Xbox 360 May '07 Dashboard Update Now Available

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2007/05/09/may-07-dash-update-is-now-available.aspx' target='_blank'>http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2007/05/09/may-07-dash-update-is-now-available.aspx</a><br /><br /></div><i>"I am happy to announce that the May 2007 Dashboard update has now been officially released and is in process of being rolled out across the LIVE service. For many of you, the next time you sign in to Xbox LIVE, you will be prompted to receive the update. A couple of things to keep in mind over the next few hours as the update is deployed: You’ll be prompted to accept the update when you sign into Xbox Live sometime in the next few hours. You will only receive the prompt for the update upon sign in. You won’t get it in middle of a game. Regardless of what you have heard, it's not geographically based. No one area of the world will get it before another. If you log out and then back in again, this won’t force the update…it will only anger people on your friends list who will see you sign in, then out, then in, then out…Be patient, everyone will eventually receive the update."</i><br /><br />The complete list of new features <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/apr07/04-08MessengerXboxPR.mspx">can be found here</a>, but I'm a bit puzzled as to why I don't see h.264 video codec support listed anywhere. I'm off to boot up the Xbox 360 and see if I get the new download. What features are you most looking forward to?

[Felix Torres]

I just started exploring the MPEG4 support but so far I've seen a few interesting and useful media-centric features.
First and foremost is the ability to force a boot straight to the Media Center interface.
Second, the video player correctly identifies anamorphic files and plays them properly.
Third, the media player now supports multiple usb-connected devices, not just one.
Plus, they've improved the Ui incrementally and the Dashoboard is snappier and quicker responding.
All in all, a nice add-on.

[Darius Wey]

The complete list of new features can be found here (http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2007/apr07/04-08MessengerXboxPR.mspx), but I'm a bit puzzled as to why I don't see h.264 video codec support listed anywhere.

This page (http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/news/2007/0408-im.htm) contains a more complete list of features, and fortunately, H.264 is listed.

[Jason Dunn]

I just started exploring the MPEG4 support but so far I've seen a few interesting and useful media-centric features.

So I'm a bit baffled...I have an .MP4 file in the directory that Windows Media Player scans, but I can't see it on the Xbox...?? I'll try forcing an update.

First and foremost is the ability to force a boot straight to the Media Center interface.

I could have sworn it did that before - I just press the MCE button on the remote and it boots into MCE...

[Felix Torres]

I just started exploring the MPEG4 support but so far I've seen a few interesting and useful media-centric features.

So I'm a bit baffled...I have an .MP4 file in the directory that Windows Media Player scans, but I can't see it on the Xbox...?? I'll try forcing an update.

First and foremost is the ability to force a boot straight to the Media Center interface.

I could have sworn it did that before - I just press the MCE button on the remote and it boots into MCE...

1- Lots of folks are having that problem. First, you need to try to play an MP4 file locally (say, via thumbdrive); this will trigger a download of the latest version of the Optional Media add-on. Second, you need to add MP4 playback to WMP11 or use the Zune software.

2- The new feature is a pick in the System Blade startup section. No need to do anything after that; it will *always* boot to the MC interface by default.

[Jason Dunn]

1- Lots of folks are having that problem. First, you need to try to play an MP4 file locally (say, via thumbdrive); this will trigger a download of the latest version of the Optional Media add-on. Second, you need to add MP4 playback to WMP11 or use the Zune software.

Hrmph. That's pretty lame that you have to jump through hoops to get the software downloaded - my understanding is that h.264 is free as a codec, so why didn't Microsoft just jam it on every update? Now how the heck do I add MP4 playback to WMP11? It's not even seeing the MP4 file - the Zune software sees it, but I don't want to have both WMP11 and the Zune software sharing media to my Xbox, I have it configured so that only WMP11 will dish up the media. This is messy...

2- The new feature is a pick in the System Blade startup section. No need to do anything after that; it will *always* boot to the MC interface by default.

Ah, I see. Cool feature then for people that use the Xbox 360 as a Media Center extender 99% of the time. I wish it wasn't slower under Vista though - the initial connection was WAY faster under XP.

[Felix Torres]

Hrmph. That's pretty lame that you have to jump through hoops to get the software downloaded - my understanding is that h.264 is free as a codec, so why didn't Microsoft just jam it on every update?

Like the iPod support, it is optional because:
1- It isn't something MS is promoting actively, merely supporting :-)
2- WMA/WMV/VC-1 are integral to standard 360 features, AAC and MPeg4, etc aren't
3- The update was to the console's basic flash-based firmware; there is limited room in the ROMs. Do you really want them to use it up before they get to the subscription music service, IPTV, and other goodies they're cooking for the *fall* update?
4- See #1; they don't want to make it *too* easy; non-WM formats will always be second-class citizens on MS platforms. :-)
To put it another way, it is amazing enough that MS is supporting a competitor to their tech... :wink:

[Felix Torres]

By the way, just like last November, MS has quietly slipped in an extra unannounced feature or two:

The 360 now has a sort-of Browser and definitely does on-demand video streaming.

For proof, check the green "Learn More about XBOX 360 system update" banner that is in rotation under the Chat and IM button on the XBOX LIVE blade. If you click on it, you get a pane with text headings that expand as you highlight them and hyperlink to other text panes. It works a bit like the antique Apple HyperCard system.
A couple of the headings (the first three in fact) take you to streaming versions of the Gametrailers.com videos showcasing the new features that are available for download in the Marketplace and off the fifth heading.
The *fourth* heading is the fun one, because it leads to a series of hyperlinked panes/cards/pages describing the features of the update. At a minimum, the system behind this could be used to provide a framework to support online help files. At a maximum, it could be used to host reformatted web-content ala WebTV/MSN TV.

Sneaky suckers, aren't they?