I know - this really is a complete crock of shit. It is appalling that they haven't figured out a way to avoid this, especially since the hardware side DRM is, oh... I don't know, tied into a piece of hardware with an unbelievably high shit the bed rate. If they can acknowledge a major production issue by extending warranties to 3 years, they can sure as hell make it right with Arcade games. I'm not buying another one until they make some changes.



edited to add- Why can't they register/de-register hardware in the DRM like in iTunes?

You should try deleting and redownloading those games, that fixed the problem for me when I got my new system from Microsoft.

To my knowledge here is how the xbox handles video playback.

VGA Video = 1080i/p for games and DVD/HD-DVD playback
Component Video = 480p for DVD playback
Component Video = 1080i for HD-DVD playback
Component Video = 1080p for games
HDMI Video = 1080i/p for games and DVD/HD-DVD playback

If you see black bars in a movie it has nothing to do with the video output of the 360. Some movies are 2.35:1 (black bars) while others are 1.78:1 (full screen). There are a few other odd ball resolutions out there as well. That doesn't even include the old 4:3 resolutions.

Yeah, last night I couldn't log in so I figured I'd watch some shows I have on my laptop by streaming them through media center. Well, I can't access media center without being logged into live. So then I tried to stream some other files through the video tab (which works perfectly) and apparently that ALSO requires me to be logged into xbox live. What kind of bullshit is that?! I already knew about arcade titles (which also sucks major balls) but why the fuck can I not watch MY videos without being online?! Now there's something that makes me want to get a PS3(Metal Gear 4 not withstanding).

Whoa. That is some seriously intrusive DRM. I have not purchased anything from live marketplace and now I know to avoid it. Excellent reason to stick with physical media. My dvds don't depend on xbox live status.

Samsung 56" DLP, 1080i max...

and no, HDMI connection on the X360 doesn't allow me to choose 1080i, the max i can set it (in the System tab of the dashboard) is 720P.

I have no question about the X360 putting out 1080i or 1080p, but it's not doing it for me when i connect it via HDMI. I did get 1080i when i connect it with Component.

Honestly, i did... my frustration can be a lesson to some. E.g. finding out that the X360 component cable have an Optical socket is very useful.

And no, i'm not afraid of getting bombed. And for the record, only you MC, swing back at me. Mr Music swinged at me b/c i was an a-hole toward atkick, but even then he offered help. The rest of the dvdtalkers are very helpful, thanks very much.

i agree... but i'm not getting that when i hook the X360 via HDMI. The 1080 settings are all disabled. Again, i did get the 1080i when i connect via component.

again, it's not the question the X360 cannot output 1080's, just that i can't get it when i use HDMI.

Then it's stupid then... because i swear the 1080's are grayed out when i use HDMI. No problems when i use Component.

I agree the black bars has nothing to do with 1080i and 720p. I'm just saying... with 720p, there are more black spaces on my TV. When switched to 1080i, all 56" is viewable!

yeah, very true, so what, you want a medal for pointing that out? Join MC...

It could very well be, i might have missed a step some where. However, whatever i'm missing, i'm not seeing it.

Again, like i said, i don't have the problem when i use component instead of HDMI.

It's not like the PS3, where you can hook up the console using both HDMI and Component. Then in the setting, you can choose video and audio inputs individually.

The X360 can't do that! It's phsysicaly impossible, because the component cable covers the HDMI connector!

Even then, there's no option on the dashboard that allows you set the connection to HDMI or Component (i believe the detection is automatic). If there is, please attach a screen...

Keep the insult to minimum please. If you're so smart, tell me what i did wrong...

the only thing i have learned so far is that the X360 component cable has an optical socket.

You know, the dashboard is really designed for "ID 10 T" users. Audio ouput: stereo, DB 5.1 and DB WMP. Under each option there's a brief description for each of the selections. The descriptions must be written for dummies in mind. It's so fucking incomplete that it makes you scratch your head after realizing what the fuck is wrong.

I'm not expecting anything useful from a company that comes up with retarded Windows error msgs...

The component cable gives you HD signals, but if you use the Audio jacks (the composite ones), the audio is no longer in digital format, it's in ANALOG! Hello, stop confusing people by saying connecting via component you will get DB 5.1. It's not wrong, but it's incomplete... You will need an optical cable to get the digital audio signal (not mentioned in the description and i wish it had).

Can you show me a dashboard screen that allows you to select 1080's when connected via HDMI?

Again, i have no doubt the X360 can output 1080's, i already got that from component connection.

As for the black bars, let's just not call it black bars, it's not exactly black bars in my case.... It's more like watching the movie in a smaller box (HDMI) and a full screen when using component.

Okay, i think i need to rephrase my question (maybe w/o the X360 hate, so that people can actually understand what i'm talking about).

If you connect your X360 via HDMI, what is your display resolution? Is it greater than 720P? If it is, then i believe it's TV/receiver related... If not, then tell me the 1080's settings are grayed out or not. Thanks and happy new year.

1080p via HDMI direct to a Samsung LNT-4661F here.

1080i via HDMI here.

damn... must be the hardware then... i'll do some more research...

A lot (most?) of HDMI receivers scale the HDMI source to 720p. I have no idea why they do this, but it is often the case (especially in early HDMI receivers).

Try bypassing the receiver.

From
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/sy.../hdmicable.htm

The Xbox 360™ HDMI Cable, included with the Xbox 360 Elite system, enables a single cable to deliver HD video (up to 1080p) and multichannel surround sound to a TV or an audio/video surround receiver.

------

Ocelot, you have to see why people complain about your post here. You're an avid PS3/Bluray fan/apologist on this forum, and your two main problems are not 360 related at all (optical cable connection is available, hdmi should output to 1080p if your tv allows it).

Your complaint that you can't output video through component and audio through HDMI is correct, however very few home audio setups will need to do this (using HDMI for audio only?).

Dear XBL, please stop sucking.

Ktnx.

I tried that. That didn't do anything other than deleting my recorded game progress in Bejeweled 2.



I don't have many downloaded arcade titles, for this very reason. I know that I caught a ration of "stuff" from people here because I stated how poorly Microsoft handles things. Their reply was "so what, log in to Live, no big deal". And now that I have some time to go back to those arcade games I can't log in to Live and it is a big deal.

Damn Live is still down. Ugh.

No problems at all today for XBL for me...either myself or my wife have been on pretty much all day. One of those "do nothing" days.

1080p via HDMI.

Since you asked, what you did wrong is start running the mouth before you started reading...

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/sy.../hdavcable.htm


Took me less time to find it on xbox.com than it did for you to type each of your rants.