Xbox Spring Update To Offer Codecs, MSN Messenger 207
adachan writes "It seems that Microsoft has decided to add Xvid playback into the upcoming Spring Xbox 360 dashboard update. Xbox.com has a list of all the upcoming enhancements to the dash. The playback of video using H.264 and mpeg4 codecs seems to be the biggest news for those using the system as a media extender. If this is indeed true, my Xbox Media Center will be used less and less." Update: 04/09 17:29 GMT by Z : MSN Messenger is kinda interesting as well. Several sites are reporting that instant messenging is being added to the Xbox Live experience, with a USB keyboard controller attachment to be offered sometime in the near future.
AppleTV? (Score:2, Interesting)
Do Xbox users listen to music? (Score:4, Interesting)
Still no sign that the update will enable fast forward and rewind in audio tracks.
What year is this?
Transcode (Score:4, Interesting)
This is obviously much better, but doesn't actually make anything possible that wasn't before.
There's other updates that interest me, as well, though.
Windows Live Messenger: Why the fsck didn't they do this from the start? It just makes too much sense.
"A richer Achievement notification pop-up will showcase the name of the unlocked Achievement and the gamerscore value without needing to leave the game to check the Achievements list." Nice. I almost always went to check out what it was I'd done.
Should be a nice update.
Re:AppleTV? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:AppleTV? (Score:3, Interesting)
Needless to say, as MS have one of the best online systems in the shape of xBox Live, it makes sense for them to distribute buyable media content through it. Since the 360 was released, you've been able to get some trailers and stuff, but they haven't been consistent in coming or impressive in scope. I've always wondered why they didn't make anything more of this ability, but I guess one reason was the crippling 20GB optional drive.
With the imminent release of the Live service for Windows owners for gaming, I think that it has the potential to be Microsoft's answer to the iTunes Music Store and more. Once PCs get access to Live, you're looking at much increased storage on client machines and also teh ability to stream that to the 360 - a lá AppleTV. If - and I say if - they can pull off the integration of online gaming, chat, media downloads with their combined MediaCenter (I suppose Vista too), 360, Zune (bleh!) platform, then Apple are going to have some serious problems on their hands, especially from the console/games perspective.
With the release of the AppleTV, I guess we might see a cut down 360-type device that has the same kind of functions. Based on the current 360 price, I'd wager that it'd undercut the AppleTV by a considerable amount too.
Kinda cool really - technology in the front room has suddenly got a whole lot more interesting...
Re:Will it stream xvid and h.264? (Score:3, Interesting)
I haven't tried streaming with my 360 nor have UI got the latest firmware - I'm hoping to hack it. However a friend who is up to date claims that this makes his 360 a damned good computer for a home theater. I personally want unsigned code and XBMC on the 360 but that looks to be awful far away right now....
Re:external drives (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:external drives (Score:3, Interesting)
Disclaimer: I don't work for QNAP, but I do work for a company that competes with their products, even though it's not my part of the business. If that's not a solid endorsement, I don't know what is.
Re:If you have a Zune it works great. (Score:5, Interesting)
Let me tackle this one. People buy an Ipod for the same reason that they buy anything. Subjective reasons. You really can't be objective about discretionary expenses. No one needs an Ipod. So to be entirely objective, no one would be buying one. The subjective reason that I buy an Ipod over other items has to be due to universiality. I can use my ipod in my car, on my stereo and on my computer with very little trouble and a wide range of products to chose from. Call that being a market leader that everyone tries to sell to. I don't have a 'Zune Dock' in my car.
if I could live in a world entirely free of iTunes I'd be a happier person
I'm not sure this really helps your argument. Zune and Ipods are just different sides of the same coin. Locked into Itunes, or Napster/Urge/Real I'm not sure what the difference is. If you're like the majority of people, the device is a place where you store content *you already have*. I've purchased about 20 usd from itunes, all impluse purchases or purchases for parties where I couldn't just obtain a song from a store for that just right ambiance. Semantically, Itunes and Zune music outlets are the same. I buy my mp3s loose and free from eMusic.
The WiFi was the killer here and makes Microsoft's clamors for freedom from DRM disingenous for me. It encrypts your 'free range' music and ropes it into a format so you can't squeeze (squirt?) your music freely, but only for limited playbacks and limited duration. There is no online purchase capabilities and no extra features that the WiFi angle is just aching to take advantage of. Don't ask me to hack it myself. I want those features out the box. I don't have the inclination to waste my time 'hacking' a product that should 'just work' for me the way I want it. If it doesn't work the way I want it, I won't buy it.
Would I consider buying a Zune? Yes, if it had the features that I wanted. As of now, it's more or less an 'also ran' that doesn't present a significant enough deviation from the Ipod-type device to merit jumping ship. WOuld a larger capacity move me to jump? No, my 30 gig ipod hasn't filled up yet. I don't think an extra 50 would help me that much.
The Zune as it stands deserves to be mocked. It's a joke and a half hearted attempt to topple the king of digital music. If you're going to take on a leader in its own field, you better come with all your dogs fighting. As it stands, the Zune is a five year old idea wrapped up in a five year old design. Give me a reason to switch and I will.
Cautiously optimistic... (Score:4, Interesting)
H.264/MPEG-4 support could mean significant storage savings in the long run for me. As others have already mentioned, it's not really Xvid, and it would mean lots of transcoding with some quality lost, but I will be experimenting with it when I get my update to see if I can still get decent quality with some storage savings.
[wandering off topic/troll] Although my setup requires more setup and nerd-skills than the Apple TV option, the audio and video quality is significantly better AND I can stream. The lack of streaming of the Apple TV for video is what killed the Apple TV option for me (that and it looked terrifyingly horrendous in the Apple Store - even on the streamed "HD" trailers). For those that are unaware, the Apple TV only allows you to synch selected video content to the measly 40GB drive. You can stream audio from iTunes and some trailers from the Introweb, but you can't stream video from iTunes. With MCE/Xbox 360 I can hang whatever storage I want off my MCE server and stream 'til the cows come home.
I wouldn't recommend the MCE/Xbox 360 combo for everyone, but it was the choice for me because it streams DVD quality video and 5.1 surround AND I was able to convince my fiance to go with it, which also got me a decent gaming console. That and she LOVES Feeding Frenzy HD, which is strangely addicting yet simple.
I still love (and own) Apple/Mac and I would bet Apple TV v2.0 or 3.0 will overcome some of the current shortcomings.
Re:Do Xbox users listen to music? (Score:4, Interesting)
No, what I am saying is worse than that. I just tried the parent's technique for seeking within
- Tracks from an audio CD in the Xbox 360 itself
- Tracks ripped by the Xbox 360 onto its own hard drive
- Tracks in
.mp3 format streamed from a networked computer
- Tracks in
.wma format streamed from a networked computer
I was able to seek in none of them.