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Xbox Live Spring Update

Published on 9th April 2007 by Brett Thomas

"Reach out and IM someone" - The Xbox Live update will give you IM power. Oh...joy?

The one thing that people keep complaining about with the Xbox 360 is surely its lack of connectivity options. I mean, after all, you can only have voice chat in-game on a system far better than most PC setups, and failing that there's that paltry little video option. No, what everyone's been really missing is the text-based communication of IM.

After all, it sounds stupid to actually say "pwn3d!" out loud...

Fortunately, Microsoft is thinking of you in its upcoming "Spring Update" rollout for the Xbox 360. The big addition? IM support via Windows Live Messenger. Now you'll be able to type to up to six people on your contact list while you game, watch video, or listen to music.

The new update will appear on Xbox 360s the week of May 7th, and is free to all Live subscribers. To help with the typing, Microsoft also mentioned it will launch a new QWERTY input device that plugs right into the controller, reminiscent of the small keyboard found on Blackberries.

Will you make use of the new service? Did you always wish you could IM people right in the middle of your gaming sessions? Let us know your thoughts in our forums.

20 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

R_H 9th April 2007, 14:40

From the Business Week site

"Microsoft said it will launch a Qwerty text-input device over the summer that will connect directly to the Xbox 360 controller to support text and instant messaging."

They should better release a keyboard and mouse adaptor that's supported for use in games, not for IMing.

DougEdey 9th April 2007, 14:45

I'm amazed you guys didn't use an official press shot of the thumb-board.
http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/09/xbox-360s-qwerty-thumb-keyboard-is-official/

Firehed 9th April 2007, 15:33

Because it looks absolutely ridiculous?

Well, it does. I mean, props to MS for listening to customers' demands, but what an abysmally stupid demand. "talking is just too easy, I wanna game with a challenge!"

Spaceraver 9th April 2007, 16:26

A PC and Alt+Tab does that trick easily.. And why fork out for a console to play FPS games anyways?? Plus a ridiculously expensive TV if big screen is all you want?

K 9th April 2007, 17:01

I think people just wanted to use it in the dashboard. Still can't see the appeal myself. Maybe it'll help for setting up games with your proper friends. I mean, at least you'll be able to use a USB keyboard now. Maybe we'll be getting the keyboard and mouse support for games at some point? That'd be sweet.

The most disappointing thing about this update though is still no 16:10 support. People have been asking for this for sooooooo long it's not even funny. I'm convinced the image quality would be an awful lot better if it was the Xbox itself handling the scaling of a 720p image to fit 1680 x 1050. Come onnnnn gimme gimme.

BioSniper 9th April 2007, 17:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by K
I mean, at least you'll be able to use a USB keyboard now.

It's been possible to use a USB keyboard for sending messages from the dashboard for quite some time now.

I don't get what the big wow about this actually is? Is it that it integrates with you MSN friends list or something? Just that we've been able to send messages via text to people on our XBL contacts lists since, well, ever.

K 9th April 2007, 17:19

I actually thought the second after I posted that 'I bet you can already do that...', hahaha. Oh well.

David_Fitzy 9th April 2007, 17:37

Quote:

After all, it sounds stupid to actually say "pwn3d!" out loud...

PUH-WNN-threed. Easy and you don't sound stupid at all ;)

D3s3rt_F0x 9th April 2007, 19:28

Internet browsing is blatently coming now if there releasing a keyboard, and tbh its a games console not a PC why would people need a mouse as well? So youd have a big divide in FPS games between those who bought a mouse and those who didnt? Really where is a mouse gonna fit in with your 40" HDTV and the rest of your home entertainment system, simple answer.....it isnt.

David_Fitzy 9th April 2007, 20:02

Who cares about IM that add on has enough buttons to satisfy someone who say plays a small MMORPG called World of Warcraft. PS3 KILLER!

sui_winbolo 9th April 2007, 20:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spaceraver
A PC and Alt+Tab does that trick easily.. And why fork out for a console to play FPS games anyways?? Plus a ridiculously expensive TV if big screen is all you want?

Why fork out the money? Once a console gamer, always a console gamer. ;)

atanum141 9th April 2007, 20:50

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwd00FGpKrU

DXR_13KE 9th April 2007, 21:33

FOR THE SAKE OF F**** JUST UPDATE THE DAMN CONSOLE SO I CAN PLUG IN A STANDARD USB MOUSE AND KEYBOARD AND START FRAGING!!!!!!![/rant]

and why only 6?

Aankhen 9th April 2007, 23:41

Sarcasm meter off the charts MELTDOWN IMMINENT!

mikeuk2004 10th April 2007, 00:06

Notice how Microsoft wants you to buy their priority peripherals. A keyboard for the joy pad hey. Is it just me or are Microsoft that dam greedy. How much is this keyboard going to be if they charge £35 for a £2 web cam.

They wont want to give support for USB keyboards as they wont more money from us so instead of getting a £5 USB keyboard they are going to fleece us for their own.

kempez 10th April 2007, 00:53

You can use a USB keyboard for messaging on the dashboard now. Don't see the point of the update or the peripheral tbh

valium 10th April 2007, 04:38

As a current owner of a 360 who has sunk over 1000$ into his console, I can only really bitch about one thing and thats lack of a browser on the 360. If this becomes a reality anytime soon it would put the 360 on top of pretty much every other console in terms of viability... however if they do happen to include a browser anytime soon it will probably be for Live users only and that will be a huge kick in the pants for all of us.

MS could do very little to secure their console as the victor of the console wars.
All they would have to do is install an optional (non-live) browser, make Live service free, and bankroll a few more games each month (cause at the current rate good 360 games are very rare).

Starbuck3733T 10th April 2007, 14:04

Did ya'll miss the MPEG-4 and H.264 support built into the console?

being able to watch my 720p rips on TV = UNF

UnkleRosco 10th April 2007, 18:42

The silent downloading is what im looking forward to.... n someday 40yrs from now, a silent 360...

Blademrk 11th April 2007, 15:19

I like the look of the thumb-board myself.

I've currently got an old keyboard plugged in which is very handy for messenging/games with text input. But it does take up space, and I have to pause games regularly to stop the little one messing with it so the thumb-board could be quite handy.