Xbox Live Dashboard update preview goes live

by Griffin McElroy on Jul 24th 2009 12:45PM

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 (2009)

Tags: avatar, dashboard, dashboard-update, fall-update, games-on-demand, Microsoft, netflix, preview, update, xbox-360

Reader Comments (46)

Cool. The main reason I use my Xbox these days is to watch netflix instant. If they add the ability to browse movies, I'll be a happy camper for sure.

Watch out for E74 errors. After the update, mine came up with the error I used it for 10 minutes, it seems REALLY slow in the menus and then bang E74, phones Microsoft and the console is broken. It's outside warranty so I need to buy a new one...

Dang...

only one comment, Trrrr... joined today too... I smell something...

Use mine 360 every day.. in 3 years, never seen 3 reds or E74.. I could almost feel deprived... hopefully get to try this out, I think the game/dlc rating system was needed long ago

I've had 4 RRoDs and an E74, and even I think trrrrr is fulla shit.

Wait what? Since when? All I've heard is that the press got in today, not previewers. Acceptance emails haven't even been sent out for those inducted into the preview program as far as I've seen. Major said it would be a few more days.

Really? I hope that's the case, that or I didn't get in.

I just want to know about games on demand. Kotaku previewed every one of the new features BUT games on demand, which frustrated the hell out of me >:(

Thats because Games on Demand isn't online till August 11th with the full release :)

The preview is only out for the press.

Us normal folk won't get the email until Monday.

This shall be interesting, but I wouldn't really consider buying clothes for my avatar.

[I'm a troll! I've been banned!]

Please, just stop.

You guys should reconsider this guy's membership.

I agree, they should only cover iPhone news. All these Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony articles just prove that they're fanboys.

you should consider reading a different site.

You could use the tabs at the top, just say'n.

Heh, I just got a cheap laugh out of the word "Microstiq", not because of MS or anything, but the implications of the words "micro" and "stiq" put together......

Think about it.....

Every time this guy posts it to slam MS and/or Joystiq. That's his life mission. What an exciting and interesting person you must not be.

Holy shitballs, he's like the Dark Link of Sprinkles.

....It's out only for the press ATM! Darn press, getting things first >:(

Anyone heard anything official when e-mails will start being sent out? I know you'll be notified "by" the 31st, but I wonder if we'll be notified before then.

I'm tempted to get some of the Monkey Island clothes.. The "I found the Treasure of Melee Island ...and all I got was this Stupid T-Shirt" is awesome and the eyeball necklace would be amusing..

But I'd prefer to see more unlockables, rather than stuff you have to pay for. But at least it's all costumes you'd actually want to use as opposed to generic t-shirts, etc.

Afraid that the unlockables will be just that, crappy shirts with logos and the premium will be the cool stuff. PS3 has made some money doing those transaction, Microsoft will be sure to follow. Prove me wrong.

ggg

thats twice ive been passed over in the early preview thing.

what I really wanna know is if you already own any of the "games on demand" will you be able to download them for free or at least a reduced cost an play them directly from the hard drive no disc required

That could work if they charged a dollar or something to turn a game you put on your HDD to work without CD.

But it won't happen because then you could just rent games and keep them on the drive.

hmmm good point, still blows, guess I won't be getting any till they decide to put in some new releases or at least some good games I don't already own which would be a miracle given I own all the *good* games *good in my terms at least

Ugh nervous breakdown for no reason ? :(

unlockable Avatar items: Are these unlocked when you update based on your current achievements, or when you play and get achievements from now on, or only on new titles?

Don't know yet, so far the only game we know that uses it is Splosion Man. I guess older games could go back and add stuff like this in.. It's just a question of if they'll bother.

My thoughts is that all this junk is on the marketplace, the clothes and such... anyhow it reads you achievements and just unlocks that stuff... doubt it will be packaged with the disc. Who knows.

theyll probably start with a small library of new games to encourage ppl to use the avatar store. i doubt theyll support many older games at launch..

there probably wont be many items per game either. the avatar store is pretty thin right now, i suspect the unlockables ill be even more sparse.

Awarded avatar items are actually separate from achievements. It's up to the title how they want to do it - they could award them at the same time as achievements, award them separately for other criteria, or just give them away at title start like some do with gamer pictures.

Ya I know they are separate but for example, I played COD4, there is a unlockable for it if one does xxxxx, I've already played it and sold it... do I get the Awarded avatar item on the dash update? or do I need to replay COD4 for the item? or will there never be items for COD4 since it's an pre-this-update-title?

glad to know it's just press and MVPs, explains why no one seemed to get it. Really hope i get it come monday

Are bloggers considered "press" now? How dare you refer to us as commoners you insolent, dirty blogger.

Blogging. The working man's press.

Plebeians!

I believe that truly tough achievements will have good Avatar unlockables but most will be just simple items and the Good stuff will have to be paid for. MS knows this is easy money and no matter what your stance, if an Item comes out that you like, you will be tempted to purchase it. I know I would be tempted If I could have a Warthog with my Avatar in GOW armor carrying a lancer in one had and a Halo Sword in the other but that just me

Does anyone know if this update allows you to destroy/get rid of avatars? I hate those things and my 360 seems to have assigned me one after a few months of me just skipping the avatar creation screen.

Avatars may be lame, but HATING them is just as lame.

... Yeah, I too deslike the idea of "special vip" people getting the
good stuff before anyone else.

It's like they are better than us or something.. They got nothing.

avatars are here to stay. if you hate it so much when you boot up have your 360 skip the dashboard and load a disc immediately. ill never understand the avatar hate in this world, i love my avatar. im sure theres something out there for 360 snobs like Mitchell too. Halo gear? Gears unlockables maybe?

Does anyone know if this update allows for custom NXE themes? I was disappointed they took the custom theme feature out. Would be nice to be able to pick the color of that floor bubble thing and the guide and chose from all of your available friends list theme objects, especially with OG-Blade themes. Maybe I'm expecting too much though.

How long is it going to take to get some anime/japanese based clothing/looks for avatars? (I.e. Yukatas, cat ears, super spiky hair, ect.)

I want my avatar to have Cloud Strife hair.

Agreed. Though I plan on looking exceptionally silly on purpose: One Stars, fingerless gloves, sunglasses... and a flower-print yukata.

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Xbox Live Dashboard update preview goes live

Xbox Live Dashboard Update (2009)

Reader Comments (46)

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