD,
- waaay faster and more dynamic storage compared to disk based
- no more scratched disk
- quieter and cooler console
- no more installation required, as the game will run faster on SSD than normal HDD
- writable (console ID lock, gamer ID lock, patches, save games, DLC and the list goes on)
- difficult and expensive to pirate
- lesser R&D required for new media, they just need to create their SSD format with existing SSD technology

only downside for now is the cost vs disk based.

LOL you call that confirmation?

this is internet man, everything must be true！

MS won't be able swallow their pride by adapting a technology from enemy camp,
plus current direction is for entertainment machine like you say,
putting a bluray drive into it is the least effective way of generating revenue
as MS will have to pay royalties for each bluray drive, plus there's no profit (to MS) from the user playing bluray movie using the console.
revenue will only came in from hardware sales, which takes a long long time to break even

but for the VOD or cable services like HBO, UFC, netflix... MS do get a share of the profits from those service supplier
and it's way more flexible to add or remove a service, and almost any bluray content can be found on VOD service.