The New New New Xbox Experience Halo4 Dash

[FelixofMars]

Hang on I thought this is the reason they said they needed to shut off the original Xbox LIVE.

Major Nelson's just posted on Twatter that it isn't true

[Spatial]

I think it was only part of the reason - the audio codec was the other thing (amongst a load of other backend stuff no doubt)

His comment says that it's not coming as part of the update but that seems carefully worded to me. Doesn't rule out that it's coming at some point, but I really don't expect it to hit the 1000 mark whenever it happens.

[MJ]

For the loss of original Xbox support to improve Live, I would like to see more than just a new audio codec and bigger friends list. I would rather have Halo 2 back than those.

[eastyy]

question for people using the beta so far seems ok but wanted to ask as my connection is rubbish now but can you now download stuff off live while playing a game at the same time ?

[Flabio]

You've been able to do that for ages. It stops if the game you're playing needs the connection though (so you can't background download while playing Halo Reach Deathmatch, but you can if you're just playing a bit of single player Fallout 3)

[EvilBoris]

You've been able to do that for like 4 years providing the game isn't online (ie multiplayer mode) at the time

[eastyy]

thats odd every time i have been downloading something and then went to play a game single player said download for demo/game stopped

[Synthesthesia]

You signed up for a Beta - what were you expecting?

Well, previous Beta's I've been in don't update like 4 times for no particular reason?

Kinda wish I hadn't entered it, the new dash isn't nice IMO. The new Xbox Guide is blinding too if you're on a dark game, say limbo, beforehand.

Also, I know you can skip it, it's just stupid that it repeats it every time you update. If you're totally new to the 360 I can understand it. But it's about the 5th time it's tried to show me it.

I just said it was annoying, which it is.

Saying that, nowhere hear as bad as PS3's huge updates...

[Lyris]

Yeah, it's easy to skip really.

I think I prefer the old dashboard, though. This one is a little too bright and garish.

[averybluemonkey]

For the loss of original Xbox support to improve Live, I would like to see more than just a new audio codec and bigger friends list. I would rather have Halo 2 back than those.

As Spatial mentioned a big reason it will have been done is for backend/internal reasons. They said this time they were building a modular/extensible framework that would be easier to maintain for future backwards compatibility. Basicly at some point they'd have to make the cutoff to allow future maintainability and expansion of the service, not specifically just to change the codec. It had to happen sometime and the sooner you do it the easier the pain for the developers.

[Spatial]

Well, previous Beta's I've been in don't update like 4 times for no particular reason?

...

I just said it was annoying, which it is.

I didn't disagree, I'm sure it is. But you pretty much waved your right to complain about this sort of issue when you signed up to something which made you the digital equivalent of a lab rat.

Just because you can't see any changes from the updates doesn't mean there isn't. They might be minor or changes to the back end stuff to help things along. They're obviously making changes based on the feedback of participants, or issues which they've noticed ahead of the general roll out.

The other beta's had two or three updates as things went along ahead of launch, this one was never going to be any different.

[EvilBoris]

I'm actually quite accustomed to this new dash, can't remember what the olde one looked like. I quite like the angularness of it, but the white on black takes a little while to get used to

[Daragon]

thats odd every time i have been downloading something and then went to play a game single player said download for demo/game stopped

Does that with me too, still it's not as bad as my PS3 though which will halt a download as soon as I load anything, whether it's a game or not.

[EvilBoris]

thats odd every time i have been downloading something and then went to play a game single player said download for demo/game stopped

Some games (particuarly ones with drop in/out co-op or very online reliant games) Crackdown/Fable2 spring to mind , it will drop your download in favour of the game.

[Synthesthesia]

I didn't disagree, I'm sure it is. But you pretty much waved your right to complain about this sort of issue when you signed up to something which made you the digital equivalent of a lab rat.

Just because you can't see any changes from the updates doesn't mean there isn't. They might be minor or changes to the back end stuff to help things along. They're obviously making changes based on the feedback of participants, or issues which they've noticed ahead of the general roll out.

The other beta's had two or three updates as things went along ahead of launch, this one was never going to be any different.

How did I wave any right to complain? I'm not holding microsoft accountable for it or trying to claim compensation- I'm just saying on a forum that it's annoying. And considering you said you didn't disagree I don't see your point? I'm not entitled to be annoyed by something I chose? I didn't sign some document saying "As part of this Beta, I agree to love everything that microsoft has done with it and in no way complain about any part of it."

And I seem to remember the old beta updating too, but it wasn't with the frequency I've had updates in the past 3 or 4 days. I think 3 of them have been in that time period. I'm sure they do change SOMETHING but as an end user I haven't personally noticed that. Nothing's speeded up, looks different or performs any better in my experience.