Yesterday saw the release of the latest dashboard update for the Xbox 360. These updates allow Microsoft to add new features and functionality to the 360. They also include some new menus and UI reorganisation just to confuse you.

But you can ignore all the parental controls, enhanced on-line profile and other features that have been added in this update as MPEG-4 PART 2 VIDEO CODEC SUPPORT HAS BEEN ADDED. Yep, all your DivX and Xvid files will now play on your 360. This update also adds H.264 (i.e. High Def Video) support as well. This might actually get me to start using the media capabilities of the 360 which until now have been a bit rubbish. Or rather crippled and devoid of useful codecs.

If you’ve any questions about all the new codecs then check out this detailed Dec 2007 video playback FAQ written by the Xbox Team.

Now I wonder if Sony is going to follow suit and add this type of codec support to the PS3? Oooh, that would be nice :-)

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