dashboard
October 14th, 2009 at 07:15pm
Under Xbox 360
As it has done in the past, Microsoft is offering early access to its next Xbox 360 Dashboard update (which integrates Twitter, Facebook, Last.fm and Zune Marketplace) to those who sign up — and are then selected — to preview it. Major Nelson has just updated his blog with word that the signup process has begun for the program, mentioning that Microsoft is looking for “multiple thousands” of users to test out the update. So, sounds like chances of getting in are good.
Those wishing to put their names in the hat for preview access can do so by hitting the Microsoft Connect site and filling out a survey. The preview program is being offered in all territories where Xbox Live is available, but keep in mind you’ll need a Windows Live ID in order to apply. The Major says those who’ve been picked will receive an email in about a week; after which the update will be pushed out to their consoles, and they can start bragging about their early access via Twitter and Facebook right from their 360s.
If past Dashboard preview programs are anything to go by, everyone who signs up will eventually gain access just prior to the update’s release — which may happen on November 17.
Xbox 360 Dashboard update ‘preview’ open for signups originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: beta, dashboard, dashboard-update, dashboard-update-fall-2009, facebook, last-fm, microsoft, new-xbox-experience, nxe, nxe-preview, twitter, zune, zune-marketplace
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Xbox 360 Dashboard update ‘preview’ open for signups
October 10th, 2009 at 02:00pm
Under Xbox 360
Though Microsoft has been a bit cagey with a solid release date for the upcoming Facebok/Twitter/Last.Fm update for Xbox Live, eagle-eyed UK readers have spotted the phrase “Service launches 17th November 2009″ on the UK Xbox website (seen above).
When we recently got to give the services a spin at Microsoft’s First Annual Open House, the company wouldn’t give us a set-in-stone release date, though MTV Multiplayer were told a public beta for the services would arrive for XBL Gold Members in the “middle-towards-end of October.” We’ve contacted Microsoft for word on when the services will be arriving on this side of the pond, though … well … it’s the weekend. We’d suggest you don’t go holding your breath for that info until Monday.
[Thanks, Scump!]
Facebook and Twitter arrive November 17 on Xbox Live in the UK originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: dashboard, dashboard-update, dashboard-update-fall-2009, facebook, last-fm, november-17, release-date, twitter, uk, xbox.com
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Facebook and Twitter arrive November 17 on Xbox Live in the UK
October 6th, 2009 at 08:35pm
Under Xbox+ Xbox 360
“Xbox comes from a gaming heritage, and is expanding into a broader entertainment brand,” Microsoft’s Robbie Bach told us earlier today at its first Open House event in New York. Powering Xbox’s expansion into “broader entertainment” is the upcoming Dashboard update, scheduled for beta release later this month. Four services included in the update will expand the 360’s social networking and multimedia capabilities: Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm and Zune Marketplace.
While each individual service may not offer the same value that Netflix did when it debuted with the NXE last year, it’s hard to ignore the breadth of added functionality offered by this new Dashboard refresh. Yes, it’s true that the Xbox isn’t the most ideal platform to tweet from. And yes, it’s unlikely that you’ll spend hours sitting in front of your TV listening to online radio. However, each service adds new reason to stay connected to the Xbox … and adds more purported “value” to that Xbox Live Gold membership.
Continue reading Hands-on: Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm and Zune Marketplace on Xbox 360
Hands-on: Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm and Zune Marketplace on Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: dashboard, dashboard-update, dashboard-update-fall-2009, facebook, last-fm, twitter, zune, zune-marketplace
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Hands-on: Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm and Zune Marketplace on Xbox 360
August 12th, 2009 at 08:30pm
Under Xbox 360
Wait, but we’ve been using Xbox Live since its inception! Shouldn’t our gamercard have a little seven in the upper right corner? According to Microsoft’s Major Nelson, not exactly. In fact, the first ever gamertag created (”e,” for Xbox Live operations manager Eric Neustadter), won’t officially turn seven until tomorrow. “Your Gold Veteran Status counts full years so if you’ve been a Gold member for 2 years, 11 months and 27 days; your status will display 2 years,” says the Major.
In fact, there’s a whole handful of little caveats regarding the tiny gamercard number that have been all layed out in plain English over at his blog. Unfortunately for us, regardless of those caveats, we’ll likely never be as cool in Nerdland as Eric Neustadter.
[Via Xbox Gaming]
How Xbox Live tenure on your gamercard works originally appeared on Joystiq Xbox on Wed, 12 Aug 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: dashboard, dashboard-update, gamercard, gamertag, major-nelson, microsoft, tenure, xbox-gaming, xbox-live
By Mister-X
Continue Reading How Xbox Live tenure on your gamercard works
July 28th, 2009 at 10:00pm
Under Xbox 360
Update: According to the comments in this story, the Xbox 360 Dashboard Preview has begun to roll out now.
If you were quick enough on the draw to sign up, you may notice an email from Microsoft in your inbox today inviting you into the new Xbox 360 Dashboard Preview. The public preview — which opened up for selected press and MVPs earlier last week — is not fully live just yet, but Microsoft is notifying users if they were accepted into the program. Unaware of what to expect when the new dashboard hits this August? Joystiq has a lengthy guide with a plethora of videos to show you the ropes for the “New New Xbox Experience.” Those guys are swell.
PSA: Xbox 360 Dash Preview invites in the mail [Update] originally appeared on Joystiq Xbox on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: dashboard, invites, nxe, preview, xbox-dashboard, xbox-live-update
By Mister-X
Continue Reading PSA: Xbox 360 Dash Preview invites in the mail [Update]
July 28th, 2009 at 01:45pm
Under Xbox 360
Last week we published the first part of our Last.fm on Xbox Live interview, speaking with Christina DeRosa, a general manager for Xbox Live. Today, we present the second part, a conversation with Orlena Yeung, VP of Marketing at Last.fm. After the break, read Yeung’s take from the Last.fm side of the deal, as she discusses a range of topics, including why her company is better than Pandora, its social media plans, and how audio scrobbling works in APB.
Continue reading Interview: Last.fm on Xbox Live
Interview: Last.fm on Xbox Live originally appeared on Joystiq Xbox on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: dashboard, interview, last-fm, music, Orlena-Yeung, Radio, social-networking, xbl, xbox-live
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Interview: Last.fm on Xbox Live
July 24th, 2009 at 08:00pm
Under Xbox 360
So much for our Friday night plans to give The Iron Giant the ol’ MST3K treatment. Just as we were dimming the lights and pulling our headsets close, the fine print struck: “This can’t be watched with a party.” As it turns out, certain Netflix Instant Watch videos can’t be subjected to the new “Movie Parties” feature, included in the next Xbox Live Dashboard update. Pineapple Express and The Legend of Drunken Master are two additional examples of incompatible movies we stumbled across — there’s no way to tell until you select a movie in your queue — in our preview of the updated Netflix experience (video after the break). One obvious connection is that all three films are licensed under Netflix’s “Starz Play” catalog.
You’ll remember that when Instant Watch first launched on Xbox 360 there was a licensing issue that blocked Sony’s Columbia Pictures content, though this was eventually resolved. We’ve reached out to Netlfix and Microsoft for comment on the current issue. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’ve got to find an alternate use for all this popcorn we’d planned to toss about our living room.
Update: A Microsoft spokesperson had this to say: “We are working closely with our partners and studios to deliver Xbox Live Parties for as much content as possible. We offered the Xbox Live Party feature to all content owners, and what’s up on the service reflects what the rights holders are comfortable with. We’re confident that the community will be pleased with the great selection of Party-enabled content.”
Continue reading Xbox Netflix Movie Parties: Some restrictions apply [update]
Xbox Netflix Movie Parties: Some restrictions apply [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: dashboard, fine-print, movie-parties, netflix, nxe, xbox-live
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Xbox Netflix Movie Parties: Some restrictions apply [update]
July 24th, 2009 at 01:45pm
Under Xbox 360
The preview of the upcoming update for the Xbox 360 Dashboard is now live, giving a few lucky Xbox owners — for now, mostly press outlets — a chance to place their eyes upon many of the new features, such as Games on Demand, improved Netflix functionality, unlockable Avatar items, purchasable Avatar items, a community-controlled games rating system, and other minor improvements.
We’ll have a video preview and some additional image galleries of these new features up later today. Fear not, non-chosen ones — you’ll get your hands on the preview shortly, and everyone will be able to install the update when it goes public on August 11.
Update: We’ve edited this post to clarify that while the preview is technically live, its access is currently limited to press and a select few “MVPs.” Those of you lowly commoners chosen for the preview should be granted access in the next several days.
Xbox Live Dashboard update preview goes live originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: avatar, dashboard, dashboard-update, fall-update, games-on-demand, netflix, preview, update
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Xbox Live Dashboard update preview goes live
July 21st, 2009 at 03:10pm
Under Xbox+ Xbox 360
Microsoft has just announced that the upcoming Xbox Dashboard update will be hitting Xbox Live on August 11. The update is set to include many new features, including Games on Demand, improved Netflix performance (along with Movie Parties), Avatar Awardables, Avatar Marketplace, the ability to rate games, new Friends list sorting options and more. The announcement also mentions that previously announced Twitter, Facebook and Last.fm support is slated to arrive this fall.
Also, don’t forget that Microsoft is currently accepting entrants for an upcoming preview, allowing many gamers a chance to check out the update before it’s available to the general public. If you don’t make it, rest assured that Joystiq will be taking the update for a spin and will be posting plenty of coverage.
Xbox Live Dashboard update arrives Aug. 11 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: dashboard, dashboard-update, microsoft, xbox-live, xbox-live-update
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Xbox Live Dashboard update arrives Aug. 11
July 16th, 2009 at 10:23pm
Under Xbox 360
click for gallery of new Xbox dashboard features
Microsoft just dropped some details on the upcoming Xbox Live Dashboard update which begins rolling out later this summer – first, and perhaps most notably, we’ll hit what won’t be in this update: Facebook, Twitter, and Last.fm support, along with Zune video and 1080p Instant On video functionality. Those are coming in “future Xbox Live updates” Microsoft assures us. “Updates” plural, eh?
So, what is included? The Games on Demand feature will be available in August, giving you access to digital downloads of full retail games. Check out our video of the feature here. Netflix is being updated in a big way, bringing Movie Parties (kick back in a virtual theater – think “Party System” for your Netflix movies) and the ability to manage your Netflix queue right from the Xbox. They’re also touting an “Enhanced Playback Experience” which we presume uses the latest Silverlight “Smooth Streaming” technology (see the demo here).
Also included: The Avatar Marketplace, so you can buy virtual crap for your Avatar; User ratings, so you can attach a star rating to “every game on the Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace” (this thankfully includes Community … err, Indie Games which have been sorely in need of community moderation!); and more. You can check out the full list after the break, or peruse the gallery of screens Microsoft just dropped on us.
Continue reading Xbox Live update detailed: Games on Demand, Netflix queue/Movie Party, and more
Xbox Live update detailed: Games on Demand, Netflix queue/Movie Party, and more originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Tags: dashboard, games-on-demand, netflix, nxe
By Mister-X
Continue Reading Xbox Live update detailed: Games on Demand, Netflix queue/Movie Party, and more
