Xbox Live Marketplace - Dashboard Update

Microsoft revealed that the Xbox 360 dashboard update is due to hit on Halloween morning. New features are mainly support for new hardware (HD-DVD Player, Wireless Headset, Wireless Racing Wheel), but there are some other notable improvements as well:

• 1080p video mode for high-def TVs that support it
  
• Automatic download for new Xbox Live Arcade trial games
  
• Improved voice chat quality
  
• Zune support (streaming music, pictures and video)
  
• Windows Media Video streaming and playback from PCs running Windows XP SP2 with Windows Media Connect, Windows Media Player 11 or Zune software - and via 360 Memory Unit, USB flash card or CD/DVD data discs
  
• DVD features include an option to disable notifications while watching a movie, zoom for non-anamorphic video and parental control to block unrated discs
  
• Faster listing for Xbox Live Arcade games as well as new sorting by recently played or category
  
• Better USB keyboard handling and improved Xbox Live Vision camera support
  
• A method to access XNA Game Studio Express games (you may need to buy a membership to use this)
  
• Lots of small bug fixes, graphical tweaks and improved error messages

In other news, Microsoft is floating a trial balloon to expand the value of its Gold level subscription: Sneak previews of videos and potentially other downloadable content! Members who pay get a new Gears of War trailer for at least a week before everyone else. Other recent updates include:

• Ultimate Mortal Kombat ($10)
  
• Tony Hawk Project 8 demo (free)
  
• A Halo trilogy theme ($1.88)
  
• Call of Duty 3 themes ($1.88) and picture packs ($1)
  
• The Godfather clothing, weapons, missions, mob crew members and in-game money. There's a free clothing bundle called Mob Face Apparel, but it's only free for a limited time so download it now. Other items and bundles cost $1.25 to $10 and may still need to be purchased with in-game cash or unlocked by beating the game. Fortunately, EA is willing to sell you in-game moola to make this easier - starting at $0.50 real for $50,000 virtual currency. Why does this feel somehow like a counterfeiting scheme?
  
• Marvel: Ultimate Alliance trailers, including the opening cinematic
  
• Tutorial videos for various Saints Row activities

Oh, and the Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas demo has been released, just not in North America - probably to give Official Xbox Magazine a period of exclusivity. You can expect it will be downloadable soon enough, but if you must play it now you may have to find a newsstand...