New Xbox Dashboard Hits on August 11th, Get In Early

Nicholas "bapenguin" Puleo July 21st, 2009 at 3:09 PM    


Microsoft's next big dashboard update is set to go live in just a few weeks, August 11th to be exact.  The update is going to add a host of features to the dashboard including performance improvements, sorting options and other goodies.

The biggest addition will be a games on demand service which will allow Xbox Live members to download full retail versions of games right to the hard drive for instant play.  Thirty games are planned being planned to launch on August 11th, and we'll bring you the news of any co-op titles.

Avatars will now have access to premium clothing and items as well as item unlocks from games.  We'll keep our fingers cross for a virtual Billy companion for your avatar!

In the spirit of co-op, Netflix Movie Party will allow Xbox Live Gold and Netflix members to watch a movie over Xbox Live together with your avatars in tow.  I imagine many a MST3k style get togethers with this one.

All marketplace content will now be rateable, so users can give feedback on arcade titles and other DLC.  Also embedded in the update is improved friends list sorting, quicker access to dashboard functions, and other tweaks.

 If you want to get in the action early, Major Nelson is giving away access to the dashboard on a limited basis.  Hit his site to find out how to sign up to be eligible.

Another update is planned for the fall with the previously announced Twitter, Facebook, Last.FM, and HD on Demand streaming functionality.



 Tags: xbox 360 xbox live patches


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23 Total Reader Comments

HobocidalManiac at 10:15 AM on 7.21.2009
So my friend who forces everyone to get lagged out of parties isn't a problem anymore? Awesome. I hate reinviting everybody just because ONE PERSON causes EVERYONE to lag out.
 
bapenguin at 10:24 AM on 7.21.2009
Yeah the auto-rejoin is going to be a nice feature.
 
smurphster at 10:25 AM on 7.21.2009
signed up yesterday... i thought it was going to be a longer wait. aug 11 isn't bad. i really can't wait for the 2nd update.
 
Mrxknown_JG at 12:05 PM on 7.21.2009
Nick, how long do you think it will take before we start seeing Movie Streaming Event threads?

I can already see a week-long zombie marathon prior to Left 4 Dead 2's release!
 
HobocidalManiac at 12:07 PM on 7.21.2009
Is the movie streaming free? Or do I need a Netflix account? They make it sound free, but it'll probably cost money anyway, because it's Microsoft.
 
Jackel at 12:25 PM on 7.21.2009
Netflix will be necessary for all the gold accounts, just like it currently does.
 
HobocidalManiac at 12:37 PM on 7.21.2009
I have a Gold account. So I could stream a movie with friends without paying (besides for Gold)?
 
smurphster at 12:45 PM on 7.21.2009

yes but there's a limit on how many people can be in your party.
 
HobocidalManiac at 12:47 PM on 7.21.2009
Oh, ok. Sounds fun.
 
Jackel at 03:01 PM on 7.21.2009
Like I said earlier. Pretty sure that everyone in the movie party will have to have a Gold Subscription AND a netflix subscription, like how netflix currently works on the 360.
 
smurphster at 03:05 PM on 7.21.2009

are you sure they need both? i thought one person could host for a party. it falls under fair use. otherwise i don't see the point
 
Mrxknown_JG at 03:55 PM on 7.21.2009


Yeah I agree with smurphster, the host needs both, but the party can have just gold.

Otherwise, it sucks as a feature...
 
Jackel at 04:26 PM on 7.21.2009
Netflix doesn't take profits from your xbox live gold membership so they have no reason to offer the ability to share your account with 7 other people.
 
smurphster at 04:40 PM on 7.21.2009

they could cut a deal w/ M$ to offer that feature though. their current deal seems to be paying off quite well.

i see what you're saying and honestly i don't know what the actual features will be but i just don't see a point in sharing a movie if everyone already has access to it. the sharing that we're talking about should fall under fair use of the movie so the only other roadblock would be netflix not co-operating. this feature adds value to your netflix subscription and the cost is not very high for netflix so i don't see why netflix would object to it. people who don't have netflix may sign up so they can watch movies w/ their close friends or family whom they can't normally get together with. i don't see why anyone would drop their subscription thinking they'll be able to watch enough movies w/ their friends on xbox. it seems to me like netflix has more to gain than to lose.
 
Jackel at 05:02 PM on 7.21.2009


As far as I know fair use doesn't apply here because the cost to netflix goes up for each additional viewer (unlike a dvd in home, where the cost remains the same regardless). I could easily be wrong on this point though.

The Current deal MS has simply allows existing members to access the instant watch another way. So this doesn't change the rights netflix has been granted by the studios to share the movie (remember, netflix probably pays the studio pennies for every disc you rent / watch online). So if they started letting non-netflix subscribers view the content, they would still have to pay the studios for the rights to share those films to those additional viewers.
 
smurphster at 07:18 AM on 7.22.2009

i'm not expert on fair use, but from what i understand, it basically says i can watch it with peers. i can't charge anyone for it and it can't be in a public place. xbox live is public (sort of) but viewing movies is restricted to private parties. so no additional licenses should be needed.
 
milpool at 10:25 AM on 7.22.2009
Fair use or not, I have no reason to think MS would give anything away. They even charge for THEMES for most upcoming games.

My guess, all people need to have live gold, netflix sub, and pay points on top of that. Mind you I hope its not the case but considering they are even putting full video commercials in the next dashboard I have to assume they are looking for more revenue wherever they can get it.
 
HobocidalManiac at 10:27 AM on 7.22.2009
But why advertise the feature unless not everyone needs Netflix? You can already watch a movie at the same time as your friends if you both watch it separately at the same time in a private chat. Please don't tell me Microsoft is dumb enough to spend money advertising a "brand new feature" THEY ALREADY HAVE.
 
smurphster at 12:40 PM on 7.22.2009

not to mention all the work that went into making it an actual feature... i bet it took quite a bit to get the streams synced up and show everyone's avatar etc.
 
Jackel at 11:02 AM on 7.24.2009
Looks like I was right, everyone in the party needs netflix

This might be one of those "I told you so moments" but them requiring everyone to have netflix sucks for me too as I would love to have shared movies w/ non-netflix subscribers.
 
smurphster at 11:05 AM on 7.24.2009

how very lame... what a waste
 
HobocidalManiac at 11:08 AM on 7.24.2009

What's the point? If I had a Netflix subscription I could just start the movie at the same time as someone else in my party to get the exact same experience. What's the point in requiring everyone to have a subscription. That's like inviting people over to your house to watch a movie but they all need a copy of the movie to watch it. The whole point is to get people to try Netflix for free and then they pay for it. It's like how you only see cable company ads if you have cable. WHY IS COMCAST ADVERTISING TO ME IF THEY ALREADY HAVE MY MONEY??? WHAT?!?!?
 
smurphster at 07:12 AM on 7.25.2009
it gets worse:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/25/xbox ... rz-flicks/

so it looks like the movie publishers are being the pain in the ass. i don't know why i didn't think of that before
 


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