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Microsoft to preview XBL autumn dash next week

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DVDBack23 @ Jul 20, 2009 21:05 | 15 comments

Microsoft has announced that they will be offering certain Xbox Live users a free preview of the upcoming autumn Dashboard update.

The full expected update, via Eurogamer:

Netflix Updates

Now you can watch movies with your friends no matter where they are and manage your queue from the comfort of your couch.

* 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

Express yourself! Deck your Avatar out with the latest clothing and props from the top brands and game franchises. Please note that only limited content is currently available in the preview.

* 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

Enjoy 24 x 7 access to a growing online library of popular full game titles on Xbox Live whenever you want them, in the comfort of your living room.

* 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

User ratings help you find games that other people think are awesome!

* 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

Everyone loves to Party! Check out the new and improved Xbox Live Party features.

* 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

We've made 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

We're always listening to you for feedback, and this Xbox Live update will include numerous dashboard updates.

* 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

We've made some changes to make your life easier.

* 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.

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Comments

Comment by: bam431 (Jul 21, 2009 03:52)

Yeah but it's still NXE so it's gonna suck.

Comment by: creaky (Jul 21, 2009 10:22)

Originally posted by bam431:
Yeah but it's still NXE so it's gonna suck.

NXE is much better than the dreadful blade system it replaced.
Avatar Marketplace - now there's something ridiculous.

Forum Rules ~ http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/2487 / Xbox softmodding software ~ http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/557450

Main PC ~ Intel C2Q Q6600 (G0 Stepping)/Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3/2GB Crucial Ballistix PC2-8500/Zalman CNPS9700/Antec 900/Corsair HX 620W
Network ~ 2 node DD-WRT (v23 sp2) WDS over WPA2 comprising: Buffalo - 2x WHR-G54Ss. Plus 2 adhoc nodes comprising Linksys - WRT54G v5 & WRT54G v2

Comment by: BTFan (Jul 21, 2009 15:07)

Originally posted by creaky:
Avatar Marketplace - now there's something ridiculous.

That's true but it's the only drawback from the whole update. Everything else looks cool and worthwile to update.

Comment by: Morreale (Jul 21, 2009 15:27)

Branded apparel = more ad revenue = why the hell are we still paying for live?

Comment by: Interestx (Jul 21, 2009 16:35)

Quote:
Games on Demand

The new and much bigger hard drive can't come fast enough.

Comment by: Morreale (Jul 21, 2009 18:56)

Or cheap enough.

Comment by: DXR88 (Jul 21, 2009 19:35)

all new Xbox live Stalker now you can find people you don't know give them bad rep, find out where they live with are compressive tracing tools,Activate Natel AKA stalker cam for visual conformation of your stalked target and much more.

Comment by: bam431 (Jul 21, 2009 19:58)

Originally posted by creaky:

Originally posted by bam431:
Yeah but it's still NXE so it's gonna suck.
NXE is much better than the dreadful blade system it replaced.
Avatar Marketplace - now there's something ridiculous.

I loved the blade system NXE just feels wrong to me. Plus it just looks stupid. Although i do only use my xbox for games and my ps3 for media maybe thats why i hate it so much.

Comment by: xblade132 (Jul 21, 2009 21:54)

Blade > NXE

Comment by: ThePastor (Jul 21, 2009 23:27)

Quote:
all new Xbox live Stalker now you can find people you don't know give them bad rep, find out where they live with are compressive tracing tools,Activate Natel AKA stalker cam for visual conformation of your stalked target and much more.

"Mommy, who is the stranger looking at me on TV?"

Comment by: core2kid (Jul 22, 2009 06:12)

Quote:
Originally posted by bam431:
Yeah but it's still NXE so it's gonna suck.
NXE is much better than the dreadful blade system it replaced.
Avatar Marketplace - now there's something ridiculous.

Sony's XMB is still the easiest to use I feel. I always have trouble with the marketplace on NXE. It confuses me. I like the separate PlayStation Store on the PS3.

Comment by: core2kid (Jul 22, 2009 06:13)

Originally posted by xblade132:
Blade > NXE

+1
Why not have an option to choose the Dashboard GUI you want to use?

Comment by: DXR88 (Jul 22, 2009 16:39)

Blade was easier to navigate, but for me was as buggy as hell NXE works so much better on 1st Gen 360's.

Blade system was slow. sometimes it would crash(the xbox didn't lock up because i could soft restart.) ive run into no problems with NXE except trying to find stuff.

Comment by: bam431 (Jul 22, 2009 17:00)

I had a 1g 360 and it red ringed before i had any problems with the blades
Blades > NXE

Comment by: inagasake (Jul 23, 2009 14:46)

I want to see what they have on Games on Demand just to see if they have any out-of-print and rare 360 games but I very much doubt it. From what I've seen thus far from the video previews, it seems they are selling mostly the popular stuff that you could still buy in retail or at least get on the cheap at ebay.