XBox 360 Dashboard update

[Bunk]

2007 Fall Dashboard Update
Published November 30, 2007

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 December 4, 2007, 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 eight million Xbox LIVE members worldwide (Xbox LIVE Silver and Gold) with no disc or hard drive required. If you don't have an Xbox LIVE account, you can easily sign up for the free network by connecting your console to a broadband Internet connection. New features and enhancements include:

MORE DOWNLOAD OPTIONS

Xbox Originals: With this new service, announced on November 13, you 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: The 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. Read more...
Xbox LIVE Arcade Hits: On Xbox LIVE Arcade, the Arcade Hits program kicks off as some of the best-selling Xbox LIVE Arcade games 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. Read more...


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 an easy, predictable entry point where you can discover what's new in game releases, events, Xbox LIVE Marketplace offers, and lots more. Inside Xbox is currently available only in the U.S., U.K., and Japan. It will be available in more regions in coming months. Read more...
Enhanced online profile: If you're interested in sharing a few more details about yourself you can go beyond your motto and further personalize your 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.

I found this tidbit on PA:

DIVX Support

quote:
**15. What types of AVI files are supported?

The Xbox 360 supports files encoded using MPEG-4 Part 2, Simple and Advanced Simple Profile. These files are often referred to as Xvid or DivX® video files. Many common PC DVD authoring tools, cameras, and camcorders are capable of encoding files using MPEG-4. Note that some files authored for DivX devices may also contain additional functionality(menus, subtitles, multiple audio tracks, etc). The Xbox 360 will attempt to play these files, but does not support any of the additional functionality and in some cases will be unable to play the file.

Source: http://blogs.msdn.com/xboxteam/archi...yback-faq.aspx

If true, my available streaming library just multiplied by 20. 

[MrHat]

Ya, no shit, DivX man, DivX.

Now, if wireless streaming didn't suck copious amounts of ass.

[Bunk]

That unfortuately, is why I have a big fat network cable running across my livingroom floor - that is anchored to the table so the cat doesn't pull the 360 over.

I am excited about this, video converters are really annoying when they take longer to convert a file than it would to watch said file.

[schild]

Until they add subtitle support, I still have to keep my original Xbox.

[Nija]

Screw divx. Xvid.

Also, .mp4s work, but most .mkv's won't.

Almost time to retire my XBMC xbox1 setup.

Also there is a plugin for thecus NAS devices so you can run windows media connect from the unit itself. No real streaming from SMB just yet.

[MrHat]

can I just plug in a USB HDD and watch stuff from that?

[Nija]

can I just plug in a USB HDD and watch stuff from that?

I'm pretty sure you can.

[Rasix]

I like the Xbox Originals.  I plan on purchasing a few.  Gives me a chance to play some games I've never played before but have gotten decent press here.   I'm not a stickler for owning the box.

[WayAbvPar]

Just played Crimson Skies over Thanksgiving weekend- we were watching football on the big TV, so I hooked up my old Xbox for my nephew to play, and showed him Crimson Skies. I forgot how fun that game was!

Of course, he didn't want to play- he just wanted to watch ME play (he is 5). So I ended up playing a bit longer than I had anticipated 

[Murgos]

I like the text on the XBOX Live updates.

"Download this or you will not be able to use XBOX Live.  Do you accept?"

I wonder if this is the same way.

"Download the new Dashboard or you will no longer allow you to access the dashboard.  Do you accept?"

[Valmorian]

Just played Crimson Skies over Thanksgiving weekend- we were watching football on the big TV, so I hooked up my old Xbox for my nephew to play, and showed him Crimson Skies. I forgot how fun that game was!

Of course, he didn't want to play- he just wanted to watch ME play (he is 5). So I ended up playing a bit longer than I had anticipated 

Just wondering, but does anyone know if you can still play Crimson Skies multiplayer over Live on the 360?  I know the game is 360 compatable, just not sure about the live multiplayer.

[NiX]

Just wondering, but does anyone know if you can still play Crimson Skies multiplayer over Live on the 360?  I know the game is 360 compatable, just not sure about the live multiplayer.

I'm going to say yes because they just added it to the Xbox Originals. For those who don't know, XBOX Originals are big titles (or shitty MS titles) from the original XBOX that you can download to your HD.