Xbox Dashboard beta rolls out, isn't that exciting yet

by JC Fletcher on Apr 7th 2011 12:41AM

We're receiving reports that Microsoft is updating opted-in Xboxes with the new Dashboard preview ... and it doesn't do much at the moment. The most noticeable addition is a new "Xbox Beta" channel, containing three new titles: "Xbox Beta Program - Preview LIVE Update," which isn't clickable, "New Features" and "Help and Tips."

The "New Features" tab, according to tipsters, notes that test subjects will be divided into two groups: those who receive the update online (and will receive their free Halo: Reach later), and those who will receive the update via disc. Microsoft also told users that it is "finalizing the logistics to distribute the discs now."

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Tags: beta, dashboard-update, dashboard-update-spring-2011, halo-reach, microsoft, xbox

Reader Comments (77)

Man I love 360 Betas. I get in every time.

@jackruby1123

This is the first one I got denied. I wonder... is it because I work at a MS devision?

Nah...

@jackruby1123 First time I got in. Good one to be in too, considering the free game!

@jackruby1123 I've gotten into every beta except this one. I'm a little pissed. More so because of the free game than anything else. Updating your Xbox during beta testing is not for impatient. I didn't think I would join another because updating every other day was sort of annoying. The last one was alright though; updated voice chat clarity ftw.

@jackruby1123 ME TOO!

@Antilight
First time I haven't been able to participate either, I live outside the US.

@jackruby1123
Same Here... only problem is that I can't take my profile with me... It will try to update

@jackruby1123

I was worried I wouldn't get in this time since I got a slim 360 between the last beta & this one & my old 360 was the one that usually gets the update. But I got in :)

@Antilight

i doubt you do work at a Msoft dEvision....

I wonder how long it'll take to get the disc...

@NinjaJesus That's what I was wondering.

I love free stuff.

@NinjaJesus All free stuff from Microsoft takes 8 to 10 weeks to arrive, code or disc, Im still waiting for 2 free arcade games I got when upgraded to gold, is been 2 months and still nothing

@Vidaluko

I highly doubt it'll take that long. The beta will most likely be over by then.

@Vidaluko

Been waiting for those too. Nice to see I'm not the only one MS is screwing over...

That said, I'm happy to be in the Beta, and it's free stuff, so I can't really complain that much.

Wasn't there an NDA for this? I signed up for the last one and they made me sign an NDA that said I wasn't allowed to share things like this with people especially the media.

SSSShhhh!!

@Gposh

There is, and the NDA is very light hearted but one specific that was mentioned is you ARE NOT allowed to share any information regarding the beta on media outlets, the specifically note blogs.

@Gposh

yes, and somebody broke it. this happens every time a company fields something to thousands of users. not a big deal.

@Gposh Yeah what pisses me off is not people breaking the NDA but JOYSTIQ KNOWING There is an NDA and STILL Reporting on it. Engadget is such a whore for news sometimes

@Aeikozz Why wouldn't they report on it? They're a website for news. This is news. They're not trying to make Microsoft happy, they're trying to report news.

@Gposh

There was, I signed it as well. I hope whoevers breaking the NDA gets caught.

@Knight Marquise

Why do you care if someone breaks the NDA?

@SisypheanLife
(like the name, sometimes feel I can't even get my boulder moving)

Maybe they care in the same way that I care if someone steals from (insert retailer here); since retail theft ultimate affects us all. I know there is a big difference between theft and breaking a NDA, but just as theft can lead to higher prices, isn't it possible that protected information leaks could lead to a cessation of public beta's? I am in the preview update, but that is as much information as I am willing to give. However, I would love to talk about the beta openly, but I gave my word that I wouldn't in exchange for applying to participate. I was raised to believe a :"man is only as good as his word", but apparently other people were not.

My 360 is updating right now. I have yet to play Halo Reach at all, what a nice treat this'll be (assuming this new format works).

if you go here http://connect.microsoft.com/?lc=1033 and sign in you can tell if you've been picked and wich of the 2 groups you are in

@voltfan72

Awesome, thanks! Xbox LIVE audience for me.

@voltfan72 I don't see anything.. this is my screen cap:
http://i55.tinypic.com/wu4foh.jpg :\

@DigitalImpulse See where it says "Go directly to a Product Home Page".

Click that and look for Xbox LIVE Update.

@DigitalImpulse
Go to your directory and look for the Xbox Live Update item. Click on "Preview Update" under the "Program" column (DO NOT CLICK THE "Quit" BUTTON BECAUSE IT WILL ASK IF YOU WANT TO QUIT. YOU CLEARLY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT).

@DigitalImpulse Click on either of the two 'products accepting...' browse links at top right and xbox live dash should be listed under one of them.

@voltfan72
Thanks a ton! I was just trying to figure out if I was in or not. Looks like I am!!!
Although, nothing on my xbox yet. I wonder where the reports this article is talking about came from. Oh well, hopefully something develops soon.

@voltfan72

Thanks for the link! I made it into the DISC group. I guess I need to keep an eye on my mailbox for something other than bills now :)

@voltfan72
thanks for the help!

I'm part of the disc update group! Whoo! Does this mean I can go sell my Halo Reach when I get this new one?

@Theneverendingsoda

Grats! It's an amazing game.

@Theneverendingsoda =D I'm in and I've never played a Halo game mostly because I play on the ps3 more....and when I was a kid my mom thought that the blood on the cover of Halo made it inappropriate for a Christian house hold..

Same here man. Same here.

I dont even have an Xbox and im excited for this new update.

Im In, Sweet just finished downloading the update.

I was talking about the Reach game

@Vidaluko

lol, I know what you' were talking about. The copy of Reach is apart of the beta...it's not just a free game. So, obviously it would have to arrive sometime before the beta ends.

I got in and I'm lucky too, the copy of Reach I already have is somehow starting to crack in the middle even though I take good care of it.

@AbsoluteZero Same here. After I noticed a crack in the hub of my Reach disc, I finally got a CD binder to store all my discs, so there's no stress on the hubs anymore; but I've been living in fear that the little crack would turn into a shattering rain of shiny plastic bits one of these days. Looking forward to the "free replacement". :)

This is only the second disc to do this to me (I once pulled my Left 4 Dead 2 disc out of the tray to see multiple cracks and a small triangle chunk missing -- probably tried to commit suicide after a rather abysmal showing in online play), but I hope with storing everything in a binder, it'll be the last. Unless it truly is the 360 and not the cases that are stressing out the discs' hubs, in which case I'm screwed.

i got in. niceee

I wanna be in the beta that gets rid of this stupid avatar.

@The Wicker Man
I'm not the only one who hates the avatars?
It'd be a cool optional feature... but why MANDATORY?

@Anticrawl They didn't, the users on Joystiq did.

I downloaded the update.

@Virus one I just tried to sign up, and I can't. I don't get it.

@xFSUxBatman You were too late.

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Xbox Dashboard beta rolls out, isn't that exciting yet

Reader Comments (77)

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 12:47AM jackruby1123 said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 12:57AM Antilight said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 4:44AM Mics said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 6:05AM dragunrising said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 7:12AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 7:48AM SmokemeaKipper said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 9:42AM Apex Omega said

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Posted: Apr 7th 2011 12:48AM NinjaJesus said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 12:59AM Evin said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 1:29AM Vidaluko said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 1:33AM NinjaJesus said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 9:03AM bigwhiteyeti said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 12:48AM Gposh said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 1:17AM GordoJones88 said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 1:25AM Anticrawl said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 3:04AM maveric101 said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 6:54AM Aeikozz said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 8:28AM MagikOvenMit said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 9:41AM Knight Marquise said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 11:16AM SisypheanLife said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 3:50PM RedgeHammer said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 1:00AM Ovy said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 1:00AM voltfan72 said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 1:05AM NinjaJesus said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 1:14AM DigitalImpulse said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 1:25AM Evin said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 1:28AM PointlessPuppies said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 1:30AM Brando Calrissian said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 4:16AM Giroro said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 9:38AM The Tim said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 5:42PM Ecko50100 said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 1:01AM Schlecht said

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Posted: Apr 7th 2011 1:07AM Frank the tank said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 9:00AM Will96 said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 1:09AM MiguelAMX said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 1:29AM TARHEEL77 said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 2:02AM Vidaluko said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 11:38AM NinjaJesus said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 1:34AM AbsoluteZero said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 2:25AM CyberKnight said

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Posted: Apr 7th 2011 2:16AM The Wicker Man said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 10:56PM Peffse said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 2:19AM Dam0wned said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 2:42AM Virus one said

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