(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Microsoft Announces Details of Upcoming Dashboard Update

Microsoft today laid out its plans for its upcoming dashboard update, due this fall. The update details don't include their plans for Last.fm, Facebook, Twitter or the Zune HD store, but what it does detail is some pretty awesome stuff - of which, select Xbox Live members will have the chance to test out the next week.

So what can we expect? Well, grab a seat and get comfortable ... information overload incoming!

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
Please note that Games on Demand will be available in the preview beginning early August.


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.

Video Walkthrough of what's to come from the new update on August 11th.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fA6Ca2MdFMU"]YouTube - Xbox 360 August 2009 Dashboard Update Definitive Walkthrough[/ame]


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New Info added on Aug 5th 09
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Microsoft Details More of the Upcoming Dashboard Updates


Microsoft's upcoming dashboard update is dropping in less than a week now (August 11th) and whilst many are enjoying the subtle differences via the preview program, not everything is in full flow yet.

Microsoft sent out more information today laying down a little more detail on what games to expect on the Games on Demand service, as well as some of the avatar brands we can expect. Without further ado, the new details released today are as follows ...


Movie night on Xbox LIVE

Browse, select and jump right into your favourite movies from the top genres: comedy, action, horror…even a tear-jerking chick flick. There are hundreds to choose from, with many in HD.

Avatars are people too!
Now thanks to Avatar Marketplace the options for customising your avatar are endless. With an ever-expanding selection of stores, full of premium outfits and accessories from your favourite games and fashion brands, you can express yourself through your Avatar like never before. Your Avatar’s one-stop-shop will launch with a growing collection from the top names in fashion and gaming including:

•Top Brands: Adidas, Quiksilver, Roxy, Tokidoki
•Unique Fashions: Steampunk, Recessionista
•Your Favourite Games: “BioShock 2,” “Halo 3,” “Halo 3: ODST,” “Gears of War 2,” “Fable II,” “The Secret of Monkey Island SE,” “Splinter: Cell Conviction,” “Star Wars Clone Wars: Republic Heroes”
You can also earn special Avatar clothes and items just by playing your favourite games, starting with a hot logo t-shirt from “Splosion Man,” the hit Xbox LIVE Arcade title that kicked-off off the 2nd annual Summer of Arcade. And to keep your Avatars from getting bored, we’re giving them fun new props to play with; everything from a basketball to pompoms, even a mobile phone…just try to stick with nights and weekends.

Full Xbox 360 games at the push of a button

Xbox 360 games: Games on Demand. Launching with a library of 21 great titles, Games on Demand marks the introduction of digitally distributed full Xbox 360 games: the titles you want, when you want them, straight to your Xbox 360 at the push of a button. You’ll also have the option to easily purchase Games on Demand titles directly via credit card.

From award-winning hits like “Mass Effect,” and “Assassin’s Creed,” to family favourites like “LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga” and “Sonic the Hedgehog,” Games on Demand gives you access to a growing catalogue of full Xbox 360 titles, updated weekly and available to browse and download 24 x7 from the comfort of your couch. Check out our line-up at launch:

Assassin's Creed (Ubisoft)
Burnout Paradise (EA)
Call of Duty® 2 (Activision)
Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Fight Night Round 3 (EA
Kameo: Elements of Power (Microsoft Game Studios)
LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga (LucasArts)
Mass Effect (Microsoft Game Studios)
Meet The Robinsons (Disney)
Need for Speed Carbon (EA)
Need for Speed: Most Wanted (EA)
MX vs. ATV Untamed (THQ)
Perfect Dark Zero (Microsoft Game Studios)
Prey (2K Games)
Rockstar Games Presents Table Tennis (Rockstar Games)
Sega Rally (Sega)
TEST DRIVE: UNLIMITED (Atari)
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas (Ubisoft)
Tomb Raider Legend (Eidos)
Viva Piñata (Microsoft Game Studios)
Viva Piñata 2: Trouble in Paradise (Microsoft Game Studios)

No more hide and seek

Now you can view, find and arrange your content on Xbox LIVE the way you want. Want to send a specific friend a message? Sort your friends list by Gamertag, status and even activity, so you can easily find the friends you want. There are also new options for viewing your Achievements and progress, improved matchmaking support and more.

Best of all, you can now rate every single piece of content on Xbox LIVE Games Marketplace using a five star system. Support your favourite XBLA game with a five star rating, or find the top-rated titles in the newly-updated Indie Games Marketplace – it’s never been easier to find the best and most beloved game content on Xbox LIVE.

Just the beginning…

The Xbox LIVE summer update brings all new ways to play games, and connect with friends or friendly rivals anywhere in the world. It’s another step toward realising the Xbox 360 promise of entertainment for everyone, and another reason why Xbox LIVE is hands down the best entertainment value in your living room. But this is just the beginning…

Coming soon, we’re bringing a whole new wave of partnerships and custom features straight to your Xbox 360 – instant on 1080p streaming video with 5.1 audio from Zune, personalised digital radio stations from Last.fm, and the biggest forces in social networking: Facebook and Twitter.

In the meantime, have fun with your Avatar, or download that classic Xbox 360 game you’ve been meaning to pick up. Sit back, relax and enjoy and stay tuned for the next evolution in connected entertainment, courtesy of Xbox LIVE

look like microsoft have got their arse in gear for all the new games coming out lol

looking forward to the colothing and general improvements awesome find

+rep

woah cant wait this is gonna be fckin awesome thanks +repped

Looks good but I wanna hear about Facebook and Twitter!

Nice one! some good info! The movie watching things sounds good!

I'm looking foward to this! Thanks.

•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.


NIGHT VISion Goggles (NVGS) FOR MODERN WARFARE 2
Maybe ? :p

just when you think 360 cant get any bettter it suprises you

Just got word that these updates will take effect on 11th August.

Are you serious? Like last year every week before they would have maintenance to prepare but I guess they overcame it I can't wait