360 Spring Update Now Available

A little late, but just as impressive as promised, the Spring Update to Xbox Live is now available for download. The most anticipated feature is the addition of 'background' downloading and download queueing. The update also reorganizes where several oddly placed options were located, and generally smooths the UI experience.

Re:Scrambling To Counter Sony And Nintendo's Onlin

[AgentDib]

It's easier to support free online play when neither the console nor the games exist.

Re:DIVX support would have been nice

[NekoXP]

It would kind of dilute their marketing for Windows Media.

That, and DivX charges licensing fees for it. Every XBox would be "encumbered" with an extra fee payable to DivX Networks, Inc. - this is how the DivX DVD player industry works. I don't think MS want to pay for an MPEG4 codec when they have a pretty okay MPEG4 codec they can license to themselves for free (including the one specified for Blu-Ray and HD-DVD as a mandatory supported codec..)

Re:DIVX support would have been nice

[twistedsymphony]

They could easily get around that by just offering the Divx codec for download through the Xbox Live Marketplace. People who wanted it could buy the codec, people who don't want it don't have to pay the extra fees... everyone is happy (well except the MPAA but their happiness doesn't count)