The 360 Spring Update is Here!

kriegs

Hark, fellow 360 users, the Spring Update is here! Just turn on your console and connect to Live and you'll get the update.

Here's what you get:

* Achievement notification: A pop-up showcase the name of the unlocked Achievement and the gamerscore value instantly as you accomplish it. No more leaving the game to check your Achievements list!

* Enhanced family settings: These important new features for Xbox LIVE communications enable different defaults for video chat and voice chat.

* Marketplace Blade: The new Xbox LIVE Marketplace blade lets you quickly access the content you seek—whether it's game content or TV shows and movies—from one place. Downloads from Marketplace are also up to three times quicker.

* Arcade updates: Quickly see which Xbox LIVE Arcade games your friends are playing and join in the fun. Compare progress of leaderboard scores and Achievements directly with everyone on your friends list. The expanded "Tell a Friend" capabilities make it easier than ever to boast about Achievements and high scores!

For more details, go here

They actually have some videos from Gametrailers on the Marketplace tab that show some of the features as well. I'm actually pretty happy about the chat features.

Be sure you enable your extended background download option, which will allow your 360 to turn off when you're done downloading content.

arcath

Waiting for the first comments that this update bricked their system.

Ranced

the update is nice

Six

arcath wrote: »

Waiting for the first comments that this update bricked their system.

I haven't heard of any yet.

arcath

SixkillerNYC wrote: »

arcath wrote: »

Waiting for the first comments that this update bricked their system.

I haven't heard of any yet.

yeah, but it happens every time. Also, in the 5 min I actually got to look at the update before work. It seems really nice.

Ledneh

Still waiting for the update where it learns how to do 1680x1050 over VGA

brynstar

Okay, so there's now a "Reference" option in the Display settings, with Standard, Intermediate, and Expanded settings. I've never run across this before. Can someone help me out and clue me in as to what this means? I'd really appreciate it.

Other than that, really enjoying the update!

Ranced

oh wow there is a black level option for dvd and 480p playback

i noticed that dvd's and xbox games had lighter black levels before and it bugged me slightly. this is a nice fix

Hardtarget

updated last night at 2am, went very smoothly

Kriz

says that they added H.264 video and AAC audio support, is that only in MP4, or does the MKV container work as well?

Ranced

there's a faq for the update here.

Threepio

I installed this on a brick, it now plays Xbox 360 games.

Ranced

that is an amazing story threepio

Threepio

Heh. I just happened to be restless at 2am, woke up, thought I'd check to see if it was available and tada!

I like the new Marketplace tab, although the themes I've downloaded don't have art for this new blade. That's kind of disappointing. Still, can't complain about a system where updates are coming fairly regularly with quality content.

FyreWulff

Threepio wrote: »

I installed this on a brick, it now plays Xbox 360 games.

I installed it on my brick and it bricked it.

Now it's just a block

Threepio

FyreWulff wrote: »

Threepio wrote: »

I installed this on a brick, it now plays Xbox 360 games.

I installed it on my brick and it bricked it.

Now it's just a block

I hear you can fix that by wrapping it in a wet towel and putting it in the microwave for 15 minutes.

Take it out, let it stand, pour a light wine sauce over it and serve.

Omeks

I like how it now identifies the game that's in the tray, and how it brings up the game info, gamerscore for the game and the four latest achievements when highlighted.

I am a very simple person.

FaceballMcDougal

Kriz wrote: »

says that they added H.264 video and AAC audio support, is that only in MP4, or does the MKV container work as well?

http://blogs.msdn.com/xboxteam/archive/2007/05/09/spring-07-video-playback-faq.aspx

JLM-AWP

Omeks wrote: »

I like how it now identifies the game that's in the tray, and how it brings up the game info, gamerscore for the game and the four latest achievements when highlighted.

I am a very simple person.

Nonsense. I sat down to play and, after the update, saw the disc drive said "Guitar Hero 2." I smiled and thought "Man, I forgot they were gonna do that. AWESOME."

Mainly because I had no idea what game was in there....stupid roommates.

darleysam

i've taken to asking this everywhere now, do we know yet if/when they're going to do anything about the rights for transferring purchased content if you get a new console? I thought that particular fix was meant to be coming with this update, but see no reports of it

FaceballMcDougal

darleysam wrote: »

i've taken to asking this everywhere now, do we know yet if/when they're going to do anything about the rights for transferring purchased content if you get a new console? I thought that particular fix was meant to be coming with this update, but see no reports of it

Nothing is worked out. No solution. The internets thought that it was supposed to be fixed but that was just blind hope.

capable heart

FaceballMcDougal wrote: »

darleysam wrote: »

i've taken to asking this everywhere now, do we know yet if/when they're going to do anything about the rights for transferring purchased content if you get a new console? I thought that particular fix was meant to be coming with this update, but see no reports of it

Nothing is worked out. No solution. The internets thought that it was supposed to be fixed but that was just blind hope.

Does it even let you re-buy the DLC on the new Xbox 360, if it's on the same account as purchased it the first time? Or does it only show a "re-download" option?

K7 Avenger

Is there anyway I can change the Live ID associated with my live account? I guess I'll have to call support.

fragglefart

I like the new update to the Arcade - "friends now playing" thing. Very handy.

darleysam

FaceballMcDougal wrote: »

darleysam wrote: »

i've taken to asking this everywhere now, do we know yet if/when they're going to do anything about the rights for transferring purchased content if you get a new console? I thought that particular fix was meant to be coming with this update, but see no reports of it

Nothing is worked out. No solution. The internets thought that it was supposed to be fixed but that was just blind hope.

serious? i thought MS had announced they were working on a fix for it. All they need to do is tie it primarily to your gamertag, then to the console that tag is attached to. Register it on a different console, content moves with it.

TetraNitroCubane

K7 Avenger wrote: »

Is there anyway I can change the Live ID associated with my live account? I guess I'll have to call support.

According to some reports, not even calling support will help with that. Apparently you're stuck with that Live ID.

EDIT: Major Nelson confirms that this is the case, at least for now.

Major Nelson wrote:

Q: The email address assigned to my Xbox LIVE account is different to the email address I use on my PC for Windows LIVE messenger. Is there a way for me to still access my messenger account?
A: Not at this time. We are working on the ability to allow users to change the email address they originally used when signing up for Xbox Live. The feature will be available in an upcoming release.

rufo

Also worth noting - if you're using a VGA connection, there are new settings for color that may make colors look more pretty on your set/monitor.

It's in the System blade under Console -> Display. Well worth checking out if you use VGA.

major_tom

Another handy thing - there's also a little icon (a curved arrow) that appears next to people on your friends list if they're joinable in a game. So now you can see at a glance if you can jump into your buddy's R6 or Gears match. Actually very useful!

Ten

WTF? The new video formats aren't supported in the Media Center Extender, that sucks. Guess I'm still stuck with Transcode 360 for everything I want to watch.

Give us some useful codecs Microsoft!

Future Blues

rufo wrote: »

Also worth noting - if you're using a VGA connection, there are new settings for color that may make colors look more pretty on your set/monitor.

It's in the System blade under Console -> Display. Well worth checking out if you use VGA.

You're referring to the "Reference Levels" option, no?

Enhanced setting is worlds different than standard, I have to say. Black levels are so much more robust in Enhanced (Extended) mode. Blues and blacks look incredible on my television now.

Blake T

hmm question now.

Now what is the best format to watch on the xbox now. Bascially I umm "aquire" divx files and wish to know what is the best to stream them with, before it used to be .WMV cause that was the only option but I'm wondering if it's better to use one of the new formats.

The divx files usually are around 350 meg and for for around 42 minutes.

Also what's a good encoder? I used to use VLC but I am finding it is no longer converting the audio.

Now I know there is something (transcode360? [I forget]) that actually streams divx files to your xbox, my computer is too old for this and it takes around five minutes to start the stream and will only stream for about 3 minutes before it stops and needs to re-buffer so that is out.

Evander

marketplace blade?

so I have to go and get new theme skins now?

brynstar

Future Blues wrote: »

rufo wrote: »

Also worth noting - if you're using a VGA connection, there are new settings for color that may make colors look more pretty on your set/monitor.

It's in the System blade under Console -> Display. Well worth checking out if you use VGA.

You're referring to the "Reference Levels" option, no?

Enhanced setting is worlds different than standard, I have to say. Black levels are so much more robust in Enhanced (Extended) mode. Blues and blacks look incredible on my television now.

Ah, well that answers my question then. Fiddled around with it a bit, and I can confirm that the Enhanced setting makes the colors appear richer over VGA.

Evander: I'm pretty sure you can't actually skin the marketplace blade whatsoever. Microsoft gets that one all to themselves, to use for advertising, their own backgrounds, and whatnot.

RainbowDespair

Nice update all around. My favorite new addition is the low power download mode. Very handy.

Kyougu

major_tom wrote: »

Another handy thing - there's also a little icon (a curved arrow) that appears next to people on your friends list if they're joinable in a game. So now you can see at a glance if you can jump into your buddy's R6 or Gears match. Actually very useful!

That's awesome!

Evander

brynstar wrote: »

Future Blues wrote: »

rufo wrote: »

Also worth noting - if you're using a VGA connection, there are new settings for color that may make colors look more pretty on your set/monitor.

It's in the System blade under Console -> Display. Well worth checking out if you use VGA.

You're referring to the "Reference Levels" option, no?

Enhanced setting is worlds different than standard, I have to say. Black levels are so much more robust in Enhanced (Extended) mode. Blues and blacks look incredible on my television now.

Ah, well that answers my question then. Fiddled around with it a bit, and I can confirm that the Enhanced setting makes the colors appear richer over VGA.

Evander: I'm pretty sure you can't actually skin the marketplace blade whatsoever. Microsoft gets that one all to themselves, to use for advertising, their own backgrounds, and whatnot.

fair enough.

my 360 hasn't been on all day, thanks to the late semester crunch.

SpazMuffin

Evander wrote: »

marketplace blade?

so I have to go and get new theme skins now?

They said in an older interview themes will not skin the marketplace blade. Instead Microsoft will change the blade depending on season and upcoming events. So you may get a winter-y one, or a Halo-esque one come November. Stuff like that.

ben0207

The best bit? I just saved at least 220 quid. See, I was going to buy an AppleTV and stream my (entirely legal to do so) ripped DVDs to it.

But they're all H.264, so fuck it, the Xbox now does it immaculately just from a USB drive.

And at 1000KB/s video and 192KB/s audio they still look and sound almost perfect, and at about 1.5 to 2 gig a movie

tyrannus

So, uh, I can afford Xbox Live. I can probably get this update if I make a long enough cord to my router. I've basically only been playing two games on my PC: Freelancer and Day Of Defeat:Source. Should I even bother making the cord and paying for Gold for a month? I kind of want to see how Rainbow Six:Vegas plays online, but I have a shit-tastic TV.

Samphis

ben0207 wrote: »

The best bit? I just saved at least 220 quid. See, I was going to buy an AppleTV and stream my (entirely legal to do so) ripped DVDs to it.

But they're all H.264, so fuck it, the Xbox now does it immaculately just from a USB drive.

And at 1000KB/s video and 192KB/s audio they still look and sound almost perfect, and at about 1.5 to 2 gig a movie

What app do you use to rip them? Because I'd like to do this as well.

FaceballMcDougal

Ten0101 wrote: »

WTF? The new video formats aren't supported in the Media Center Extender, that sucks. Guess I'm still stuck with Transcode 360 for everything I want to watch.

Give us some useful codecs Microsoft!

Strangely enough Media Center still does a better all-around job at playing video in WMV.

The only thing I download from the intarwebs is The Office until it comes out on DVD...

I'd maybe download more video but the world of posting video on the net seems to hang from DIVX/XVID's nuts for some stupid reason.

For movies if you want 5.1 surround you still need to "back up" your DVDs to WMV with the advanced audio profile so that's what I do.