Kinect is coming soon, and so the new Xbox Dashboard is going live (no pun intended) today. Featuring a cleaner, brighter aesthetic, the new interface is intended to make browsing with Kinect easier.
Those who were lucky enough to be accepted into the beta test of the new Dashboard have been enjoying the new features for a while now. Response to the beta was mixed at first, with testers being somewhat frustrated that they weren’t able to enjoy party chat with friends thanks to the differences in voice codecs used. But many have decided that, on reflection, the new interface is clearer and easier on the eye, and that it is an improvement over the once-controversial changes that the NXE brought.
The new interface is a less radical overhaul than when the original Dashboard became the NXE, but there are enough changes that users will need to take a little time to find their way around again.
The new features include access to ESPN on Xbox LIVE, the new Zune Music service, a search facility for Netflix, a Gamertag suggestion feature if the name you’re after is already taken as well as streamlined Marketplace and Achievement browsing experiences. Everyone will now have access to the improved voice chat codec, too, as well as an enhanced virtual keyboard which will hopefully make typing messages less cumbersome.
A full list of the new features can be found over on Major Nelson’s blog. One of the most-requested and predicted features – an expanded friends list – is yet to make an appearance, however. So those socialites in the community who have waiting lists to be LIVE friends will have to wait a while longer yet, it seems.
If the update doesn’t appear when switching on your Xbox today, don’t despair – it’s being gradually rolled out throughout the course of the day. And, contrary to some rumors, it’s not limited to the American region. All territories should be getting the update at some point today. Major Nelson encourages everyone to not keep signing in and out of LIVE, as it will not force the update, but it will force everyone on your friends list to mute their notifications as you sign in for the 357th time.
Tried out the update yet? Why not share some thoughts in the comments below?
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