Microsoft fix broadcast flag snaffu
June 10, 2008
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Vista Media Center users got a rude awakening a few weeks ago when they were unable to record some of the favorite programs on NBC. What really got us scratching our head, is that unlike the normal improperly flagged content cable customers have grown all to accustomed to, this one affected over-the-air (OTA) users as well.
We thought this was odd because the broadcast flag was struck down, and we’d thought we’d heard the end of it. The problem was actually a cable content protection scheme called CGMS-A, and when NBC inadvertently flagged some OTA content copy-never with it, users were left in the dark. While there’s no way to tell if NBC learned its lesson the good news is that Microsoft has, and the Windows update KB950126 will change the behavior.
Now content inadvertently flagged content coming into VMC via OTA or analog cable will be recorded regardless of how it is flagged. Unfortunately the same can’t be said for those with CableCARD tuners or connected to a STB via S-Video, you’re still out of luck, sorry.
Microsoft Demo Multi-Touch Windows 7
May 29, 2008
OK, this really is like Vista with a multi-touch interface slapped on it. It look somewhat similar to some of the “Surface” demo that I have seen around (especially the playing with virtual water)
I think they are trying to show that they too can come up with a multi-touch OS. They must have intelligence telling them that Apple is about to release something similar and they want to make sure people had seen it first from MS. Good tactic MS. Read more
Joost looking for Plug-In developer with OSX/Linux experience
May 27, 2008
I was looking through Joost web site tonight and noticed a link for a Plug-In Developer.
I taught, this look like something that might be linked to the possible future video web site. So I went ahead and followed the link. I noticed something interesting in the “Desired” section:
- Experience of OSX or Linux installation and configuration would be an advantage.
- Experience with scripting applications including FLASH.
How to convert MKV to M4V for easy XBOX 360 streaming from Mac OSX
May 24, 2008
OK, I am going to write a simple howto on how I personally convert my HD 720p BT MKV into something that the XBOX 360 can playback.
I know, I should use an Apple TV instead… but frankly I can’t. I am using Microsoft MCE in my house to run my TV and I employ 2 x XBOX 360 as extenders. One in the basement and one in the master bedroom.
So when I want to watch an HD episode of Battlestar Galactica in my bed I need to stream it to an XBOX 360 compatible format. Note that this solution could also be used to convert the file to an Apple TV compatible format too (likely the same darn file that will play on the 360).
What ingredients will you need:
1. An HD MKV file (obviously)
2. Perian QuickTime codec
3. A QuickTime Pro License
4. Nullriver Connect 360
Step 1:
The 1st thing you need to do it to download Perian from perian.org. Please watch the Screencast below to learn how to do that. Note that you can watch the HD version of this video in all it’s glory by following the link in the player:
How To install perian on OSX from Bernard Maltais on Vimeo.
Step 2:
You need to encapsulate the h.264 video stream within the MKV file into an mpeg4 container. The audio (most likely some form of AC3 or MP3) will also need to be converted to AAC audio. Please watch the Screencast below to learn how to do that. Note that you can watch the HD version of this video in all it’s glory by following the link in the player:
How to convert mkv to m4v video format from Bernard Maltais on Vimeo.
Step 3:
Put the converted file in a folder that Connect 360 can share to the XBOX 360.
Go on your XBOX 360 and enjoy the episode!
XBOX 360 Power Supply Nightmare: The conclusion
May 23, 2008
OK, you might recall my saga with Microsoft XBOX support for my XBOX 360 power supply.
I am happy to report that I now have my power supply replacement. I finally pushed hard enough on the support team to be put in touch with a nice supervisor that took personal care of my case. He ws able to track the shipment of the original power supply as “Lost in transit” and ordered that a new one be rushed to me!
Two days later I received the power supply replacement. This supervisor was very helpfull and kept calling me day after day to track the situation. I was really amazed at the service. I think this one person deserve a gold medal as he literally turned a dead end situation and angry customer into an hopefull situation and an almost happy customer (I mean, i still had to wait two months + to get my power supply).
I was a bit skeptical about the “Lost in transit” status of the original shipment and had put that as a nice excuse for a shipment omission… but what was not my surprise to receive another purolator package containing an XBOX power Supply two days after receiving the rushed one! I checked the actual shipping label and guess what? I was indeed marked as shipped the date Microsoft originally said it was shipped!
So Purolator is really the one to blame here!
Shame on Purolator!
Xbox 360 Spring Update 2008 Feature list leaked
May 14, 2008
Kotaku report that an alleged and wholly unconfirmed list of changes included in the “Q2 2008″ update was sent to them:
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 18) to 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).
When they contacted Microsoft to verify the authenticity of the list, they were told “We don’t comment on rumors or speculation, but what we can tell you is we’ve never seen this list before.” Obviously, consider this rumor and/or speculation for now, especially in light of the official statement and the clearly unofficial sourcing of this information.
XBOX 360 Power Supply Nightmare!
April 9, 2008
OK, I know this is most likely an isolated case but come on Microsoft!
Story begin on Feb 11 2008 when I found my XBOX 360 to not power up any more ;-( OK, so I call the support number and I am given instruction to ship the defective power supply along with all power cables back to them. I tag all parts and cables with supplied Ref #. I am told that it is to me to find a box to ship it and that I need to pay for the shipping.
OK, this is minus 2 points in my books! Why should I have to pay to ship the thing back to them… I mean, I am already paying a premium for the support… but OK, I need it replaced ASAP.
I rush out to the CanadaPost store and get the 3 business day shipping option along with tracking.
I let the thing go and hope to get a new one back within 15 days. After 15 days I am getting worried… so at around Feb 26 I call them back and ask about the problem ticket status. I am told they have no record of receiving the power supply! What? Are you kidding me? I go on CanadaPost web site and tell them that a certain mr X signed for the package at their office on Feb 15 2008.
They give me some obscure reason as to why they might have not entered it in the system yet. Come on, you got it for like two weeks already! What more do you need?
Any way, they tell me to call in a week to check on status… so this is what I do. Two weeks later still no power supply in the system! What? So I asked to get the problem escalate. They tell me that the have escalated it and that someone should take care of shipping me a power supply soon. I wait another week and call in to check status (lon March 12 or about that day).
They told me that they are expecting the power supply to ship any time now and that I should receive it in 15 business day! Holly sh..!
On March 19 2008 I got a call from support telling me that the power supply was shipped that same day. OK, I should finally get it any time soon. Two weeks later still no power supply. I am not happy. I call them back and I am told that I should get it any time soon and that the reason for the delay was due to Easter.
OK, I will give it another couple of days. We are now April 9 2008 (yep, almost two months) and still no power supply. So I call back. They told me I need to wait another 2 days and call them back saturday if I have not received my power supply.What? You want me to do what? So I ask to talk to a supervisor. After 10 minutes of wait I finally talk to one. He told me that it is marked in their system that the package was received on March 19 2008?
This is nuts! I never got anything! I ask for the tracking number that prove that I got it as I want to know who signed for the thing. They tell me they don’t have a tracking number. Come on!So now I have to wait for a call from them on saturday to see if I have received the power supply… and if I have not received it they will have to send a work order to ship another one to me. This will take like 2 business day to process… then they will ship me another oner one and this will take yet another 24 hours… then it is off for another 12 business day delivery process…
If I do the math I will be lucky to get the power supply at the end of April!I am really really really mad…
New iTunes Canadian TV content leaves me cold
December 12, 2007
Apple® today announced that hit television programming from Canada’s top networks, US broadcasters and the National Hockey League (NHL) is now available for CAN$1.99 per episode from the iTunes® Store in Canada (www.itunes.ca). iTunes customers can choose from Canadian-produced favorites such as the top-rated, award-winning “Corner Gas” from CTV, smash hit comedy “Little Mosque on the Prairie” from CBC, Emmy and Peabody Award-winning “South Park” from Comedy Central and the NHL Games of the Year.
This content really blows. Joost already provide much of the same content for free. Think of the Joost NHL and CFL content. I am not going to spend 1.99 per South Park episode… no thank you.
What I want is to move away from torrent sites for prime time TV series. And iTunes ain’t going to give me that… So nice try but no thanks.
At least Microsoft is offering some half decent movies on the new Canadian Live Video Marketplace.
TV to make its debut on iTunes Canada this week
December 11, 2007
TV shows on iTunes have proven to be rather popular, even with little foibles like losing NBC and all of its shows. So far, only the US and UK have been able to purchase individual (or seasons of) shows through the iTunes Store, but we’ve heard rumblings for quite some time that licensing deals were being worked out for other countries. One such country is our neighbor in the great white north.
But anxious Canadians won’t have to wait much longer. As 2007 winds to a close, Apple plans to give an early Christmas gift to our Canadian friends in the form of (a few) TV shows being added to the iTunes Store. The company plans to begin adding shows quietly to the store as early as tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon or evening, with an official launch expected for Wednesday if things go smoothly, our sources tell us. Of course, with all things iTunes (and Apple), these exact days can easily get pushed, but the shows are expected to make their debut at most within the next couple of weeks.
Upon launch, the Canadian iTunes Store won’t carry a ton of content, but it’ll certainly get the ball rolling. Users will begin to see shows from CBC, CTV, and a handful of shows from US networks. Oh, and for you hardcore Canadians out there, we hear that you can look forward to spying some NHL games through the iTunes Store too.
I am sure Microsoft will follow soon with a similar announcement for XBOX Live Video Marketplace.
Update:
Guess what, Microsoft apparently took the lead quicker than I thought: http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/
This might in fact be why Apple is turning iTunes TV in for all those country. I mean… Apple surely does not want Microsoft to take a clear lead.
Now, if Joost could start to open up more content restricted to the US to the rest of the world! Guess what… apparently it can be done. Joost, are you listening?
Microsoft secretly hope both HD DVD and Blue Disk fail?
December 4, 2007
Engadget HD is reporting on a story about Michael Bay claiming that Microsoft does not want either HD format to succeed. What Microsoft want is downloadable HD:
It’s no secret that Michael “Transformers” Bay prefers his high definition optical discs in the Blu variety, but what we didn’t know was how convinced the man is that the whole format war is nothing but a stalling tactic, with Microsoft pulling all the strings. Responding to a commenter angry over Paramount’s decision to burn Optimus and friends onto HD DVD only, Bay claims to have the inside track on the “corporate politics” at play here, suggesting that “Microsoft wants both formats to fail so they can be heroes and make the world move to digital downloads.” He goes on to claim that Redmond has only been financially backing HD DVD over “superior Blu-ray” to create “confusion in the market” until such time as high def digital downloading goes prime time. In other words, if you believe Bay, Microsoft is backing a known loser in order to prolong a war it doesn’t want anyone to win. Pretty wild theory, if you ask us — hey, this guy should make movies.
