Xbox 360: now with H.264, MPEG-4, PlaysForSure

Color us tickled, but we totally missed some of the finest points of all in Microsoft's Xbox 360 spring Dashboard update: they're totally tricking out the video (finally!). No longer will we be confined to our very least favorite video codec, WMV -- the new update will enable Windows Media Connect or Media Center streaming MPEG-4 up to 8Mbps, H.264 up to 15Mbps, and PlaysForSure WMV videos (and, as we understand it, PlaysForSure audio as well). Wow, finally we can actually use the 360 to play video that wasn't recorded off our Media Center or converted by our Zune software (cough, hack). See, was that so hard, Microsoft? Now just hold on to your asses until the week of May 7th, Xbox fans, that's all you've gotta do.

[DEEZNUTZ @ Apr 9th 2007 2:22PM]

Good Sh!t

[Jon @ Apr 9th 2007 3:11PM]

It's about time someone noticed this. This is the big news of the update...the IM stuff is minor league compared to this. Oh and I've been able to play Plays for Sure music streamed from my laptop since day one of launch.

[Vince @ Apr 9th 2007 7:45PM]

we need more Divx/Xvid

[ZildjianKX @ Apr 9th 2007 2:28PM]

Are they fixing washed out VGA colors and the wireless adapter not working with draft 802.11n routers? I'd rather them fix existing bugs before adding new features personally...

It is nice that it displays the name of the game in the drive from the dashboard now (the freaking Gamecube could even do this...)

[CharlieX @ Apr 9th 2007 2:29PM]

Hold onto our asses?

uh, ok.

[Uchendu Nwachukwu @ Apr 9th 2007 2:29PM]

PlaysForSure audio was already supported - from day 1, IIRC. But PlaysForSure video was not supported. It looks like they are adding it in this update.

[G @ Apr 9th 2007 3:23PM]

does this mean it can play divx and xvid as well?

[Phoenixfury @ Apr 9th 2007 8:14PM]

H.264?! I think this clearly is a move on Microsoft's part to eat Apple's lunch. Kudo's to MS for adding this to the spring update! What makes this worse is you could still get your video podcasts in H.264 through iTunes, but all you have to do is tell Media Center where that content is and view it on your 360. LOL Talk about PWNing Apple with it's own software! :)

[Edward Drewery @ Apr 10th 2007 3:19AM]

shit, i just bought an appletv for h264 playback - that BLOWS.

[Mike @ Apr 9th 2007 11:21PM]

DivX/XviD plz.

[James @ Apr 9th 2007 2:35PM]

Alright Sony, time to add network support... you'd still be behind, but at least not as far.

[Uchendu Nwachukwu @ Apr 9th 2007 4:13PM]

No. Divx and Xvid require MPEG 4 Advanced Simple Profile. This update will only add MPEG 4 Simple Profile.

[Naveed @ Apr 9th 2007 2:38PM]

uhh sweet

[NiGhTmArE @ Apr 9th 2007 2:42PM]

Wow, aren't we lucky!

We get to stream more media from out computer! Wow!

I mean c'mon, why not allow playback from cd/dvd/external harddrive?

[Jon @ Apr 9th 2007 3:14PM]

The Xbox 360 does indeed playback all supported file formats from CD, DVD, USB Thumb Drive and even external hard drive. That issue was tackled in last falls update.

[Larry @ Apr 9th 2007 3:18PM]

They already allow playback from a cd, dvd, and at least a usb flashdrive.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/digitalmedia/viewvideo.htm

[NiGhTmArE @ Apr 9th 2007 3:49PM]

Bah, sorry for my stupidness! (and thanks for not flaming)

I just got pulled in by the article saying "streaming" so i assumed we would only be able to stream!

Thanks for the info guy's.

[Bob @ Apr 9th 2007 2:43PM]

Are you paying attention AppleTV?

[Kurt @ Apr 9th 2007 3:19PM]

what exactly does this provide that AppleTV doesn't? Mpeg4 doesn't mean Divx/Xvid. I am betting this holy grail of codec won't be supported anytime soon.

[Larry Clark @ Apr 9th 2007 2:55PM]

They had to do it ps3 supports mpg , and HDMI and 60 gig hard drive or what ever you want to put in the box

[steve-o @ Apr 9th 2007 2:55PM]

I expect that Nullriver will update their Connect360 program that allows streaming from my Mac Pro- at least they should!

[WhoDatNinja @ Apr 9th 2007 3:05PM]

Sweet! Now I can stream more porn straight to my HDTV.

[THE MAC GOD @ Apr 9th 2007 5:11PM]

That's exactly what I was thinking... 57" of my favs... :)

[Alex Padilla @ Apr 9th 2007 3:04PM]

Personally, I'd like to see the ability to copy media from external devices such as iPods or other media players, since we now have the 120GB HDD available (or soon to be, I should say). Regardless, I do enjoy the fact that I can hook up my iPod to a 360 and play the music through there.

[Castle @ Apr 9th 2007 3:16PM]

Very very good news; ISO-standard Mpeg4(AVC H.264) while hopefully be universal from now on. Since its already in the iPod, iTV, PS3, PSP, and now the Xbox 360.

Being that there is an ass-load of free encoders everywhere hopefully people will start using it more.

[anon @ Apr 9th 2007 7:52PM]

Castle wrote: "Very very good news; ISO-standard Mpeg4(AVC H.264) while hopefully be universal from now on. Since its already in the iPod, iTV, PS3, PSP, and now the Xbox 360.
Being that there is an ass-load of free encoders everywhere hopefully people will start using it more."

Don't forget that HD-DVD and Blu-ray also use H,264 (and VC-1).

I personally would like to see that, but I don't it's going to happen anythime soon. H.264 does offer better compression which, of course, is more conducive for internet downloads, but DivX/Xvid/3viD is still pretty good and takes a lot less time and effort to encode and subsequently decode.

However, the ball has dropped since most manufactures are now supporting it. So the next change we need to see to make H.264 ubiquitous and make DivX/XviD/3viD fall to the sidelines is for torrent uploaders to start using the H.264 codec. When that happens the change will happen fast.

[badnegro @ Apr 9th 2007 3:47PM]

@NiGhTmArE and other gripey little bitches

FFS, M$oft just put a major spear right thru Apple & Sony's hearts. This type of update only serves to enrich your living room media experience -- by forcing all players to step to the plate or fall by the wayside. M$oft has forced Sony's non-networking and ATV's limited-codec-supporting asses to improve the user experience or to fail. We, as a user base, are getting *EXACTLY* what we've been begging for!..

Are we seriously griping about that?

[August @ Apr 9th 2007 5:02PM]

I agree totally, except for your penchant for referring to the firm "Microsoft" as "M$oft".

Please grow up and move out of your parents' basement, no one is impressed.

[NiGhTmArE @ Apr 9th 2007 3:51PM]

I have already replied to my last reply so please check it, i didn't mean to be a "gripey little bitch".

[badnegro @ Apr 9th 2007 5:55PM]

@August

Ac'shly i jus 2 laZ 2 spel out 'Microsoft'.

So let's spread the love -- and drop the backhanded comments. Because I know you're a great guy.

Don't forget how much I love you.

[Kurt @ Apr 9th 2007 3:23PM]

just to substantiate my prior claim
http://www.apple.com/appletv/specs.html

Video formats supported
* H.264 and protected H.264 (from iTunes Store): Up to 5 Mbps, Progressive Main Profile (CAVLC) with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps (maximum resolution: 1280 by 720 pixels at 24 fps, 960 by 540 pixels at 30 fps)

* iTunes Store purchased video: 320 by 240 pixels or 640 by 480 pixels

* MPEG-4: Up to 3 Mbps, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps (maximum resolution: 720 by 432 pixels at 30 fps)

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Apr 9th 2007 3:38PM]

> Mpeg4 doesn't mean Divx/Xvid.

It's vice versa: Xvid/DivX means MPEG4. (And x264 means H.264 aka MPEG4/AVC.)

Many people use DivX and XviD to produce MPEG4 files.

Thanks to general stance of M$ on de jure standards - M$ did all they could possible do to make MPEG4 playback with WMP a PITA - people create .avi files instead. Those are well known and by now everybody thinks that AVI == DivX/XviD.

IOW, what under Mac OS X is MPEG4, under M$Wind0ze is AVI or DivX/XviD.

P.S. But even DivX people abandoned (read: stopped hacking) AVI for MP4 for H.264 content.

[bmilovich @ Apr 9th 2007 5:12PM]

Perhaps you're asking the wrong question Kurt....What, if anything can AppleTV do that the XBox 360 cannot? I can think of a slew of things that the 360 can do but I'm a bit short on the Apple side. ....hmmm..play my iTunes files (for which I have none).....play my iMovies (none there), how about garageband....nope.
What does AppleTV do for me that I already cannot do?

[Aaron @ Apr 9th 2007 3:22PM]

Awesome. It's a simple way to make the 360 even more of a killer device. Keep the codecs coming, guys. I love being able to stream stuff to my HDTV.

[August @ Apr 9th 2007 3:51PM]

Right, except the 360 is 100 bucks more and actually allows you to play games (and no, I don't mean some jackass with a USB adapter on his N64 playing Mario Bros. in his parents' basement).

[NotNormal23224 @ Apr 9th 2007 9:32PM]

What can it do that Apple TV can't you said earlier then posted this follow up, well let's see, From Xbox.com:
"Added H.264 video support: Up to 10 Mbps peak, Baseline, Main, and High profiles with 2 channel AAC LC.
Added MPEG-4 Part 2 video support: Up to 5 Mbps peak, Simple Profile with 2 channel AAC LC."

So that's H.264 at twice the bitrate that Apple TV can do, and Mpeg 4 at 5Mbps instead of just 3. Oh and by the way the 360 isn't limited to 1280x720 at 24 FPS it can go all the way up to 1080P at 30fps.

[Chappy @ Apr 9th 2007 3:23PM]

Unfortunately, this does not mean Divx or Xvid can be played on the 360 after the update. Both codecs require MPEG-4 Advanced Simple Profile support, and the press release specifies only Simple Profile.

[nathan @ Apr 10th 2007 10:18AM]

From the press release: "Added MPEG-4 Part 2 video support"

MPEG-4 Part 2 includes Simple Profile and Advanced Simple Profile.

[Kaiser @ Apr 9th 2007 3:27PM]

Does this include AVI files, specifically DV-AVI (you know the ones you capture off of your standard video camera these days)? And what about HDV (high definition video camera)?

[Sam @ Apr 9th 2007 3:27PM]

I use Transcode360 to playback Xvid on my 360. Requires MCE though.

[Big @ Apr 9th 2007 3:27PM]

I would be happier with:
#1 DivX support,
#2 a way to upload pics to my HDD from a DVD
#3 a way to upload porn to my HDD from my DVD's
#4 An INTERNET BROWSER in one of the dashboard blades.

Hopefully the MSN integration + keyboard attachment will allow you to chat on MSN with your mic and your Vision camera BUT, I truly will not be happy until Microsoft caves into Sony pressure and adds an Internet Browser to the system.

The 360 should have launched with an internet browser in the first place

[Chappy @ Apr 9th 2007 3:50PM]

Yes badnegro, we are griping. At least the AppleTV can be hacked to provide Divx/Xvid support, but the 360 (even with the spring update) still can't decode and play back those formats. This is a nice update, but it's not what I wanted and it's not worth shouting "Microsoft wins, Sony and Apple loose" from the rooftops.

[Aaron @ Apr 9th 2007 5:00PM]

"...it's not what I wanted and it's not worth shouting "Microsoft wins, Sony and Apple loose" from the rooftops"

Maybe it's not what you wanted, but either way, why would you shout 'Sony and Apple loose'??? Are you calling them sluts or something?

This is a disturbing trend that has becoming increasingly common on the intarwebs. So look, I'm only going to say it once, here we go:

LOSE! It's spelled L-O-S-E! As in "to lose". 'Loose' is the opposite of tight, it's an entirely different word!

Sorry if you knew that and just made a little typo, but I see someone make this mistake just about every day...

[Jake @ Apr 9th 2007 3:46PM]

I'm a rookie in video specs, but does this mean that Microsoft is opening up many ways to view content making the Apple Tv (itunes only) obselete?

[chadow @ Apr 9th 2007 5:17PM]

Thank you. I thought I was the only one thinking that. Usually when I see M$ I just skip the comment as it most likely wont be worth reading.

[kornchild2002 @ Apr 9th 2007 3:58PM]

I can now finally playback all my unprotected video files off of my computers hard drive. I rip my DVDs and encode them to the mpeg-4 AVC (h.264) video format. It is a lot easier for me just to double-click on a video file than it is for me to dig out my DVDs. I just hope that the Xbox 360 has the ability to play these video files off of external hard drives as I would prefer that over streaming them off of my PC. Actually, I would prefer it if the video playback features of the Xbox 360 supported the iPod file structure. I can get my Xbox 360 to play unprotected audio off of my iPod but it won't playback WMV files that I copy to it (ie as data files, not through iTunes). I just hope that they add that to the update. I would much prefer to copy a movie to my iPod and plug it into my Xbox 360 instead of streaming. Actually, I would prefer the ability to put user made videos on the Xbox 360's hard drive.

[jatin_76 @ Apr 10th 2007 2:44PM]

I knew this was coming following a "Remote Desktop Connection" update.

[zach baker @ Apr 9th 2007 4:28PM]

the interesteing thing.... is this. if i put a divx disk into my 360 hd dvd player it will play the divx files

[Jeff Lewis @ Apr 9th 2007 4:29PM]

For the record (and again, you'd think the guys at Engadget would know better)...

WMV is not a codec - it's a file format - a container for various things including video. Same with AVI, which is essentially the predecessor to WMV. While we're at it - there's also ASF (Advanced Stream Format) which is actually the 'daddy' format from which WMV and WMA derive.

WMV supports all sorts of codecs including some classics like Indeo and Cinepak. The same is true of AVI. You can even host DiVX encoded streams in a WMV file if you like. All it requires is a WDM/BDA compatible codec filter.

And while we're at it - for everyone who is about to say 'I prefer AVI because I prefer to avoid Microsoft formats'... AVI IS a Microsoft format. It's the CODEC (typically DiVX or XViD) which isn't Microsoft (although DiVX started out as a hacked version of Microsoft's MPEG-4 Codec).

In terms of efficiency as a container - WMV is actually superiour to AVI in most ways and is more flexible. The best argument against WMV is that the actual format isn't easily obtained and so it is difficult to support on non-Windows systems.

Finally - why is this better than an Apple TV? Simple - you get a high end gaming/multimedia console as well as an 'iPod for your TV' and if you go for the XBox 360 Core - it's the exact same price - although in truth, you'll want to spring for at least the next one up at $399. The only downside is that it doesn't support iTunes or iTMS - but if you're on a PC, that's not really much of an issue.

[Diego @ Apr 9th 2007 4:34PM]

Well, I have been able to play pretty much any format my PC supports in my XBOX using Tversity, so I frankly don't care too much. Besides, who cares about MPEG 4 and H.264? What we really need is DivX/XVid and a better way to traverse the movies on the server. I have about 400 files in my PC, and scrolling through them is just plain stupid. Why can't Microsoft come up with a folder-based approach to find the files you want?
I have been using my Linktheater, which not only plays my files, but also has a much easier folder-based interface that is far more usable.

Finally, why is Microsoft not upconverting the DVD video to 1080i? Again, the upconverted output from my Linktheater is far superior to the video I get from the (much more powerful) XBox 360! Why do I have to buy the HD-DVD to get upconversion is beyond me...