The yearly Fall dashboard update for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console is scheduled to roll out this fall. This year’s update, first announced at E3 2010, will feature UI tweaks, Kinect support, enhanced Netflix experience, improved Zune music, and an entertainment hub with ESPN Sports.
The update isn’t as significant as the overhaul of Fall 2008, but the changes are fairly sizable:
- Updated UI: The updated user-interface takes cues from Metro UI for Windows Phone 7 / Zune. Things are a whole lot flat now and you can see icons and fonts taken straight out of Metro. Customizing Avatars is also made easier with interface tweaks.
- Zune Music: Have you ever used Zune Software for your PC? Zune on Xbox 360 is now very similar to that, both in terms of features and looks. Smart DJ, Playlists and most of all Zune Pass are now available for use from your 360.
- Kinect Integration: Support for the motion-sensing doohickey will be included in the update. (releases on 4th November)
- All-new ESPN3: Engadget is touting this as the update’s biggest feature. With ESPN3, you can watch live sport events and their replays in HD. Xbox Live Gold is required to use ESPN.
- Netflix Updates: The first Netflix implementation (in ‘08) only allowed you to watch pre-selected films organized by category. You couldn’t search for films, which was a pretty big bummer for all Netflix fans. But with the new update, you can now search for flicks and watch them instantly (unless otherwise stated).
The new boot screen is uber-sexy. You can see it, along with all the other new features in the video embedded below.
The Fall 2010 Dashboard update will start rolling out sometime in October. However, if you’re in the preview program, you should have the update anytime now! [via Engadget]
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