[UPDATE]: Microsoft says promised Metro-styled console update will begin rolling out to first customers within hours.
Microsoft announced late last month that the new Xbox 360 dashboard would be hitting consumer consoles on December 6. A follow-up yesterday revealed the release schedule of various content partners' content, but the scheduled rollout has hit a snag.
Although the update has not yet missed its promised release date, it's going up later than Microsoft had wanted, according to various Twitter updates from Xbox Live director of programming Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb.
In his first update this morning, Nelson said, "FYI: The timing for Xbox 360 dashboard update has been slightly delayed. I’ll have a status update later today." Since then, the face of Xbox Live has provided a few more updates thanking people for their patience, and saying he will have more information this afternoon.
Inspired by Microsoft's "Metro" design used in Windows Phone 7 and the upcoming Windows 8, the new Xbox 360 dashboard includes a range of new features, starting with expanded support for navigation using voice and gesture controls with the Kinect camera. On top of that, the update introduces the new beacon system to facilitate finding friends for gameplay sessions, deeper Facebook integration, and cloud storage for game saves.
[UPDATE] This afternoon, Hryb issued another update saying the new dashboard will start hitting the first set of Xbox Live members within a few hours. He also again apologized for the delay.
My opinion....it sucks. Didn't Zune die like, oh I don't know, one hundred years ago or something? Can I get it off my dashboard now so that every time I want to watch a game video I don't have to access this useless service? anybody? anybody? Microbrains can you hear me?
It's just plain awful. The worst backwards step taken on the Xbox. It's a shame to see MS flogging a dead horse with the Metro UI and forcing into contexts that don't make sense like the XBox. Menus are inconsistent, navigation is terrible guesswork with no sense to the order. Just about every time I go to look for something I have to think hard then hunt for it. Each main screen is now restricted in screen space(instead of being able to flow off to the side like with previous dashboards). My main gripe is how the main content of each screen is mostly adverts and promotions. If I am not interested in these (I mostly am not) then the stuff I am interested in gets about 10% screen space and usually requires drilling down through an extra step via a boring green box. Totally uninspiring. It gets worse in some places. Like how on the Game marketplace the 'new releases' section takes me to a screen of boxshots but does not even say what the new release is for each one. Is it a demo, or a video, who knows? selecting the item takes you to the game page but still doesn't tell you what the new release is. I could go on but life is too short. The new dashboard is a complete nightmare and now I read that the guy in charge is designing the new XBox. Nooooo, he should be sacked for this mess.
Horrible is a good word for this update. It's slow clunky and confusing. Hard to find content, and why call them apps? Oh yeah its craptacular Windows Phone 7 on my Xbox. Like I wanted that. Oh they didn't ask and conviently now I can't sue....
This horrible new UI is yet another reason never to buy another M$ console ever, ever again. They've done nothing but take advantage of consumers from day one, and this update put the final nail in the one minor thing they had somewhat right, namely the UI...
I was a beta tester for the dashboard update and cannot stand it. It makes finding add-on content, new arcade games and new demos buried 3 menus in. But yet they put the "only on Xbox" square right on the front page and it only shows the same 8 360 exclusives. That shouldn't even be there. Plus, the whole thing wastes so much screen real estate because everything is crammed in the middle. A TV screen IS NOT a smart phone.... people don't want the same UI that's in Windows Phone 7 on their TV scree!!!
I'm a bit ambivalent but overall not a fan of the new interface. I have a lot of games from XBLA and browsing them in the new interface is a pain. scrolling through them normally is too slow and there are so few on screen that fast scrolling they whiz by too fast to track position. I really wish I could set it to be a list. Also the default ordering used to be most recent which was a sensible way of putting what you most likely want near the start. Of course I can still get that from "Quickplay" from the guide but when the best way to use a shiny new interface feature is bypass it then some thing has gone wrong. A major part of the problem with the game browser is that it doesn't put enough information on screen at once. On the other hand the new top level catagory screens do have more information about what they contain on screen, with the previous dash you kind of had to know what was where. There are some touches I appreciate but the part of the dash I use most often is less usable. Cloud saves are awesome though.
I love the new dashboard and I got the update last night and after it was updated I had trouble logging on to live, but it eventually worked fine.
Got the new update. Big ads in the center, little ads on the right. Oh, there's my game, in a tiny window on the left!
@Phazevariance; Any anti-piracy measures added will be in vain, as the people working on the hacked firmware, have stated they won't be publishing it until after the update goes live, as they believe they have an ace in the hole to combat the security changes that the update does introduce. I for one do not like the new dash, its cluttered, my netflix doesn't run as well as it used to, and now I can't even watch terrible movies in a party anymore, which led to some entertaining evenings with my friends. It seems like they put in more advertising too, in all those little squares surrounding the main features, I pay for my service, I expect there not to be any ads, or at least not on every d@mn page. Take out the ads and fix the netflix and I ain't got any problem. Oh, the cloud feature is nice though, I'd be willing to pay a little extra for more storage.
The cloud feature will be nice. Take all your saved games and store it in the cloud storage area. If your save get corrupted you always have a backup to pull it from. I don't know what new apps it's getting. I'll check it out this weekend. I was on yesterday morning and didn't receive any update. It must have happened late last night or something.
@slonekb05 They want to use it because it's consistent with their other products as they are trying to develop a completely integrated platform. As for the ads... hey that's just more money for Microsoft.
This dashboard blows, more ad's , overall its smaller. dont see the thinking behind this. They should have just added the clouds saves and new app's .
For some reason it reminds me of the old bladed panel display that was introduced with the 360. Really I'm just glad it's responsive and not lagging anymore.
Since getting the update, it wont let me connect to Live... Which is funny because i had to be connected to get it in the first place. :?
Downloaded the update this morning and I have to say I'm surprised how good it is. The layout seems more intuitive than the last dashboard. I use a controller to navigate and everything moves very quickly.
LOL anyone that doesn't like the new update is probably a PS3 fanboy. New layout is great, smooth and fast. New features are amazing like Bing voice search. New partners are great and will be rolling out as they finish the apps for them. Stop whining or just leave and play your PS3
Can not understand why there are so many mixed comments on the new dashboard update. Downloaded it today on my 360 slim and had no problems at all. New look is gamer friendly and easy to navigate. Nothing negative about it I can do what I did before, just easier and in one place.
@RBwd : Netflix has been available on XB360 for well over a year already and MS even said that any partners currently available would not be lost, so if their NetFlix is gone and they had it before, it's an issue. The list is just of the partners for the XB360, not just the new ones.
Is this one of the reasons why people have to pay for XBL? I'm glad I'm not renewing.
I think "Pins and needles" alludes to someone who is too sensitive to a subject or their own person. Also their "Metro" design looks a few years old, I had hoped we were all getting past that soft lower-case lettering aesthetic.
Maybe they're doing what Sony never seem to do when they update the operating system... actually checking it works first and doesn't brick the console.
How long does the update take? I believe mine got stuck. I started the update at 6:35 AM this morning and then decided to take a shower. When I came back at 6:55 AM I noticed that there was no video output, the controller ring light was off, and the controller off. I tried turning on the controller, but the status lights just blinked and no control ring status light lite on the Xbox. I am now going to wait another 30 minutes before forcing a reboot. Anyone else experience these symptons?
@yuffiestrife yeah i got the update it's not that bad bit hard to find stuff though but i suppose it will be easier when i get used to it
And ofcourse Europe doesn't get bloody Youtube for the Xbox! Thanks Microsoft for screwing us again.
got it. looooooove it. @spartan_418 i have friends in the uk, never used party streaming, just something missing from the instant queue menu i wont notice. stop griping. it is something many folks hardly if ever used
@paranormalnut I don't like being told that I am signing my rights away, even though I know that it wouldn't hold up in court. At least Sony let you opt out.
Updated at 1am today, everything went fine. The GUI does appear to be more user friendly. By that I mean access to content which is easy to get to. It looks to me like it is a step in the right direction. The only thing missing is Blueray, but for that we have to wait for Xbox 720.
@deathstream good luck with that. It's a fact that they can not even hold you to it. You have the right to sue, they just put it in there so you think you can't.
@venomdeo Give it time. One of our 360's got the update and the other did not. It was hard to sign in on the one that was updated.
@tachsniper You sir are funny lol. Anyway I restarted my modem router and d-link and still nothing.I even just connected my 360 right to the modem and still nothing.So sniper some of us due what can and things still don't work.My PS3 and PC connect just fine it is live not us guy.
Updated perfectly! I love the new way your arcade games are displayed, with the full cover instead of just the icon. All in all it's just a better looking interface, and to be able to make my xbox do everything with my voice is "super awesome" (Can't swear lol)
This thing froze up my xbox and its kinda slow at times. Hmmmm but i still kinda like it. Idk what to think about it yet
got update but can't connect to xbox live. looks better the other way but the new look looks less cluttered.
@Henninger, Same problem here. Can't connect to Live but did successfully get the update (after a whole bunch of failures). I wouldn't really worry about it unless it's still that way tomorrow.
Can't even connect to live at all, no option of an update. Guess it'll be up tomorrow? Wish they'd just leave it alone
Team leader overseeing most recent Xbox 360 dashboard update takes over design position as work moves to next console.
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