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Texting Mini Keyboard and other good stuff coming to May Xbox 360 System Update
Microsoft just officially announced the features that are going to go into the May Update the Xbox 360 Dashboard. The big announcement is that they are going to be selling a small QWERTY keyboard that is going to snap under the Xbox 360 controllers and it is going to help when they enable text messaging via Windows Live Messenger communications sent and received on the 360.
Internet Explorer would be awesome ( As a diehard Mozilla fan I thought I would never type that phrase ) with this keyboard should they ever get around to making a version of it for Xbox 360.
Some other good news is that they are allowing gamers to use a normal USB keyboard if they don't get one of the mini keyboards. I already have a USB keyboard that I've used on my PS2 that would work fine.
However this news is a bit weird since Xbox Live is this beautiful oasis of VOIP voice chat. I am not sure that this is a step in the right direction. I can't wait to frag the first sucker in Gears of War who is trying to type out a text message when he should be watching out for me. Voice chat does not disrupt the game play experience the way that typing text does.
Unfortunately the greatest Xbox Live compatible fighting game ever, Capcom VS. SNK 2 EO for Xbox 1 is still not emulated on Xbox 360.
Also they are opening video playback support on the 360 to include some real video file formats besides just WMV. They are going to add MP4 and H.264 video support. This means that I can rip a DVD and compress it for my video iPod and then play it back full screen on my Xbox 360 via a USB cable. So all the Pr0n vids that you compressed for an iPod will play on the 360 next month. Why would I want to get an Apple TV after that!
Other improvements are better more specific achievements notification. So it will let you know what you unlocked when you do it.
The name of the game in the disc will show up in the dashboard
The Xbox Live Marketplace is getting it's own blade.
From the press release:
Beginning the week of May 7, users of Windows Live Messenger on Xbox 360 will text chat using the virtual keyboard accessible on Xbox 360, or by connecting a USB keyboard to the console. This summer Microsoft will launch a QWERTY text-input device, a new accessory that will connect directly into the Xbox 360 controller to support text and instant messaging.
Beyond Windows Live Messenger, the Spring Update for Xbox 360 includes hundreds of new features and enhancements including the following:
• A richer Achievement notification pop-up will showcase the name of the unlocked Achievement and the gamerscore value without needing to leave the game to check the Achievements list.
• Enhanced family settings features for Xbox LIVE communications enable different defaults for video chat and voice chat.
• A new Xbox LIVE Marketplace blade lets Xbox LIVE members access the content they seek -- whether it is game content or TV shows and movies (available in the United States) -- from one place on Xbox LIVE.
• Updates to Xbox LIVE Arcade allow owners to quickly see which Xbox LIVE Arcade games their friends are playing and join in the fun. Xbox LIVE members can also compare progress of leaderboard scores and Achievements directly with all friends on their friends list. Expanded Tell a Friend capabilities make it easier than ever to boast about Achievements and high scores.
• A new option in Auto Downloads provides faster access to the entire collection of free, trial-version Xbox LIVE Arcade games.
• New progressive download controls provide easy access to optimal viewing options by letting people fast-forward, rewind, pause and resume as their video is downloaded from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.
• Extension of the background download functionality will allow owners to set their Xbox 360 console to turn off automatically after downloads are complete.
Jake at April 9, 2007 
Games
