Xbox 360 Fall Update Arrives, Adds Xbox Originals, Family Timer, Xvid/DivX Support, More

December 4, 2007 8:38 AM

Microsoft has released the fall dashboard update for the Xbox 360, adding a variety of new functions to the system while refining its existing capabilities.

Included in the update is support for DivX- and Xvid-encoded videos, a family timer that allows parents and spouses to limit the time their loved ones invest in the console, and more social networking options. For all the technical details, check out the full change log.

The online Xbox Live Marketplace has been completely redesigned, and now offers up downloadable versions of original Xbox titles for 1200 Microsoft Points ($15) along with the new Xbox Live Arcade Hits program, which permanently reduces the price of several popular XBLA games.

Xbox Live-connected users will be automatically prompted to download the update when they attempt to sign in.

Chris Faylor

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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mancide

 reply
December 4, 2007 8:54 AM

XBOX 360 MEDIA POST OF DOOM
Repost

TL;DR, Use WMP11, install klite codec pack. Use X to switch source (computers) on media blade.

Seeing several repeat questions here, thought I would take the time to write up a quick FAQ for you guys.

http://blogs.msdn.com/xboxteam/archive/2007/11/30/december-2007-video-playback-faq.aspx

That site lists all the supported file types. In the matrix, make note that WMP11 supports all of these.

I would suggest installing klite codec pack, if you haven't, to make WMP11 support DivX/h264/MPEG4
http://www.afterdawn.com/software/video_software/codecs_and_filters/k-lite_codec_pack_full.cfm

Once that is done you can then add all of your files to WMP11 library and share them to your 360.

Please take note, you no longer connect and disconnect from a computer like previously. You switch source by hitting the X button on the media blade.
- Chris Faylor
  
   reply
  December 4, 2007 8:57 AM
  
  I am very, very impressed by WMP11. It just set it to auto-scan my music folder and I never have to mess with it!
  - sharkII
    
     reply
    December 4, 2007 9:01 AM
    
    If you don't mess with it, it will auto-download album covers and metadata, and overwrite what you had!
    - Chris Faylor
      
       reply
      December 4, 2007 9:02 AM
      
      I think I disabled that? Will double check. Bad WMP11.
      - Chris Faylor
        
         reply
        December 4, 2007 9:04 AM
        
        Yup, it's not set to overwrite any media information or details. Hooray! I don't have to bother with it anymore and I can still use iTunes because I am afraid of change!
    - mancide
      
       reply
      December 4, 2007 9:03 AM
      
      Default is to only add missing metadata.
      - sharkII
        
         reply
        December 4, 2007 9:35 AM
        
        missing, or all?
        
        mancide
        
         reply
        December 4, 2007 2:08 PM
        
        Only missing fields.
- pyide
  
   reply
  December 4, 2007 11:54 AM
  
  uhh, if i understand correctly, you don't need any of these codecs since the 360 is the one playing it. wmp11 just does the sharing & network streaming to the 360. i have all these and more with ffdshow-tryouts, but the 360 won't play everything that my PC will.
  - mancide
    
     reply
    December 4, 2007 2:09 PM
    
    XBOX's own FAQ says you have to have directshow filters for WMP11 to get h264/MPEG4 playback, as it doesn't come with these by default. Zune v1 did, which is why I used it for a while, but the Zune player can't do DivX.
    - pyide
      
       reply
      December 4, 2007 2:19 PM
      
      i see. but it makes sense that anyone who has these video files already has the codecs.
- Kryn
  
   reply
  December 4, 2007 11:59 AM
  
  I seem to remember that the Zune software, which is basically a modified version of WMP11, supported adding certain types of movies (mp4?) to the library that WMP11 didn't, and thus you had to install Zune if you wanted to stream that software to the 360.
  
  I'm not sure if this is how it is, as I eventually moved onto TVersity, but unless they also released an update to WMP11 I think this is still the case, is it not?
  - Kryn
    
     reply
    December 4, 2007 12:04 PM
    
    Er, to elaborate/simply, I eventually unpaired my Xbox with WMP11 and turned off sharing and repaired it with the Zune software because the Zune software supported adding certain containers to the library to be shared that WMP11 did not. So if you want to stream certain types of video containers and I can't remember which ones, you might get more use out of the Zune software than WMP11.
    - mancide
      
       reply
      December 4, 2007 2:11 PM
      
      True, Zune came with the MPEG-4/h264 support built in. But Zune can't do the DivX sharing, so that's why I suggested WMP11 because it's the only one of the official MS packages that support the widest range of filetypes, even if you need to install a codec pack.
- theflux
  
   reply
  December 4, 2007 4:34 PM
  
  It still doesn't seem to like my MKVs...any solution to this?
  - sharkII
    
     reply
    December 4, 2007 6:03 PM
    
    conver them to a supported type?
    - theflux
      
       reply
      December 4, 2007 7:26 PM
      
      but I am le tired :(
      - Speedy8
        
         reply
        December 4, 2007 8:37 PM
        
        Yeah It's a shame that it doesn't support mkv. Guess I'll stick to my original xbox, but it doesn't support HD which is pretty much the main stuff I'd want to stream to my TV.
- d1gw33d2
  
   reply
  December 4, 2007 7:17 PM
  
  Help! :(
  
  I have limited knowledge of codecs/containers so excuse me if the question is asked improperly but:
  
  Does having xvid/divx support under mpeg4 part 2 also allow for a way to have files in the .mkv container playable on the 360?
  
  Any ideas to play such a file with out transcoding?
  
  I have limited experience with mkv files.
  - sharkII
    
     reply
    December 4, 2007 7:24 PM
    
    not gonna happen.