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Xbox 360 Text Input Device For Controller and Spring Update Officially Announced PDF Print E-mail
Written by Alexis M. (Rivithed)   
Monday, 09 April 2007
Rumors popped up this weekend on a Xbox 360 keypad, which attaches to the Xbox 360 controller, from a prematurely posted Gamespot article. Luckily we didn't have to wait this one out as long as the Elite Xbox 360 rumors for confirmation from Microsoft. Yesterday evening, Major Nelson confirmed the input device as well as the official announcement of the Xbox 360 Spring update.

From the announcement: "Beginning the week of May 7, users of Windows Live Messenger on Xbox 360 can text chat using the virtual keyboard accessible on Xbox 360, or by connecting a USB keyboard to the console. This summer Microsoft will launch a QWERTY text-input device, a new accessory that will connect directly into the Xbox 360 controller to support text and instant messaging."

The Spring Update, coming May 7, will include features such as:
"A richer Achievement notification pop-up will showcase the name of the unlocked Achievement and the gamerscore value without needing to leave the game to check the Achievements list.

Enhanced family settings features for Xbox Live communications enable different defaults for video chat and voice chat.

A new Xbox Live Marketplace blade lets Xbox Live members access the content they seek—whether it is game content or TV shows and movies (available in the United States)—from one place on Xbox Live.

Updates to Xbox Live Arcade allow owners to quickly see which Xbox Live Arcade games their friends are playing and join in the fun. Xbox Live members can also compare progress of leaderboard scores and Achievements directly with all friends on their friends list. Expanded "Tell a Friend" capabilities make it easier than ever to boast about Achievements and high scores.

Expanded "Tell a Friend" capabilities make it easier than ever to boast about Achievements and high scores. A new option in Auto Downloads provides faster access to the entire collection of free, trial-version Xbox Live Arcade games.

New progressive download controls provide easy access to optimal viewing options by letting people fast-forward, rewind, pause and resume as their video is downloaded from Xbox Live Marketplace. Extension of the background download functionality will allow owners to set their Xbox 360 console to turn off automatically after downloads are complete."

Read the full details here at xbox.com.

Screenshots of the Xbox 360 Dashboard update and the Xbox 360 input device/keypad are here.

Thanks to Alex of GamingTalkHQ for the heads up on the 360 input device!

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Comments
cush cush
Written by Guest on 2007-04-16 00:00:00
keypad will definitly help with the im and code shit, but during gameplay it will be hard to adjust too
Hardlydan
Written by Guest on 2007-06-19 00:00:00
Hello whats wrong with a usb keyboard? You dont need this pice of tat in your life
hurry
Written by Guest on 2007-05-07 00:00:00
please hurry and get the new controller out please. thank you
Yiff Yiff
Written by Guest on 2007-05-08 00:00:00
Looks cool.
love it!
Written by Guest on 2008-07-07 00:00:00
i bought this the day i got a 360 and i love it! the only problem is a once you use it a controller with out it looks so skinny and ugly. Does it come on black?
Written by Guest on 2009-05-12 12:43:28
This is actually not a bad accessory. My friend has it and I got used to it the second we started to play. People say it'll be hard to adjust to it, but it really is not. I hated how long it took to type a single message to someone, and with this, it's very fast and convenient. But, I do agree that just hooking up a USB to the keyboard is easy as well.

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