NEW XBL Update Details!!!

[Symmetric-XBA]

According to reports Microsoft will soon be updating the Xbox 360 dashboard to add a host of new features and improvements. The exact date that all of these features will go live has not yet been revealed, but Microsoft has sent out a full listing of exactly what you can expect to find once it does. Some of this was outlined at E3 2009, but there are a few new announcements tucked in for good measure.

Before getting into all of the new improvements on the way, let's outline the things that won't make it into this next update. The Facebook, Twitter, 1080p Instant On video streaming and Last.fm compatibility announced at E3 2009 will be coming at a later date. The same goes for the Games on Demand full retail downloads, though that has been given a time frame of roughly August.

Here are all of the updates coming soon, according to a press release put out by Microsoft:

Netflix Updates

•Movie Parties – Xbox LIVE Gold members can sit together in a virtual theater with up to seven friends no matter where they are while your Avatars watch a movie, flirt or even throw popcorn at each other.

•Manage Your Queue – Browse the Netflix Instant Watch video catalogue, choose from the most popular movies and genres and add to your queue all from the comfort of your couch – no computer required.

•Enhanced Playback Experience – Enjoy a smooth viewing experience when your internet bandwidth fluctuates.

•Friends Info – Richer information is now displayed in the Friends channel and in the Guide showing what you and your friends are doing.

Avatar Marketplace
•Clothing – Download premium items, including branded apparel from your favorite fashion labels and Xbox 360 games such as "Halo."

•Props – You can now equip your avatar with animated items they can carry around and interact with.

•Awardables – The ability to earn Avatar clothing and props as rewards within games has been added. Please stay tuned for an update on supporting titles.
Games on Demand (coming later this Summer)
•Purchase Options – Browse and download a great selection of full Xbox 360 games using Microsoft Points, direct debit, or credit card.

•Game Manuals – Game manuals for Games on Demand titles can be viewed, downloaded or printed on Xbox.com.

•It's Yours Forever! – As with other Xbox LIVE content, Games on Demand titles are linked to your Xbox LIVE account, so you can delete and re-download anything you have already purchased to the same console or another console.

User Ratings
•Rate it – You can now rate every game on the Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace using a 5-star system.

•Sort and Find it – Now you can easily find the games that everyone's been raving about by visiting the Top Rated games in the Browse All category of Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace.
Xbox LIVE Parties

•Party Reconnections – If you are accidently disconnected from your party, Xbox LIVE will automatically reconnect you.

•Streamlined Party Invites – Invites are now just one click away! No need to click through multiple screens to get all your friends together.
Video Display Options
Making it easier for you to see your entertainment in the highest resolution possible on your TV using an HDMI connection.

•Display Discovery – Make sure you can see and hear your entertainment in the highest resolution and sound quality possible with the option to override and select audio and video formats independent of the information your television sends to your Xbox 360 console.

Other Improvements
•Gold Member Veterans – Xbox LIVE Gold members get to show it off with a stamp on your Gamer Card that tells people how long you've been a Gold member.

•Indie Games – Xbox LIVE Community Games has been renamed Xbox LIVE Indie Games. We feel this new name better represents the independent spirit of these titles.

•Achievement Browser – We've revamped the Achievements browser so it's now easier to read through all the achievements while playing a game. You can now also launch a game directly from the browser.

•Achievements Tracking – A new view inside the profile panel which includes a summary of Achievements earned across all the games played, and shows of all your completed games.

•Streamlined Navigation - Streamlined navigation, including new entry points in the dashboard for Active Downloads, redeeming codes, recovering Gamertags and more.

•Voice Messages – No more blank voice messages! When recording a voice message, a warning will pop up if no audio is detected.

•Friends List Sorting – It's now easier to find your friends! Find and sort your friends by activity, Gamertag or online status by pressing the Y button while viewing the friends list in the Guide.

•Memory – Time stamps now appear in the memory area, which particular handy when managing saved games
Account Management
•Subscription Notification – If your Xbox LIVE subscription is about to run out, you will now be notified when you sign into Xbox LIVE.

•Updates for Invalid Windows Live IDs – If the Windows Live ID you provided has expired, you will now be prompted to update it the next time you sign into Xbox LIVE.

•Account recovery – We've enhanced the account recovery process to make it faster and more reliable

[Unreal]

Avatar Marketplace

•Clothing – Download premium items, including branded apparel from your favorite fashion labels and Xbox 360 games such as "Halo."

•Props – You can now equip your avatar with animated items they can carry around and interact with.

•Awardables – The ability to earn Avatar clothing and props as rewards within games has been added. Please stay tuned for an update on supporting titles.

This is what I am waiting for. As far as games on demand. Until I have the option to upgrade my hdd from the 120gig I have now. That option or service will not be used by myself.

[Symmetric-XBA]

"This is what I am waiting for. As far as games on demand. Until I have the option to upgrade my hdd from the 120gig I have now. That option or service will not be used by myself."

This raises a valid point. How much will it cost in MS points to download a game? MS has to make the prices comprable to the retail used prices, otherwise if its cheaper to go to the store and buy it used, then why would anyone ever pay more for a game just to dl it? If MS made the prices adjustable then it would allow them to vary the price per title due to popularity, age of title, etc.. then i can see a more feasible means for this service. Seriously though, who would want to spend like 5,000 points on a game when they can go and get it for a value comp. to 1600 points ($20)?

[Chozzi]

All seems good, cant wait to see what else MS will deliver, it gets better and hopefully smoother!!

I quite like the idea of downloading full retail games, but I wont be doing it no matter the price! If anyone is like me and my mates, we swap games and when nobody plays them anymore they get part exchanged at our local games store for a new title! :hump:

[Symmetric-XBA]

thats another valid point. games you download can NOT be traded in for credit at game stores.

[Chozzi]

Avatar Marketplace
•Clothing – Download premium items, including branded apparel from your favorite fashion labels and Xbox 360 games such as "Halo."

•Props – You can now equip your avatar with animated items they can carry around and interact with.

•Awardables – The ability to earn Avatar clothing and props as rewards within games has been added. Please stay tuned for an update on supporting titles.
Games on Demand (coming later this Summer)



Avatar clothing is cool (it's sad to admit but I like the avatars, they actually look like the people - well most of them!!) I would deffo buy a Spartan Helmet (NO PUN INTENDED) and run around with a Battle Rifle! :rofl:

[Unreal]

Avatar clothing is cool (it's sad to admit but I like the avatars, they actually look like the people - well most of them!!) I would deffo buy a Spartan Helmet (NO PUN INTENDED) and run around with a Battle Rifle! :rofl:
I want Gears armor and a sniper rifle :rofl:

[Kiddingo]

The new netflix features are seriously welcomed.

[Variation-XBA]

The new netflix features are seriously welcomed.

Us Canadians would be happy to have the service in any way shape or form :(

[Ricepuppet]

We in Europe have nothing. Not even the 'download Movies' - for MS points - function.

[Kiddingo]

yet more proof that god hates canada. ;)

[Symmetric-XBA]

yet more proof that god hates canada. ;)

lol you say that but he hates the UK even more. First off their games are higher prices than here in the states. A full US release title costs about 30 GBP (60/2= 30). Well if you were from the US and were over in the UK, a game over there costs roughly 50GBP or $100USD. This on top of they pay almost $70usd per year for their live, they have no netflix, they don't have the same dash options as we do... bottom line is that the MS uk customers have had it worse than canada lol. Thats why MS said @ E3 that they were doing Sky TV for the UK customers lol gotta give them something at least lol.

[Ricepuppet]

UK?

He hates us across the canal much, much more. We're in the same dump as Symmetric says, only, we won't get anything. No extra's like that Sky TV he mentioned.

No nothing.

Ever.

[Symmetric-XBA]

Microsoft has just announced that the upcoming Xbox Dashboard update will be hitting Xbox Live on August 11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chozzi]

Cool, lets hope it all goes well......

.....think we will eventually get all the features here in the UK! :rolleyes: