It seems that a LOT of people aren't aware of a lot of the features added to the XBOX 360 since the May 2007 update. One of the features: The ability to have the console "automatically" shutdown after downloads are complete.
To do this... from the dashboard: go into the SYSTEM folder (blade), choose CONSOLE SETTINGS, choose SHUTDOWN, and "enable" BACKGROUND DOWNLOADS. Once this is done, after setting-up one or more downloads from the Marketplace... turn off your XBOX 360. The console will shutdown to a minimal power status - just enough to continue until any downloads are complete! You can tell the console is still active, because the power indicator in the center of the ring will "blink" periodically until the console shuts off (and you'll still hear one of the fans running). During this state, you will appear "offline", so people will NOT think you are "online, but away!"
For all the new features, just visit the link below at the XBOX web site!
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/community/...07/0408-im.htm
It would probably be a good idea to visit the XBOX web site to read the "news" section, to see if there's anything else of interest you may have missed!