(rumour) Fall update list (inc Xvid)

[EvilBoris]

It's certainly more useful than not having it at all though. I frequently use my 360 and transcode 360 for watching videos. I could burn them to CD and watch them on my TV player or I could connect MY PC to my TV, but both of those are a major hassle compared to streaming it.

[Vince]

I could care less about DivX on the 360. The console's just far too noisy to be considered as a media player.

Its ok if you use noise cancelling headphones.

[Kotatsu Neko]

I could care less about DivX on the 360. The console's just far too noisy to be considered as a media player.

I find it too useful as a media player to live without. The fan noise is mildly annoying at times, but rarely more than that.

[egparadigm]

All I want is... the option to turn off all other notifications except achievements and I'll be happy.

Amen to that!

* XBLA demos deleted from "Played Games" and Gamercard lists

Hello!!!!! Ding, ding, ding - right answer!

[El Leone]

Apparantly, the next list of updates is coming in about 5 mins. I'll post here when its out.

[ChrisF]

XBOX Live Arcade Hits sounds good. Oh wait, you havent posted it yet...

[ChrisF]

Here it is:

Xbox 360 Introduces New Features and Console Enhancements with the 2007 Fall Dashboard Update

Free system update hits connected consoles worldwide on Dec. 4; Xbox Originals, Family Timer and more available through download

As promised, Microsoft is bringing some early gifts to your Xbox 360 just prior to the holiday season. Beginning at 0200 a.m. PST on Dec. 4, the Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard Update will be available for all connected Xbox 360 consoles free of charge, bringing an array of new features and enhancements to the leading gaming and entertainment system.

Among the key new enhancements are the previously announced Xbox Originals game download service, Family Timer parental control feature, and expanded social networking experiences. Xbox 360 owners can also look forward to enhanced navigation, profile and video features and Xbox LIVE Arcade Hits.

This free update will be digitally distributed over Xbox LIVE to the more than 8 million Xbox LIVE members worldwide (Xbox LIVE Silver and Gold) with no disc or hard drive required. Gamers without an Xbox LIVE account can easily sign up for the free network by connecting their console to a broadband internet connection. New features and enhancements include:

MORE DOWNLOAD OPTIONS:

* Xbox Originals – With this new service, announced on Nov. 13, consumers can download-to-own full original Xbox games that were previously only available at retail. The digital shelves will always be stocked with classic titles, such as “Crash Bandicoot: Wrath of Cortex” “Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge,” “Halo,” “Fable,” “Fuzion Frenzy,” “Psychonauts,” and more as the catalogue grows over time, at 1200 Microsoft Points per game.

· Xbox LIVE Arcade Hits – On Xbox LIVE Arcade, the Arcade Hits program kicks off where some of the best selling Xbox LIVE Arcade games will become available at permanently reduced prices, making it easier than ever for everyone to build a library of downloadable games! The first games to become Arcade Hits will be “Bankshot Billiards 2” and “Lumines LIVE,” which will be available for 800 Microsoft Points each, and “Marble Blast Ultra,” “Small Arms” and “Zuma Deluxe,” which will be available for 400 Microsoft Points each. With free trial downloads for every game and over 100 games to choose from, Xbox LIVE Arcade offers something for every member of the family.

NEW WAYS TO KEEP UP TO DATE AND CONNECTED:

· Inside Xbox – A new direct feed brings current news straight from Xbox.com into the Xbox LIVE Dashboard providing members an easy, predictable entry point where they can discover what's new in: game releases, events, and Xbox LIVE Marketplace offers.



· Enhanced online profile – Members interested in sharing a few more details about themselves will have the option to go beyond their motto and further personalize their profile with an expanded bio. The extended bios will be visible to “Friends Only” or the entire Xbox LIVE community.



· Expanded Friends List access – A quick and easy way for gamers to expand their personal community on Xbox LIVE, members will be able to see the Friends Lists of other Xbox LIVE members, boosting their social networking experience on the service.



ENHANCED OVERALL EXPERIENCE AND CONTROL:

* Enhanced Parental Controls – Family Timer, a strong and flexible new addition to the Xbox 360 Family Settings, enables parents to set the amount of time their Xbox 360 can be used on a per-day or per-week basis by their children or other members of the household.


* New video features – The convenience of full-screen movie previews and enhanced video codec support further expand the options when it comes to the Xbox 360 entertainment experience.


· Easy-to-use navigation features – With several noteworthy changes in the Xbox LIVE Dashboard, from the new Game Store button to the Video Store button to enhanced visuals and descriptions in the video library, Xbox LIVE members can find what they want, when they want it.


These features are just some of the new enhancements Xbox 360 owners can expect as part of the Fall Dashboard Update. On December 4th a list of all the new features and improvements will be posted at: http://www.xbox.com/live.

[El Leone]

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3164648

Let's get the biggest news out of the way for the videophiles: Xbox 360 now supports MPEG-4, which means the box now plays both DivX and XviD files without a hitch. 1UP tested almost every variation of the format possible, including high-definition content as high as 1080P.

Also new to this update is a completely re-designed and re-thought layout of the Xbox Live Marketplace. You can scope the video evidence yourself below -- and check out the Game Videos walkthrough hosted by myself and David Ellis for the complete audio/visual experience through the new dashboard -- but the marketplace has essentially adopted a XBM-esque tab scheme for scrolling through content. Games, Arcade, Demos, Xbox Originals, Free Stuff (finally!), Videos, Movies, TV Shows and Music Videos are all individual tabs in the store, immediately and seamlessly changeable (no loading) by flicking the left analog.

Xbox Live Arcade hasn't changed much in this update, albeit Microsoft is now introducing a "Greatest Hits" line for the service entitled Xbox Live Arcade Hits. Bankshot Billiards 2 and Lumines Live launch the service at 800 Microsoft Points each, with Marble Blast Ultra, Small Arms and Zuma Deluxe coming in at 400 Microsoft Points each. Requirements for coming onto Xbox Live Arcade Hits are being a top-seller on the marketplace and publisher approval. If a game's selling hot and the publisher doesn't want to drop the price, they don't have to.

On the same blade, Microsoft has introduced an RSS feed-influenced "Inside Xbox" that features varying kinds of daily content. One daily feature looks to be the Major Minute, a Major Nelson-hosted minute-long show that actually runs through a live stream, rather than requiring an actual download.

In the games section, they've also completely overhauled the games library with the same stylization as the marketplace, allowing you to navigate through a number of different tabs: All Games, Arcade, Demos, Recently Downloaded and Recently Played. The streamlined interface makes it far easier to delete items than ever before, though Microsoft still refuses to incorporate a "select all." Grr. Under the Games Library, there's also a brand-new "Friends Playing Now" tab, which performs its function exactly as described, allowing you to see a list of your friends playing games at the time.

Video inside.

Edit: chirrsss fieeeelld :@

[EvilBoris]

Come on DIVX, you know you wanna.

*EDIT* You DO wanna! YAY!

[randombs]

i was all omg about divx/xvid then i realised i'll still be using my xbox as i don't want to stream stuff (on my network it's just crap, and i'm running on 54a too) nor burn discs.

ah well, it'd be good just to have it but looks like the xbox is still taking pride of place under my telly

[Kotatsu Neko]

XVID native playback on the 360? Could it be true?

I think my head just exploded.

[sj33]

Long since moved onto x264/AAC encoded .mkv's myself, but this is still excellent news.

[Kotatsu Neko]

Long since moved onto x264/AAC encoded .mkv's myself, but this is still excellent news.

I've tried several times to convert these type of files from matroska containers, to MP4 containers (as the 360 supports MP4 files). I've never been able to do it though, even with video (H.264) and audio (2 channel AAC) that theoretically *should* work...

[EvilBoris]

Improved Deinterlacer support!
Does this mean that animation won't look like balls anymore?

[sj33]

I've tried several times to convert these type of files from matroska containers, to MP4 containers (as the 360 supports MP4 files). I've never been able to do it though, even with video (H.264) and audio (2 channel AAC) that theoretically *should* work...

The 360 is exceptionally picky with H.264 .mp4 files, very fussy about the video specification. It's never read any of my H.264 .mp4 files.

The answer is the re-encode to a 360-liking spec, but it's not really the point.