This is just bananas. I don’t know how these cats don’t get mowed down, but anywhoo.
Xbox Spring Update Coming Soon [Xbox 360]
Fanboys are getting excited about the possibility of Nintendo Wii type functionality. I you want motion sensitive joysticks, then I’d suggest you buy a Wii. I’m stoked about the possibility of podcast feed streams, the ability to copy media from USB storage devices and group chat. Kotaku breaks down what this all may mean.
Rumored Xbox 360 Spring Update Touts “Motion Sensor” Features, Game Installs
Xbox LIVE
1. Option to delay sign-in to Xbox LIVE upon booting console (to allow user to set Online Status).
2. Option to promote Child Account from Family Settings.
3. Disallow Child Accounts (over 1to override Family Settings by launching Privacy Settings through a title.
4. Option in Family Settings for Child Accounts to enable child-oriented/non-mature advertisements.
5. Introduce a group chat (4) for Private Chat and conferences through Video Chat.
6. Support to indicate media being watched to gamercard status (video content from Marketplace only).
7. Extend height for Bio field in Personal Profile, easier navigation through text.
8. More fields present in Personal Profile - recent achievements, interests, games, movies, links, custom section.
9. Compact Personal Profile for new fields (navigating to field will open it up).
10. Mandatory option to delete duplicate titles from gamercard (excludes Games for Windows - LIVE). User disconnected from Xbox LIVE when booting any title until action complete.
11. Option to remove payment information from gamertag.
12. New payment methods for international users.
13. Download History on Account Management better organized - games, genre, type, download date, miscellaneous.
14. Long descriptions of items on Marketplace can be scrolled using right stick.
15. Better organization of free content on Marketplace.
16. Option to ‘ping’ when testing connection.
17. Allow re-connection to Xbox LIVE if Ethernet cable is re-inserted whilst powered on.
18. New strip colors available to developers, staff gamercards.
19. New corner icon available to ambassadors.
20. Re-introduce Messages button for Inside Xbox updates only.
21. Option to store up to 10 messages permanently on server (excludes invites, status messages).
22. Increase character limit for text messages between friends only.
23. Option to disable invites from non-friends or all players.
24. Option to disable invites from titles not on gamercard (excludes demos).
25. Option to have smaller items moved up in Active Downloads.
26. Automatically re-connect to Xbox LIVE if disconnected unexpectedly (set intervals).
27. Option to download gamer picture (if available) from a gamercard being viewed.
28. Display random tips to replace static text on Xbox LIVE and Games blades.
29. New button on Marketplace for optional dashboard features - uses Storage Device memory.
30. Option to donate Microsoft Points to anybody with a Windows Live ID.
31. Option to purchase Membership for charities (includes benefits).
32. Integrate file-sharing for selected titles on Xbox LIVE and Games for Windows - LIVE.
33. Disable notifications to friends of user repeatedly signing into service (set period).
34. Option to see ’snippet’ of text message in notification.
35. Windows Live Mail integration - includes support for Xbox LIVE Vision.
36. Web feeds integration - text, images, audio. Includes support for specific item codes on Marketplace.
37. Option to display gamer picture or standard picture as display picture in Windows Live Messenger.
38. Support for headset, Xbox LIVE Vision in Windows Live Messenger.
39. Support for limited ‘winks’ that display on dashboard interface. Option to disable ‘winks’ and ‘nudges’ added.
40. Notifications separate from Windows Live Messenger to Xbox 360 notifications.
41. Disable multiple languages from being used in any Xbox LIVE editable fields.Games
1. Option to delete titles from gamercard with 0 gamerscore and 0 achievements (excludes some titles that will be re-added to launch another title).
2. Organize My Games at the Games Library section better (includes disc-based titles) - sort by genre, platform (Games for Windows - LIVE), percentage completion.
3. Support to display friends leaderboards for disc-based titles.
4. Show dates of an achievement unlocked when comparing.
5. Preload Games Library upon dashboard bootup for faster access.
6. Game updates now shown as items in Memory, increased amount of updates on Storage Device.
7. Option to delete game updates, removed ‘cheat code’ as no longer needed.
8. Support for more titles to display banner when accessing guide in-game.
9. Option to re-introduce awarded gamer pictures from titles that do not have their own re-introduce feature (requires saved game).
10. Disable gamer pictures from being awarded from trials.
11. Support for titles to store installation data on Storage Device for faster loading.
12. Synchronization to achievements offline/online that were deleted and then re-added from developers.Media
1. Option to hold LT and RT for rewinding/fast-forwarding video content.
2. Option to delete individual music tracks from storage device.
3. Option to rip music CD at different quality.
4. Copy non-protected files (pictures, music, videos) from USB storage devices, CDs and computers to proprietary storage devices.
5. Support for menu, top-menu features on video content downloaded from Marketplace.
6. Section added for audio delivered through feeds (podcasts). Option to stream, download to Storage Device.
7. Support added for video titles/description to gamercard status.Dashboard/Miscellaneous
1. Option to navigate quickly out of several menus back to respective blade home (applies to Games, Media, System).
2. New blade trim styles added.
3. Introduce expanded Inside Xbox as a portal to news, weather, entertainment, help and community features.
4. New sounds for various functions (notifications, blades, navigation).
5. Calibration options for display/sound.
6. Calibration options for motion sensor devices.
7. New effects for Xbox LIVE Vision and dashboard background.
8. Disable changing of Theme when on Memory to prevent ‘hanging’.
9. Preload recent, limited items upon dashboard bootup on Memory.
10. Faster loading of Themes section on guide.
11. Option to see what items will not work offline due to DRM license changing from Memory.
12. Option to automatically associate new DRM to items downloaded for free.
13. Indicate ‘charging’ status on guide when Play & Charge kit is connected.
14. Option to change text colors on guide to better contrast some backgrounds.
16. Language improvements.
18. Word censor updated for fields.
19. Privacy Settings/Family Settings updated for new features.
20. Voice, picture messages can be read at Xbox.com (Gold accounts).
Not That I’m Getting It, But The Detail Is Sweet [GTAIV]
courtesy Matthew Johnston
I’m banned from buying Grand Theft Auto IV, so I hope the rest of you are enjoying lush scenes of Liberty City/New York that are detailed on the following Flickr page. Hard to tell which is real. Damn, this game sounds good.
XBMC Beta for Mac [XBMC]
Xbox Media Center, the open source effort that extends the capabilities of the O.G. Xbox, has been released for Mac in beta. Lifehacker has the scoop. Personally, I have yet to explore the full capabilities of Front Row, but I still wouldn’t mind giving XBMC a spin for comparison sake. Download the latest beta here.
What’s so great about XBMC you ask? Well, imagine utilizing the interface of Apple TV without paying one dime. You can run this software on any Mac running Leopard OS X and stream all of you media to the idiot box of choice. Play most video formats, saved DVD, your music and slideshows, all on your TV. The only issue I’m going to have is that I move my Macbook around so much that it’s not exactly a set top device like an Apple Tv or a Mac Mini. Time for a new Mac maybe :).
Eric Stoltz Joins Caprica Cast [Caprica]
Sci-Fi Wire reports that Eric Stoltz will join the cast of the Battlestar Galactica prequel, Caprica.
Alessandra Toressani also has come aboard the NBC Universal Cable Studios-produced Caprica. Stoltz will play Daniel Graystone, a wealthy computer engineer who, after an emotionally crippling family tragedy, uses his technological wizardry to forever change the future of Caprica. Toressani plays Daniel’s daughter, Zoe.
First Look: Gears of War 2 [Gears of War 2]
With all the well earned noise surrounding Grand Theft Auto IV, let’s not forget one of the potentially greatest franchises in gaming. Gears of War 2, the much anticipated sequel to the smash 2006 Game of The Year, is due as early as November! Here’s a sneak peak at campaign gameplay from GameVideos.com. Let the countdown begin.
Donnie Darko Sequel? [S. Darko]
Frank Says This Is Just A Dumb Idea
I loved Donnie Darko. It’s a classic. But of course someone wants to come along and screw with perfection.
Plot: The sequel follows Donnie’s younger sister, Samantha Darko, a role reprised by Daviegh Chase (of such direct to dvd classics as Beethoven’s 5th: Big Paw and the animated Stich! The Movie). The story picks up seven years after the first film and Donnie’s death when his now 18-year-old sister Samantha and her best friend Corey go on a roadtrip to Los Angeles, where along the way they are plagued by bizarre visions. And if that doesn’t sound bad enough, guess what they’re calling it? Donnie Darko 2? Nope. S. Darko! What? They couldn’t even call it Samantha Darko?
Ugghhhhh!
Live Mobile TV for Apple Fanboys [iPhone]
Live TV via iPhone
AT&T launched its “live” mobile TV solution this May. Engadget has nifty demo of the functionality. It looks pretty sweet, but for the most part, it’s not live. Many of the broadcasts are time-shifted. Take a peek at Engadget’s assessment of the service here. Besides, it’s only available on a few phones like the new LG Vu. however there’s been speculation all over the Internets that AT&T TV service will be available to iPhone 2.0 junkies and possibly current iPhone users via an upgrade.
What’s a iPhone user to do right now. Well one option is live TV streaming via Orb. Having tried out Orb with my Xbox 360 I’ll co-sign on its merits. Now with your jailbroken iPhone you can stream from your home setup to your iPhone. Provided, you’ll need a TV tuner card and Orb’s Installer app. For complete instructions on how, head over here.
More Superhero Goodies From Marvel Studios [Wolverine and The X-Men]
Marvel’s superhero lovefest with its fans is on the rise. Not only do we get news earlier this week that a slew of Marvel properties will be hitting theaters in the not to distant future, Marvel plans to introduce a new animated series entitled Wolverine and The X-Men. It’s slated for a summer 2009 release on the Nicktoons network.
The trailer alone looks amazing (full of Sentinels, Magneto, The Hulk!, Dust?!) and the storylines are ripped from some of the more classic X-Men archs of all-time, including Days of Future Past, which is one of my favorite John Byrne storylines.
The one problem I have with this trailer are the circumstances revolving around who’s leading the team. It seems that Wolverine is team leader, and of course, that doesn’t jibe with how things work in the pages of The Uncanny X-Men. It doesn’t even go along with the movies. So what gives?
I’m figure the folks over at Marvel recognize the star power of Wolverine, coming off the recent movies and what is sure to be a blockbuster next summer, X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I’m guessing that star power influenced the animated series’ title but I don’t much like the idea. The tension between Wolverine and Cyclops over leadership, let alone over Jean Grey, is part of what makes the comics gritty. Plus, Wolverine’s personna is naturally everything a leader is not. Not as OMFG and LOL as this though. We shall see truebelievers. We shall see.
More “Caprica” News: Jericho Star Cast As Daddy Adama [Caprica]
The news on the Battlestar Galactica spin-off, Carpica, keeps on coming. Esai Morales—who starred most recently in the twice canceled fan favorite, Jericho—has been hired to play William Adama’s poppy, Joseph Adama.
Morales’ casting comes on the heels of news that former Deadwood actress Paula Malcomson had been signed to play Amanda Graystone. According to SyFy Portal, the Adamas befriend the Graystones, creators of what would eventually become the Cylons.
