Connect360
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Rivet media sharing for Xbox 360
Mac users who have wanted to share audio, video, and pictures with their Xbox 360s have had to depend on Connect360 from Nullriver Software. Now, however, there's a new option: Rivet from Cynical Peak Software. Frankly, it does about the same thing as Connect360, running in your menu bar and allowing you to share media to your Xbox 360, though it does add a few convenient features. According to the developer, Rivet allows you to "supply multiple search paths for your media" and display your folder media folder hierarchies properly (instead of in a long, flat list). So if you've been frustrated by those limitations, Rivet is worth a look. In my brief testing it worked just about as well as Connect360.Rivet is $18.95 and a demo is available from Cynical Peak Software.
Ask Joystiq: On region-free downloading, Xbox streaming and Karnov
This week on Ask Joystiq, we look at downloading foreign content to a foreign system, streaming content to an Xbox 360, and identifying one --or possibly two? -- obscure Argentinian NES games.If you have any burning questions, unsolved gaming mysteries, or just a desire for musings from our knowledgeable cadre of writers, drop us a line at ask AAT joystiq DAWT com (and yes, we write it that way for a reason).Q: I might be going to Japan towards the end of the summer and might pick up some games or a system. If I get a system, how would that work when I bring it back to the states and log on-line for a Wii, PS3 or 360?? Would a Japanese Wii let me log in to only US servers or would I be able to download Japanese games from the marketplace. Same question applied to the other systems...-- iwantmymtvA: For the Wii, the region of the console corresponds to the region of the Wii Shop Channel -- Japanese systems will access the Japanese store, no matter where you plug them into the intertubes. You have to buy Wii Points that correspond to the system's region too, which means using a Japanese credit card or getting some Japanese Wii Points cards imported. [source]Any PS3 will play downloads from any region, but each PSN account is locked to a specific region when you create it. Luckily, it's relatively easy to set up "dummy accounts" for each region you want to buy content, as long as you have a credit card from that country. Be warned, though: there is a significant language barrier for navigating the Japanese store.Xbox Live users can also create dummy accounts to get around regional restrictions, but there are reports that Microsoft has been blocking downloads from accounts where this practice is detected. As always, let the international buyer beware.-Kyle Orland
NullRiver announces Connect support with PS3 soon
If you've got a 360, you might have used the popular "Connect360" software to stream music and videos from Macs to the gaudy white box (it's a joke, don't flame because your funny bone has been disconnected from your logic bone). If you have no idea what that is, no worries. The folks behind the software, NullRiver, are going to be adding support to the PS3 soon. The most recent upgrade to the 360 service allowed DivX streaming support, something that was also recently announced for the PS3. [Editor's note: PS3 will support playback of DivX files on the hard drive as well.] Sounds good. We'll keep you posted as more details emerge.[Thanks, Elliott!]
TUAW Buyers Guide: Gifts for gamers
As we found out this past year, gamers have Macs, too. When you think of gaming gifts, you don't usually think of getting suggestions from a Mac blog-- most of (if not all of) the best games this year aren't playable on a Mac at all. But nevertheless, we're out there-- people who love gaming and Macs, living in two worlds both aimed at the same thing: having a great and beautiful user experience.If you're shopping for one of us this holiday season, here's a quick guide to a few good gift ideas.
Connect360 3.2 now streams DivX / Xvid for Mac
Connect360 -- software that allows gamers to stream video, music, and movies from their Mac to their 360 -- has been updated to accommodate the new codecs introduced in the recent Fall Update. In other words, Connect360 3.2 will allow anyone to stream DivX or Xvid right to their television. The full application will run you $20, though the update is free to existing users. We haven't tried it out ourselves, but our cantankerous controllers over at Joystiq claim that the app outperforms Microsoft's official Windows streaming. Anyone else out there care to testify?[Via Joystiq]
Connect360 3.2 + Xbox 360 = DivX / Xvid streaming for Macs
Just two days after the Xbox 360 Fall Update added DivX and Xvid support, Connect360 – the app that shares your Mac's music, photos, and videos with your 360 – has been updated to support the new codecs. We imagine the update wasn't that difficult, since simply changing a video's file extension from .avi to .wmv tricked the app into streaming our totally legitimate collection of videos, but we're happy for the official fix. $20 buys you the app, but the upgrade to 3.2 is free for existing users. Wanna try it out? Download the demo. Dare we say, it actually works better than the official Windows solution? We dare![Via Megatonik]
Connect360 now does DivX/Xvid
We've posted on Connect360 from nullriver several times before. This handy Preference Pane application allows you to stream media (music, pictures, and video) from your Mac to your Xbox 360 (by emulating a Windows machine). Well the Fall 2007 Dashboard update for Xbox 360 just dropped this week and, among other things, added DivX and Xvid codec support. So nullriver has updated Connect360 to version 3.2 with support for these video codecs.Connect360 remains $20 and a demo is available.Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Connect360 patches video problems
Nullriver Software just brought their Mac-friendly Connect360 up to version 3.1, which fixes some issues had with streaming video after the (Northern Hemispherical) Spring Update. According to Alex Lovett of Nullriver, there was a rounding error on a floating point number that was inadvertently causing the wrong data to be output at random intervals. Either way, it's been addressed in the update and any of you who have been having issues with video streaming should have smooth sailing. All in all, how is the new video codec support treating you?[Thanks, bighitter]
Connect360 returns after being shut out by Dashboard update
Mac users using Nullriver's Connect360 software to stream content to their Xbox 360 got an unpleasant surprise after installing the most recent Dashboard update, which beefed-up their 360's capabilities but unceremoniously severed the link with their Macs. As is often the case with such things, however, the software's developers have been quick to respond, not only fixing the problem but throwing in a few updates for good measure. Most notably, Connnect360 now boasts support for H.264 and MPEG4 video streaming, and you'll also now be able to stream podcasts straight from iTunes. While the update is free for exisiting users, the software itself is not (setting you back $20) -- although until Microsoft decides to add some Mac support itself, it looks to be about your only option.[Via Arrogantics, thanks Zizzy]
Connect360 updated with H.264 support
A while back in our TUAW Guide to Xbox 360 and Mac we mentioned the forthcoming Spring Dashboard update on the 360 was to bring updated video codec support. Well that update dropped last week and Nullriver has correspondingly updated their Connect360 software (which we've mentioned before) that allows streaming video (and audio) files from a Mac straight to a Xbox 360. The newly supported codecs include full HD (1920x1080) H.264 in both the MPEG-4 and QuickTime containers (in addition to the previous WMV). This, of course, is substantially higher than Apple TV's support for 720p video, making the Xbox 360 likely the best full HD video extender available (though the Xbox is disappointingly loud compared to the Apple TV).Connect360 remains $20 and a demo is available.Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Connect360 gets an update, works again
Apple owners rejoice, because your Connect360 is back and better than ever. If you recall, when the new Spring dashboard update rolled out Connect360 users soon found that their software didn't want to play nice anymore. But the Nullriver programmers got to work and just released Connect360 version 3.0 which is fully compatible with the Spring update. Not only does the program work again, but they've added H.264 and MPEG4 video support as well as iTunes podcast streaming. So, download Connect360 and try out the new podcast streaming feature using everyone's favorite Fancast. What? Just some shameless self promotion ...[Via Arrogantics, Thanks zizzy]
Connect360 having hiccups with latest update
It would appear that not everything about the latest spring update is all wine and roses. Application developer Nullriver is currently having to deal with the Spring Update with Connect360, the Mac solution to as according to tipster Rob Avery, checking your video shows your music, and there is an apparent 2000 viewing list limit. Either way, Nullriver is working on the problem and will have addressed the different nuances as soon as possible. Once everything is in place things should definitely look up for Mac users, as the addition of H.264 support is music to our ears. Apple based X3Fanboys, do you utilize Connect360?
Ask TUAW: Printing Finder window contents, CornerClick, a Finder hotkey, editing AVIs and more
This week's Ask TUAW takes us into questions about printing Finder window contents, assigning programs to the corner of your screen, bringing up the Finder with a HotKey, integrating Apple productivity programs, recording TV on your Mac and editing AVIs . Remember new Mac users and Switchers who are enjoying our Mac 101 series should feel very welcome to post questions for Ask TUAW; we're happy to take questions from all levels. As always, please submit your questions by commenting to this post or using our tip form.
TUAW Guide: Xbox 360 and Mac
In many of the recent reviews of the Apple TV, the Xbox 360 was often mentioned as a competing Media Extender product. Having recently bought a 360, I thought it would be good to discover the ways in which my two pretty white boxes can work together. In this TUAW Guide to Xbox 360 and the Mac, I'm going to discuss some of both the hardware and software compatibilities between the machines. If you've ever been curious about the Xbox 360 read on, and if you're an old hand my Gamertag is matonmacs, send a friend request my way; maybe we can get a TUAW clan going!
Connect360 adds video streaming support for Macs
Nullriver quietly snuck WMV streaming support into its Mac-compatible Connect360 software a few weeks back. Until this recent development, Mac users had been locked out of the streaming party, which has been raging on PCs since Xbox 360's Fall Dashboard Update (just last week, on-the-fly transcoding was made possible).While Connect360 may lack on-the-fly transcoding, streaming support restores some of the balance lost between PC and Mac users after the initial release of the Fall Update. And we like balance.[Thanks Corey]
Mac sharing tool, Connect360 hits 2 dot oh
Attention Mac using 360 owners! The outrageously good Connect360 keeps getting better: they've just released version 2.0 with some pretty significant changes. They've made it Universal so it will run natively on the new Intel Macs; it's now a preference pane instead of a standalone app, offering a much more suitable interface for the functionality; and plenty of bug fixes and performance enhancements (the entire changelog is available after the jump). Best of all, 2.0 is a free upgrade for registered users!Connect360 allows people who like both their game systems and computers to be elegant and attractive to enjoy some of the media extending capabilities of the 360. It's limited to iTunes and iPhoto integration, while video playback is still reserved for a Windows Media Center PC... for now.See also:Major update to Connect360; Mac users feel lovedConnect360 connects your Mac to your 360[Via Xbox-Scene]
Fanboy Roundup: web-browsing, UMD-skimping, Mac users
Nintendo thinks, "Hey, maybe a web browser on the DS would be swell." Sounds good to DS Fanboy, so long as they don't have to use that Pokemon stylus! PSP Fanboy explains, "UMDs are already overpriced, we're just trying to save a couple bucks, so get off our backs!" Meanwhile, in Xbox 360 Fanboy-land, they laud community efforts to pick up where Microsoft left off with the 3rd-party additions of DivX and Mac support. Don't touch that stylus, here are the Fanboy highlights for the week:DS FanboyNintendo considering DS web browser?A very disturbing Pokemon stylusDS Lite: Just the facts!PSP FanboyMe & My Katamari sorta kinda statesideJazz Jackrabbit ported to PSPAmazon.com offers cheap UMD dealXbox 360 FanboyXBMC hacker introduces Transcode 360Connect360 connects your Mac to your 360Peter Jackson visits Bungie, talks shop
Stream iLife media to your Xbox 360
If you're one of the Crazy Ones who fought their way through hordes of game-addicted line-dwellers at Best Buy to get their hands on one of those swanky new Xbox 360s, this may interest you: Nullriver -- the same company that brought you Amaryllis and PSPWare -- has developed an app called Connect360 that actually lets you stream music and photos from your Mac to your Xbox 360. It automatically indexes your media, which you can then access over the network via your Xbox Dashboard. (But while it does index your iTunes library, I don't think it will play music purchased from the iTMS.) You can download a trial of Connect360 from Nullriver's website -- or you could purchase it for a measely $10. Give it a try and let us know how it works, ok? [via Gizmodo]
Connect360 connects your Mac to your 360
For those of you who didn't want to bother sullying your Mac OS sensibilities with the hands-on setup required for TwonkyVision's UPnP MediaServer software, you've missed out on what used to be the only way to get your music and photos from your Mac to your 360. Nullriver, makers of the excellent PSPWare, introduce Connect360, which "automatically indexes your iTunes and iPhoto libraries and shares them to your Xbox 360. You can then use the Xbox 360 Dashboard to browse and play your media, organized in the exact same way that it is on your Mac. "Anyone manage to get it working? My wireless router is wonky if I keep the bridge on the same subnet... in other words, my 360 and G4 can't see each other.[Via Major Nelson]
