The recent dashboard update means it's now possible to play DivX (and XviD I believe?) files on your Xbox 360. This has to be good news! Well, as I have a memory stick that is only 256MB big and don't really want to be burning discs all the time, I decided to have a little go at using my iPod Video as a mass storage device to play DivX movies off. This may (I see no reason why it wouldn't) work with other/all iPods but this guide is based around an iPod Video. I'd love to hear about it if you got it working on other iPods!
I managed to get it working, but not quite as elegantly as I would have liked! The method I'm using should potentially be fine for anyone to use, but if it does mess up your IPod or your Xbox or whatever else, it's not my fault! Make sure you read all of the information below as if you don't follow it all you could end up not being able to play any music off your iPod even! It would be sensible to backup all your music first - I didn't but if you're paranoid, do it! To find out how to do it, read on…
- Ok, you'll need your IPod set up so that it can be drag-and-dropped to in Windows Explorer or if you're on Linux then you need to be able to drag-and-drop onto it in Konqueror or whatever. You may need to head into iTunes and find some tick boxes saying something like 'Manually manage music and videos' and then 'Enable disk use'; you want these both ticked (although it might not be essential).
- Pop up Windows Explorer and head to your iPod. There should be a folder called 'ipod_control'. If you can't see it, you may need to show hidden files and folders. Don't know how? Click here!
- Rename this to whatever you want, it's easiest to just call it something like 'backup_ipod_control'. This contains all your music, so don't mess this up!
- Now, simply drag and drop any .avi files into the root of your iPod drive (not into any folder).
- Plug your iPod into your 360, start it up, go to videos and you should see the videos! If it is showing videos off your Xbox you may have to press 'x' to change the video source and then select your iPod.
- When you're finished watching your videos, plug it back into your PC and change 'backup_ipod_control' back to just 'ipod_control' - this should put your iPod back to exactly how it was before you watched videos on it. If your iPod has made a new 'ipod_control', just delete it first.
Notes
- It seems if you don't rename the 'ipod_control' folder then the 360 will obviously detect it as an iPod and thus won't let you play videos off it, or even browse it from the video window. When you rename the 'ipod_control' folder it simply treats it like an external USB drive.
- When you rename the 'ipod_control' folder your iPod will no longer play music! Be sure to change it back and don't delete/loose it.
- Try to keep iTunes off your iPod! Everyone knows what iTunes is like, it always knows best! Well don't go synching your iPod without changing your folders back as it will cause no end of problems! If iTunes wants to start managing your iPod when it's had it's folder temporarily renamed, don't let it!
- Seem like a lot of hassle? Maybe, but for me at least, it's better than going through loads of discs or streaming the videos. Lets hope a more elagant solution comes out one day!
If you have any problems, comments or whatever else, head on over to the forums and drop us a message, we'll try our best to help!
