XBL Audio Quality to Improve in Next Update

[Cal.]

Microsoft has said that it plans to improve the technical quality of voice communication across Xbox Live through a system update, set to arrive this fall. The update, which Eurogamer reports will coincide with the November launch of Kinect, will upgrade the audio codec that handles all of your online chatting, strategizing and your mothering. [Update: Major Nelson has also confirmed the change in codec with Joystiq.

Speaking at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival, Xbox Live Europe general manager Jerry Johnson explained that the basic codec had originally required just a 64k connection. "It's time for us to move on," he said. "Especially if we want to think about broadening - a crackly headset on the top of your head – not what people think of when they talk about popular entertainment."

The 64k restriction explains why the quality has been so notoriously bad, a welcome update imo, now we'll be able to hear those high pitched squeals even clearer. [Source]

Also, kinect test kits and dashboard updates have been sent out to selected parties by Microsoft, and images have already leaked. Avatars will be corrected to have a more accurate physical proportions (i.e. head not wider than body...) and there are some changes to the dashboard itself; the sphere appears to be gone and replaced with a flat 'ground', which will hopefully play nicely with themes and custom wallpapers, instead of blocking half the screen. The guide has also been streamlined and lost the blade style kept from the original dashboard. [Source 1, 2, 3]

There's now been a video released to youtube

YouTube- An Early Peak at the new Xbox 360 Dashboard for Kinect, From Kinect Beta
​

​

---------- Post added at 03:57 PM ---------- Previous post was yesterday at 10:05 PM ----------

Added video