The addition of Windows Live messenger to Xbox Live convinced Microsoft to support Xbox 360 Keyboard, but not Mouse.
Traditionally, Microsoft has always refused to officially support keyboard and mouse accessories for Xbox and Xbox 360. But thanks to the Xbox 360 Spring update which will integrate Windows Live messenger into Xbox Live, Microsoft has finally softened its stance on the keyboard issue.
Xbox 360 Spring Update is due to hit the week of May 7. Xbox 360 gamers who grow tired of navigating the on-screen virtual keyboard can either plug a USB keyboard into the system, or wait for Microsoft to release its new Xbox 360 keyboard controller attachment this summer.
The new Xbox 360 keyboard attachment will attach neatly to the bottom of the Xbox 360 controller, though it is currently unknown exactly how the device will latch on and interface with the controller. You can see the released renders of an Xbox 360 controller with the new keyboard attached to it in the screens page.
The spring update will also bring plenty of enhancements beside the Windows Live Messenger including :
- Achievement pop-ups will state the name of the achievement and its gamerscore value without the need to manually check the list.
- Users will be able to queue up a stack of downloads and put the system into a low-power mode while they are retrieved. Once the queue is empty, the system will shut itself off.
- Xbox Live Arcade Auto Download can be set to automatically retrieve not just new demos of XBLA games, but the entire collection of XBLA demos.
- Progressive download control allows fast-forward, rewind, pause and resume while a video is downloaded.