Xbox Live Update Preview Program now accepting sign-ups [updated]

by Ludwig Kietzmann on Sep 22nd 2010 2:20PM

Update: Microsoft has brought sign-ups for the dashboard update preview program to a close. A note on the Microsoft Connect site now reads "Thank you for your interest in the Xbox LIVE and Kinect Beta program. The program has reached capacity and we are no longer accepting applications."

Microsoft is set to roll out some significant changes to its Xbox Live service this year, and wanted to run them by you first. An Xbox Live Update Preview Program is now accepting registrants online, and will grant selected users early access to the Xbox's updated user interface, the Xbox Live on-demand ESPN service, and the enhanced Netflix interface. This is not part of the Kinect beta test, so don't expect a camera to land in your mailbox unless you're also signing up for a reality TV show.

As per Major Nelson's instructions, you can now sign up to Microsoft's Connect website and complete a survey, after which you'll be notified if you've been selected for the program. "Multiple thousands of participants" are sought at this stage, so you might just have a good shot at getting in. You should be aware of some caveats, however: Your ISP must support ESPN 3; you need a Netflix subscription to use the new Netflix search, and an Xbox Live Gold account will afford you "priority" during selection.

The Xbox Live update will introduce a new audio codec for online communication -- if you're selected, your voice chat will become incompatible with the older version. Survey says: "Because you are participating in an exclusive pre-release program, you will not be able to voice chat with non-participants during the preview program period." Game chat should not be impacted, but you've already muted everyone on Halo: Reach anyway.

Source: Major Nelson

Tags: major-nelson, microsoft, xbox, xbox-live, xbox-live-update-2010, xbox-live-update-preview-program

Reader Comments (74)

Wait if I get into this I can still use game chat in games, such as Reach?

@Steelyuhas

Protip: Scroll up and read articles before going near and SUBMIT buttons.

Achievement Reached: "RTFA"

"Thank you for your interest in participating. We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into the program. The program will officially start within the next two weeks. Until then, please be patient and check back on this site often for the latest updates."

Nice!

Looks like it's auto-accepting some people. :)

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Yeah. I'm in too, but we have to wait 2 weeks for it to roll out

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

Same here. I like how they told us this time instead of leaving us in suspense once the first wave of emails went out.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Damn it. I don't have my console info at work.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

Shouldn't you be getting ready for a beta next month Ezio?

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

I tried to sign up, but ran into a brick wall when it asked for my serial number. I don't keep that info with me, I'll have to try to finish up when I get home

@The Tim

You can log into Xbox.com and get your system info.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

I got accepted also.

@Bubbameister33 And where might that be? I can't seem to find it and am looking under my account information.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

A definite improvement over the last preview program, which basically had a rather confusing message along the lines of "we'll review your submission and get back to you". I was ultimately accepted, but at least this gives more clarification.

So that way I can run pre-release firmware on my 360, as I use Firefox 4 nightly builds on my laptop which once ran the Windows 7 Release Candidate (now full Win7Pro), while using my pre-release TweekDeck for Android in-between playing the Android Angry Birds beta. You can tell you're a nerd when...

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

I got auto accepted too.
Can't wait to check out all the new stuff!

@jtsuth
System Settings > System Info

@SSUK

...when every piece of software you run DOESN'T EVEN EXIST YET!

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze

Indeed! I just got the same message! soo excited!

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze
None of us have been accepted to receive the update yet, we have just been accepted into the BETA PROCESS. so we still need to wait for an email to get the dashboard update so you may not get selected

I don't know if I wanna give up party and private chat for any of that.

@Jawmuncher

Exactly my thought.

@Jawmuncher

Well it will only be for like a week or so. I doubt people would want to be without party chat for a long time. If they did, they'd own a PS3

OOOOOHHHHHH SNAAAAP!!!!!

@Prboi

I laughed:D

@Prboi I have to be one of the only people that doesnt care about that too much....usually....but since I am playing with a group of friends now I actually have started to enjoy it...tho we are always playing the same game....

@Jawmuncher
pssh..
Whatever, just do it the old fashion way and get a 8-way phone call going

They had me until voice chat incompatibility, as party chat is one of the first things i start up when i jump on Live.

@ccrosby Just send the link to your friends then..

@ShadowMonkey987 I wouldn't really want to run the risk of getting in and having some of them not- too much of a gamble. I can wait til all of you fine folks give it the ol college try and it gets its massive roll out whenever it may be.

@ccrosby

So true that and cablevision not supporting Espn 3 are keeping me from signing up

I just had to jump on Xbox and drum up some people to get on board, got invited into a party and played Reach, completely forgetting about what I came on for.

Dammit.

@UnKool

You don't have to have an ISP that supports it.
You just wont be able to use the feature.

would i have to sign up to get these new features if i already have the new dasboard update and kinect

@knight5ofgod
nope.

No one seems to want to play Reach with me anyway... maybe I'll sign up.

@D3m0sthenes

If you guys want add me on XBL, my name is my gamertag.

Let's test out the voice stuff.

@D3m0sthenes

Didn't realize we had to wait. You can still add me if you wish haha.

I was all about it until I saw that I can't use party chat. I can wait a bit.

@Revving Injuns
I promise there were no other mentions of party chat when I first read and replied. Sorry I was so slow!

@Revving Injuns
...No skin off my back...

signed up although the chat not functioning will be wack

@PedoJokerBear It works with others in the beta though so if most of your friends have this then your alright to sign up like me.. :D

Will I be able to use Xbox Live? I'm planning to take advantage of that 12 month Gold offer for £30 soon and I'd be gutted if I won't be able to use a month of it. 'Change' is always good.

I just signed up and got accepted this is the second beta type thing I have gotten from Microsoft. The first being the Rewards program they had going for the better part of the last year where you get MS Points for doing different things or signing up for Netflix and stuff. It's nice to know that there are betas that don't take knowing someone who knows someone who has a key that you could buy to get in (Points to Blizzard).

I don't want this new dashboard. Can I keep my rounded corners, my gradients, and the ability to see more than 3 things on the screen at once?

@fohf
You can keep it at the expense of using LIVE.

A legitimate excuse to turn down party invites and chats? I'm all over it! Applied and auto accepted, can't wait to check out ESPN3 on a Saturday afternoon.

If you're stuck at work or school and don't have access to your Xbox you can still get the numbers you need. The Serial Number is available by going to the support page and choosing repair console. You don't have to go through with the request, but if your console is registered it will display the serial number on that page.

The Console ID is available by going to the license transfer tool. Just google for something like "Xbox license transfer tool" without the quotes and you'll find it. It will show you the Console IDs you've downloaded content to.

@louiedog
The only (potential) caveat being "Your ISP must support ESPN 3"
During the very short survey they never asked me who my ISP was so i'm guessing they use your IP or whatever to figure it out, if your company uses a different ISP than you use at home you could be denied. Of course I have NO IDEA if this is the case, just a heads up.

@kazD The reason for that is that ESPN has partnered with big ISPs. What's on the xbox is the same as what's available at espn3.com. You can only use that website with certain ISPs, too. I think it's just fine print and shouldn't effect your signing up for this, the same way not having a Netflix account has no effect on it. I could be wrong, that's just what I've gathered.

@louiedog
CAG? ;)

@wunwunx Yup. :)

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Xbox Live Update Preview Program now accepting sign-ups [updated]

Reader Comments (74)

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:27PM Steelyuhas said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:33PM thisredengine said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:57PM PedoJokerBear said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:29PM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:36PM wunwunx said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:37PM GoldandFinal said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:45PM swooded said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:49PM Prboi said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:49PM The Tim said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 3:00PM Bubbameister33 said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 3:12PM FlareSama said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 3:17PM jtsuth said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 3:23PM SSUK said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 3:51PM Zacxx201 said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 4:25PM BlackedOut said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 5:20PM postpwn said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 6:40PM Cheetoblue said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2010 1:46AM Dibils said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:29PM Jawmuncher said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:34PM jaydark123 said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:57PM Prboi said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 3:50PM The MARIO said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 3:52PM Chris DPSN AggieCEO XBLThe Aggi said

Posted: Sep 23rd 2010 12:45AM Brodo said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:31PM ccrosby said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:41PM ShadowMonkey987 said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:44PM ccrosby said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:55PM UnKool said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 4:24PM BlackedOut said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 9:11PM This Little Man Says His Name Is said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:32PM knight5ofgod said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 6:13PM daytripper said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:32PM D3m0sthenes said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:52PM D3m0sthenes said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 3:00PM D3m0sthenes said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:33PM Revving Injuns said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:34PM Revving Injuns said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:37PM wunwunx said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:36PM PedoJokerBear said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:42PM ShadowMonkey987 said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:38PM rjbr2000 said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:40PM Bartboy said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:41PM fohf said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 6:11PM daytripper said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:42PM kazD said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:42PM louiedog said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:48PM kazD said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:51PM louiedog said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:52PM wunwunx said

Posted: Sep 22nd 2010 2:54PM louiedog said

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