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[spiderdan]

At the moment, I am only using the composite cable for my xbox, but I have monster component cables in the mail. I just got an lg 37 inch lcd hdtv that can handle 720p. I can't do 720p with my current cables, so what do I need to do to get xbmc to play streamed videos, dvds, and and display its gui in widescreen format. Once I get my component cables, what do I need to do to get the above content to play in 720p and will it upconvert and if so do I need to change any settings for it to do so. Also, this is a bit off topic, but can xbmc play dvds without a dvd remote and if so how. I have been using it for a while and can't find an option for this. Thanks ahead of time!

[Donkeypuncher]

You will need to go into your standard xbox dashboard and change the video settings to 720p capable. Then go to your settings in xbmc, video----player----change resolution to 720p 16:9

Then go to appearance------screen-------change to 720p   16:9

16:9 automatically makes it wide screen, but you need to do a custom pixel ratio on some files. I'm sure you know how to do that from the start menu while playing a movie.

Don't expect to be able to play any true HD or 264 codecs, the xbox can't handle it. Full 4gb+ dvdr movies look very good, but the smaller 700mb xvids can look pixelated and low quality, really depends on the quality of the rip. I suggest looking for BDRIP and BRRIP for best quality on HD tv's, especially the larger 4gb dvdr movies.

It's been said you can stream HD 264 codec through TVersity if you computer is powerful enough, mines not so I can't confirm. I use ccxgui for my streaming, it's nice to have the xbox extract the rars on the fly.

[spiderdan]

Thank you for the reply Donkeypuncher. By standard dashboard, I assume you mean unleashx (in my case) and not the default microsoft dash, correct? By custom pixel ratio, do you just mean hitting start while playing a file and choosing the aspect ratio there? I have played with some of the settings you seuggested but thought I was doing something wrong because I still had to go to the start menu to get a file to display widescreen. I suppose this is common? Also, any thoughts as to whether dvds can be played without a remote? Thanks again!

[spiderdan]

Donkeypuncher, I changed to your suggested settings, and, of course, things work fine when I set my tv to 16:9. However, when I set my tv to set by program, it displays unleashx, xbmc, and any videos as 4:9. Should I configure unleashx and xbmc for my tv using that thing where you line the triangle up with the edges of your tv, or do I have another problem entirely? Also, I didn't see anything in xbmc about 720p, only in unleashx. Are there such settings in xbmc as well? Should I enable 480p as well as 720p in unleashx? Thanks ahead of time!

This post has been edited by spiderdan: Jan 4 2009, 10:39 PM

[Donkeypuncher]

Yes, you will need to change the unleashx display settings to "enable 720p" in the system settings. I would recommend changing the display settings on the MS dash to enable 720p as well. I've read some people have problems if the ms dash isn't set to 720 as well, I did it just to be safe. You can enable 480p if you want, but it should run 720p all the time once you get all the settings right. If all else fails it usually reverts back to 480i anyway.

The directions I gave earlier were to change the settings in XBMC, but I forgot the most important part. There are 3 different places you need to change in the settings on XBMC.  

1. First go into the "system" sub-folder, then go to "video hardware" then enable 720p and change the video aspect to widescreen.  This will make widescreen the default setting.

2. Then go into the "video" sub-folder, then go to "player" and change the resolutiong to 720p.

3. Go into the "appearance" sub-folder, then go to "screen" and change the resolution to 720p.




It's always a good idea to calibrate the screen (where you line up the right angle with the corner of the screen) because it can make it look weird if it's off too much.


When I say custom pixel ratio, I mean actually playing with the slider bars to save a custom ratio. While you're playing a video you hit start to bring up the little toolbar. Go down one and hit A, then your in the video settings. In the view modes you have 16:9, 14:9, and so on. Select the custom view mode, then start adjusting the size of the screen with the "zoom amount" and "pixel ratio" slider bars to get the picture right. Then go down and select "set as default for all movies" so it will save this ratio. This is mainly for videos that look really skinny on the 16:9 setting.  In case you didn't know, the Y button cycles through the view mode while watching a movie, so there isn't really a need to go into the settings everytime.



And yes you can play dvds without the Xbox remote, the game controller works fine for menu selection.

[spiderdan]

Thank you for your help Donkeypuncher. I was able to get things working today. I first changed to widescreen and 720p in the microsoft dash. I next verified unleashx had the right settings, which it did, but I still wasn't getting widescreen. I then went into xbmc and, while I was changing some settings, the screen went blank. I shut down my xbox and when I powered back up, unleashx was widescreen. I then changed the settings in xbmc, and when I restarted it, it was in widescreen as well. Don't know why the settings for unleashx didn't take effect until I was in xbmc, but I'm glad things work now. Thanks again!