Xbox 360 Spring Cleaning Update

Xbox Live® has always held the promise of consistent evolution for both its online service and the consoles it serves. You may recall the massive update for the original Xbox® codenamed "Tsunami," which among other things provided the foundation for clan support on Xbox Live.

This latest update is remarkable for not only what it accomplishes, but also the bi-annual commitment it begins. Starting with this "Spring Cleaning" update, Microsoft is committing to releasing at least two major updates for Xbox Live per year—one in the Spring, and the other in the Fall.

The Facts
All in all, the Spring Cleaning update includes over 125 new features, and while many of them may operate quietly in the background, they all work diligently to increase the efficiency and functionality of Xbox Live and Xbox 360™. You will no doubt notice some major facelifts the moment the update is downloaded. Here are some of the highlights:

• Simultaneous download: You can now queue up several downloads on Xbox Live Marketplace at once, and even pick which download has highest priority. Also, you can play Xbox 360 or Xbox Live Arcade games simultaneously while downloading now. In the event you participate in a multiplayer match over Xbox Live, the download will be suspended to ensure a smooth online gaming experience and restart automatically once you're finished playing over Xbox Live.
• Dashboard startup: Gone now are the days of powering up Xbox 360 without a disc to get straight to the dashboard, or the even more laborious process of waiting for the game to start and then backtracking. You now have an option at startup to let the disc load normally or head straight to the dashboard. The choice is yours.
• Music interrupted: Previously, if you were playing music from your Xbox 360 (or streaming from your PC), it would be interrupted when going from the dashboard to a game or vice versa. This update puts an end to this annoyance. You can be sure now to enjoy music uninterrupted.
• Marketplace categories: Organization in Xbox Live Marketplace has received a massive overhaul, making finding specific content far easier than before. Expect all new categories to help condense and separate content—no more scrolling indefinitely in themes and gamer pictures.
• Trailer playback: Before, pause and play were your only options when watching a downloaded trailer for a movie or game, but you now have access to the standard pause, stop, fast forward, and rewind functions (including speeds of 2x-16x).
• Bookmarking DVDs: Let's say you're watching a DVD and get a game invite. Pause the movie, slot in the game and play for a bit. Now, when you go back to watch the movie you can start right where you stopped it. No need to flip through chapters and fast forward till you find your place.
• DVD player: It seems nothing is outside the bounds of refining, as this update also includes refurbished DVD playback software for a cleaner, more vivid picture.

The above touches on the changes that are most noticeable, but when 125 plus additions are being made, it only just scratches the surface. Xbox Live continues to provide an evolving service as well as a platform to deliver upgrades to the Xbox 360 console itself. Whether you're an Xbox Live Silver or Gold subscriber, you have access to this update free of charge.

Article by Ryan Treit

• Full List of Update Changes