Hands on with the Summer 2009 Xbox 360 dashboard update
As first outlined at the E3 video game industry trade show in June, Microsoft is readying an update to the dashboard software that runs on Xbox 360 game consoles, as well as the Xbox Live online service.
While it's not as radical a change as the fall 2008 dashboard update that added avatars and Netflix streaming, there are a lot of improvements to current features, as well as a few new ones. The dashboard update will be available for 360 owners on August 11th, but we were able to download an early version for a test drive.
Included were notable features such as the Avatar Marketplace, for buying (via Microsoft Point micro-transaction) clothing and accessories for your avatar, and the Netflix Party Mode, for watching a streaming Netflix movie along with online friends.
Missing from our early download, however, were the much-anticipated Twitter and Facebook apps, as well as the Games on Demand service for Xbox 360 games. Currently only older original Xbox games are available (also not available -- any of these Five classic adventure games that need to be re-released as digital downloads).
Click through to the gallery below for our walkthrough of some of the new Xbox 360 dashboard features.
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it seems like xbox is the only over priced gadget that can't search the web
Even the wii can!
The Wii can play DVDs and cost 4 times as much as a good cheap DVD player...
I was going to spend money on upgrading her video card but her watts on her power supply on the computer doesnt' handle it.
I don't really mind that I can't surf the net with my 360. The last thing I need is someone exploiting my console somehow.
Plus, think about it this way - if you're using your console for the net, you're tying it up for....GAMING
http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/a139862/ps3-web-browser-usage-tops-wii.html
From a business point of view, how do you argue that anyone spend the time and effort to implement a browser for the 360 when so few people would actually use it?
"Who the heck wants to "browse" internet in a game console... You have your Iphone, laptop, PC .... doing that already.... And what you call "browse" is very limited and useless....
The Wii can play DVDs and cost 4 times as much as a good cheap DVD player..."
The point is it dosent have to be beautiful or awesome browsing, it just needs to be there. Maybe many consumers might not use it, but it is a selling point and something that can be handy if you need to do a quick google search or watch youtube videos on your TV. Its easy and should be there.
The Japanese and Koreans, who pay for every stupid gimmick like this x10?
The Europeans, who spend all day texting votes in to every show on TV at $2-3 apiece?
People always complain about things like this but would buy a bottle of water from Coca-Cola for $2+, when they could drink the same water out of a water fountain for free. Seriously, everyone does know by know that they are just buying purified tap water i hope.
I don't really care whether or not there's a browser. I have an iPod Touch, PSP, Laptop, PC and 3G cell phone...I'm sure I can do without one more option.
I'm sure these 'paid for' outfits are specialty items... like rock conert T-shirts with tie ins for XBL.
If you're a serious KISS fan, would you pay 10 MSP for a KISS T-Shirt - probably.
Also - it would be a very cool market for individuals to design their own avatar clothes and sell them - free market capitalism!
I mean there's definitely more than just avatars to xbox. Personally, Im most excited about the Netflix party feature. I guess some people think it's stupid, but being able to watch movies with friends that live far away will be pretty cool.
I'm not going to waste $500 of my money on a console with no games and have a **** poor online community that's free just so I can browse the web.
Even as a bluray player it fails. The $70 bluray drive on my computer allows me to rip movies onto my hard drive.
Why the heck should I waste $30 per bluray disc and throw $500 away on a paper weight by Sony?
Rent bluray discs, buy hard drives and rip away. For the price of 3 bluray movies, I can buy a hard drive and rip over 100 hd ripped movies with no loss of quality.
Sorry Sony, you shot both of your feet. Down in the toilet you go.
Everyone keeps talking about this, but no one posts a link to a consistent, trojan-free copy of whatever the heck software they're using...
your illegal activities on a public site and then you rant and rave about a company that is makeing more
money a month than anyother out there. Sony doesn't have any games? Wow that's funny the other day
i was at the store and i looked at all three platforms and they all pretty much had the same games. Son'y
PS3 compared to the other consoles is by far the better choice for the consume, all the other platforms have
peaked out and now the Ps3 is in position to kick some tail. Last but not least you claim your getting the same
quality by illegally copying Bluray disc. Well if you actually believe that then you need to go get your eyes checked and get de-brain washed.
Well an 80gig will cost you 400 with wifi, blu ray, wireless rechargeable control (no batteries needed), web browser, free net, and now MSG4, Killzone. You know all the things you apparently hate. Really the comment about no games, are you serious? Almost every exclusive is AAA and looks freaking awesome. The argument of PS3 having no games isn't valid anymore. Also as my personal experience with both online communities showed me, the online on the 360 still has many glitches and even worse has way more kids mouthing off about BS.
"Why the heck should I waste $30 per blu ray disc and throw $500 away on a paper weight by Sony?"
Because the movies look awesome in blu ray that's why. Besides you don't have to pay $30 the regular price for a blu ray is 25-28 and I get them for $21 threw deals and what not.
"Rent bluray discs buy hard drives and rip away. For the price of 3 blu ray movies, I can buy a hard drive and rip over 100 hd ripped movies with no loss of quality."
Yeah I can also get to work by high jacking a car every morning. Really though with the economy the way it is we need to do less illegal acts tat keep the flow of the ?invisible hand? from pumping us back to a more stable financial state. Take no pride in what you do; it just makes you a crook.
Bottom line you have issues. Try something out before you knock it.
Wow!!! You have to pay for your avatar outfits? Microsoft really think we are stupid. Now I know why I switch over to PS3. Can't wait to my xbox live is over. What a rip off!!!!
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You do know that the PS3 has this same type of micro transaction for Home AND STARTED SELLING IT FOR A COST BEFORE MS DID?
http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/sony-home-update-new-spaces-new-stores-more-items-galore/
Come on, wake up, any company out there wants to survive is all bout $$$. It's just how good of a job they can do to get you money without making you feel being treated unfairly. BluRay and Web browsing is nice, but not essencial, as I didn't buy a game console for bluray or web browsing but for good, entertaning games. That's where SONY is not getting my money on the curent generation. If I see more game I like on the X-box with a lower price point for the console, I really don't care how powerful the PS3's HW is or it can browse the web, I'd go with a X-box 360, which I did. I bought a digital SLR for taking good pictures, eventhough I 've got a camera on my phone, I buy stuff not because they're multi-functional, but because it does what I want it to do well. Just like I don't care for USB ports on HDTV's these days for viewing my digital photos if the screen quality is lousy.
If MS decides they much rather spend their effort on getting game developer support and making money off their on-line community, more power to them. And I appreciate the fact that X-box 360 can be cheaper without the BluRay and the web feature. And I don't have to buy into the entire Avatar clothing non-sense to enjoy good games on the X-box, that's the bottom line. Web browsing on the X-box is an non-issue for me, so I don't care! $45 for x-box live gold, I don't have to pay for it, I can live with co-op, network play and a silver membership for free.
Now if I have to pay more for a PS3 for feature I don't care for, that's where I say my bucks stops here.
Everyone keeps talking about this, but no one posts a link to a consistent, trojan-free copy of whatever the heck software they're using... "
A self-proclaimed "geek" like you should know.
Think it's impossible? Think again. Trojans are nothing new, thanks for the lesson. That's why I have a computer solely used for my torrent activities.
Just hit the torrent sites and you'll see a butt load of them. Let me know which flick you want, I probably have it ;-)
Right on.
Things the PS3 has that I don't need:
wifi - my console has been sitting on a shelf for years, so no... no need for wifi.
bluray - my $70 bluray drive for my PC does the same thing and allows me to rip movies.
rechargeable controller - I bought a 4 pack of AA rechargeable with charger from Walmart for $10.
free online - food from garbage cans are free. However I'd rather go inside the store and PAY FOR something better.
battles that actually took place in Japan where Giant Enemy Crabs were fought - Now you're talking!
That bugs me to no end. I never even go to my "friends" tab anymore because all I see is my background theme. Takes way too long.
- by H00L1GAN July 28, 2009 10:14 AM PDT
- Well, this was about an update to the 360 Dash and somehow seems to be evolving into a, "my system is better than yours" whine-fest... but hey, I'm game. I'll take... hmm... the 360 side (A. because the article is about 360 and B. I have 360). Why would MS want to put a browser and bluray on 360? X Box 360 and been handing Sony it's ass in sales because it's a lot cheaper than PS3 yet priced at a point they can make profit. This is a business and $$$ will always be the bottom line.
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- by chrkeller July 28, 2009 12:33 PM PDT
- FYI, Microsoft isn't making a profit on the 360 hardware. Given all the replacements they had to ship out to RRoD customers, Microsoft will not be making a profit this generation.
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- by MarkLatto July 28, 2009 10:28 PM PDT
- A point on sales per year: The Xbox 360 averages 7.55 million a year compared to 7.57 million sales for the PS3, so kicking the PS3's ass? They are comparable in sales if anything.
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- by kalel33 August 1, 2009 7:34 PM PDT
- @ MarkLatto
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (95 Comments)The future of movies and games is following in the footsteps of music. STREAMING. Streaming movies and games will make disks as obsolete as the cassettes they replaced. MS is just making the first major moves.
Why add a browser now when your product is still a major contender in sales? A few apps and hey, look! All the music, games, and movies you need are at your fingertips. What else would you do with a browser on a console? It'd be mostly pointless and a possible detriment considering malware. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" (I'd expect it to be added though if sales slump or on the next X Box generation.)
And finally, who cares if you have to use MS points for some avatar outfits? They are optional! Use them or don't... you can still use your X box!
Where do you Sony fans get your numbers? The PS3 has been out for over 2 1/2 years and if we went by your numbers then the PS3 would have sold almost 19 million consoles. Facts are that Sony has sold only 7.9 million consoles TOTAL. The 360 has sold 15.7 million total....almost twice as many. So yes, it's kicking the PS3's ass.