Spring Update FAQ What is the Spring Update?
Well, it's pretty self explanitory. It's the seasonal update that Microsoft is releasing this Spring for the Xbox 360 console. It will add a lot of new features to the Xbox 360 and add even more Windows Live and Xbox 360 integration.
What is in the update?
The following are the items that have been announced for the update;
* A richer Achievement notification pop-up will showcase the name of the unlocked Achievement and the gamerscore value without needing to leave the game to check the Achievements list.
* Windows Live messaging is added on to the Xbox 360. You have a sepertate contacts list and can talk with 6 people at one time while playing games, watching movies, or even more.
* Enhanced family settings features for Xbox Live communications enable different defaults for video chat and voice chat.
* A new Xbox Live Marketplace blade lets Xbox Live members access the content they seek—whether it is game content or TV shows and movies (available in the United States)—from one place on Xbox Live.
* Updates to Xbox Live Arcade allow owners to quickly see which Xbox Live Arcade games their friends are playing and join in the fun. Xbox Live members can also compare progress of leaderboard scores and Achievements directly with all friends on their friends list. Expanded "Tell a Friend" capabilities make it easier than ever to boast about Achievements and high scores.
* Expanded "Tell a Friend" capabilities make it easier than ever to boast about Achievements and high scores.
* A new option in Auto Downloads provides faster access to the entire collection of free, trial-version Xbox Live Arcade games.
* New progressive download controls provide easy access to optimal viewing options by letting people fast-forward, rewind, pause and resume as their video is downloaded from Xbox Live Marketplace.
* Extension of the background download functionality will allow owners to set their Xbox 360 console to turn off automatically after downloads are complete.
* The name of game in tray is now displayed in the dashboard.
* When the user is in the dashboard and an Xbox 360 game is in the console then the name of the game is displayed in the tray icon of the dashboard. If the user highlights the tray icon then achievements and gamer score are displayed for that game based on the signed in user. Xbox1 games show the name and image of the game.
* Integrated support for the new Xbox 360 text input device. Note that this device includes a new wired headset.
* Playback progress bar indicates download completion.
* Switchable aspect ratio now available during video playback (Auto to Letterbox, Zoom, Stretch, Native).
* Player and friends lists now quickly show session presence information for quick identification of users that are joinable.
* 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.
* Show folder hierarchy for video content played from all devices.
* Bookmarks are stored for each video that the user plays remembering the users last location in the file as well as the aspect ratio that the user choose for that file.
* Video trick modes (fast forward, rewind, chapter skip) can now be used while downloading Video Marketplace content.
* Skip forward and backward functionality has been improved to skip to the next or previous chapter. Each video is divided into 10 “chapters” allowing you to quickly skip around video content.
* The information bar that is turned on via the On Screen Display (OSD) now shows you exactly where you are in the playback of the video file. In addition it will also show for Video Marketplace content how much of the file has been downloaded and where the “chapters” exist in the file.
* Windows Media protected content (WM-DRM) can now be streamed from the PC to the console. If the WM-DRM license is missing or corrupted then a specific error message is displayed to the user. Bookmarking is also stored for protected content.
* When a user selects an item for download from Marketplace then the system will determine if there is sufficient disk space for the item and, if not, will ask the user to delete content on the HDD. The system provides a sorted by size list of videos, game trailers, demos and arcade content to aid the user in the deletion process. The same list of items are also available from within memory so that users can quickly see which items are consuming the most disk space.
* The console will block the user who attempts to download content onto a storage device that will never have the capacity to store the item without deducting any points associated with the content item.
* The screensaver is disabled when playing photos from any source
What is the 'new' achievement system?
There is nothing changed about the current achievement system, they just made it easier to access the information on how many points/what the achievement was without having to hit the guide button. From now on, when you get an achievement it will have the name of the achievement and the amount of gamerscore it is worth.
Is the 360 going to have an instant messaging system now?
Well, yes and no. It is not going to have its own brand new messaging system, Windows Live is being brought to the Xbox 360. So, when the Spring Update is released you will log onto your Windows Live account and all of your contacts will be there. They can see what game you are playing and your gamercard. You can chat with up to 6 people at one time while playing games, watching movies, or downloading new content. The Windows Live list will be SEPERATE from your friends list.
How will I type to my friends?
You have 3 options.
1. Get a wired USB keyboard and plug it into one of the Xbox 360's USB ports
2. Use the on screen Xbox 360 keyboard
3. Buy the new attachement coming out this spring that attaches to your controller
How much will the attachement cost?
It is currently
unknown. Will the update add group chat?
No.
What is new about the marketplace?
The marketplace will now have its own blade, that is not affected by your currently chosen theme. The background of the marketplace will depend on a lot of different variables; whether it be the season, or holiday, or even the newest download available.
What is the 'Tell a Friend' feature for the Xbox Live Arcade?
This feature has been available for a while, but now it is better than ever. Instead of just reccomending a game to your friends, now you can boast about your hardest achievements on each Xbox Live arcade game.
So, now when I have a disc it will tell me what game it is on the dashboard?
Yes. Now, when you have a game in the tray and you are at the dashboard your Xbox 360 will tell you what game is in the tray. When you highlight the tray, it will tell you the achievements and gamerscore you have in that game. If you have an original Xbox game in your tray it shows the name and image of the game.
Is there anything else notable?
The only other thing currently notable is that now when you are downloading videos you will be able to watch the video while it is downloading regardless if it is 'ready to play.' You will also be able to rewind, fast foward, and stop even if the video is downloading.
Any other questions? Feel free to ask!
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