Spring dash update features revealed?

by Dustin Burg { Apr 7th 2007 at 11:00AM }

Well, well, what do we have here? Word on the street is that Gamespot accidently posted a complete list of the new Spring dashboard update's features and even posted a demo video (embedded above), but then promptly pulled the article. But, unforgiving as the internet is, they didn't yank all the information before everyone and their mothers copied down all the features and mirrored Gamespot's video to YouTube. And our friends over at MyGamerCard.net were nice enough to round up all of the article's information in one convenient place.

Among what Gamespot posted for new dash features is Windows Live Messenger integration, a new Marketplace blade, more informative "Achievement Unlocked" pop-ups, and a low power mode for downloading Marketplace goods. Gamespot's article and video also state that the Spring update will be dropping on May 7th. Whether Gamespot posted the news prematurely or were posting a very late (and evil) April Fool's joke, we aren't sure. But if this is what the Spring dash update has to offer then what new features are you looking forward to?

[Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]

Tags: dashboard update, DashboardUpdate, rumor, spring dashboard update, spring update, SpringDashboardUpdate, SpringUpdate, xbox live, XboxLive

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Ashley @ Apr 7th 2007 11:27AM

- FULL Keyboard and mouse support
- A browser

Thats all I, and I know alot of others, want!!

Muffin_man @ Apr 7th 2007 11:27AM

I have made this very clear on the xbox forums (and major nelsons blog spot asking us what features we wanted.) that we should be able to talk to live messenger friends. I didn't see anyone else mention it so i guess they listened to me

Nanook @ Apr 7th 2007 11:29AM

DivX Support ]=

thedoodiepooper @ Apr 7th 2007 11:54AM

I want it to read my thoughts.

Tony @ Apr 7th 2007 11:56AM

I'm glad that they continue to worry about the best ways to be able to talk with friends, access content and set up games. This is what I personally want. I couldn't care less about a browser.

Tprzepiorka @ Apr 7th 2007 12:18PM

I think this a great addition. I remember back in the days of those 360 viral sites they had lots of hints that suggested WLM(Windows Live Messenger) would be included. I'm glad it finally has. Update looks great. Can't wait until its out.

-TP

ANt @ Apr 7th 2007 12:19PM

Further proof that the 360 is the console to own now and in the future.....SWEET!!

6 player chat, ala Skype.....nice!!

DA360 @ Apr 7th 2007 12:21PM

Very nice, the main marketplace was overdue for a remake and glad to see their delivering on that, making the rest of the marketplace look like the Video Marketplace, hopefully it will also have game-pacific backgrounds as well for different games (like in Video Marketplace did show/network backgrounds).

Also, I love the add-on of MSN Messenger contacts, so now I will be able to talk to anyone I have on MSN Messenger (which I have quite abit) while playing my 360 (though I am sure having a keyboard connected would make that much easier) so I can still keep in contact with them while playing 360.

Also, the low-power downloading sounds awesome, something very welcome by those who will be doing long downloads (including those huge movies from Video Marketplace) can put the 360 is a low-power mode to save energy and keep the fans off.

I am sure there's more features than this too, because there's been also earlier mentioning of adding more VGA resolutions for monitors above 1360X768 and whatnot.

Haqq @ Apr 7th 2007 12:36PM

So wait we can not talk in IM via MSN MESSENGER?

Stranger @ Apr 7th 2007 12:43PM

mkay...

Nice to see MS continue with the iterative functionality tweaks, but I was honestly expecting a LOT more out of the spring update. Like:

1. DASHBOARD CLAN SUPPORT (guess it would help if there was a game other than Chromehounds that encouraged clans)

2.) Better organization of downloaded media! I absolutely hate that my TV shows are organized by title and download order only, with no options to manually adjust them.

As of right now all 30 or so TV shows I've downloaded are all listed on the sub menu, in alphabetical order by show, and each show is listed in the order which I downloaded them, with no options to rearrange them (ya know- like order the shows by their episodic sequence ?). I've got like 30 episodes of different shows and my TV shows tab is just as freakin' mess, and there's nothing I can do about it!

If I'm paying retail prices for this stuff I better have an equivalent viewing experience without having to re-download my content to arrange it in a way that makes sense!

3.) User created content. When the hell are you guys gonna deliver on something you've been talking about for over a year now!

4.) A Marketplace blade that is not customizable!?!? BOOO!

That flies in the face of MS' whole "make your 360 yours" mantra they preached at launch. I'm already sick of all the ads I have to endure when navigating the dashboard.

It's one thing to have ads in the marketplace menus, but to advert me when I'm trying to access my own media gets a big thumbs down. Being able to turn dashboard advertising off would be a super nice touch.

If you're gonna force ads down my throat as part of the "Live" experience, then that "Live" experience should be free.

Seriously guys- next time you talk to major nelson- ask him how MS justifies charging me to view advertisements on my dashboard.

GRT @ Apr 7th 2007 1:15PM

I like the idea of the box shutting itself off after downloading is complete.

One small thing on my wish list is a QWERTY virtual keyboard option. I hate that the keyboard is laid out the way it is...

Jay900 @ Apr 7th 2007 1:26PM

looks good hope its real

Bryan T @ Apr 7th 2007 1:32PM

Can we Private chat with more than one person in this new update?

Haqq @ Apr 7th 2007 1:56PM

#13: Yup, even while ingame

blamecanada @ Apr 7th 2007 2:05PM

Up to 6 ppl.

Iced_Eagle @ Apr 7th 2007 2:10PM

#10: About the ads in XBL, if you were a subscriber for XBL for the original Xbox and then migrated your account over, you are blessed with no ads! :D I've been ad-free ever since I got the console.

I'm excited about this update. I'm not a heavy marketplace user, but it's nice that they're giving it its own blade now. I don't like that they placed it as the first thing on their list. I'd rather have it go XBL blade -> Games -> Marketplace -> etc etc...

Also, there's going to obviously be a TON of more fixes and enhancements. Unfortunately they didn't have a disc in the drive, so we couldn't see if the "Play game X" text had changed.

One exciting little tweak is showing Achievements of what you got and how much it's worth. No longer going out to the guide when you get them!

Daz @ Apr 7th 2007 2:21PM

When will the xbox cease to be a console and become just another pc in the living room? In my opinion games for windows and the whole xbox and pc integration is a bad idea. Messenger takes us one step closer to that.

SuicideNinja @ Apr 7th 2007 2:26PM

Why do people want browser support?

The browsers on the PSP, DS, PS3 and the Wii are horrible. I have little faith that Microsoft could do any better with a controller as the input device. They are better off sticking with improving their online support and not worrying about making the gaming console into a computer.

As far as M&K support, Microsoft isn't stopping that. Developers aren't using the option to support those devices. If you want it, just buy the XFPS...unless you wanted to navigate the dashboard with a mouse.

Anyway, I like the achievement feature. It's annoying to have to push the guide button just to see what you've earned. Improving the marketplace navigation is a definite plus as well. That spot needed a lot of help.

angry_lemming @ Apr 7th 2007 2:40PM

yeah, all I'm lookin for is 16x10 support

Murc @ Apr 7th 2007 3:04PM

Daz - You clearly are just MS bashing...your argument is very weak. All MS is doing is making the process run smoother, and the IM is just another way to keep in touch with your friends...its not turning the 360 into a pc.

If you were to bag on any console for turning a video game system into a computer it would be the PS3, since it runs linux...which means it will be able to run tons of programs.

As for the spring update...it sounds pretty good...But I was really hoping MS would give its users more video codec support...I realize that they would have to pay divx if they wanted to incorporate that codec....but surely they could at least incorporate the open source video codec...aka: xvid.

Arno @ Apr 7th 2007 3:14PM

Native Divx/Xvid support for Media Center.

Don't care about a browser.

Muffin_man @ Apr 7th 2007 3:17PM

#10 You do realise in the account options there is the ability to opt-out from the advertisements. You ninny!

alijah @ Apr 7th 2007 3:22PM

bet you to http://alijahgreen.spaces.live.com it how about a game of Shadowrun beta gamertag Alijah Green

Virtua Fanboy @ Apr 7th 2007 3:25PM

@ Stranger:

Please sell your Xbox 360 so you can find other shit to bitch about. Please for the love of God sell it and never post on here again. Go buy a PS3, they don't have any advertisments for you to look at.

Nobodyrp @ Apr 7th 2007 3:39PM

I'm hoping that six friend chat thing is what it sounds like because having more than 1-1 private chats has been something I've been wanting ever since I got a 360

True Underdog @ Apr 7th 2007 4:14PM

Muffin Man, Recon Number 54 (a Bungie.net moderator) has been pulling for that feature for a long time. I'm sure many people have talked about it. Aside from making the dashboard look pretty and the messenger stuff, I really

Virtua Fanboy @ Apr 7th 2007 4:24PM

40. I wonder, since you can cross chat Yahoo-Windows Live/Windows Live-Yahoo, then I wonder if they will enable Yahoo-Xbox Live?

Kaientai DX @ Apr 7th 2007 5:02PM

This update sounds great, but adding a new blade might make it a bit crowded. I don't know about that. As for all this ad talk and pc talk. First, I first got live when I got my 360, never had an account on the original xbox. No ads at all. Second, this instant messenger thing only allows for chat when you live friends aren't on the system. Good idea in my opinion.

Stranger @ Apr 7th 2007 5:21PM

@ #16-

Not true at all. I've had my Gamertag since Xbox Live's inception, migrated my account over from the original xbox and everything. My dashboard is littered with ads constantly. Don't know where you heard that, or if you're just going off of your own experience, but it's just not true.

Like I said in my first post: If you're gonna force ads on me, your service should be FREE.

I love live, but I detest being sold to everytime I go to the dashboard. Wanna do it in the Marketplace? Fine. My user menu? Hell no.

Ciaran Gallagher @ Apr 7th 2007 5:23PM

wow I'm impressed. Some seriously good things there... especially the integration of msn!

Stranger @ Apr 7th 2007 5:29PM

I'm VERY curious about why some people receive ads on their dashboard and some people apparently do not.

Are you guys automatically signing into Live when you power the console up? Or do you manually sign in? Have you downloaded content from the marketplace, and if so did you pay for it, or was it free?

This is strange to me that people would be having different experiences from the same service. I wonder what that's about. Is it the market I'm in? Or what?

Stranger @ Apr 7th 2007 5:29PM

@ Virtua Fanboy-

Quit trolling. If you don't have anything worthwhile to post (ya know- the kind of thing that adds to the discussion), then don't post.

I'm not paying for a service to be sold to. Like I previously said- I love Live, I don't mind paying for it. I do mind paying to see ads on my dashboard. It's a totally legit beef.

And if you think the free PS3 online service is going to be ad free, you really need to wake up.

Patrick @ Apr 7th 2007 5:32PM

xvid and divx support please

Sharp Blade @ Apr 7th 2007 5:35PM

MS are you listening to your userbase or are you just pushing your content and integration agenda??

So far unimpressed and I think some job changes for whoever is doing these updates are in order.

Don't ask for feedback from the community if you aren't going to listen to them.

Stranger @ Apr 7th 2007 5:47PM

@ Muffin Man-

I'm only a ninny if you can point me specifically to the option you're referencing.

I've looked everywhere in the dashboard (and yes that includes my account management settings) for the option to opt-out of advertisements. No such option exists on my console. I will totally fess up to retardation if it's in there, but I seriously can't find it.

If that option exists, then I've got nothing to bitch about. I don't think it does.

Daryl @ Apr 7th 2007 6:19PM

Looks good to me. Nice addition to the achievement pop-up.

More than 1 person in chat is also cool.

Keep up the good work MS. It seems like they really listen to the community.

Stranger @ Apr 7th 2007 7:14PM

K- I think I've got nothing to bitch about. But I don't really feel retarded...

There IS an option to opt out of marketing over Live within the console itself, and if anyone cares I'll tell you:

If you pull up the Xbox Guide menu (hit the guide button) and click on your gamer profile, you click on the Edit Gamer Profile tab, and then the privacy tab, you can choose to opt out of marketing offers from within yet another submenu.

You cannot access this option any other way, and interestingly enough, even though I had already selected my status as "Opt Out", I was still getting ads. Once I reselected this option, the ads disappeared. Kinda shady if you ask me...

But I stand corrected nonetheless. Now all I see on my dashboard are "New Arrival" notices.

Guess that makes me a ninny- or MS extra shady. Or both.

Kaientai DX @ Apr 7th 2007 10:55PM

I, too, would like to know where this tab/option is. I, for some odd reason, would like to see these ads. Adds some life to the dashboard, I never stay there too long.

elementmailman @ Apr 8th 2007 12:18AM

This dashboard update looks great. By the way, as far as ads go, I believe that it depends on how fast your internet is. When my internet is slow, I have to have my 360 on the dashboard for a few minutes for the ads to pop up. When it is fast, they load instantly. That is what I think determines the ads.

james @ Apr 8th 2007 6:03AM

there are adds on your media section? there are adds anywhere apart from that little box that shows them on the xbox live little box thing? wow,i didnt even realise :-P i migrated my box aswell from old xbox live, so i just assumed everyones was the same.... lol, learn somethin every day

Dorkboy3000 @ Apr 8th 2007 8:52AM

How about support apple airport extreme?

Stranger @ Apr 8th 2007 1:37PM

Yeah, airport extreme support would be nice:

Here ya go, once again, for anyone who wants to opt-in or out of any advertising. Please not that this will NOT turn ads completely off- you'll still get live arcade notices and community stuff like the GOW tournament ads:

1. Access your gamer profile, either via the dashboard or the guide menu.

2. Scroll down to EDIT GAMER PROFILE. Select that tab.

3. Within that tab is a PRIVACY SETTINGS tab, last one on the list. Select that tab.

4. Within the Privacy Settings tab are several preference tabs including the opt-in/opt-out of 1st and 3rd party marketing , as well as options to tailor who gets access to your personal information (achievements/games played/etc), friends/ nobody/anybody. That's it.

Please note as I said before, this will not disable ALL ads, and to be honest I'm not totally sure it disables ANY ads, as that stupid Disturbia ad is still all over my desktop.

I know it's just for a free theme and gamer pics, but it's still a 3rd party ad for a movie that I'd rather not be paying to HAVE to look at.

Anybody at 360fanboy still paying attention to this thread- please try to find out what the deal is from MS.

Even with my preferences set to "opt-out" I'm still getting ads, and I think it kinda sucks that everytime I turn my console on I have to look at Mark Walberg or some stupid Pathfinder graphic, or that fucking Disturbia graphic yet again!!!

I thought this was supposed to be MY dashboard- not your marketing departments way to get me to pay for advertising.

Half the reason I play games is to escape this kind of BS- in game ads are part of the deal these days I know, but dashboard advertising is just despicable.

Stranger @ Apr 8th 2007 1:41PM

@ 41-

There aren't ads in the media section per-se. It's the fact that every time I access my dashboard, either to watch a video or listen to music or whatever, I'm being sold to. I turn the cable box off and the xbox on to avoid this kind of crap, and now you're telling me I'm paying for a service that forces ads on me?

That's not cool. You want to force ads, make Live free. Otherwise give gamers the choice to turn them off.

tim @ Apr 8th 2007 6:02PM

who the hell uses windows live messenger? i don't, no one i knows does either. The only thing i know of anyone using is aim, so this integration is useless to me.

aNDRE @ Apr 8th 2007 10:35PM

I wish they'd add background downloading like the PS3. I hate having to stop playing a game just to download a demo or a trailer.

Kaientai DX @ Apr 8th 2007 10:39PM

Hey, I have a super fast connection. Cable. No ads. There is absolutely NO option to change this, I've looked everywhere. Nothing. Very weird how some do and some don't have ads. Very weird.

Kaientai DX @ Apr 8th 2007 10:39PM

Forgot to mention that there's no PRIVACY SETTINGS in my EDIT GAMER PROFILE tab.

spamsphen @ Apr 9th 2007 11:07AM

KEYBOARD and MOUSE support!!!
Yes I know they allow the keyboard to be used in dashboard ect. but I mean in games.

But besides that I love the new features they are adding in the spring update, expecially integrated windows live and xbox live. Maybe this is a step closing to seeing games intergrated also?
Ex: Me being able to play my 360 version of C&C3 wen it comes out against my friends PC version. :)