Divx on the 360

[bovine]

some other crap is coming out on the fall review too.

http://kotaku.com/gaming/update/xbox-36 ... 328566.php

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3164648

Throw out your WMV encoders, or however you used to stream the content to your television, because the 360 is finally becoming useful in the video department.

[Zeus]

So, I can just get rid of Tversity now? Good. Well, there are some formats I'm sure that may not be compatible, but as long as it does Xvid, I don't care.

Now, I just have to remember the "normal" setup for the 360. What was it again, you download the Zune software from the website or something?

[SineSwiper]

If you have an HDTV, why don't you have a PC hooked up to it? You think I'm posting this message from my 360?

[Blotus]

If you have an HDTV, why don't you have a PC hooked up to it? You think I'm posting this message from my 360?

What would one need for that? Aside from (in my case) a 30-foot cord. I mean, my TV has DVI and HDMI inputs... what's the standard PC-to-monitor cable? Is that DVI? And does the graphic card come into play at all?

[SineSwiper]

Just a DVI-to-HDMI cable. I use a 720p resolution, just because of text size, but you can go to full res if you want. You'll need to hook up your sound to your receiver. I would recommend optical for that, though I have composite hooked up right now. (My current sound card, though a good card, doesn't have optical plugs.)

For inputs, get a good wireless keyboard and mouse, preferrably RF. I'm sitting on my couch typing, and mousing without a mouse pad or anything, just on the seat itself. I'm waiting on a part for my other laser RF mouse (using IR right now), and Game Informer mags make good mouse pads for it.

[Zeus]

If I really want to use my TV for Internet, I'll hookup a keyboard to the Wii. I just don't like to do it that way, I prefer separating them

So, the question was never answered. Do I just download that Zune software and it should be able to stream Xvid to my 360 once this update hits on Tuesday?

[Blotus]

You shouldn't need any Zune software to run vids off your PC. If you're already doing it through Media Center, you already downloaded the PC Extender Resource (I think). There's a gamevideos feature on the update (I won't link it because the video takes forever to buffer) where they play a divx file right from the 'video' option on the dashboard.

[Zeus]

You shouldn't need any Zune software to run vids off your PC. If you're already doing it through Media Center, you already downloaded the PC Extender Resource (I think). There's a gamevideos feature on the update (I won't link it because the video takes forever to buffer) where they play a divx file right from the 'video' option on the dashboard.

I'm running XP SP2 not Media Centre

[bovine]

as long as you have windows media player, you should be able to stream through the 360

http://www.arne360.com/2006/11/05/how-t ... ith-wmp11/

[SineSwiper]

If I really want to use my TV for Internet, I'll hookup a keyboard to the Wii. I just don't like to do it that way, I prefer separating them

But, can you watch videos on your Wii? I'm watching anime that I downloaded from BT, and I don't need to even switch devices.

[Oracle]

And this is the reason I modded my Xbox (original) a few years ago. It's the best media center around, baby.

[SineSwiper]

And this is the reason I modded my Xbox (original) a few years ago. It's the best media center around, baby.

One, the Xbox doesn't do HDTV resolutions or surround sound. Two, you can't use BT or any other client on an XBox, so you would have to download on the PC and Samba share to the XBox. Three, can you play WoW on an XBox?

[Tessian]

And this is the reason I modded my Xbox (original) a few years ago. It's the best media center around, baby.

One, the Xbox doesn't do HDTV resolutions or surround sound. Two, you can't use BT or any other client on an XBox, so you would have to download on the PC and Samba share to the XBox. Three, can you play WoW on an XBox?

Are you done masturbating to yourself Sine? Seriously... I have my TV hooked up to a dedicated computer with TV Tuners and BeyondTV... but I'll be the first to admit it's not the end all-- for one it's a lot more expensive than the alternatives and most people aren't going to want to sink the effort required to keep it running.

[Zeus]

If I really want to use my TV for Internet, I'll hookup a keyboard to the Wii. I just don't like to do it that way, I prefer separating them

But, can you watch videos on your Wii? I'm watching anime that I downloaded from BT, and I don't need to even switch devices.

TVersity works with the Wii and PS3 as well

[Zeus]

as long as you have windows media player, you should be able to stream through the 360

http://www.arne360.com/2006/11/05/how-t ... ith-wmp11/

That looks like it'll be easier. If you're using this, please let me know if it works with Xvid with this exact setup once the update runs on Tuesday. I'd rather not eliminate my TVersity setup until I'm sure it'll just work this way. It would be much obliged

[Zeus]

Never mind. It appears that you have to go through some bullshit validation process before you can even install WMP11. I actually have a legit copy of Winblows but this is bullshit. I'll stick with TVersity and my Xvid playing DVD player. They do a good enough job

[bovine]

the update is out, so is the bioshock patch with fixed widescreen and new plasmids. The fall update does indeed fix all of the videos that I had to re-encode to play on the ol' 360. Enjoy it or not based on your setup.

[Blotus]

the update is out, so is the bioshock patch with fixed widescreen and new plasmids. The fall update does indeed fix all of the videos that I had to re-encode to play on the ol' 360. Enjoy it or not based on your setup.

So can you play divx/xvid/avi from the dashboard's video option (as opposed to going through Media Center like I do now)?

[Chris]

Never mind. It appears that you have to go through some bullshit validation process before you can even install WMP11. I actually have a legit copy of Winblows but this is bullshit. I'll stick with TVersity and my Xvid playing DVD player. They do a good enough job

yeah, who the fuck thinks it's legit to make us have to own the software we use......what a bunch of fucking ass holes

[Blotus]

So can you play divx/xvid/avi from the dashboard's video option (as opposed to going through Media Center like I do now)?

Yes, Blotus, you can!

This is great. I can uninstall Transcode 360 now. It used up a lot of my system memory to be able to stream avi files to the 360 in Media Center... now I don't even need to use Media Center! Divx encoded files run flawlessly right off the dashboard. You just need to go to video in the media blade and change the source from the 360 HDD to your comp by pressing X.

Further impressions:

I greatly prefer the marketplace design. Even seems to run faster, although I did have a kind of long initial load when I connected to Live after my system rebooted so I don't know if that's going to be normal.

I think the Xbox originals is a great idea, BUT:

1) I can't think of too many Xbox games I'd replay
2) Overpriced
3) Conversion of points is still unfair to Canadians since our dollar is more or less equal now (500 points is 7.75CAD or 6.25USD). So a game at 1200 points is 18.60 here (plus tax!) or 15 in the US (no tax).

Most of the games on the list can be found in stores for $10-15 new or used, Psychonauts and Indigo Prophecy may be exceptions.

Still, very nice update. I may be playing Bioshock again to check out the new plasmids/display setting.

[Zeus]

Never mind. It appears that you have to go through some bullshit validation process before you can even install WMP11. I actually have a legit copy of Winblows but this is bullshit. I'll stick with TVersity and my Xvid playing DVD player. They do a good enough job

yeah, who the fuck thinks it's legit to make us have to own the software we use......what a bunch of fucking ass holes

The amazing thing is, I DO have a legit copy...for once in my natural life.

It's not like I can't find a ripped copy of WMP11. Just to spite M$ I'll grab it

[Zeus]

I can easily get Indigo still, Psychonauts is a bit harder.

[Blotus]

I can easily get Indigo still

As can I, but I've never seen it under $20.

[bovine]

psychonauts runs well under the software BC, but the colours go kind of crazy sometimes. Raz's clothes become all light blue for no reason sometimes.

[Zeus]

I can easily get Indigo still

As can I, but I've never seen it under $20.

What? I bought it for $10 like a year and half ago brand new

[Blotus]

I bought it for $20 used! WTF.... but then sold it because I remembered how shitty the last hour was.

[SineSwiper]

What are the new plasmids?

[Blotus]

What are the new plasmids?

Force push ("Sonic Boom", they call it... it's lame unless you want to pretend you're a Jedi).
Something that makes buying items cheaper.
Something that lets you do more damage to non-organic enemies.
Something that makes plasmids use less eve.

The true widescreen display option is clearly different. Also, you can disable vita-chambers.

[SineSwiper]

I guess it's not exactly for attracting the people that already played, but just something to improve the game a little for the new crowd.

[Zeus]

I noticed I get a "buffering" progress bar even through TVersity as the system is setting up the file for conversion. Are you guys getting that with WMP11?

[bovine]

only once, and that was when I was downloading porn, I mean deathnote

[Blotus]

I noticed I get a "buffering" progress bar even through TVersity as the system is setting up the file for conversion. Are you guys getting that with WMP11?

You don't need this TVersity. Get rid of it.

[Zeus]

I noticed I get a "buffering" progress bar even through TVersity as the system is setting up the file for conversion. Are you guys getting that with WMP11?

You don't need this TVersity. Get rid of it.

I can't download WMP11. What else can I use to make the 360 and computer talk?

[Blotus]

I noticed I get a "buffering" progress bar even through TVersity as the system is setting up the file for conversion. Are you guys getting that with WMP11?

You don't need this TVersity. Get rid of it.

I can't download WMP11. What else can I use to make the 360 and computer talk?

If there's a validation process, and you have a legitimate copy of Windows, what's the problem?

And you also said you could find a ripped copy,

[Zeus]

You don't need this TVersity. Get rid of it.

I can't download WMP11. What else can I use to make the 360 and computer talk?

If there's a validation process, and you have a legitimate copy of Windows, what's the problem?

And you also said you could find a ripped copy,

Principle, that's the problem. Since you're forced to get Winblows anyway and there is basically no competition (no, Linux is not any serious competition), it should be free. And in this case, we're talking about a freakin' media player that comes with the damned OS. I'm gonna go get a ripped copy just to spite Microshaft.

I believe I can, haven't actually looked for it since I've never needed WMP to do anything other than play Xvids (which the Classic can do). I generally just end up using whatever comes with the OS and install codecs. I just have to go and get one. The update just came out yesterday, I haven't even had a chance to look yet. I was trying to see if there's any other way to do it other than TVersity

[Blotus]

You're taking this principle shit to new heights. Essentially, you're asking MS for the update. They're asking you, "that's your copy of Windows, right?" And you're answering with "I'm not telling you, forget about it", despite the fact that IT IS YOURS!

it should be free

It is!

[Zeus]

You're taking this principle shit to new heights. Essentially, you're asking MS for the update. They're asking you, "that's your copy of Windows, right?" And you're answering with "I'm not telling you, forget about it", despite the fact that IT IS YOURS!

it should be free

It is!

I mean Winblows should be free.

I'll end this conversation now, I don't think it's gonna get anyone anywhere

[Blotus]

Well I'll just say I hope you reconsider. I can understand your position on not paying for Live, but not this.

It's very convenient.

[bovine]

also, would be nice to have someone else to play the haloz with.

[Zeus]

Well I'll just say I hope you reconsider. I can understand your position on not paying for Live, but not this.

It's very convenient.

I will NEVER pay for Winblows on principle alone. I don't even wanna use the OS, why would I pay for it?

As for Live, I"ll be on in December. I got a month free when I had to send my system away (for 4 days :-). I'll message you guys here when I'm on

[Tessian]

Well I'll just say I hope you reconsider. I can understand your position on not paying for Live, but not this.

It's very convenient.

I will NEVER pay for Winblows on principle alone. I don't even wanna use the OS, why would I pay for it?

As for Live, I"ll be on in December. I got a month free when I had to send my system away (for 4 days :-). I'll message you guys here when I'm on

If you don't even WANT the system then DON'T USE IT. Gain a bigger sense of unearned self importance and join the mac community, or install one of the many flavors of Linux. But then you can't bitch that they won't do something that's easier done on Windows because that was YOUR f'ing choice. If you want to be able to do all this stuff then guess what-- you DO want the OS.

All you've been saying around here lately is "I want X, but I feel entitled to X without paying for it so I'm just going to bitch bitch bitch" if you want to stand up for your principles, no matter how misguided the rest of us think it is, then stop complaining you can't do something because you refuse to do it.

Like me saying "I have to PAY for electricity?! It's a NECESSITY, It should be FREE. I refuse to pay my bill out of PRINCIPLE"

[SineSwiper]

Regular consumers are not a force of change for the OS market. That would be the businesses. So far, nobody is converting to Vista any time soon, and if the pricing model becomes high enough, it's enough to shift the dynamic to OSS OSs (heh) like Linux or FreeBSD. After all, you don't need your work PC to play video games, and most of what a business needs is available on Linux.

Microsoft has already lost the server market, for the most part. Apache has crushed IIS; Oracle has crushed MS SQL; and if they aren't careful, Windows isn't far behind. About the only thing they have for them in the server world is Outlook and ActiveDirectory, and there are already substitutes for those in the OSS world.

[Tessian]

After all, you don't need your work PC to play video games, and most of what a business needs is available on Linux.

You're so off on this unfortunately... changing OS's in transparent situations is easy (Apache over IIS, Oracle over SQL) but they don't affect the user base; only the support staff. Most businesses live off of every facet of Microsoft Office AND most corporate office solutions (PO systems, Finance/HR, and many custom things depending on your business) are designed with Windows being the client end (although they'll still fully support the server end being anything).

That, and you're also underestimating the cost and resistance to changing not only OS's but software. I'm not even talking about the man hours to reformat the workstations and load them... I'm talking about retraining the dumb employee mob to switch away from Office/Windows. No one in a medium+ sized company is going to accept that kind of cost. Especially not when they can have no need or desire to move off of XP for a long time. Oh, and if you tell me that OpenOffice can easily replace MS Office I will laugh in your face and insult your intelligence because that program is still years away from being able to compete on the same level for the general population.

About the only thing they have for them in the server world is Outlook and ActiveDirectory, and there are already substitutes for those in the OSS world.

I'm going to assume by Outlook you meant Exchange... but wtf is around to beat AD? I don't like it all that well either, but I don't see anything around that can stand up to it.

[Andrew, Killer Bee]

I will NEVER pay for Winblows on principle alone. I don't even wanna use the OS, why would I pay for it?

Jesus Christ. If I were to talk about you the way you talk about corporations stickin' it to the average joe, I would call you a thief. The only common thread I see in your principles is: Zeus is entitled to free everything.

You are not entitled to Windows. Any rationalisation you come up with to justify your entitlement to it is bullshit. Either use Linux, pay for Windows (or OS X), or realise that you're doing the wrong thing in using either system and not paying for it.

Gain a bigger sense of unearned self importance and join the mac community

Hey, fuck you, buddy.

[Andrew, Killer Bee]

Oh, and if you tell me that OpenOffice can easily replace MS Office I will laugh in your face and insult your intelligence because that program is still years away from being able to compete on the same level for the general population.

I think you're overestimating the requirements most users have for Office. Most people use a tiny subset of Office's features, and could easily move to any one of its competitors. Office is only really compelling for the Outlook/Exchange combination, which I will agree there's no solid competitor for at the moment.

[Tessian]

Hey, fuck you, buddy.

Hey, I know plenty of decent people who have Macs, and I know plenty of elitist douchebags (plenty of them are decent people ;P) who think owning a Mac automatically gave them +50 IQ. I blame Apple's marketing campaigns for more of my ire because most of their points are either flat out lies or exaggerations.

I think you're overestimating the requirements most users have for Office. Most people use a tiny subset of Office's features, and could easily move to any one of its competitors. Office is only really compelling for the Outlook/Exchange combination, which I will agree there's no solid competitor for at the moment.

I know plenty of business and friends who have no less than 2 different Office products open at any given time and half the time that 2nd one isn't Outlook. Word and Excel can't be beat by Open Office; they are only baseline substitutes-- all the advanced features (admittedly along with some of the bloatedness) is absent.

You know what Office product I'm actually VERY impressed with? Sharepoint. My company has embraced it whole heartedly and it's treated us fantastically. It can be customized to replace most intranet needs-- department pages, CVS, share folders, repositories, discussions, change control, and so much more. As much as I ended up enjoying it, I no longer need to rely on PHP to design an advanced website. Best part is it's pretty damn simple to teach any idiot to build and use, and security is all ACL driven at every level.

[Andrew, Killer Bee]

Hey, I know plenty of decent people who have Macs, and I know plenty of elitist douchebags (plenty of them are decent people ;P) who think owning a Mac automatically gave them +50 IQ.

I see many, many more hostile generalisations about Mac owners coming from people that use Windows PCs than vice versa.

I know plenty of business and friends who have no less than 2 different Office products open at any given time and half the time that 2nd one isn't Outlook.

I work in a business that uses Microsoft stuff pretty much exclusively, and speaking for myself, I always have at least two Office programs open — usually Outlook and Excel, but Word a lot of the time, too. But I could swap both Excel and Word out easily, as could most of my coworkers. Most people don't use the features that set Office products aside from their alternatives. Most people would actually be much better off not using Office products, because their features actually impede efficient use — I've seen people waste hours trying to get Word documents to look just right. (For the kind of word processing most office workers do, the only feature keeping Wordpad from being a better choice is table support.)

You know what Office product I'm actually VERY impressed with? Sharepoint.

I've never used it, to be honest.

[Zeus]

Tess, just for you:

http:\\maddox.xmission.com

Click on the iPoD one near the top. Sorry, due to filters at work I can't directly link to it

[Lox]

You know what Office product I'm actually VERY impressed with? Sharepoint. My company has embraced it whole heartedly and it's treated us fantastically. It can be customized to replace most intranet needs-- department pages, CVS, share folders, repositories, discussions, change control, and so much more. As much as I ended up enjoying it, I no longer need to rely on PHP to design an advanced website. Best part is it's pretty damn simple to teach any idiot to build and use, and security is all ACL driven at every level.

Yes, Sharepoint is wonderful. We use it as a central source of up to date info for all of our releases. The presentation is awesome and it saves from having to email a thousand documents around all the time.