AfterDawn: News

New Xbox 360 dashborad update adds H.264, MPEG-4, and PlaysForSure codecs

In the upcoming Spring dashboard update, weve reported that Microsoft will add Live messenger compatibility as well as many other tweaks.

We did not however, mention the new addtion of three new video codecs. The Media Center as well as Windows Media Connect will be able to stream Mpeg-4 up to 8 Mpbs, H.264 at up to 15Mbps, and PlaysForSure WMV.



This is a great addition that will allow users to play an increasing amount of their videos on the 360.

Source:
Engadget

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 10 Apr 2007 7:15

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• 6 comments

• hape

  sounds REAL good! Maybe I will also buy mine xbox now.
  Does it support .srt or .sub subtitles?

  10.4.2007 07:52 #1

• SProdigy

  It's about dang time! I was sick of having to transcode my DivX movies into .WMV using TVersity. Maybe MS figures they could finally "win the home" if they offer this. My cheap DVD player has been able to do this for years. Now I can save burning all my blank CD and DVD media and just stream to my 360. GOOD!

  10.4.2007 10:55 #2

• vinny13

  Pardon me, but can someone please tell me how your supposed to text someone while playing a game like Gears of War??? It's just completely useless during gameplay.

  10.4.2007 19:14 #3

• johnblaze

  Originally posted by vinny13:Pardon me, but can someone please tell me how your supposed to text someone while playing a game like Gears of War??? It's just completely useless during gameplay.I guess you could pause it or do it during a cut-scene. It would beat having to exit to the dashboard everytime you wanted to send one.

  11.4.2007 04:54 #4

• hughjars

  They need to get it handling .mkv, then it really becomes a 'play any HD file' media monster.
  
  They also need to keep the black option, put the cooler running & more efficient 65nm chip in, have the quiet disc drive and chop the price some more......and if they (all) could stop choking these so-called 'high end' media centres of memory that would be very nice.
  
  The 120gb HDD is a good idea but sadly (if understandably....given game content copyright etc) quite pricey.
  
  As I already own and run a HD-DVD add-on off of my PC I could care less about one of these drives being built-in......in fact I'm glad they didn't bother, why would I want to go paying for one again?
  
  So I'm still not buying......and I'm not buying a PS3 either.
  
  I did just splash out & buy a Core 2 Due e6700 PC which just runs Blu-ray and HD-DVD files so easily and can play games to higher res & detail than either console option.
  
  ......and I'm very glad I did too.

  11.4.2007 07:10 #5

• TravDude

  Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I thought that the MSN Messenger supported voice chat and video? If thats the case, then you wouldn't have to text someone, you could just yell it at them, right?

  11.4.2007 16:27 #6