
We
called it! Microsoft has confirmed the worldwide street date for the Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard Update: tomorrow, October 31. The update will incorporate roughly 85 changes (down from
Spring's 125 features and fixes), most notably:
- 1080p output
- HD-DVD support
- XNA functionality
- WMV compatibility (streamed from PC; or read from discs or USB storage devices)
- Auto-downloads for new Arcade demos
WMV's are a start, but we want DivX & XviD support. And still no web browser? (The other guys will have 'em.) Strange. So what else is missing from the update? Anything still broke? Tell us.
(Page 1) Reader Comments
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Still some nice changes
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Here's a crazy trick I use. Go to altavista babelfish (if you can), put in the site you want to see, and translate from chinese to english. Since there is no chinese, it acts as a proxy server and gets around your work blockage.
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Complete Dashboard Update Feature List
New Features
HD 1080p video mode support over VGA and component cables.
Xbox 360™ HD DVD Player support.
Stream WMV video from a Windows PC running Windows Media Player 11, Zune software, or Windows Media Connect.
Play video from storage devices such as USB flash drives, Xbox 360 Memory Units, etc.
Play video from CD or DVD data discs.
Xbox 360 Wireless Headset support, including battery level indicator in the Xbox Guide.
Video support for 50 Hz HDTV modes (DVD and HD DVD only).
Xbox 360 Wireless Racing Wheel support.
Set up automatic downloads of newly released Xbox Live Arcade trial games.
Support for upcoming release of XNA Game Studio Express (separate download and subscription required.)
Stream music, pictures and video from a Zune device.
Xbox Live Arcade
Lightning-fast enumeration and listing of all Xbox Live® Arcade games on the console.
Find games quickly with two new sort options: Recently Played and By Category.
Have all new Xbox Live Arcade games at the ready with auto downloads. Auto downloads optionally adds newly released trial versions of games to active downloads when you enter Xbox Live Arcade.
View full achievement info in Xbox Live Arcade, including icons, achievement point details, and descriptions.
Friends leaderboard: Compare yourself with friends and view leaderboard details right from the Xbox dashboard.
Tell a friend: Send a message to a friend about your newest favorite Xbox Live Arcade game.
DVD Player
Optionally disable notifications from Xbox Live while watching DVD movies.
Improved support for audio streams on incorrectly authored DVDs.
Better handling of unreadable discs.
Updated count-down timer.
HD DVD player support.
Added zoom support for non-anamorphic content.
Added support to Family Settings to block Unrated Content
Video Player
Improved support for extended all black scenes in WMV content.
Added support for Windows Media Video 9 Advanced profile video.
Screen saver now becomes active when videos are paused.
Now shares UI and player controls with DVD player.
Improved video playback while downloading from Xbox Live.
Added skip controls (forward approx. 30 seconds, back approx. 7 seconds).
Improved messaging around unplayable video content.
Added time elapsed and time remaining displays.
Improved playback of high bit-rate HD content on fragmented hard drives.
Improved visual quality of video playback.
Added selectable display modes: default and letterbox zoom.
Localization
New locale setting for China
Improved German translations in console settings.
Improved German translations in memory area.
Improved Japanese translations in Family Settings.
Added localized text for all supported languages in pictures area
Improved Spanish translations in camera effects.
Improved locale-specific decimal denominators.
Added localization support for title menu and main menu in the DVD player.
Added localization support for “Attempting to Read Media” system message.
Memory Area
Added support for Xbox 360 HD DVD Player content..
Added new page for viewing content size by category.
Other System Improvements
Updated support for new Daylight Savings changes coming in 2007.
Improved support for games to better handle host migration in multi-player matches.
Improved Xbox Live Vision camera support for changing room lighting while zooming.
Background downloaded videos appear in video area
Improved Xbox Live Vision camera support while using VGA.
Playing photo slideshows from PC now maintains picture folder hierarchy.
Improved user experience when playing and deleting videos from the Games or Media areas.
Improved handling of invalid characters during Xbox Live signup.
Better handling of watermarks in gamer cards.
Improved text for Windows Media Connect..
Improved UI performance in Media Center Extender
Improved connection support for Buffalo WZR-G108 wireless router when using Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter.
Redownload of deleted Arcade Games no longer re-enumerates all games on the Arcade page.
Improved visual display of text in themes.
Improved support for CD playback after signing up for Xbox Live and losing network connectivity.
Improved support for long names of items memory area.
Improved handling of gamer pictures downloaded from Xbox Live.
Improved background download notifications when downloading many small items from Xbox Live.
Improved support for custom backgrounds after returning to the Xbox Dashboard from the Account Management area.
Improved network reliability between Windows Media Center Extender on Windows Vista and Xbox 360 consoles using Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter.
Improved voice chat quality in Xbox Dashboard and in-game chats.
Improved messaging when failing to connect to Windows Media Center Extender.
Improved USB keyboard support when using a USB hub.
Improved consistency of user experience when deleting various types of content.
Improved handling of low storage space for background downloads.
Improved handling of Picture streaming from attached Digital Cameras over MTP protocol
Improved error messaging for optional iPod support download when storage devices are full.
Improved handling of multi-key repeating for USB keyboards.
Expanded Family Settings to include support for blocking unrated DVDs and videos.
Added ability to clear space from storage devices in download areas.
Added support for low-speed and full-speed USB keyboards.
Improved CapsLock behavior for USB keyboards.
Improved look and feel in Xbox Live Marketplace and Xbox Live Arcade areas.
Added redeem code option to Xbox Live signup.
Removed system message at the start of new downloads. Messages will be displayed for completed items.
Added support for CCV credit card validation field in Xbox Live Marketplace purchase areas.
Updated “More Information” instructions in the Xbox Dashboard for connecting an Xbox 360 console to a Windows PC to stream digital media content.
Added auto-scroll to long text descriptions in Xbox Dashboard UI.
Improved support for DVD insertion while playing a video file.
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I read that the update will be included in the next issue of OXM. Sure, it'll cost you, but its not too much $$ for a mag, some demos, and 1080p support.
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It depends on what that means. It was a little annoying durring the "Bringing it home" stuff when they would release tons of content, to have to scroll all the way down, select a file, download it, press continue, then have to re-select it, then scroll all the way down again.
Would also be nice for a prettier Marketplace UI.. i have to admit, i've already been spoiled by the Playstation Network's interfaces.
and finally, to #12.... If I'm not mistaken, you have the option of downloading it from Xbox.com, burning it to a CD ROM, and installing the update like that.
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Im not sure about the game but it should be in next months editions of the official magazines
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Instead of clicking "continue", hit the "B" button for cancel after you que the item for DL. It'll take you right back to the previous menu. I used to have the same problem till I started doing that
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"Banning xbox360s due to finding FW hack...." ;)
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Will anything ever match the power of XBMC?
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What? How would it make sense when they support MP3 playback and WMV playback?
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acording to MS's site, the 360 does support Mpeg2
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/925916/en-us
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Can someone do a "how you convert media" post? I know Videora is out there but I'm a little sketchy on the details.
"Optionally disable notifications from Xbox Live while watching DVD movies." - This is big for me personally because my wife and kids aren't really all that interested in knowing when my friends log on.
"Improved support for extended all black scenes in WMV content." You mean I can watch the Halo 3 trailer again?!? Yay!! That little white square near the end of the trailer drove me nuts. It ruined the experience every time. And yes I know I'm a dork for saying "experience" about a video game trailer.
How about fixing the music player? The way this thing handles (or doesn't handle) playlists is just plain dumb. They should just mesh rockbox into the media player and call it a day.
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"Play video from storage devices such as USB flash drives, Xbox 360 Memory Units, etc."
I wonder if that means I will be able to watch movies from my iPod. That would be really nice.
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To each his own, I suppose.
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Excuse me.
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If they can sort out licensing issues, I’m sure we’ll see more formats added at a later date.
@11. Your kidding, right? WMA isn’t used for anything?
Most sites I visit have the option of QuickTime (which MS can’t use, apple owns it), realmedia (obviously real only lets real-player play it) and good old Windows Media (WMA). Even most *cough*adult*cough* sites have WMA as an option.
Not having DivX is an annoyance, but I’m sure you can figure out how to convert it.
@35 They improved USB keyboard support, they didn’t add it. There were issues with specific brands, and issues for anyone running a keyboard via a USB hub. Looks like MS have sorted out those issues.
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Cool, long needed. I'm interested in whether it's as good as the original Xbox now, that would be nice.
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they came so close to not actually screwing the pooch. now all the whiners who didn't actually shell out for Media Center can stream video using Connect or WMP11 but no-one can stream the content we actually wanted.
what fucking garbage.
although did anyone notice it states directly 1080P VIDEO SUPPORT OVER COMPONENT? (not just VGA?)
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if you use media center to stream you hd tv ax xvid download transcode 360. this program on the fly will convert the file to the right file type to be played. this i have for months used to watch unsupported video files. and it takes seconds for videos to start playing. check it out. might help ya out if your using media center
and yes being able to watch a video with out having to startup meida center is a blast now. good move ms.
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sorry you feel that way i love transcode 360
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What you have to do to eliminate that problem with the Halo 3 announcement trailer is re-download it. They released a new version (under the same name) on marketplace that wasn't affected by the fall update ages ago ;)
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Don't hold your breath. As per CSS regulations, manufacturers are NOT PERMITTED to upconvert DVD video over component. Microsoft may scale video over VGA, but they are REQUIRED to change to 480i or 480P when playing DVD video over component cables.
Very few upconverting DVD players upconvert over component out-of-the-box for this reason. However, there are hacks for some players that enable upconversion over component (just like there are hacks for making DVD players region-free).
More info:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/06/20/ask-hd-beat-dvd-upconverting-over-component/
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Makes me consider running my 360 over VGA if I get a 1080p TV. Hmm....
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I agree with the Major and Peter that web on my gaming console is a waste of my time. I would be interested in Live RSS Feed support, but I’d rather have my Xbox dedicated to running games.
@45
Most interesting comments ever.
I wonder how many MAC users out there are annoyed at not being able to share media. I never even considered that before now. While it’s obvious why MS would only support Windows, I can’t see why it’d be hard to communicate with the MAC OS.
Is the MAC able to run Media Player 11? If so, would that allow you to share data?
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Also, I think that adding RSS abilities, if done well, would be 100% more useful than a stinkin' browser.
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