Xbox 360 Autumn Update Details?

Apparently details of the Autumn Xbox Firmware update have been leaked on the net. Quite how accurate the details are is as yet unknown but the following where posted (and later removed) from the Xbox360 forums:

• Compatibility with 3rd party wireless controllers
• Compatibility with messenger pad
• Xbox Live Vision firmware upgrade, sharper image filtering
• Many more Vision Cam settings
• Screensaver settings - when away from Xbox 360, screensaver will play for optional time, before screen goes dark
• Xbox Live Arcade blade - where you can download, play and learn about Xbox Live Arcade
• Brand “web based adver-games” flash games which aren’t downloaded, but are playable bite sized games, accessed via Xbox Live Arcade Blade
• Screensaver option in Themes and Gamer Pics option in Marketplace blade
• Functionality with Messenger, works with chatpad
• XNA Game Launcher for those that have the program, options
• Language, time and date settings
• “advertising opportunities” in gameplay
• Xvid support
• “favourites” option via Xbox Live Arcade, can rate according to preference
• IPTV Functionality - support for TiVo like PVR options. Will be able to record TV direct. Options include source by channel, director, actor and distributor
• Filter friends list, will be able to filter friends via games
• Clan support - will be able to launch clan games direct from dashboard, can “fold” friends into clan category in friends list
• Better translations in settings and other options for Japanese, German and Spanish languages
• quick option to delete via X Button in memory viewer.
• Option for having downloadable In-game content not inform when completed download
• Option for having video content not inform when completed download
• Faster settings for viewing unfinished video content downloads
• Option in Games tab - beta and others, will be launcher for MMO and multiplayer betas
• Option in Marketplace Games tab, search by letter, can be inputted via text pad or console
• Smarter game settings - you can be messaged via publishers about in-game content for your games
• Picture in picture functionality for DVD Drive and some other updated settings
• Improved USB Keyboard settings
• Improved voice chat settings in game and from dashboard
• Faster response times to Redeem Code settings
• Option to play a Redeemed Code game straight after redeeming code
• Console will now recognise low Hard Drive space, will inform you immediately if can’t download current item, will automatically download next available that is able.
• Increased space size for gamerpics and dashboard themes
• Themes can now be animated
• Themes may now have sound effects
• Better slideshow capabilities, options added. sound effects and integration with Hard Drive/ PC music capable.
• Estimated timer for downloads, informing how long download will expect to take

iPhone - some facts before you buy

Over here in the UK I guess we're meant to be really anticipating the release of the Apple iPhone. But I'm starting to wonder if it's all it's cracked up to be. As with any Apple product it's going to sell by the truck load, but are the people who rush out to purchase it going to end up with an inferior product? Sure it might look the part, but if it doesn't do even the most basic functions that we've come to expect from a mobile phone then what's the point of parting with the money?

I found this image on 1nf0rmat10n.com which sums things up pretty well:

Microsoft updates Windows without users' consent

Scott Dunn over at WindowsSecrects.com has reported that Microsoft have started patching files on both XP and Vista without users consent: You can read the full article here.

Microsoft has begun patching files on Windows XP and Vista without users' knowledge, even when the users have turned off auto-updates.

Many companies require testing of patches before they are widely installed, and businesses in this situation are objecting to the stealth patching.

Files changed with no notice to users

In recent days, Windows Update (WU) started altering files on users' systems without displaying any dialog box to request permission. The only files that have been reportedly altered to date are nine small executables on XP and nine on Vista that are used by WU itself. Microsoft is patching these files silently, even if auto-updates have been disabled on a particular PC.

You can read the full article here.

Why has my Xbox Live stopped auto connecting.

As you know my Xbox console bit the dust recently with the Ring-Of-Death problem. Being impatient and more than a little lazy in sending it off for repair I decided to pick up an Elite system. I was a bit stuck when it came to transferring my profile and save games from the old HDD to the new 120gb drive so I decided that whilst I'm waiting for my free transfer cable, i'd just plug my old HDD in to the new system. I really didn't have the patience for transferring it all via memory card.

So I'm up and running with all my game saves in tact but there's two strange quirks. The first is that my Xbox Live account no longer signs in automatically. My profile loads up immediately, but I'm left with the option to 'connect to Xbox Live'. I'm really not sure why this has happened. Is there something stored on the drive that identifies the console it belongs to? I know it's only one click on the controller, but like most things in life that don't do what they should it's bugging the hell out of me.

The second quirk is the time. I'm in the UK and when I set up the console I obviously set the correct time, location and switched on the 'day light saving' option. Now though, my console is constantly showing the time as one hour behind the actual time. What more weird is that when I select the option to reset it, it's grayed out! The only way to change the time is to sign out of my profile, change the time and log back in. Unfortunately the change is untimately reversed. I'm not sure if it's after a given amount of time or when the console is next powered on.

If anybody has any answers or suggestions about these issues, i'd appreciate some help. I've Googled them both and have found a couple of people with the same problems, but it seems neither forum users or Microsoft CS have a clue as to what is happening (Microsoft seem to blame peoples Internet connections).

There was good news today regarding my broken console; after just 6 days with Microsoft it's apparently on it's way back to me. The estimate for UPS to actually get it back to me is longer than the reapir took at 7 days but fingers crossed it'll be here in the next couple of days. I was going to sell it on it's return but I decided to purchase a new 37" Samsung 1080p for my new Elite console so I've hooked up my old 32" Samsung in my bedroom with a space underneath for the reapaired console to sit.

How to restore Windows Vista Recycle Bin & other desktop icons

I had a customer call today with a problem restoring his Windows Vista recycle bin icon. He'd deleted it without thought because he didn't like the look of the glass icon. It was only once it'd gone that he realised it was a pain in the backside to check it's contents and restore or permanently delete files from it.

He'd managed somehow to put a recycle bin icon back on the desktop and although it was working, the empty/full images were not refreshing until the machine was rebooted.

Anyway, here's how to restore the recycle bin (or any other standard desktop icons) in Vista:

Firstly right-click on the desktop and select Personalize (you can also pull this up from the Control Panel). In the top right-hand corner of the window that appears you will see the link 'Change desktop icons'. Click this.


You will now be shown a new dialog box:

Simply check the Recycle Bin box and click OK or Apply and your Recycle Bin will be restored as normal.

An Honest Review of Bio Shock

There's no doubting that Bio Shock is a great game, looks fabulous, plays great. Disappointing though that it's so easy to complete. I honestly don't remember the last time I managed to finish a game, perhaps it was Oddworld on the Xbox, but Bio Shock was real easy, in fact so easy that I was quite upset when I got to the end inside 2 days of what i'd consider fairly casual play. Anyway, i stumbled upon this great video review on Game Trailers today which just about sums it all up in a very amusing way:

Microsoft Announce Vista Service Pack 1 and XP Service Pack 3

The wait is finally over for the much anticipated Windows Vista Service Pack 1. Also announced is the legendary Internet rumour; XP Service Pack 3. Vista SP1 will be released shortly in Beta form to a limited audience. Apparently it will address reliability issues with third party drivers & applications to cut the number of blue screen errors and also add business-level improvements.

The download is to be somewhere in the region of 50mb and should be available in the first quarter of 2008.

Not much to excitement regarding XP SP3 though. After months of leaks about it's existence and even people claiming to have the beta for download (why would anybody download a beta version of a service pack?) it seems that it might be no more than a roll-up of the security updates that have been available to download through Windows Update over the years.

The only addition is to be the introduction of Network Access Protection, which is a Vista feature being ported back to the XP operating system to allow connection to Server 2008 which is scheduled for Feb 27th 2008.