Filed under: Gaming

You already know the Xbox 360 is getting new community features, a revamped dashboard, Avatars, and of course Netflix video — all things we’ve been excited about since we saw them in action at E3 this year. There hasn’t been much to go on since then, but we recently came across some short videos exhibiting Parties (which let users socialize and make plans while engaging in separate games and activities) and Avatar customization options; hopefully they’ll hold you over until the features go live November 19th. We won’t be held responsible for the brain deterioration caused by the vacuous marketing-speak accompanying the moving images, however. “It is where you get to enjoy entertainment — that’s the vision.” Yes, it is.

New Xbox Experience videos let you vicariously play dress up originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Podcasts

We’re back, just as promised! This week, Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller, and Nilay Patel discuss the finer points of new ASUS laptops, Casio digicams, and a score of other compelling, enthralling, and generally fascinating items that will tickle your braincells and delight your many respectable senses. Sit back, relax, kick off your shoes, crack open a can of Dr. Terrific’s Party Juice, and enjoy the soothing sounds and delightful pseudo-sights of the Engadget Podcast.

Update: It looks like the Podcast is back up in iTunes! Thanks to everyone who pinged them, but you can call off the dogs — and a big thanks to Scott at Apple for making it happen!

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller, and Nilay Patel
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Professor Murder - Dutch Hex

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Filed under: Gaming

Been wondering when you were finally going to get your eyes on that fancy new Xbox 360 experience? Well the secret is out — come November 19th, your dashboard will never be the same. The good folks at Joystiq have delivered this wonderful news live-and-direct from the Tokyo Game Show, where they’re blogging the Microsoft press briefing while undoubtedly enjoying the finest cowboy rolls known to man and hob-nobbing with other glorious gamers. Feel free to check into their live coverage via the link below, and start prepping for serious avatar creation.

PS.- Check out our earlier gallery of the new dash here.

Read - New Xbox Experience coming Nov. 19
Read - Joystiq live from Microsoft’s TGS 2008 press conference

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Filed under: Gaming

The next Xbox 360 Dashboard update promises to be a big one, with a totally revised menu system, Netflix support, and Wii-like avatars, but so far Microsoft’s kept mum on when it’s coming — but we’d circle November on your calendars for now, since that’s what MS UK apparently told the crew at RPG-TV. It’s still not official official, but at least now you have something to look forward to in November besides awkwardly hanging out with people from high school over Thanksgiving.

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Filed under: Gaming

We’ve already seen walkthroughs of the new Xbox 360 Dashboard, but this is the first look we’ve had at a feature we’re sort of stoked on: the ability to install games to the internal hard drive from DVD. From the looks of things, it’s an extremely simple process to get the data moved over (despite the long waits for multiple GB files being copied), though it looks like you’ll still need the DVD on hand to actually play the game. Don’t believe a word we’re saying? Take a look at the video after the break and see for yourself!

[Via Xbox-Scene News]

Continue reading Xbox 360’s new Dashboard game install demoed on video

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Filed under: Gaming

Continue reading New Xbox 360 Dashboard update gets leaked, shown off

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Filed under: Gaming

US Xbox 360 got some huge news today in Microsoft’s new partnership with Netflix, but the Dashboard’s got us pretty damned excited, too. We got a chance to sit down with Microsoft, including Shane Kim, VP of Strategy and BizDev for Xbox. Here’s what you need to know:

Netflix

• For now, Netflix will only stream in about-SD resolution.
• As Netflix transitions to HD, Microsoft said it stands to reason that streaming HD to the Xbox should be feasible. (Read: eventual.)
• Netflix will be for Xbox Live Gold members only, so you’ll be paying that $50 per year if you want it.
• Netflix video sharing ONLY works with other Netflix / Xbox Live Gold subscribers. You can’t share video with a Silver member, or who doesn’t subscribe to Netflix.
• Microsoft doesn’t seem to have concerns about redundant content between Netflix and XBLM, or Netflix cannibalizing XBLM sales. Makes sense — if you had content available to rent or stream with Netflix, you probably weren’t going to pay to rent it on XBLM anyway.

Xbox Dashboard / Guide and Live

• “No functionality goes away” in new Dash — so you won’t be missing anything you have now.
• Microsoft’s Shane Kim says the company has “no plans to create a [Sony] ‘Home’-like environment. … It’s about delivering base functionality at the service level.” So it sounds like the avatars won’t have a Home-like virtual theme-park to run around in.
• No comment was made about Xbox price drops or how long it will take to get to the all-important $199 price point.
• There will be no increase in your number of Xbox Live friends. Psh.
• Don’t like the new Dashboard look or avatars? Sorry, sucka, it’s a mandatory update. Hey, at least it’s free.
• Microsoft didn’t have any comment on what it intends to do about the whole modded controller thing.
• The content Marketplace will be overhauled and revamped to ensure it’s easier to navigate and much more scalable for the huge amount of content it’s got.

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Filed under: Gaming

Microsoft sure had itself a doozy of a press conference this year, but there’s still more in store for Xbox 360 users than what was detailed during the keynote. First off, with the upcoming update, Microsoft will let users store and play back games from their hard drives. You’ll have to have the disc in your drive for piracy reasons, but it won’t be spinning during game play, which means quieter gaming and quicker load times (and more 60GB sales, we thinks, how convenient). Next up, Microsoft will let users make Xbox LIVE Marketplace purchases on the web, which are then automatically downloaded to your 360 for your enjoyment when you get home — or walk across the room. The old “blades” Dashboard interface will be moved to the new Xbox Guide, which will provide a quick way to access everything on your 360. Finally, the 360 will support the 16:10 aspect ratio over VGA or HDMI, and work in 1440 X 900 and 1680 X 1050 resolutions.

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Filed under: Gaming

digg_url = ‘http://digg.com/xbox/Microsoft_giving_the_Xbox_360_a_totally_new_dashboard_2′; Microsoft just announced at E3 that they’ll be giving the Xbox 360 a total software overhaul this fall. “When people turn on their Xbox 360s this fall, they’ll get an entirely new interface and Dashboard, an entirely new Xbox through the magic of software,” said John Schappert, head of Live services. New features will include those fancy new Mii-like 3D Avatars, a new emphasis on community with IM, video chat, and photo sharing, along with a brand new 3D slide interface for the main Dashboard screen. Avatars will be integrated into your GamerCard, but you can also create a “Live party” and invite your friends, with as many as 8 of your three dimensional homies hanging out at once — though you’re not hanging out in an actual 3D environment. You can use your avatar in certain Live Arcade games like Uno, and even in third party titles such as the upcoming Scene It? title. It sounds like Microsoft is taking cues from the Wii, Sony’s Home and Facebook all in one fell swoop, not bad at all.

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Filed under: Gaming

We’ve been hearing quite a bit about next week’s Fall Dashboard Update for the 360, but Microsoft’s finally ready to spill all of the beans. Obviously, the biggest update is the “Xbox Originals” downloadable Xbox games, but other improvements include enhanced online profiles, increased social networking, beefed up parental controls, improved menus, and our personal favorite: DivX support. As stated before, Xbox Original games, like Halo 1 and Fable, will be going for 1200 MS points (about $15), which is roughly comparable with your local game store’s bargain bin. Also on the fiscal side of things, certain titles on Xbox Live Arcade are getting permanent price drops, akin to “Platinum Hits” of retail titles. As for DivX, Microsoft was a little vague when speaking with Joystiq about it, but it sounds like XviD is in play as well, which is just double fun. It’s all hitting as a free download on December 4th, starting at 2AM PST.

[Via Joystiq]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Gaming

With under a fortnight to go until Microsoft looses the Xbox 360 Fall Dashboard update on us, we’re still learning even more about what it will entail. The latest tidbit touches on the oh-so-zany social networking craze, as gamers will soon be able to browse the friends lists of their pals in order to connect with old buddies or get all up in the digital grill of complete strangers. Starting on December 4th, the default setting will enable your Xbox Live friends to browse your list at will, and if that just doesn’t set well with your conscience, you can hit the read link for instructions on how to spoil some fun prevent it.

[Image courtesy of Xbox]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

It’s getting to be about time for an Xbox 360 Dashboard update, and Official Xbox Magazine is reporting that the Fall update, due December 4th, will come packing a huge new feature: downloadable Xbox games. The list includes some biggies: Fable, Burnout 3, Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, and, or course, the original Halo. Games are reported to cost 1200 points, (around $15), and the games list is expected to grow over time. Of course, Microsoft hasn’t confirmed any of this yet, but December is right around the corner — looks like we’ll find out soon enough.

[Via Joystiq]

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!

Filed under: Announcements

Engadget is no stranger to widgets, we’ve seen Dashboard and Konfabulator versions of our RSS feed in the past, but the latest in this illustrious line of widgetry is meant for searching the past instead of providing convenient updates to the present. That is to say, it’s an Engadget search widget, check it out. Thanks imacmatt09 for going to the trouble!

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Office Depot Featured Gadget: Xbox 360 Platinum System Packs the power to bring games to life!