Posted May 11th 2007 2:00PM by Dustin Burg
Filed under: News
If you're looking to pull off those floating black text boxes for your Xbox 360 Windows Live Messenger fun, this little guide can help. Over on Xbox.com they've posted a Spring dashboard FAQ featuring a few keyboard shortcuts for the 360 IM'ers among us. Opening, closing, and navigating the numerous text boxes is a breeze with these keyboard shortcuts. Also included in the FAQ is one of those "corporate responses" to Xbox Live members having trouble signing up for the service. More specifically, they are looking into a fix for those who are over 18 years old, but created their accounts when they were under age. Yeah, it's a screwed up system, but we say no more. More reading after the jump.
Posted May 10th 2007 1:00PM by Dustin Burg
Filed under: News
For those of you who use VGA to connect your 360 to a display, the Spring update is perfect for your washed out display woes. Included in the Spring dashboard update is a reference levels setting under the displays option, which toggles your interpret black levels to help get those blacks even blacker. The VGA's washed out effect is due to both the VGA cable and HDTV's default black levels not meshing, so the new reference levels setting gives you three options (standard, intermediate, and expanded) to correct the difference. Any VGA users willing to give the reference levels a test and see if it makes your display's picture prettier?
No, this isn't an announcement about the Spring dashboard update's release, but it is an announcement for two dash videos that you can watch while you're waiting. Up on the XBLM are two videos that demo and showcase all the new features that the Spring update will bring. For those of you who still aren't sure to what's included or if you have friends who are clueless, downloading the videos will be an easy way to get learnified. And since you have nothing better to do today, give the vids a download and a quick watch.
Even though we haven't seen the videos yet, rumor has it there is a pink gopher halfway through video number two. What? Seriously, would we make that up? Okay fine ... we just wanted you to download the videos. Don't hate us.
Monday's sun is setting and we still have yet to hear from Microsoft about the Spring dashboard update. But talk is a flutter over on the Xbox.com forums from Xbox Live members who've contacted customer support and are hearing that the update will roll out tomorrow, May 8th. Some even heard from CS managers a 3:00AM pacific time frame for when the dash update will be released. We of course can't confirm such talk, but we aren't expecting the update to be released today anymore, so tomorrow is the next best thing. Any fanboys talk to Xbox CS and hear something different?
Posted Apr 13th 2007 10:30AM by Dustin Burg
Filed under: News
If you've been craving more information about the Spring dashboard update, then you aren't alone. That's why the fine folks over at on10 headed over to the Microsoft campus to record a video demo that showcases all the new Spring update features. The 20+ minute demo shows off all the UI and menu structure changes as well as explains (and shows) how the IM integration will work. Actually, every feature that has been announced for the Spring dash update is demoed in the video including the new text-input device that'll attach to your controller. So, if you're the curious type and want to see the new dash features in action, give the video a watch. Maybe you'll see something new that you just love (like the new Marketplace blade!). And remember, the new Spring dash update drops May 7th to an Xbox 360 near you.
Ah, nothing like the smell of fresh codecs in the morning. Hidden inside the list of new features to be bundled with the spring dashboard update is a handful of new video codecs that will be supported by the Xbox 360. The new codecs are H.264 and MPEG-4 Part 2. What does all this mean? Honesly, we have no idea. Lucky for us, our similarly bewildered kin at Joystiq found an answer. According to the video wiz kids at Red Kawa, "This puts Microsoft at the head of the pack in the Apple TV vs PS3 vs Xbox 360 video battle royale." The 360 will be able to display 1080p H.264 Level 4.1 and H.264 High Profile. This bests Apple TV which is maxed at 720p H.264 Level 3.1 and H.264 Main Profile. As for the PS3, it supports 1080p H.264 but only at H.264 Main Profile. Take that ... probably!
One important note, this does not mean that the Xbox 360 will finally support DivX or Xvid. All your torrenting fantasies will have to wait. Still, this will add some more decent HD video capability to the Xbox 360, and that's always a good thing.
[Via Joystiq. Thanks to the video junkies that sent this in.]
Those Microsoft MVPs sure like to brag. Godfree from Gamertag Radio took time out of his busy schedule just to let us know that he and the other MVPs have already received the impending spring dashboard update. You know, the one that has Live Messenger and an improved Marketplace and all that jazz? Yup, he's already got it. While we're a little miffed that we have to wait, all is not lost, as Godfree promises to give us all some first hand impressions during the next episode of GTR. For now, we'll just have to play more Guitar Hero II and dream of the Halo 3 beta.
It has been an interesting week of leakage and speculation about the Spring dash update and we now know that it's all true. Microsoft has officially pulled back the curtains on the update's features and when we'll be getting our mitts on the all the goodies. First off, we think it'd be appropriate to recap all the big new features that the update has to offer. Without further adieu, the Spring dashboard update will feature ...
Windows Live Messenger IM integration.
More informative achievement notifications.
A brand new Marketplace blade with updated organization.
Upgraded XBLA friend interaction functionality.
Auto-off downloading functionality featuring low power mode.
Enhanced family settings for chatting.
Ability to watch videos while downloading off the XBLM.
Hundreds of other random fixes and tweaks.
Not only that, but Microsoft also announced that they'll be releasing a new QWERTY text-input peripheral (seen here) this Summer that attaches to the Xbox 360 controller. Also, Joystiq separately confirmed that the once speculated "Play Game" feature will indeed be included in the new dash update. Now no more guessing which game is in the drive. The Spring update will go live on May 7th with all the new IM integration and updated features. Full press release after the break and be sure to take a look at Joystiq or Engadget's Spring dash photo galleries.
Is there anything you think should have been included in the update or something you're specifically looking forward to? Also, will you be using the Windows Live Messenger integration through your 360? Fanboys, it's your duty to discuss!
Update 1: Xbox.com has more information on the other features included in the dash update including various video playback options.
No, this isn't an announcement about the Spring dashboard update's release, but it is an announcement for two dash videos that you can watch while you're waiting. Up on the XBLM are two videos that demo and showcase all the new features that the Spring update will bring. For those of you who still aren't sure to what's included or if you have friends who are clueless, downloading the videos will be an easy way to get learnified. And since you have nothing better to do today, give the vids a download and a quick watch.
Monday's sun is setting and we still have yet to hear from Microsoft about the Spring dashboard update. But talk is a flutter over on the Xbox.com forums from Xbox Live members who've contacted customer support and are hearing that the update will roll out tomorrow, May 8th. Some even heard from CS managers a 3:00AM pacific time frame for when the dash update will be released. We of course can't confirm such talk, but we aren't expecting the update to be released today anymore, so tomorrow is the next best thing. Any fanboys talk to Xbox CS and hear something different?
If you've been craving more information about the Spring dashboard update, then you aren't alone. That's why the fine folks over at on10 headed over to the Microsoft campus to record a video demo that showcases all the new Spring update features. The 20+ minute demo shows off all the UI and menu structure changes as well as explains (and shows) how the IM integration will work. Actually, every feature that has been announced for the Spring dash update is demoed in the video including the new text-input device that'll attach to your controller. So, if you're the curious type and want to see the new dash features in action, give the video a watch. Maybe you'll see something new that you just love (like the new Marketplace blade!). And remember, the new Spring dash update 
