Gamespot leaks Xbox 360's new dashboard
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Apr 7th 2007 at 10:42AM }
Good job Gamespot! Um, we mean, bad, bad job Gamespot. MyGamerCard reports that Gamespot accidentally leaked a video of the information they received about a May 7 update for the Xbox 360's dashboard. Highlights include:
- 600 Windows Live Messenger contacts for your friends list
- Contact list will integrate Windows Live Messenger and show joinable session status
- Messenger contacts see what game you're playing and gamertag
- Marketplace has own blade, skin will change independent from theme
- Users will now see what achievement they've unlocked onscreen
- Low-power download mode followed by auto-shutdown
- You can watch partially downloaded video files
[Via Engadget, Thanks Justin]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jack @ Apr 7th 2007 11:49AM
the auto shut off is saweeeeet.
Fierce360 @ Apr 7th 2007 11:53AM
looks sweet. cant wait for the messenger feature!
waldopepper @ Apr 7th 2007 11:55AM
Wow Messenger integration and chat - good job MS.
Jeff @ Apr 7th 2007 11:59AM
For someone who doesn't own an xbox can an existing xbox owner please list the outstanding new features. thanks a lot.
Poisoned Al @ Apr 7th 2007 11:59AM
IM and auto shut-down? Nice, simple things like that are what keeps people hooked.
Ninegauger @ Apr 7th 2007 11:59AM
Excellent... more than I was hoping for.
nick @ Apr 7th 2007 12:01PM
Leaked? If you listen to the audio commentary, it sounds as if the video was supposed to preceed the update. "On May 7, Microsoft's Spring update..."
alex @ Apr 7th 2007 12:05PM
These are the changes...
- Releases May 7th.
- Add up to 600 Windows Live Messenger contacts to your Friends List.
- Text chat with up to 6 Live Messenger contacts at once during games or movies.
- The Marketplace will be getting its own Dashboard Blade.
- The Marketplace will be skinned independently of the Dashboard, for special events.
- The Marketplace will be getting a new, easier-to-navigate remake.
- Achievement Pop-ups will now display how many points and which Achievement you have gained.
- Low-power downloading (fans off) and auto-off after finishing queued downloads.
- View partially downloaded video files.
MaulerX @ Apr 7th 2007 12:46PM
I must admit, this is some pretty hot stuff. Messenger integration? Auto shut-down? Yeepeee!!
Dan @ Apr 7th 2007 4:45PM
SO IS THE VIDEO MARKETPLACE ICON IN THE MEDIA TAB GOING TO BE MOVED OR IS THE VIDEO MARKETPLACE STILL GOING TO BE ACCESSIBLE FROM THE MEDIA TAB?
ConstyXIV @ Apr 7th 2007 12:25PM
@4 Jeff:
It sounds like the big parts of this update are:
Windows Live/Xbox Live chat support (though I wouldn't want to be "typing" with any sort of device that is not a keyboard)
The Marketplace appears to have been split from Xbox Live, which makes sense with Xbox Video and Zune being in there now
When you score an achievement, it tells you what it was and how many points it was
Generally better downloading, with auto-shutdown for big downloads and being able to watch videos before they've been downloaded 100%
preachizzle @ Apr 7th 2007 12:32PM
according to one of the hd-dvd staff, they are also going to be fixing the washed out colour issue when you use a VGA cable
Mogul218 @ Apr 7th 2007 12:41PM
Goddammit, now my mother will actually see how much I play video games!!!!
Ian Von Porter @ Apr 7th 2007 12:41PM
Does it come with the auto-bricking feature like the last update. MS needs to boost their sales numbers somehow.
Tenken @ Apr 7th 2007 12:50PM
The low power auto-shutdown is probably going to be similar to what the console does when you leave the "Play and Charge" kit plugged in after shutting down. It basically runs until the controller is fully charged and then shuts itself down. It's something we should have had a long time ago but it's nice to see it finally getting added.
Trent @ Apr 7th 2007 12:56PM
Thats awesome news, Its going to suck for me. I messed it up early on. I used a different email address for my gamertag rather then my main one. *PRE 360 LAUNCH I DIDN'T KNOW YOU COULD CHANGE YOUR GAMERTAG!!* Im a dumbass and till this day I am kicking myself in the ass!!!
DVersion @ Apr 7th 2007 12:55PM
What the hell is eBunnies?
Lewis @ Apr 7th 2007 12:59PM
MSN messenger on LIVE!?!? HOTNESS, FINALLY!!!!!!!!!
Flynn @ Apr 7th 2007 1:08PM
can someone please explain to me why anyone would want to have instant messeging while they're playing a game or watching a movie? what's the appeal here?
mike @ Apr 7th 2007 1:15PM
I like the the msn additions, but I feel this is a wasted major update. We could of had more like:
- 4 person voice chats (no BS on how its not technically possible, because it is)
- See what DVD a friend is watching (They can take and use TH ID of the dvd to display this information)
- option to turn auto-shutoff of inactive wireless controllers off
- remove xbla demos from gamercard
- change friends online, message recieved, private chat request and achievement unlocked sounds to be uniqe (but leave the current sound for unlocking achievements) (or better yet, let us use our own sounds)
+ more.
Paul @ Apr 7th 2007 1:32PM
USB Keyboard support / Wireless keyboard please Microsoft!
I'll use my XBOX as my WIndows Messenger machine if i get keyboard support.
RUSKULL @ Apr 7th 2007 1:25PM
The mesenger intergration is a no brainer, but very glad to see it happen. The other cool thing is being able to watch partially downloaded files, cutting your screening time down in half.
Virtua Fanboy @ Apr 7th 2007 1:24PM
@ mike
dude do you really have to see what movie I'm wathing? That's pretty creepy.
@ Ian Von Porter
What's the matter? Mad that the PS3 is already gotta start playing catchup? LOL
j @ Apr 7th 2007 1:26PM
The cool thing about messaging people while ur playing a game is to invite ur friends to play while they are not on live.
case @ Apr 7th 2007 1:28PM
I would like the ability to have names assigned to my friends gamertags that way your friends list could read "john, bob, etc.. instead of dungeonlord101 and so on.
RUSKULL @ Apr 7th 2007 1:28PM
Yeah, I wouldn't want people to know what movies I'm watching, especially in messenger. Suddenly people would be like "Man, RUSKULL sure watches a lot of porn.", lol.
grumpyguava49 @ Apr 7th 2007 1:29PM
GOLDENEYE
did anyone else see goldeneye?!
sunmark007 @ Apr 7th 2007 1:46PM
@ 26
you do know that you can plug in a usb keyboard and use it to type messages and info right now? try it.
grumpyguava49 @ Apr 7th 2007 2:11PM
ahh i'm an idiot ignore me.
still, maybe it's a sign?
James @ Apr 7th 2007 2:18PM
I was completely unaware people even used Windows Messenger these days. Who knew?
Aex @ Apr 7th 2007 2:23PM
@sunmark007
I didn't even know that ... Time to get a USB keyboard and a Switch since I use my monitor for my 360 anyways XD
teddings uk @ Apr 7th 2007 2:27PM
This may seem irrelevant, but who is defender90, and why is his name in lowercase on the dashboard, but in caps on xbox.com?
Just a thought. :p
cornelius @ Apr 7th 2007 2:33PM
there is no need to hook up a USB keyboard. MS will also be releasing a controller with a small qwerty keyboard built in! the keyboard was designed right in between the two grips..
Mike @ Apr 7th 2007 2:44PM
That's it? Kinda sucks. Seems more like a way to pull people away from AIM than anything. The achievement info is the only thing I really like.
ZildjianKX @ Apr 7th 2007 3:04PM
But did they fix the connection problems with the wifi adapter and draft 802.11n routers? Any VGA improvements?
Mike @ Apr 7th 2007 3:05PM
Yay!
Miles @ Apr 7th 2007 3:17PM
"Seems more like a way to pull people away from AIM than anything."
Is there any money that Microsoft can earn by doing this? As far as I know both services are free so why do all this to take away AIM users. It seems more likely they're just doing a service to people who use their products. For free.
Markster @ Apr 7th 2007 3:30PM
"Seems more like a way to pull people away from AIM than anything."
Well, what do you expect? AIM support from Microsoft?
In Canada, we all use MSN anyway, so huzzah for us!
Tetelestia @ Apr 7th 2007 3:45PM
WTB marketplace account security.
Virtua Fanboy @ Apr 7th 2007 3:46PM
I wonder, since you can cross chat Yahoo-Windows Live/Windows Live-Yahoo, then I wonder if they will enable Yahoo-Xbox Live?
Mr Khan @ Apr 7th 2007 3:46PM
Actually would be pretty cool, although i don't see the point of texting while watching a movie, kind of defeats the purpose, but texting with outsiders while playing a single-player intensive game (Blue Dragon, Oblivion) might be fun
And i believe we've already gone over the Goldeneye thing, it's not gonna happen no matter how much anybody dreams, an IP with at least 5 different claimants, and that's in the games industry alone
Nothing groundbreaking (especially for us non-360 owners), but fun bonuses (or it would be if i subscribed to MSN, opposed to AIM :P)
Pink Chiefette @ Apr 7th 2007 3:54PM
Well, the Messenger client has advertising, so I'd assume that Microsoft makes money through that route.
Kelobi @ Apr 7th 2007 4:33PM
A year on and still no party chat? although messenger update is nifty its not essential. I feel party chat is so me and a few friends can play our own games and still communicate.
Brandon Johnson @ Apr 7th 2007 4:35PM
I'm glad that the Market Place is getting its own blade that will make more convient to use.
razer @ Apr 7th 2007 5:31PM
I hope the full set of feature updates is more impressive than this.. Talk about adding a bunch of stuff that nobody asked for.. Why did they even bother taking suggestions from the community? Was it just lip service to think you have some input??
For 1.5 years into the life of this console I expected a lot more.
As was said on another forum, I think that whoever leads this team needs to suffer the same fate as Greg Canessa and give them their walking papers. They are out of touch with what the community wants. Go back and watch the propaganda video that comes on your harddrive about "Inside the 360" and all the promise of customization, etc.. What a load of BS..
These updates are doing nothing but pushing MS's agenda of PC integration, buying video content online(for ridiculous prices & terms) and pushing their formats like WMV. It's not about giving the user the experience they want.
(yes call me a whiner, but sorry I expect the best from my 360)
Matthew Walsh @ Apr 7th 2007 5:33PM
Alright Razer, what do YOU want from the dashboard? I mean it's all very well saying Microsoft isn't catering to the consumer, but you don't have a single suggestion for what SHOULD be included instead.
razer @ Apr 7th 2007 6:11PM
Matthew: Why should I have to go into a list when you can just look at any forum/blog speaking of the dashboard and see all the requests the community is asking for? There was a 15 page thread going on Xbox.com when they asked what do you want in an update and probably one new topic every week about it. I don't remember seeing anything about MSN integration or a fancier Achievement pop-up. Any new features are good, but I expect more from a company who specializes in software.
TheHostileDwarf @ Apr 7th 2007 6:13PM
@ razer
Thanks for playing.
Stranger @ Apr 7th 2007 6:28PM
I agree with razer to an extent.
Been bitching about this over on 360fanboy to typical fanboy disdain and abuse. I'm very happy that MS is continuing to improve upon the dashboard interface and design, but they really need to be doing A LOT more. All the VOD stuff is great, love the Live Marketplace.
But what they really need is a new "feature". A new hook... and it really needs to be community based. Clan support, multi-person private voice (& video) chat, even if it's only out of game. Make it easier for groups of players to find each other.
I love playing with my friends, but we have a hard time finding another team of people to play against, which is all we really want to do most of the time anyway. Isn't that really the best thing about Live in the first place? Ease of use and giving people what they want?
And don't get me started on forced dashboard ads in a paid-subscription service... somebody'll call me a fag.
Matthew Walsh @ Apr 7th 2007 6:47PM
Razer; YOU should make a list because it's YOU who is going on about them not putting in things that YOU want. I mean seriously, you couldn't name one thing off the top of your head that you wanted in? The only one I can think of it multi-user chat. For me Live is pretty much feature complete as it stands, and all that really remains is for MS to tidy up the edges. Telling me what Achievement I've unlocked and how many points it's worth? Yeah, smart idea. Telling me what game I have in the drive? Cool! Having a blade for XBLM? Makes sense.
There's no big gaping "background download" hole in the service any more. All they need are these small tweaks.