Microsoft Needs to Standardize Format/Codec Support Across Platforms

re: Microsoft Needs to Standardize Format/Codec Support Across Platforms

Jack — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:25:06 GMT

I think they'd do well to have all codecs available for the dashboard, but have a per-codec buy option, like a piece in the marketplace where you can buy individual codecs, thereby paying for the use of the codecs by the enduser rather than MS absorbing it. users could buy a codec or codecs they need, and those that don't need them won't have to download them.

Streaming videos is great but you have to have a good CPU on that computer to transcode 1080p content for example, so native processing on the console would be a saviour, allowing consumers to make their "media center 360" a true media center to the condecs they want.

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re: Microsoft Needs to Standardize Format/Codec Support Across Platforms

rez — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 12:03:29 GMT

The whole situation is messy as you point out with Xbox 360 things are further complicated as the MPEG LA (licensing authority) has become very stringent about codec licensing.

The built in dashboard of the Xbox 360 and the MCE Extender are considered seperate media players in the MPEG LA's eyes as such codecs must be licensed for both!

Now seeing as the Xbox division absorbed the licensing cost of adding MPEG-4 SP/H.264 to the console it remains to be seen how or who will play the bill for licensing if the Xbox 360 gets the same support as the v2 Extenders.

Kojak the Xbox 360's H.264 support is pretty messed up, it supports pretty much anything if played from local storage like a DVD or USB but to stream over a network the H.264 video must be encoded to very specific settings.

Because the Zune software (which is just WMP+H.264) it basically means that only H.264 that shows in the Zune softwares own library will stream over a network.

Also the Zune software because it was the only H.264 player MS had meant MS limited network playback to effective main profile only even though the console can handle way more than that. The Zune software which acts as the media server only supports H.264 main profile videos not high profile videos.

re: Microsoft Needs to Standardize Format/Codec Support Across Platforms

EZ — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:51:05 GMT

I know it's probably not as main stream as video codecs, but FLAC would be nice

re: Microsoft Needs to Standardize Format/Codec Support Across Platforms

RyanD — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 20:12:15 GMT

"BTW, noticed a new Xbox360 update over the weekend, anyone aware as to what this related to?"

Something to do w/ them being able to test some new mmo for the 360.

There are so many things that the extender needs to improve upon. They cant just leave the 360 the way it is, its got at least another 3 years before its last gen right? Not to mention vista media center as a whole. How about proper epg for atsc sub channels and PBS? How about not mangling my album art I spent a whole weekend scanning so I could have some high res stuff...

These are issues I think are critical yet I havent seen any official word on it.

As for divx/xvid support. I will pay for the codecs if thats our only option on the 360. As for the v2 extenders being the only w/ this feature, perhaps this is what they are using as a selling point? I mean, the profit margin has to be higher on the v2 extenders than the 360 right?

Any word on pricing the new extenders?

Im mostly happy w/ vista and my 360 as an extender, but for being out for almost a year (vista) youd think they could atleast give us one update, some polish, maybe show that they actually care....

re: Microsoft Needs to Standardize Format/Codec Support Across Platforms

Kojak — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:52:28 GMT

"Only MP4 and MOV containers supported for MPEG-4 SP and H.264"

Can't even get this to work via WHS (i.e. media connect). Which is odd because the same file works from a USB stick plugged into either a PS3 or Xbox360. I'd appreciate any pointers.

BTW, noticed a new Xbox360 update over the weekend, anyone aware as to what this related to?

re: Microsoft Needs to Standardize Format/Codec Support Across Platforms

Corey — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:36:41 GMT

Well, I just checked on that rumored list again and it appears to have been removed from the original thread at the Xbox forums. Take it for what it's worth, but if it was removed, there's a really slight chance that the list was valid.

re: Microsoft Needs to Standardize Format/Codec Support Across Platforms

chrisl — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:25:27 GMT

Not sure about the Fall update, but since that's a Fall "Dashboard" update it would still leave things not looking that great.

re: Microsoft Needs to Standardize Format/Codec Support Across Platforms

Corey — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:17:14 GMT

I agree wholeheartedly. The 360 makes NO sense. Why does it play MPEG2 through media center extender (which requires a media center PC), but doesn't just play it through the dashboard?

There was a rumored list of 360 fall updates that included Xvid support. Does anyone know if that rumored list has any validity, especially since the v2 extenders will have support for xvid?