New XboxLIVE update on the way soon

[Pete_London]

Microsoft released more information about all the features it will include
This is the list of features they confirmed.


What does this Xbox LIVE Update include?

· Netflix Updates
Now you can watch movies with your friends no matter where they are and manage your queue from the comfort of your couch.

· Movie Parties
Xbox LIVE Gold members can sit together in a virtual theater with up to seven friends no matter where they are while your Avatars watch a movie, flirt or even throw popcorn at each other.

· Manage Your Queue
Browse the Netflix Instant Watch video catalogue, choose from the most popular movies and genres and add to your queue all from the comfort of your couch – no computer required.

· Enhanced Playback Experience
Enjoy a smooth viewing experience when your internet bandwidth fluctuates.

· Friends Info
Richer information is now displayed in the Friends channel and in the Guide showing what you and your friends are doing.

· Avatar Marketplace
Express yourself! Deck your Avatar out with the latest clothing and props from the top brands and game franchises.

· Clothing
Download premium items, including branded apparel from your favorite fashion labels and Xbox 360 games such as "Halo."
· Props
You can now equip your avatar with animated items they can carry around and interact with.
· Awardables
The ability to earn Avatar clothing and props as rewards within games has been added. Please stay tuned for an update on supporting titles.

· Games on Demand — Please note that Games on Demand will be available in the preview beginning early August.
Enjoy 24 x 7 access to a growing online library of popular full game titles on Xbox LIVE whenever you want them, in the comfort of your living room.

· Purchase Options
Browse and download a great selection of full Xbox 360 games using Microsoft Points, direct debit, or credit card.
· Game Manuals
Game manuals for Games on Demand titles can be viewed, downloaded or printed on Xbox.com.
· It's Yours Forever!
As with other Xbox LIVE content, Games on Demand titles are linked to your Xbox LIVE account, so you can delete and re-download anything you have already purchased to the same console or another console.

· User Ratings
User ratings help you find games that other people think are awesome!

· Rate it
You can now rate every game on the Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace using a 5-star system.
· Sort and Find it
Now you can easily find the games that everyone's been raving about by visiting the Top Rated games in the Browse All category of Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace.

· Xbox LIVE Parties
Everyone loves to Party! Check out the new and improved Xbox LIVE Party features.

· Party Reconnections
If you are accidently disconnected from your party, Xbox LIVE will automatically reconnect you.
· Streamlined Party Invites
Invites are now just one click away! No need to click through multiple screens to get all your friends together.

· Video Display Options
We've made it easier for you to see your entertainment in the highest resolution possible on your TV using an HDMI connection.

· Display Discovery
Make sure you can see and hear your entertainment in the highest resolution and sound quality possible with the option to override and select audio and video formats independent of the information your television sends to your Xbox 360 console.

· Other Improvements
We're always listening to you for feedback, and this Xbox LIVE update will include numerous dashboard updates.

· Gold Member Veterans
Xbox LIVE Gold members get to show it off with a stamp on your Gamer Card that tells people how long you've been a Gold member.
· Indie Games
Xbox LIVE Community Games has been renamed Xbox LIVE Indie Games. We feel this new name better represents the independent spirit of these titles.
· Achievement Browser
We've revamped the Achievements browser so it's now easier to read through all the achievements while playing a game. You can now also launch a game directly from the browser.
· Achievements Tracking
A new view inside the profile panel which includes a summary of Achievements earned across all the games played, and shows of all your completed games.
· Streamlined Navigation
Streamlined navigation, including new entry points in the dashboard for Active Downloads, redeeming codes, recovering Gamertags and more.
· Voice Messages
No more blank voice messages! When recording a voice message, a warning will pop up if no audio is detected.
· Friends List Sorting
It's now easier to find your friends! Find and sort your friends by activity, Gamertag or online status by pressing the Y button while viewing the friends list in the Guide.
· Memory
Time stamps now appear in the memory area, which particular handy when managing saved games.

· Account Management
We've made some changes to make your life easier.

· Subscription Notification
If your Xbox LIVE subscription is about to run out, you will now be notified when you sign into Xbox LIVE.
· Updates for Invalid Windows Live IDs
If the Windows Live ID you provided has expired, you will now be prompted to update it the next time you sign into Xbox LIVE.
· Account recovery
We've enhanced the account recovery process to make it faster and more reliable.

What does this Xbox LIVE Update not include?

The following features will be coming in future Xbox LIVE updates, which we'll be sure to let you know about.

· Facebook
· Twitter
· Zune video and 1080p Instant On
· Last.fm



That's all for now but take care of yourselfs because a new banwave could be hidding inside.

Cheers.

 

[davb877]

some nice new additions.. finally they gonna allow use of more cards than the usual visa/mastercard options

they are doing a "preview program" again where you get to test new update before others etc

 

[rawsy]

they still need to let us use other codec formats i.e fully support x264

 

[Explosivo]

support for playing mkvs would have been sweet

 

[witchy]

some nice new additions.. finally they gonna allow use of more cards than the usual visa/mastercard options

What other cards mate?

I don't see anything different apart from Direct Debit.

Overall a pile of shit IMO, all I want is some decent HD codecs.

 

[Oggy]

Overall a pile of shit IMO, all I want is some decent HD codecs.

+ Another Ban!

 

[ms2005]

who wants to sit on a virtual couch and throw virtual popcorn at a virtual avatar.

Waste of time and money from MS if you ask me.

 

[marra]

who wants to sit on a virtual couch and throw virtual popcorn at a virtual avatar.

Waste of time and money from MS if you ask me.

i agree mate just another gimick, at least with that thing the ps3 is worth a look

 

[english]

· Video Display Options
We've made it easier for you to see your entertainment in the highest resolution possible on your TV using an HDMI connection.

I'm liking this.

 

[Kruger]

· Video Display Options
We've made it easier for you to see your entertainment in the highest resolution possible on your TV using an HDMI connection.

I'm liking this.

still falls short of the words we all wanna hear,

FULL MKV support

 

[reni]

I very much doubt if there will be full MKV support or even partial .. they dont even have Divx support fully as you need to sign in too get it so they didnt have to pay full royalty or something like that

 

[Kruger]

I very much doubt if there will be full MKV support or even partial .. they dont even have Divx support fully as you need to sign in too get it so they didnt have to pay full royalty or something like that

yip they done a deal to pay per download basis to save forking out the full bhoona.

 

[witchy]

I hate the way they have crippled x.264 to 2 channel stereo.

I use simple stereo audio myself so I'm not bothered about the loss, it's just that I hate having to re-encode the AC3 to stereo before I can play them in my 360.

They allow surround sound on their WMVHD codec, yet it's locked on all 3rd party codecs to simple stereo, come on Microsoft, get your finget out your arse and allow us to use AC3 on x264.

It's silly.

 

[witchy]

yip they done a deal to pay per download basis to save forking out the full bhoona.

Aye and it causes nothing but grief to us. Look how many people need to be signed into Xbox Live just to play a Divx movie, yes there are ways around it but it's a total mess.

Sony included the codec licence fee in the cost of the console, why couldn't Microsoft have done the same?

Pah.

 

[rawsy]

I very much doubt if there will be full MKV support or even partial .. they dont even have Divx support fully as you need to sign in too get it so they didnt have to pay full royalty or something like that

the way around the divx problem is to delet the codec update and sign up a new account on the 360 in question then redownload the update. if you transfer an account from another source you will have to go on live and sign on every time. its wierd i know but thats what i have read on my travels. also and it took a hell of alot of searching and isnt easily found out on the web ( in my experiance ) is a way to burn wmv files on to dual layer disks that work and dont stop playing half way through the film. all you do is bur the wmv file in nero as a dvd rom udf and under the udf tab select enable xbox compatability mode like we all had to do with the origional xbox games and voila. sorry if people already know this but it took me ages to find out and im chuffed now.