Xbox 360 Spring 2007 Dashboard update

Well, here we have it. Microsoft's Xbox 360 spring Dashboard update really will do everything it's been reported to (and then some). Unfortunately, those waiting for a sea change update intended to knock the PS3 on its ass may be a bit disappointed, but here's what you need to know:

• The update hits the beginning of the week of May 7th
• Your contact list will now integrate Windows Live Messenger, and show joinable session status
• Messenger contacts can see what game you're playing, and your gamertag
• Marketplace will now have its own blade, which will be skinned independent of your theme
• Users will now get inline achievement updates (i.e. see what achievement you just unlocked and how much it's worth).
  
• Low-power download mode and auto-shutdown
• Progressive download: watch, fast-forward, and rewind partially downloaded movies
• You can text chat messenger six friends playing games watching movies
• Multiple tweaks on the user interface

We got a hands-on with the update, so there are plenty of shots for you to gorge yourself on in the gallery.

Gallery: Xbox 360 Spring 2007 Dashboard update

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[bneals @ Apr 9th 2007 12:09AM]

That is nice, but what i wanted was better DVD playback quality. I don't need blu-ray or hd-dvd, but the 360's dvd player sucks. My $30 standalone player kicks its you-know-what. Why can't they upgrade the quality of this thing?

[Mat @ Apr 9th 2007 12:11AM]

how is the quality worse then your $30 dvd player?

[bneals @ Apr 9th 2007 12:15AM]

I find that there are a lot of jaggies on my screen when I watch movies on my 360. My $30 player doesn't have them. I am not alone about this issue. Extremetech.com did an entire article about this issue a few months ago and found the same thing. Granted, I am probably being too picky. I didn't buy the 360 for the DVD option - I just wish it played things back a little better.

[jd @ Apr 9th 2007 2:58PM]

I read that extreme tech article and saw the pictures they posted. I thought it was bullsh*t. Some of the pics they claimed were from 360 DVD playback showed some movies to be completely unwatchable. Every movie I have watched on my 360 has looked great.

[kingofwale @ Apr 9th 2007 12:19AM]

Is it really safe for your MSN contact see your game-tag? I mean, if they know where you live and your name. and now game-tag, they can easily call Microsoft up and reset your password and therefore steal your account.

[BloodFalcon @ Apr 9th 2007 12:56AM]

I would perfer it if Microsoft included INTERNET EXPLORER 7 as a web browser for the 360. That would justify me spending money on the keyboard attachment.

Come to think about it - if 360 had a CAMERA, a KEYBOARD attachment, and a WEB BROWSER added to it, it would make a pretty damn good internet - video- chat system. Guess I'll just have to wait for Sony to accomplish it first.

Instead of these meaningless additions to the Dashboard, can Microsoft make it so I can upload pics and videos to my HDD?

Or am I asking too much?

[Uchendu Nwachukwu @ Apr 9th 2007 2:09AM]

Well, 360 already has the camera and keyboard support...

[Krono6 @ Apr 9th 2007 7:27PM]

If only I had a machine that allows me to plug in my keyboard, access a web browser, and chat to my friends using some sort of webcam. I mean, imagine the possibilities, you could even, lets say, go to Engadget and makes a slightly sarcastic post and chat to your friends by being signed into Windows Live Messenger at the same time! It's genius, I say!

[Trejkaz @ Apr 15th 2007 4:35AM]

Honestly I'd rather see something based on Firefox than something based on Internet Exploder.

[tome711 @ Apr 9th 2007 12:56AM]

I really, really like the Windows Live integration.

[Georgi @ Apr 9th 2007 1:04AM]

Does anyone know what game that is with the Lexus?

[James Mackenzie @ Apr 9th 2007 1:14AM]

It could be Forza Motorsport 2

[connor @ Mar 25th 2008 7:07PM]

Its forza motosport 2

[JeffNLA @ Apr 9th 2007 1:06AM]

Yes my $60 HDMI upscaling DVD player roasts the 360 on DVD playback. But I did not but it for DVD playback. Why on earth use a $400+ machine when a $60 one can do it better?

Also I could care less about a web browser. My house has 3 PC's and a notebook. Browsing on a console blows anyway.

[whiteknite @ Apr 9th 2007 1:15AM]

Hey, this is nice and all, but what about an update for the add-on HD-dvd player. I know tons of people are having trouble playing certain HD-dvd's such as "relentless enemies" from National geographic. Engadget, talk to microsoft about this stuff !



DAMN!

[Fowl @ Apr 9th 2007 1:19AM]

Am I the only one who noticed this?
"H.264 video support: Up to 15 Mbps, Baseline, Main, and High (up to level 4.1) Profiles with 2 channel AAC LC and Main Profiles.
Added MPEG-4 Part 2 video support: Up to 8 Mbps, Simple Profile with 2 channel AAC LC and Main Profiles."

Xvid/Divx?!?!?!?!?

[Ronald Heft @ Apr 9th 2007 1:36AM]

Where are you seeing this?

[e_rocm @ Apr 9th 2007 2:43AM]

OMG I think you're right! I remember reading an article on Joystiq (I think) after the Fall update that said something about divx/xvid support. I know that both formats implement MPEG4 level 2. If it's true that would be awesome.

[Trejkaz @ Apr 15th 2007 4:39AM]

Don't get too excited. They're implementing "Simple Profile" but both XviD and DivX are "Advanced Simple Profile".

[rTwelve @ Apr 9th 2007 1:25AM]

I thought Major Nelson had more gamerscore.

[Uchendu Nwachukwu @ Apr 9th 2007 2:14AM]

Those shots are from an Xbox connected to one of MS's internal Xbox Live networks used for development and testing.

They have 7 independent Xbox Live services, only one of which is public.

[LlamaChili @ Apr 9th 2007 1:30AM]

@kingofwale: For them to see your gamertag, they'd already have to have your passport account's email address (to add to Windows Live Messanger), which is really the unique identifier... I don't think this aids social engineering at all...

[Murc @ Apr 9th 2007 1:52AM]

"Fowl" - I think you made that up, I dont see that anywhere...on this tread or any other on the dashboard update.

I certainly hope that MS adds some more video codec support to the 360, so we can all stop using some pointless transcoder.

[Uchendu Nwachukwu @ Apr 9th 2007 2:10AM]

It's on the official page for the update on Xbox.com.
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/news/2007/0408-im.htm?WText.camp=TS1-InstantMessaging&WText.campSrc=Home

[Shmoe @ Apr 9th 2007 2:13AM]

They had better come out with black peripherals, otherwise that white keyboard and white external HD-DVD player will look pretty bad paired with a black Elite controller. Frankly, HD-DVD should be built into the Elite, along with gigabit ethernet, which I still haven't heard if MS has added or not.

[Joe @ Apr 9th 2007 2:19AM]

When are they going to update the freakin' GUI? Seriously, the unresponsive and laggy garbage that you have to sift through to access your friends is just uncalled for. Why can't we have something like Halo 2's friends list, where the GUI was fast and responsive?

[Daniel @ Apr 9th 2007 2:39AM]

Fowls right guys, I saw it before as well.

Check out the xbox 360 site before you start calling him a liar please.

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/news/2007/0408-im.htm

# H.264 video support: Up to 15 Mbps, Baseline, Main, and High (up to level 4.1) Profiles with 2 channel AAC LC and Main Profiles.
# Added MPEG-4 Part 2 video support: Up to 8 Mbps, Simple Profile with 2 channel AAC LC and Main Profiles.

[Daniel @ Apr 9th 2007 2:41AM]

Whoops, Uchendu Nwachukwu beat me to it.

[Daniel @ Apr 9th 2007 3:08AM]

Ummm, I think you need to re-read the post, it only supports MPEG4 part 2 "SIMPLE" profile - no Xvid/DivX.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG-4_Part_2

DivX etc are ADVANCED simple profile which the 360 doesn't support.

[Ian @ Apr 9th 2007 8:40AM]

Even so, having h.264 is nice since thats what my ipod/itunes can read to. I don't need to have 2 copies of content in order to be able to play it on the TV/360 and on the iPod while i'm on the road. DivX/XViD would be nice though.

[Alex Padilla @ Apr 9th 2007 9:28AM]

Good. Now all I need to do is buy my Elite.

[alexhrose71 @ Apr 9th 2007 10:41AM]

Wow, did no one notice in the third or forth pick that the game title is now listed on the DVD drive graphic on the dash. Great update, have been hoping for that for ages. Now you can tell what disc is in your drive when you boot to dash.

The messenger integration is a good touch and gives the pre-game lobby space that users have been asking for. Moving the marketplace to its own blade also tidies up the xbox live blade a bit.

Shame there is no IPTV stuff mentioned yet though. All in all, a good update.

[Ryan @ Apr 9th 2007 4:40PM]

Can you use the texting thing to text ppl on msn and they text u back?

[Big @ Apr 9th 2007 8:40PM]

I just want to avoid having to switch my attention from my 360 to my PC. The easiest way to accomplish that is by integrating a PC (web browswer) into the 360.

The device is ripe for it - and at least 360 would gain just a little more ground on PS3's superior hardware.

[Nick @ May 7th 2007 6:47AM]

Wow, that sort of convergence device would break the market wide open!

Hang on.... my iMac can do that! :D

[Pageus @ Apr 10th 2007 12:58PM]

OK.. so noone brought up the obvious question..
where the hell can i get that controller.. i had something like it with my PS2.. but this would be perfect for my 360, especially wireless.. voice, keyboard, and controller all in one.. and i thought the bluetooth voice/controller for my xbox was great...

[Spartan @ Apr 11th 2007 8:10PM]

That keyboard is and accessory that's not out yet, but you will be able to buy it and attach it to the headphone port on the bottom of your controller.

[Julian @ Apr 10th 2007 9:54PM]

very nice, but... is this for the actual xbox360 or the new black one? If it's for the actual, how can I do to update it??? there is nothing on xbox marketplace.

[Spartan @ Apr 11th 2007 8:07PM]

This is for all Xbox 360's (there won't be any difference between the Elite and the old Core and Premium's softwarewise) and it'l automatically download when it comes out and you turn on your Xbox 360 the week of May 7.

[mark @ Apr 11th 2007 3:32PM]

this must be the new elite xbox because my color on my xbox on vga is wash out.i wish my
xbox look that good

[Spartan @ Apr 11th 2007 8:07PM]

This is for ALL 360's not just the Elite, that washout must be from your TV.

[stevesimmons @ Apr 12th 2007 10:52AM]

Its a common issue that users using VGA hookup have washed out colors. But those of use using Component get all the vibrant colors that are shown on the screenshots with a NON-ELITE Xbox360.

[mark @ Apr 12th 2007 4:59AM]

spartan stop being a fanboy or a fool look at the tv in the gallery it a sharp hdmi hook up
to elite. i bet u it 1080p i have a brand new 1080p tv and the colors are not wash out on ps3
or movies or pc.vga will not look like hdmi no way in hell.i have look at tvs hook up to vga
and all look the same not like that in the gallery.give me elite and hdmi cable my tv will
look like that.ms my fool u but not me.

[Austin @ Apr 12th 2007 3:55PM]

Does anyone else not care about this IM update? private chat works just as well... besides, if ive got some idiot sending me IM's while im trying to play gears of war, im gonna remove them. nothing disturbs my gears time. especially since annex came out

[Kendachi @ Apr 12th 2007 7:10PM]

I wonder if this update will affect drive firmware upgrades for game 'backups'?
a la wii...

[mark @ Apr 13th 2007 4:51AM]

stevesimmons wrong u are go to hard forum or avs forum look at my setup no setup on there look like
the gallery.look at the texts in the gallery no way.ms put screenshots of the new dashboard update
out and u think that ms will not use the best system.are u a kid are what come on.i have a 1080p tv
hook up component and vga not like the gallery.no one in avs forum or hard forum look like that.look
real good at the tv in gallery it a sharp 1080p.i have seem sharp 1080p hook up to 360 no like that.
when u see the elite hookup to hdmi and see a old 360 hookup to component u will no then.my ps3 look
way better than 360 on component or vga in the dashboard.in game 360 look good but in the dashboard.
just look at the text in the gallery very clean looking.

[Nick @ May 7th 2007 6:44AM]

you, sir, speak like a child.

[mark @ May 7th 2007 7:41AM]

so if i am a child ass H y is everyone online say hdmi look better then vga or component NICK
IF u DON'T WHAT THE HELL U TALKING ABOUT DON'T POST.the elite360 hdmi look better then 360
and that make me speak like a child.

[EyeHeart @ May 7th 2007 4:43PM]

Does anyone have the update yet? im just wondering

[docsharp01 @ Mar 31st 2008 10:04PM]

Excellent comments!
http://www.1-satellite-tv-facts.com