Joystiq tour: Xbox 360 Spring '07 Dashboard update

by Christopher Grant { May 9th 2007 at 11:27AM }

As promised, we updated the old Xbox 360 this morning and in (literally) less than 30 seconds, we were tooling around the Spring '07 Dashboard update, checking out the Marketplace blade and fiddling with the new Windows Live Messenger integration. Everything seemed to work according to plan, except a ghost from our past came back to haunt us: Xbox 360 annoyance number 10.

You see, you can't change the Windows Live ID linked to your gamertag. Like, at all. You just can't do it. You can't do it on their website. You can't call up 1-800-4MY-XBOX and do it. Why? Microsoft says, "Your Windows Live ID credentials are permanently linked to a specific Xbox Live enabled profile. You cannot break this link." This was a minor annoyance before; however, now it's been elevated to a full-blown frustration. Good thing we don't use Windows Messenger at Joystiq HQ.

While we spent time testing out the Windows Live integration, our buds at Engadget tested out the update's enhanced video capabilities. They were pleased to report no trouble playing back several flavors of H.264 and MPEG-4 content, declaring the Xbox 360 the winner in the digital video living room arena (take that AppleTV!). But enough talk, have at our illustrated tour of the Xbox 360 dashboard update:

No. Wait, I meant yeeessssss ...

Wow, that was fast. Seriously, it was so fast we missed snapping a shot of the update bar. Like, 10 seconds max. Note, the first new feature: it displays the game in the tray! Second: "Chat and IM".

Select it and you get a fancy little box with your Gamerscore for that title and the related achievements.

However, no such luxury is available for the chronically forgetful HD-DVD owners out there.

Xbox 1 games have their titles listed as well, with a little silver Xbox-y logo that reminds you, "Hey! This game doesn't have achievements. You should really play something else." Not quite the "image of the game" that we were expecting, but suppose it'll do.

The new Marketplace blade. Everything's neatly stored right here, and easily accessible from it's own blade.

Selecting "Chat and IM" from the Xbox Live blade brings you here. Under Messenger, you can set up a Windows Live Messenger account with your Xbox 360.

"Welcome to the future of online communications." This is it, folks. Everything is different from here on out.

Save password, please!

There it is. But here's the problem. I don't use this email address for anything. It's a dummy address I made when I created my gamertag since, unbeknownst to me and billions of others, you can't change the Live ID you have linked to your gamertag. At all.

The new Messenger tab.

Yeah, I know. Remember, they're all attached to another Windows Live account (namely, my nearly decade-old Hotmail account).

You can enable or disable the auto sign-in feature for Windows Live Messenger. A good thing if you want to prevent friends and co-workers from realizing just how much time you spend playing Catan.

I added a friend to test the service out with: CheapyD from Cheap Ass Gamer.

"Neat. It says ... you are on Xbox 360 Dashboard." That is neat.

Note, the title of the game and my gamertag are listed alongside my entry in Cheapy's Windows Live Messenger window.

Gamepad typing is as laborious as ever. Wondering where that sexy little transparent IM screen they keep showing off is? You'll have to wait for the thumbpad accessory to drop before you can activate it.

Even though his Gamertag is matched to his Windows Live ID ...

... I can't send an IM through this section of the Dashboard.

An IM popping up while in the Dashboard ...

... and in a game.

Promoted all over the Dashboard: new videos explaining all the great new features in the spring update.

We'll keep poking around. Anything incredible we managed to gloss over?

Tags: dashboardupdate, tour, XboxLive

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

sheppy @ May 9th 2007 11:35AM

Wow, thanks for the tour. Looks like I'm logging into Xbox Live tonight...

AJ Vaynerchuk @ May 9th 2007 11:37AM

The dashboard update is awesome! I especially like how the windows live messenger system was integrated into the 360. This will take online gaming to a whole new level!

------------------------------------------
AJ Vaynerchuk
Founder: WiiTube
http://www.wiitube.com
Check out the WiiTube Blog!
http://blog.wiitube.com
Check out WiiTube Games!
http://www.wiitube.com/games

qbix @ May 9th 2007 11:37AM

You finally can adjust black/reference levels :)

JodyAnthony @ May 9th 2007 11:37AM

haha, that SotN reference always gets me

rom @ May 9th 2007 11:43AM

Wow..I am loving this update to death. Marketplace section seems to load a lot faster for me. And switching to the dashboard from a game seems faster as well.

Norm @ May 9th 2007 11:46AM

I'm totally stoked with both this and the Double Dragon release. What I am NOT stoked about-

Ever since the update, my xbox 360 produces no audio. no sound effects save the fan inside the console. Major Bummer!

Ross @ May 9th 2007 11:47AM

Don't forget to activate low-power downloading in the system options, its under the auto-shutdown tab.

ncxcstud @ May 9th 2007 11:48AM

If you go to the windows life account settings page, can't you change the e-mail address linked to your live ID? I did...and I still have the option of changing my e-mail to anything i want.

LongshotX @ May 9th 2007 11:48AM

Is it me or are downloads a tad bit faster?

some pirate @ May 10th 2007 5:03PM

I read this instead of going up to my room and looking at it myself. Man, am I lazy.

Malleus @ May 9th 2007 12:00PM

actually you are wrong about the blaok translucent box, you dont have to wait for the TID, if you plug up a USB keyboard you can bring it up by pressing the windows key + M

cas @ May 9th 2007 12:02PM

Up until now having a child's account was not a big deal to me. The only noticeable annoyance was the lack of "Featured Downloads" in Marketplace. Now however, they have a real problem on their hands. If you have a child's account you cannot use texting. I can legally join a military branch, be trained how to use a automatic weapon to kill, and kill myself with cigarettes; I cannot however use a texting service on something called Xbox Live! I love Xbox Live and what it has done for online gaming, but this is just outrageous.

Thank You,
A disgruntled Live user

Alex @ May 9th 2007 12:03PM

So quick question. What happens if you're signed into MSN from a computer? Does it kick you off your computer or just give you an error?

Justin Winchester @ May 9th 2007 12:03PM

Chris you can change your email address here: https://account.live.com/ChangeId.aspx?mkt=en-us&rp=SettingsPage

Jake @ May 9th 2007 12:04PM

cas,
get an adult account.

I hope Longshot and the other guy are right about faster downloading and screen changes. Once minor annoyance with Live I've had is there is a brief but noticeable pause when switching menus. I've always felt that shouldn't take as long.

veediot @ May 9th 2007 12:05PM

I don't know why you continue to spread false information after you were corrected in the comments to your last article multiple times. What you want to do is change the EMAIL ADDRESS associated with your PASSPORT. You absolutely CAN do this, as was pointed out to you before, or you would have discovered on your own if you had made any effort to do so.

As was pointed out in the comments of your last article, you can change your e-mail address here:

https://accountservices.passport.net/uiChangeName.srf?lc=1033

Justin @ May 9th 2007 12:07PM

Good find on bring up the overlay box! You can't do anything with that box up though...

Leshrac @ May 9th 2007 12:09PM

Can anyone confirm whether Combo HD-DVDs now work? I have yet to have one work in my 360 HD-DVD player.

-Leshrac
http://alinktothefuture.com

Malleus @ May 9th 2007 12:11PM

@16

You should be able to type in the box and use the Windows key + arrows to switch between convos...that not working for you?

C. Grant @ May 9th 2007 12:11PM

Justin, thanks for the note! Here's what it reports when I try to do that:

"Your Windows Live ID can't be changed
Your Windows Live ID can't be changed at this time."

Veediot, that link gives me this error:
"You can't change this e-mail address, because it belongs to a reserved domain such as live.com, hotmail.com, msn.com or passport.com. If you want to use a different e-mail address, you can sign up for a new account."

I don't want to sign up for a new account. I have an existing Hotmail account that I've used for a decade. I have a buddy list that I (admittedly rarely) use, attached to that account.

So, I'm "spreading false information" how, veediot?

Martin @ May 9th 2007 12:14PM

Just tried background downloading, pretty sweet. You just turn off the box like usual and it continues to download with the only indication being the inside ring lights up once in a while.

portorikan @ May 9th 2007 12:15PM

Actually, you can't change your email address. It won't let me. It might have something to do with how old the email address is. Mine is roughly 8 or so years old. If you've had yours that long and have been able to change it, I'd like to know. Otherwise, it doesn't work (that, and for some stupid reason, Microsoft insists that one use Internet Explorer. Are you serious?)

Justin @ May 9th 2007 12:18PM

Since I've never used Messenger before, I have no buddies... Anyone one help me beef up my buddy list? jayman16@gmail.com Thanks.

Justin @ May 9th 2007 12:20PM

I wonder why it won't let you change...

Malleus @ May 9th 2007 12:23PM

I added you Justin, you appear offline currently though.

Justin @ May 9th 2007 12:25PM

I just tried to change my old Hotmail account and I can't do it, like Chris said. But my new Passport account (gmail) is no problem. Lucky for me that I changed email addresses when I got a Gmail invite a few years ago... That sux Chris, can you export/import your buddy list?

ForbidenMaster @ May 9th 2007 12:26PM

@All who wish to change their email address.

If the email address is @hotmail.com, msn.com etc. (anything that automatically makes a Live ID) you cant change the email address. However, if you used an email address from AOL, Yahoo, etc. (anything that doesnt automatically make a Live ID) then you can change the email address with no problem.

@C. Grant

Yes it sucks, and the only workaround is to add all of your contacts on your main email address to your "dummy" email address.

@The "Even though his Gamertag is matched to his Windows Live ID ..." section of the walkthrough.

Press Y

@Alex

It doesnt sign you off if you are signed in in another location.

@The "Promoted all over the Dashboard: new videos explaining all the great new features in the spring update." section

This will revolutionize ads on the dashboard. Now instead of just a banner ad they can add full video ads to the dashboard that will will "progresavly download (AKA: stream)."

This update is SWEET!!!!

ForbidenMaster @ May 9th 2007 12:35PM

@The "We'll keep poking around. Anything incredible we managed to gloss over?" section.

If a friend is joinable it now shows an arrow next to the "man" on your friends lists.

If you select a storage device under "Memory" in the system blade, there is now an option to press X to show things you might wish to delete

Most items in the marketplace now show up in the "Video marketplace format" with info about the demo/game/video/download on the right hand side.

In the "Xbox Live Arcade" section under the games blade you now have an option to view friends who are playing arcade games. This view shows their gamertag, what game they are playing, their status in the game, and it *may* show whether or not they are joinable.

If you signed into messenger, online status has options for messenger as well as Xbox Live status (online, busy, aprear offline, etc.)

As stated above, black level functionality to fix VGA "washed out" issues.

There are a couple of other things that are out there, but I dont fully recall them at this time.

mexpsutti @ May 9th 2007 5:10PM

Well being in the military and being out of country now I can not download TV shows. I have a valid US address with us credit cards but now since I live out of country I can not watch South Park or CSI, DOH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zepolcire @ May 9th 2007 12:41PM

What I want to know is how I change the name that is displayed. I think its a different issue than others are having here. I am using the right email account, and my Gamertag is fine. But when I am signed into the Messenger stuff on the Xbox, it is showing an old display name I havent used in years. How do I change that?

ipodfanboy @ May 9th 2007 12:58PM

dang it would havee been nice if microsoft added msn internet to support xboxlive for the spring update. IT really would have been a sweet treat if they added internet support to xboxlive. The update is ok but damn microsoft give us online browsing already.

ForbidenMaster @ May 9th 2007 12:52PM

@Zepolcire

Sign into messenger on your computer. In mesenger go to Tools> Options...> and under "My Display Name" change it to the display name you wish to have.

ForbidenMaster @ May 9th 2007 1:04PM

@ipodfanboy

MS says that they tried that before and it simply doesnt work (ie: its crap and its easier to use on the PC). Have you ever used WebTV or the PS3/Wii browser? Do you honestly think that its worth it to use either of them over a PC? Web Browser on a TV is nice and gimiky, and for surfing the web its a lot better to use a PC.

Zepolcire @ May 9th 2007 1:04PM

@ ForbidenMaster

Ya it's different there. It's the one I want the 360 to show. Maybe it will just take somet time to populate or something.

Pcenginefx @ May 9th 2007 1:16PM

Digital Video Essentials HD-DVD STILL does not run on the HD-DVD player even after it was promised that a fix would be in with this update....ARG!

ForbidenMaster @ May 9th 2007 1:18PM

@All who wish to change their emial address

Q: The email address assigned to my Xbox LIVE account is different to the email address I use on my PC for Windows LIVE messenger. Is there a way for me to still access my messenger account?
A: Not at this time. We are working on the ability to allow users to change the email address they originally used when signing up for Xbox Live. The feature will be available in an upcoming release

Via http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2007/05/09/some-dashboard-messenger-questions-answered.aspx

Bomb Jack @ May 9th 2007 1:44PM

my 360 wont load up back up copies now they played fine yesterday b4 the update

Ptaaty @ May 9th 2007 1:38PM

Apparently the HD-DVD update, with options for midnight mode for DD and DD+ (currently stuck on...hence the maginal compressed sound), options for DTS 1.5 encoding for transmission, and compatibility fixes....is a seperate update, due I believe later this week or the next according to the discussion at AVSforum.com

MthdDirector @ May 9th 2007 1:42PM

Chris- I've had the same problem with my passport.net account. I had it linked to my yahoo email. Then I got the bright idea to get a hotmail account, so that I could change my passport ID to it.

that was a big mistake, because you can't change credentials to an existing hotmail account.... only to a new one. I've closed the hotmail account and now I'm waiting 6-9 months before I can get it again.

Word to the wise: if you want to change credentials to a new hotmail account... do NOT create the hotmail account first. It won't work.

jabbertrack @ May 9th 2007 1:45PM

The misinformation is pretty widespread even some MS employees don't know you can change your Live ID's associated email.

It's just plain wrong

The links in this very comment section do indeed work. It's what I used to change my Live ID quite some time ago and it IS INDEED associated with my gamertag.

I moved from Hotmail to GMail and now my Gamertag is tied to my GMail account.

It may be the same LiveID but the way MESSENGER works is based off your email address.

Lewis @ May 9th 2007 1:44PM

Nice. Thanks.

jabbertrack @ May 9th 2007 1:55PM

Chris,

You don't get this page?

http://picasaweb.google.com/mikedbailey/None/photo#5062620743328333794

Arno @ May 9th 2007 1:55PM

The whole interface seems snappier! This is by far the best improvement in my book! No more waiting 2 seconds for the damn blade from the left to roll in and out! Thank you MS!! :)

:D

ill trooper @ May 9th 2007 2:03PM

"Have you ever used WebTV or the PS3/Wii browser? Do you honestly think that its worth it to use either of them over a PC? Web Browser on a TV is nice and gimiky, and for surfing the web its a lot better to use a PC. - Forb.Master"

This may be true, but it's not an excuse to avoid including it. I have the Wii hooked up to our TV in the main area of our apartment, and it's cool to call up YouTube videos on the main TV rather than have people crowd around my girlfriend's laptop or come into my office to watch something on a PC.

For the record, the PS3's browser is very capable and supports multiple windows, etc... I use it to test the way web pages I'm working on look on another browser.

sheppy @ May 9th 2007 2:25PM

"For the record, the PS3's browser is very capable and supports multiple windows, etc... I use it to test the way web pages I'm working on look on another browser."

It has to be said here as well. The autozoom feature? Fucking rocks! I brought up youtube, click R3 over the video... Zoom, that bastard is centered and zoomed on my screen. Haven't tested website changes though. Of course I'm completely overhauling my old, old, old, ooooold portfolio site so I'll be finding out soon enough.

mike @ May 9th 2007 2:32PM

where do you find all those pormotional videoa about the new update like in the last screenshot posted by joystiq here? I cant seem to find them anywhere, and my dashboard as no advertisments of the new features. I want to watch them because these MSN thing is confusing me, I cannot get any little black boxes to appear like I saw in all those screenshots, just I get a message notification when some1 sends me a text

Bryan T @ May 9th 2007 2:39PM

Jabbertrack,

we do get that page. But when we select to use our own email adress, we cannot, because our hotmail address is tied to our live account. Once again, here is the error message from that page.

"You can't change this e-mail address, because it belongs to a reserved domain such as live.com, hotmail.com, msn.com or passport.com. If you want to use a different e-mail address, you can sign up for a new account."