X360 Dashboard Update - 4/12

[Starman]

It was just confirmed that the Fall Dashboard update will be released next Tuesday, December 4th. One of the new features that will be part of the release is ‘Friends of Friends.’ With this new features, you’ll be able to browse the friends list of anyone on your Xbox LIVE friends list and send anyone on your friends list a friends request. We’re also adding a ‘Friends List’ setting in the Dashboard* and on Xbox.com to allow you to control who can see your friends list.

-Everyone (only available to members 18 and older)
-Friends only (available to members 13 and older)
-Blocked (available to all members, and automatic for anyone under the age of 13)

It’s important to mention that when the dashboard update is released, the new default setting will be Everyone (assuming you are of age). For those members that not want to share their friend list, we’ve added a page on Xbox.com that is available today where you can modify this setting as you see fit. If you want to keep your friends list private, you can sign into Xbox.com now at Sign In and change the setting to Blocked (if you so desire.) This gives you a full week to decide which setting you would like for this new feature.

If you want to fully embrace the new feature, you don’t need to thing except wait for the update next week.

[Read the press release on Xbox.com]

*This setting will appear in the dash next week with the update.

Edit: No this is not the only feature for the fall update. There are more, but this is all that is being released at this time (along with the previously announced Xbox Originals) I also clarified that you have to be over 18 to have this set to everyone when it launches next week.

Currently the ./fof seems to redirect to a dead page on the en-GB xbox site but this works -

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/fof

I really do hope they start releasing some decent new features so far they are very much a let down.

 

[Aada]

Sounds useless to me and i'm not really bothered about little updates like that i think the Dashboard is fine as it is.

A web browser would be the best thing they could add with the ability to bring it up ingame.


Anything else doesn't interest me at all.

As long as i can play my games on LIVE i'm happy.

 

[Starman]

Personally I'd love to see DivX/XviD/x264 support

 

[Yaka]

a brwoser is no go apprently.

but divx play back will be added, they are preety much waiting to jump when sony adds it to the ps3,

but is it really needed on 360? you can get good quality .wmv files from groups such as curious jobs that play fine and look damn good.

 

[Opt1]

Perhaps a pointless suggestion, but I'd really like them to do something about the series of ugly gray "blades" that appear every time I start a game..

I know its for loading, but surely there's something that looks less shit?

 

[Sparx]

what you mean the dashboard?

 

[Opt1]

No, the blade that appears asking if you'd like to load and then > select loading device.

It's pedantic, but I'm sure there's a better way.

 

[Whipped]

Isn't fall over?

 

[cHodAX]

Isn't fall over?

Thats the 5th of December

 

[Starman]

Full details it seems have been posted -

Xbox.com has posted an article that outlines features that you can expect in the Dashboard update which will hit next week. As was reported last week, this free update will be available on December 4th.


Here are some of the highlight from the article:

• 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.
  
  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. (It will also feature brief weekly segments from myself, TriXie, Games Editor Denny Atkin, and SoozyQ.)
  
  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 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.

Final Fall Dashboard update details - Xbox Live's Major Nelson
Gamerscore Blog : Fall Dashboard Update Details
Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard Update Details - Xbox
AceyBongos' Xbox Life: Dashboard Update Details
Xbox.com | Full Features List for 2007 Fall Update
Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard Update detailed: DivX, XBLA Hits, and more - Joystiq


So most importantly for me is that if I read the notes correctly most XviD/DivX should now be supported.

Enjoy

 

[Starman]

As I can't edit - here is an even more complete list -

Xbox Team : December 2007 System Update

Also Video support FAQ - Xbox Team : December 2007 Video Playback FAQ

 

[Yaka]

both ps3 and 360 are now gonna support divx/xvids

but i doubt we would be able stick em on 360 hdds tho:/

also i wonder if either of em will scale em up well

 

[Yaka]

<embed src="http://vid.adbrite.com/video/abplayer.swf" flashVars="vid=1566299" quality="best" bgcolor="#ffffff" width="468" height="400" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>

 

[JBP|]

but i doubt we would be able stick em on 360 hdds tho:/

Why would you want too?

 

[Starman]

Indeed really what would be the point of storing them on the small 20gb drive now with the 120gb drive it might be of some use.

 

[Yaka]

i would want to, should be abel to play em via usb hdd i guess. still ms need to wake the fuck up an allow us to use and 2.5 sata hdd and srtick it in the 360 caddy. i like store my shit on hdds, main reason i have 2 xboxs with xbmc running with 3 hdds in each,

 

[JBP|]

Why not store it on your pc and stream it to the 360/PS3 or whatever?

 

[Whipped]

Yeah, if you've got Media Center on your PC, then the 360 should be able to stream through that. If you try and play a divx/xvid movie at the moment it complains about a missing codec. Once support is added you should no longer get these complaints.

The only problem with this, is that media center is quite rubbish, but I don't think it would be long before a proper extender was released that can do the job a lot better.

 

[nath]

You don't need media centre to stream, just windows media player 11 - it has all the functionality to share video files.

 

[Starman]

This is true and the video FAQ that was posted stated that MC didn't support AVI XivD for some reason.

• From USB storage device to Xbox 360 Dashboard Video Player
  WMV(Unprotected), Mpeg4, H.264, AVI
  
  
• From Windows Media Player 11 to Xbox 360 Dashboard Video Player
  WMV(Protected), WMV(Unprotected), *Mpeg4, *H.264, AVI
  
  
• From Zune Software to Xbox 360 Dashboard Video Player
  WMV(Unprotected), Mpeg4, H.264
  
  
• From Windows Home Server to Xbox 360 Dashboard Video Player
  WMV(Protected), WMV(Unprotected), AVI
  
  
• From Windows Media Center to Xbox Media Center Extender
  WMV(Protected), WMV(Unprotected), Mpeg2

* = Please refer to question 32 on how to configure Windows Media Player to share these file types to the Xbox 360.

Full details - Xbox Team : December 2007 Video Playback FAQ

 

[Yaka]

streaming is all well and good, but pcs still crash from time time

 

[JBP|]

Neither my pc or my 360 have crashed whilst streaming.(in fact neither have ever crashed full stop.)

If that is the case maybe you should invest in a newer/more stable pc?