Xbox 360 system update preps Twitter, Facebook, Last.fm

by David Hinkle { Sep 23rd 2009 at 10:42AM }

If you're playing hooky from work or school today to get in some quality time with Halo 3: ODST, you know that a mandatory system update is putting a pause on your action. Major Nelson reports that the new system update doesn't bring any immediate changes to the Dashboard and only prepares some backend support for the upcoming additions of Twitter, Facebook and Last.fm to Xbox Live later this year.

Oh, and if you do decide to link up your Twitter and Facebook accounts to your Xbox 360 when that update launches, be careful about faking sick when the next Halo rolls out. We'd hate for your boss or principal to find out you're all too well "pwning n00bs!"

Tags: dashboard-update, dashboard-update-fall-2009, facebook, last-fm, system-update, twitter, update, xbobx-live

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

copa @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:53AM

Facebook and Twitter are both keyboard-heavy services, where the XBox 360 is not my preferred client.

Last.fm would be incredibly awesome if you could stream music while you were playing.

You can't.

butaneko @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:02AM

If these are purely standalone apps then I agree this is probably pretty pointless for most users.

If for example, I hit the XBOX button and along with the system menu a Twitter stream window popped up then I could see the appeal.

Markez @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:23AM

Last.fm is the one I'm most excited for being that I basically use my HDTV as my stereo since my 360/PS3 can both stream my music from my laptop. Can't recall the last time I had a 'traditional' stereo.

I think they'll find a way to do facebook in some sort of way so that it's optimized in a way from browsing from the 360. Probably moreso to check out friends profiles/photos/updates rather than being good for maintaining your own account. I'm a bit iffy on it as well, but might be cool to be able to link to some folks I'm linked with from the 'stiq over live.

Twitter? I hope Twitter dies in a fire. Although I'd miss Coco's Twitter Tracker...

butaneko @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:40AM

I imagine Twitter dying in a fire would only cause it to re-emerge as a more powerful phoenix-like creature. Then it would err, have sex with Cyclops from the X-Men?

Ha yes Twitter Tracker is great!

Courtney @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:48AM

I keep a keyboard plugged into my 360 anyway, so that's not an issue (and it's darn handy). But, I just don't see the need for either of these anyway.

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Sep 23rd 2009 12:04PM

wait...you can't stream last.fm while you are playing a game!?!!?

#FAIL...that makes the shit USELESS....I'm not going to have my 360 going JUST to listen to music..I have a PC for that...

Markez @ Sep 23rd 2009 1:33PM

Chris

Read the comments

WiNG [XBL&Steam: WiNGSPANTT] from lifeinagame.com @ Sep 23rd 2009 1:48PM

What if there is more xbox-related integration?

i.e. You can set it so whenever you get a cheevo, it posts it to your wall? Or that messages posted to your wall are PM'ed to you through XBL?

Smoke_me_a_Kipper @ Sep 23rd 2009 2:47PM

Get a chat pad, I got one with my 12 month card (and PGR4) - the thing rocks.

Tiptup300 @ Sep 23rd 2009 4:20PM

Some people don't understand why these things are so exciting. This is a great way to have a web experience on the xbox 360. Think of these more as websites and less of applications. Imagine if Microsoft made a new UI engine that webowners could take advantage of to view their website in a tv friendly manner.

Web browsers on tv are terrible because the web is designed for monitors.

This could be the start of a tv-friendly web browser pretty much.

Stinky @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:42PM

MSN works pretty well on xbox, just hook up a keyboard or use the little thumb-twiddler board and a shortcut takes you straight to your conversations.

Who said that lastfm doesn't work in-game?

Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:53AM

Why can't you just update it manually?

Deezul @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:09AM

You can. You just then won't be able to connect to Live.

T @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:56AM

ELBOW!

Faceman @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:54AM

last.fm +++++

T @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:56AM

While the article is joking about the Facebook thing...I'm actually hesitant to link the two until I've seen what kind of privacy settings are available.

More because I would rather NOT have my wall (and my friend's walls) plastered with "___ unlocked ____ Achievement" posts every few minutes. Same with Twitter.

dantebk @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:11AM

Yeah I'm concerned about that too. I've started using Twitter lately, and I think it's pretty decent, but if someone's account became nothing but constant updates about whatever they're playing, it would be a real drag. If that's what the "Twitter functionality" entails, then I won't sign up for it.

Neptune @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:55AM

Palm!

Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:56AM

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l195/silent_killer_vincent/funny%20stuff/Genious.gif

The Mor @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:56AM

I think FB and Twitter is an awesome idea. Achievements and crap like that can be posted automatically

butaneko @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:04AM

Note to self: never follow The Mor on Twitter

Cody @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:56AM

Unless the Twitter, Facebook and Last.fm come with 360 exclusive First Person Shooter modes, I really don't see how this is the right market and demograph to distribute those to.

Now, DSi/PSP on the other hand...

Markez @ Sep 23rd 2009 12:50PM

Jokes should at least make some sort of sense.

Antagonist @ Sep 23rd 2009 12:55PM

Argle fargle rassleback. Chilly congo konga loo. Bilbabip Nintendo!

David @ Sep 23rd 2009 1:01PM

ba-dum-ching

Porker @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:58AM

I rue the day I linked my Messenger account to my 360, so there's no way I'm linking Facebook to it. And I still have exactly zero interest in Twitter so no need to worry about that.

Rhamsey @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:59AM

you know you can turn off autosign in and unlink it, right?

Markez @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:19AM

What happened that makes you rue the day?

WREturns(There was once a dream called Rome) @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:24AM

I, on the other hand, will rule the day! Mwahahahaha!

Duke @ Sep 23rd 2009 12:29PM

Joking aside, I too don't care for these services and dislike the idea of them being linked to console gaming. Yeah, I know, I don't have to use them and won't but that aside, I just don't care for how facebook and twitter are getting into everything we touch.

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:00AM

You know, we could already do all this if they'd just add a simple web browser. I'd even buy one of those chatpad things for it.

David @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:09AM

the difference between a web browser and the upcoming features is that features are integrated with what you do on xbox live (twitter feed of achievements, ability to add your gamertag and achievement score onto your facebook page, invite people to games via facebook, etc.). they are two very different things.

personally, i'd prefer a web browser, but still they're not the same thing.

Badboy1979 @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:39AM

Only my opinion, but I prefer this route instead of providing a web browser. Honestly, if the 360 had a browser I wouldn't use it (just like I never use the browser on my PS3). It's much easier to just walk over to the computer for a full browser experience.

But the thing about integrated "apps" like these is that they're taking a site that is designed for a full browsers and building out a UI that will work BETTER with on TV w/ a game controller as the input device.

It's like having mini-safari on the ipod touch and also having the Facebook app installed. Yea, you could browse facebook on the browser but having an app that's specifically tailored to the device and screen (everything is bigger for HD, etc) you're using is so much better. For example, with a 360 app you can get such things as importiing game photo captures to your facebook albums, instant notificiation when someone sends you a message on facebook while you're any where in the NXE, the ability to chat on facebook while doing other stuff on the NXE, etc.

My 2 cents tho.

Alexander @ Sep 23rd 2009 10:23PM

Also, another thing to remember is that if Microsoft would put a browser on the 360, it would be Internet Explorer. *shudder*

Bobiroka @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:07AM

I don't think it's a problem so long as the settings are quite comprehensive i.e. being able to turn off what you don't want broadcast to the world.

Personally, anything that broadcasts an honest representation of what I'm doing without my intervention is fine by me :)

FNG @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:10AM

You're an ANUS!

Deezul @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:10AM

Why "fake" being sick? I requested time of well in advance for Halo 3 launch day, ODST launch day, 360 console launch day, etc. It's not that hard. You just do it so far in advance, a random Tuesday in September doesn't raise any eyebrows.

Maxskunk @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:18AM

Why waste a vacation day when you can use a sick day? No need to waste a sick day on actually being sick!

Space @ Sep 23rd 2009 11:33AM

yeah I'd rather waste a sick day for something like that. vacation days can be strung together for a trip far away. but sick days are one or two at a time. also for when I actually am sick, I'd rather just be at work, all I do is fuck around in photoshop all day. It'd be a waste of a day off to sit in the house all day being sick.