XBL Spring Update 2008!

[Chasym]

well the update should be coming at ANY time now, But a list of what will be in the update had linked to the web about a week ago, and i just got time to take a look.
And theres alot of stuff, and alot of it is awesome stuff.
So when i bold an item, its to emphasize the AWESOME of that item!

Xbox LIVE
1. Option to delay sign-in to Xbox LIVE upon booting console (to allow user to set Online Status).
2. Option to promote Child Account from Family Settings.
3. Disallow Child Accounts (over 18) to override Family Settings by launching Privacy Settings through a title.
4. Option in Family Settings for Child Accounts to enable child-oriented/non-mature advertisements.
5. Introduce a group chat (4) for Private Chat and conferences through Video Chat.
6. Support to indicate media being watched to gamercard status (video content from Marketplace only).
7. Extend height for Bio field in Personal Profile, easier navigation through text.
8. More fields present in Personal Profile - recent achievements, interests, games, movies, links, custom section.
9. Compact Personal Profile for new fields (navigating to field will open it up).
10. Mandatory option to delete duplicate titles from gamercard (excludes Games for Windows - LIVE). User disconnected from Xbox LIVE when booting any title until action complete.
11. Option to remove payment information from gamertag.
12. New payment methods for international users.
13. Download History on Account Management better organized - games, genre, type, download date, miscellaneous.
14. Long descriptions of items on Marketplace can be scrolled using right stick.
15. Better organization of free content on Marketplace.
16. Option to 'ping' when testing connection.
17. Allow re-connection to Xbox LIVE if Ethernet cable is re-inserted whilst powered on.
18. New strip colors available to developers, staff gamercards.
19. New corner icon available to ambassadors.
20. Re-introduce Messages button for Inside Xbox updates only.
21. Option to store up to 10 messages permanently on server (excludes invites, status messages).
22. Increase character limit for text messages between friends only.
23. Option to disable invites from non-friends or all players.
24. Option to disable invites from titles not on gamercard (excludes demos).
25. Option to have smaller items moved up in Active Downloads.
26. Automatically re-connect to Xbox LIVE if disconnected unexpectedly (set intervals).
27. Option to download gamer picture (if available) from a gamercard being viewed.
28. Display random tips to replace static text on Xbox LIVE and Games blades.
29. New button on Marketplace for optional dashboard features - uses Storage Device memory.
30. Option to donate Microsoft Points to anybody with a Windows Live ID.
31. Option to purchase Membership for charities (includes benefits).
32. Integrate file-sharing for selected titles on Xbox LIVE and Games for Windows - LIVE.
33. Disable notifications to friends of user repeatedly signing into service (set period).
34. Option to see 'snippet' of text message in notification.
35. Windows Live Mail integration - includes support for Xbox LIVE Vision.
36. Web feeds integration - text, images, audio. Includes support for specific item codes on Marketplace.
37. Option to display gamer picture or standard picture as display picture in Windows Live Messenger.
38. Support for headset, Xbox LIVE Vision in Windows Live Messenger.
39. Support for limited 'winks' that display on dashboard interface. Option to disable 'winks' and 'nudges' added.
40. Notifications separate from Windows Live Messenger to Xbox 360 notifications.
41. Disable multiple languages from being used in any Xbox LIVE editable fields.


Games
1. Option to delete titles from gamercard with 0 gamerscore and 0 achievements (excludes some titles that will be re-added to launch another title).
2. Organize My Games at the Games Library section better (includes disc-based titles) - sort by genre, platform (Games for Windows - LIVE), percentage completion.
3. Support to display friends leaderboards for disc-based titles.
4. Show dates of an achievement unlocked when comparing.
5. Preload Games Library upon dashboard bootup for faster access.
6. Game updates now shown as items in Memory, increased amount of updates on Storage Device.
7. Option to delete game updates, removed 'cheat code' as no longer needed.
8. Support for more titles to display banner when accessing guide in-game.
9. Option to re-introduce awarded gamer pictures from titles that do not have their own re-introduce feature (requires saved game).
10. Disable gamer pictures from being awarded from trials.
11. Support for titles to store installation data on Storage Device for faster loading.
12. Synchronization to achievements offline/online that were deleted and then re-added from developers.

Media
1. Option to hold LT and RT for rewinding/fast-forwarding video content.
2. Option to delete individual music tracks from storage device.
3. Option to rip music CD at different quality.
4. Copy non-protected files (pictures, music, videos) from USB storage devices, CDs and computers to proprietary storage devices.
5. Support for menu, top-menu features on video content downloaded from Marketplace.
6. Section added for audio delivered through feeds (podcasts). Option to stream, download to Storage Device.
7. Support added for video titles/description to gamercard status.

Dashboard/Miscellaneous
1. Option to navigate quickly out of several menus back to respective blade home (applies to Games, Media, System).
2. New blade trim styles added.
3. Introduce expanded Inside Xbox as a portal to news, weather, entertainment, help and community features.
4. New sounds for various functions (notifications, blades, navigation).
5. Calibration options for display/sound.
6. Calibration options for motion sensor devices.
7. New effects for Xbox LIVE Vision and dashboard background.
8. Disable changing of Theme when on Memory to prevent 'hanging'.
9. Preload recent, limited items upon dashboard bootup on Memory.
10. Faster loading of Themes section on guide.
11. Option to see what items will not work offline due to DRM license changing from Memory.
12. Option to automatically associate new DRM to items downloaded for free.
13. Indicate 'charging' status on guide when Play & Charge kit is connected.
14. Option to change text colors on guide to better contrast some backgrounds.
16. Language improvements.
18. Word censor updated for fields.
19. Privacy Settings/Family Settings updated for new features.
20. Voice, picture messages can be read at Xbox.com (Gold accounts).


so far its not 100% confirmed official, but it sounds pretty real and alot of that stuff is stuff we needed in an update long long ago!

 

[Jereme]

I like the being able to block invites from people not on friends list so I don't get random invites all the time anymore. Multiple people in one private chat is nice as well.

 

[Auron X]

I've been waiting for that multiple chatting thing since I got an Xbox 360 =).

 

[Skaw]

Yeah, Group Voice Chat'll be great. Especially when retards hosting a GTA 4 game fuck with Voice Chat settings and turn it off team.

 

[Taetian]

I've been praying for the text scroll using the right stick ever since I started using the marketplace to get demos. It'd make getting to the point of things much faster and not having to wait for the text to start over easier on my patience.

However, I think you should have bold number one in the Games section, I'd love to remove all the Arcade Trials from my played list.

I'm for the multiple chat too, and I'd enjoy half the list alone, barring some of them being a little too off.

 

[Strid]

Should we start takin' dibs on how long XBL is goin' to be in a state of horrendous error after the update?

 

[Taetian]

Should we start takin' dibs on how long XBL is goin' to be in a state of horrendous error after the update?

If thats the case, here's hoping its so messed up again that they hand out another free game. (Undertow wasn't that bad.)

 

[Chasym]

yeah ill take a free game! i missed undertow since i didnt have net.
but honestly, ive yet to have a problem with XBL

 

[Negorissimo]

Multiple chat in channel is long overdue. But it's great that they are allowing it again. lol

 

[Firestreak]

I hear there's no update at all and they're going to be removing some poorly selling XBLA games. I hope neither is true.

 

[Chasym]

theres always an update twice a year , it would be incredibly shocking if there wasnt

 

[Chasym]

wow there really isnt a spring update...thats pretty effed up. And they are removing old XBLA titles with a 65% and lower rate and a less than 6% install rate.

But at least they are releasing a DRM tool to reset the DRM for arcade games and items purchased on another xbox and then moved to a new xbox! i cant stand that i cant play my damn games

 

[Firestreak]

Doesn't really matter, the stuff they were adding wasn't all that important, they OS is pretty good already, it's not like without an update they suck. The DRM is probably better than that whole list for a few people. The only thing I'd have liked was using the right stick to scroll faster through descriptions. I figured MS was gonna shoot something back tho to reclaim lead of best store interface from Sony. All that stuff is kinda pointless tho, you don't spend much time in the stores, and usually know what you want and where it is anyway before you open it.

 

[Chasym]

actually alot of the bolded stuff on that list i would prefer much more over the DRM, That stuff has been needed for awhile. The DRM is cool, but a spring update is just something we expect every year

 

[Firestreak]

Who are we to complain? It's not like XBL costs money or anything... oh wait...

 

[Chasym]

exactly, when you pay money you have a voice

 

[Strid]

exactly, when you pay money you have a voice

Heh, wouldn't that be nice?

 

[Chasym]

Heh, wouldn't that be nice?

you mean you never got any cool features implemented or a free arcade game for speaking up for your dissatisfaction or recommendations?
i know i have!

 

[Strid]

you mean you never got any cool features implemented or a free arcade game for speaking up for your dissatisfaction or recommendations?
i know i have!

Newp. I'd consider gettin' a cheezy arcade game a slap in the face, that's just me though.

 

[Chasym]

cheezy? the two freebies i got were actually good games i considered buying before they became free, infact i missed out on undertow since i was without net and still bought it, but i guess thats just personal opinion.

My point being was that if the consumer had not spoke up and gave their opinion, we would not have received those games, and most of the features implemented in past updates would not have happened without the community pointing out what we thought was needed or would make the live experience better.
Where as if the service were free, they wouldnt have to listen to anyone period and all complaints and reccomendations could be just brushed off to "hey, your not paying for it, ill do it if and when i feel like it"