Hello Everyone!
Coming shortly is our December 2007 System Update, one where we've added a lot of new features that you guys have been asking for. You should be prompted for the update early next week on December 4th.
This is the seventh system update I've been responsible for and I recently went back and reviewed the previous major updates we published in June '06, November ‘06, and May ‘07. It is amazing how far the console has come since 2005! And knowing all the work that has gone into this current update I stand back and feel super-proud of the Xbox Console Team. The incredible innovation and efforts they continue to put into the platform each day is unbelievable.
Maintaining a twice yearly ship schedule is difficult. Launching major services like Video Marketplace is challenging. Designing and launching an external HD-DVD player from scratch in 10 months is difficult. Growing our library of backwards compatible titles to almost 500 supported games is demanding. But hearing feedback from our users and seeing our platform succeed makes it all worthwhile. And it makes us want to tackle even more.
Did you know our system update package is only 7MB in size? Or that the entire 360 O/S resides on a tiny 16MB filesystem and when running it is only given 32MB of system memory? I mention this as our developers and testers do an amazing job of coding for performance, and that is overlooked by a lot of people. Each day they are faced with adding more features, improving performance, and creating magical experiences with those hard-capped limits. And release over release they are able to pull off some magic to make it happen.
I feel really lucky to work with such an amazing team. We love the 360, and we are passionate about making it better! Remember the team is listening to your comments on Xbox.com and on Major Nelson's site so please continue to provide the feedback!
The team is already thinking about the next update and after some well deserved time off for the holidays we'll again be working to improve your 360 gaming experience.
Daryl Welsh (GT: IndieGames) -Xbox 360 Group Test and Release Manager
Account Management
· Added error text to direct under 13 year old user to the Web when attempting to change contact information
· Added Messenger Signup into Xbox LIVE signup
· Added PEGI logo icons to Game ratings scenes
· Added support for switching between Windows Live ID accounts
· Added Support for User Graduation
· Added support to allow users to change the Windows Live ID they use with their Xbox LIVE gamertag
· Added support to Migrate Zune Accounts to Xbox LIVE accounts with purchase rights
· Added text for "in-game voice" complaint option
· Display MS Points Web Address correctly for Korea
· Improved blocking support for Friends Only sessions
· Improved enforcement of Windows Live ID and Gamertag Regions
· Improved Informational Text for cases where Gamertag already in use
· Improved parental control support for 48 hour trial codes
· Improved robustness when viewing friends profiles and quickly backing out
· Improved support for account recovery when no storage devices attached to console
· Improved support for invalid characters in phone field
· Improved support to cancel out of Credit Card scenes during account sign-up
· Improved support to load Dashboard after exiting from Account Recovery
· Improved text for accounts that have been banned
· Improved text for Direct Debit in Germany
· Improved text for explaining Gamertag, Gamercard, etc to users signing up
· Improved text for recovering Gamertag dialogs
· Improved text for Zune Accounts in Sign Up app
· Improved text spacing for Recover Gamertag dialogs in Russian
· Improved text support for handling expired credit cards during purchase transactions
· Improved text to inform users that only 1 profile can have auto signin enabled
· Improved text translations for Account Management in German
Ads
· Added support for Audio Mute/Unmute for video ads
Community
· Added double-high friends list to show more details for each friend
· Added new feature "Inside Xbox" on the Xbox LIVE blade
· Added support for richer profile viewing including Real name, Bio, Locations, etc
· Added support to control privacy settings for Friends of Friends viewing
· Added support to show friends a real name
· Added support to view Friends of Friends
· Display actual friends count and not list item count in Add Friend page
· Improved German localized text for recent players blade
· Improved robustness in Friends area when rapidly pressing A and B buttons
· Improved support of viewing Friends profiles when friend has existing pending friends requests
· Improved text messages for Privacy Settings in Blocked Communication scenarios
· No longer report Invitations as 'sent' when communication set to 'blocked'
Dashboard
· Added ability to twist UI left and right to filter/sort in Media lists
· Added 'Downloads' button to game launch page on Games Blade
· Added fade out transitions for transitions from dash to video playback
· Added Friends Playing Now feature to Games Blade for Xbox LIVE Arcade, Xbox Originals, Xbox 360 disc based games, and Xbox 360 Demos.
· Added grouping support for TV & Game content in Media Blade
· Added localization support for AM / PM in 12-hour clock format for Traditional and Simplified Chinese
· Added sort by Title/Date for acquired Video library content
· Added support for Featured Downloads in Arcade area of Games Blade
· Added support for twist controls in offline Dashboard and Xbox Guide
· Added support for updating Marketplace, Xbox LIVE and Games blade without full system update download
· Added support for Video album art on attached hard drives in separate .jpg files
· Added support to not write trial-version Arcade games to user's played games history (this is only for newly downloaded games after the Dec'07 update is released)
· Allow all signed in users to access Banners in Dashboard or Marketplace, not just first signed in user
· Arcade area shows '--' instead of '0' for gamerscore when signed out
· Changed UI Flow for Media connectivity: default to console, and allow users to change device via X button. Also remember last chosen device
· Disconnected MU or Controller Message persisted when launching back to Dashboard from Game Title
· Improve accelerated scrolling speed for long lists
· Improve transition speed of blades
· Improved consistency in confirmation text when deleting items
· Improved enumeration speed of lists in games blade
· Improved error handling when signing out while viewing a marketplace ad
· Improved handling of moving game profiles from MU to HDD
· Improved localization text for Polish in System Update dialogs
· Improved performance of Guide Transitions
· Improved progress bar accuracy when moving large files from MU to HDD
· Improved responsiveness of Dashboard overall
· Improved robustness after attempting to resume an expired purchased video
· Improved robustness when comparing achievements after connection to LIVE is lost
· Improved support for Daylight Savings Time in Alaska time zone
· Improved support for handling disc full when downloading movies from Marketplace
· Improved text layout for blade names in CHT (Traditional Chinese)
· Improved text on Startup page in System Blade area
· Improved text translations for Arcade area in Japan
· Removed PC Affiliation from the System Blade
· Starting DVD playback with 2 or more wireless controllers shows all game pads on the console ring of light
· Starting DVD playback with a mix of wired and wireless controllers now shows all game pads on the console ring of light
· System Update Message in Russian properly formatted
DVD / HD-DVD
· Added CHT language support to video players
· Improved accuracy of tray state when ejecting multiple times
· Improved robustness when ejecting discs from external HD-DVD drive
Family Settings
· Added Family Play Timer Feature
· Improved handling for resetting parental controls to default
Font Support
· Added support for Virtual Keyboard and IME for Simplified Chinese
· Improved CHT (Traditional Chinese) font support for game achievements
· Gamer Profile
· Dates and Times support region specific attributes
HDMI
· Improved handling of AVMUTE for HDMI
· Improved handling of CEA861 mode for HDMI
· Improved handling of flashing during on/off mode changes
· Improved handling of Standby-3 mode for HDMI
Keyboard
· Added IME indicator for Messenger Conversations
· Added support for F9 and F10 in Virtual Keyboards
· Added support for Polish and Russian USB Keyboards
· Improved Chatpad support for Korean Language
· Improved handling of Caps Lock for JPN USB keyboards
· Improved IME Japan Keyboards in Xbox Guide
· Improved overall IME Self Learning support
· Improved support for USB Keyboard with System UI Message displays
· No longer show keyboard results when entering password via Chatpad or USB Keyboard
· Removed extra '@' from CHT Virtual Keyboard
Marketplace
· Added "Featured Items" as a top level section of Marketplace
· Added "Featured Trailers" and "Shorts" options within the Movies area of Video Marketplace
· Added Accelerated List Scrolling to Marketplace
· Added List wrapping to Top Download lists in Marketplace
· Added prefetching support for off-screen thumbnail images in Marketplace list views
· Added support for "New Arrivals" area within Marketplace for all catalog content types
· Added support for "Spotlight" area within Marketplace
· Added support for displaying audio support in top level UI for videos on Marketplace
· Added support for displaying Marketplace video previews in Full Screen mode (newly added files are encoded at higher bitrate, existing previews remain encoded at low bitrate)
· Added support for multiple previews (varying languages) for International Video Marketplace (this is content provider dependent)
· Added support for renting Movies in several international countries
· Added support to Browse, Purchase, Download and play Xbox Original Games
· Added support to cache metadata information for off-line usage in Media Blade library scenes
· Added support to Play Now from Marketplace storefront for items already downloaded
· Added support to prefetch off-screen thumbnails in Video Store
· Added support to send actionable Marketplace recommendations to Friends for Arcade games
· Added support to show audio language and subtitles for International Video Marketplace
· Added Twist Control support for navigation and sorting
· Allow Banner Messages to link to Arcade Titles
· Changed "Media and Entertainment" to "Video Store"
· Improved error handling for corrupt video content
· Improved localization text for Belgium Profiles with Netherlands Marketplace
· Improved robustness when service returns incorrect number of items when viewing Download History
· Improved support of Parental Ratings with Arcade recommendations
· Improved text for cases where License is not available for purchased video content
· Improved text messaging for playing rental movies on consoles other than the console purchased with
· Improved User Experience for Credit Card scenes in Russian
· List wrapping functionality identical now between Media blade and Marketplace blade lists
· More robust error handling for Add Points dialog page
· TV Series on Marketplace now navigate directly to episode list instead of Season1
· Unrated Titles now display ratings as "Rating: Pending or Unrated"
Media - All
· Added more user friendly text for various error related messages
· Added Shortcut keys from Remote Control: Pressing Play on a Video/Song/Picture will immediately start playback of that item from the list (pressing Start from gamepad does the same thing)
· Added support for Album/Video artwork larger than 500kb
· Added support to enumerate metadata in the background and not just when selected by the user
· Added support to make sort options sticky across console reboots
· Added support to show all available Media Sharing Servers on the local network and allow automatic re-affiliation
· Automatically delete older versions of Optional Media Update package when new ones are downloaded
· Improved consistency in storage naming across all areas
· Improved performance for displaying Album Art when connected to remote sources
· Improved text messaging when connection to PC is lost when streaming Music/Photo or videos
Media - Music
· Added support for CD Playback from music area in Xbox 360 Guide area
· Added support for listing multiple computer sources in Xbox Guide music sources
· Added support for Y button to toggle full screen on and off for music visualizer
· Disable 'play all' button when folders only contains playlists (with no audio files)
· Disable Y button when no list items selected in Music player
· Improved device support for new iPods (classic and 3rd gen Nano) - iPhone and iPod touch are not supported
· Improved error handling for mixed encoded playlists (aac,mp3,wma)
· Improved handling for MTP Music devices with >200k entries
· Improved handling of game background music after playing videos in Dashboard
· Improved handling of music playback over games (if music source terminates or has errors, background music returns to game background)
· Improved performance for "Play All" with attached MTP devices
· Improved performance of music enumeration via Guide
· Improved robustness when playing back HFS+ formatted iPods
· Improved support for returning to game background audio when user's music player session terminates
· Improved support for scrolling song lists while listening to music during game playback
· Improved support when ejecting game disc while selecting music source through Guide
Media - Pics
· Added support to display PNG files when streamed from Windows Media Player 11 on Vista
· Improved enumeration for PTP cameras including Cannon Powershot SD 630 and Apple Iphone
· Improved playback performance of "Play All" when PC source has 1000s of photos and subdirectories
· Support Folder view of Photos from MTP Portable Devices
Media - Video
· Added 2 line support for entries in the Video Area of the Media Blade
· Added ability to recognize Colorspace attribute for Video Marketplace Content
· Added fade in transition for start of video playback
· Added full screen buffering animation for streaming videos from Xbox LIVE
· Added Suggestions scene for Video Library area in Media blade of the Dashboard
· Added support for 16x Fast-forward/Rewind
· Added support for AC3 embedded audio (see video faq for full information)
· Added support for enumeration of video files from Zune 2.0 devices
· Added support for Left Shoulder button on controller to chapter skip backward
· Added support for Left Trigger button on controller to rewind
· Added support for moving past the point user has viewed when doing progressive downloads of Video Marketplace videos
· Added support for MP3 embedded audio (see video faq for full information)
· Added support for Mpeg-4 part 2 video files in AVI containers
· Added support for Right Shoulder button on controller to chapter skip forward
· Added support for Right Trigger button on controller to fast forward
· Added support for Zune Podcast video playback from Zune device
· Added support to display metadata and thumbnails embedded in video files
· Added support to enumerate .divx video files
· Added support to group TV shows by Series in Video Library of Media Blade
· Added support to group Video and Game Trailers into same area of Video Library of Media Blade
· Added support to sort Movies or TV Shows by Title or Download date in Video Library of Media Blade
· Added top level support to show expired or soon to expire information for purchased movies from Video Marketplace in Media Blade
· Improve support for "Play Now" calculations with ISP that boost download for the first 20MB of a file
· Improved accuracy of bookmark positions when video player abnormally ends
· Improved accuracy of download progress bar after chapter skipping operations
· Improved auto resizing experience for small (under 100x100) video files
· Improved Bookmark / Resume experience with 60fps Interlaced WMV videos
· Improved bookmark support while progressively downloading videos from Marketplace
· Improved calculations for "Play Now" for Video Marketplace downloads
· Improved deinterlacer support for video playback
· Improved enumeration speed for user-generated video content in Media Blade
· Improved error message support when playing back video files without valid licenses
· Improved error message support when pulling USB drive while playing back video files
· Improved handling for USB memory stick removal while on Video device selection list in Media blade
· Improved handling of video playback when transitioning from 4x FF to Play with MP4 video files
· Improved handling of WMV bookmarks when rewinding and shutting down video player
· Improved info pane timer when playing back DRM's WMV content from Windows Media Player 11 from Windows PC
· Improved message support for progressive video playback
· Improved overall UI, content descriptions and navigation of Video Library of Media Blade
· Improved performance during Fast Forward to Playback transition when playing back MP4 content
· Improved performance for buffering and playback of streaming videos from Xbox LIVE
· Improved performance for low bandwidth streaming of MP4 videos from Zune PC software v1.0
· Improved performance of skip forward/backward with WMV video files
· Improved performance of trick modes when streaming videos from Zune PC client
· Improved performance of WMV playback for WMV7 & WMV8 encoded video files
· Improved playback experience after extended pauses of video files from Marketplace
· Improved playback experience when resuming from a stopped/paused state
· Improved playback performance for h264 720p .MOV files
· Improved playback performance with 1920x1080 MP4 files
· Improved playback performance with 5Mb h264 encoded video files
· Improved playback performance with 60fps 720x480 MP4 content
· Improved playback performance with h264 files in .m4v containers
· Improved quality for upscaled user videos when played back full screen
· Improved quality of MP4 decoder: Global Motion Compensation and VMX optimizations
· Improved quality of MP4 decoder: improved Interlaced Support
· Improved quality of MP4 decoder: Out of order frame output, bidirectional motion vector handling, etc.
· Improved quality with non-square pixel video files
· Improved responsiveness of trick mode controls for video playback
· Improved robustness during chapter skipping of h264 video files
· Improved robustness for streaming problematic video files from Zune PC Software 1.0 or Windows Media Player 11
· Improved robustness of video player when playback catches up to downloads in progressive playback scenarios
· Improved robustness of video streaming when network congestion / stalls occur
· Improved robustness when closing video player after attempting to play a video file that would not open
· Improved robustness when entering and exiting video playback on a portable device repeatedly
· Improved robustness when exiting video files encoded in h264 and playing back from attached USB HDD
· Improved robustness when playing back Mp4 video with consecutive bad aac samples encoded into it
· Improved robustness when shutting down console during h264 video playback
· Improved robustness when trying to play a video recently moved from MU to HDD or vice versa
· Improved robustness with video player when exiting player via Xbox Guide button -> Y
· Improved support for AAC-LC 2 channel encoded audio in MP4 video files
· Improved support for chapter skipping during progressive downloads of Marketplace Video content
· Improved support for MP4 video files with discontinuous time stamps encoded in
· Improved support for MP4 video playback from burned optical dvd-r's
· Improved support for resuming downloaded videos after reaching end of an uncompleted download
· Improved support for resuming partially downloaded videos from Marketplace
· Improved support for using Big Button controller during video playback
· Improved support for Video bookmarks when playing MP4 videos from USB portable hard drives
· Improved sync of video display and info pane display when rewinding
· Improved text for Windows Media Center setup instructions
· Improved Trick mode support when streaming videos with AAC embedded audio