I guess this explains why Windows 8 looks so underwhelming.

Huh?

Nothing. Just a random thought. People in another forum I go to were bitching about how some basic media features from Windows 7 are excluded in Windows 8. Given part of the ban was against Windows 7, I wonder if that's why those features were excluded in Windows 8.

Logged on to XBox Live last night and there was a new system update. Anyone know what was added if anything? I didn't see anything different.

Also, the new Paramount video app is available. Not a really useful app IMO. It allows you to watch your UV Paramount movies. I had 2 unlocked from a couple of BD's I bought, but I don't really get the point of it. There is a bunch of other Paramount movies in the catalogue. You need to buy/rent them off the Paramount website.

Pretty lame app IMO.

I wanted to let you know that the team has just released a system update for the Xbox 360 over Xbox LIVE. Starting today when you sign in to Xbox LIVE you’ll receive a prompt to accept this mandatory update. If you are signed into LIVE already, you may be signed out and asked to accept the update and you’ll be back online in a few moments.

What’s in it, you ask? Behind the scenes foundational improvement that will not be visually noticeable, but will help enable an easy update this Fall. There is an area that some of you may notice: We’ve added voice search for Australia and New Zealand.

Major Nelson

Best Buy is offering coupons good for $15 off the silver chrome controller to Reward Zone Gamers Club members now through July 7.

Link

I need a second controller anyway, so for $40? Hell yeah I'm in.

I'd be in for $40, but I'd rather get the red or blue one.

I grabbed one from BB earlier today and another errand took me right next to a GameStop. I thought about going in and asking if they'd be willing to swap them straight up. But it's GameStop--so fat chance of that, right? Not unless I agreed to preorder Call of Duty 13 or some other bullshit.

So what color battery pack comes on it? Chrome or black? Anyone know about the red & blue battery packs?

Speaking of, official MS stand-alone batteries are now back on the market. 2-pack at Amazon is $20.

Black battery pack. Actually, the whole backside of it is black. Only the face is chrome. I believe the red and blue controllers are the same way.

Cool. Thanks MWB.

So I clicked the link and it says the offer is expired. Is anybody else getting that message?

Yup, that's what I see when signed in

Dammit, I really didn't need one of these but wanted one anyways

The link for the chrome controller works again

Today is the last day to download Haunt for free on the Kinect Channel of the dashboard.

Showing up as 800 MS points for me.

You have to access it from the Kinect Channel on the Dashboard, and that requires that you have the Kinect connected to your 360.

I downloaded it right from the front page using my controller (a couple nights ago).

Backwards compatibility question...

Commandos 2 is listed as being backwards compatible. I boot it up and it plays just fine. However...the game saves won't load. It always just says it's unable to load the game save and puts me back at the start.

I haven't played original XBox games on my 360 before - do I need to do something special to get games to save, or am I just running into something that no one has tried before? I know Commandos 2 isn't a popular game, but it's listed on the Microsoft website and Wikipedia as backwards compatible.

Is it asking you to pick a storage location? If so, what are you picking?

Has anyone else encountered some challenges with Hulu Plus on Xbox?
Apart from the, imho, incredibly awkward interface that makes finding and navigating a tv series a chore.
For some reason, when I find Hulu Plus on the Apps channel, then click it, then try to click it again (because it's apparently double-opt-in to actually run the app I clicked), maybe 1/3 of the time the xbox will just sit there with the loading screen before it gives me that second option to actually run the app. It's been sitting there now for about five minutes. Once it finally comes up, and after it spends a few seconds loading a video, it performs pretty well, so I don't have complaint about the streaming - just the startup performance of the app itself. I've got like 20MB download so that's not it.
I guess I'll try deleting the app and reinstalling it, but it's really frustrating.

Signup for the Fall 2012 beta is live.

http://mjr.mn/2012XboxPublicBeta

Got in. So is everyone in that signs up?

Not working for me.