Xbox 360: Tomorrow's Dashboard Update Relegates Games
"The Future of TV Begins Now on Xbox 360" yells the information
Microsoft has provided more detail on the 'New(er) Xbox Experience', which is due to come out all brash and entertainy in public tomorrow after a shy beta phase. The main point here is that the gaming side of the Xbox is being played down in favour of other entertainment offerings.
Microsoft itself heads up its announcement as follows:
"The Future of TV Begins Now on Xbox 360".
This is followed by:
"Kinect for Xbox 360 brings voice control to living room entertainment with update that launches December 6th".
Basically what we have here is a big 'up' for the Bing search engine, TV and Kinect's voice control methods laid out as follows:
"Tomorrow, the future of TV entertainment begins with the launch of an all-new Xbox 360 experience, including the first wave of custom voice controlled entertainment apps on our online service, Xbox LIVE. Xbox 360 is transforming how you enjoy TV entertainment, giving you the power to control all your favourite content - games, music, movies and sports as well as live and on-demand TV – using your voice.
"Thanks to the unique combination of Kinect for Xbox 360 and Bing Search, you say it, Xbox finds it. It’s that easy."
“A new era in entertainment begins where all your entertainment is together in one place—your games, movies, TV shows, music and sports,” said Don Mattrick, president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “With this update, Xbox 360 system owners will experience Kinect voice control integrated with Bing search, making your TV and entertainment experiences more social and personal than ever.”
Microsoft has even managed to get a research organisation on board with James McQuivey of Forrester Research quoted. Forrester is the kind of organisation that makes its cash by providing what must be considered to be objectivity based on factual analysis. Its paying clients can then use this research to convince their clients.
Mr McQuivey has produced a researched and objective blog post entitled objectively, Engaged TV: Xbox 360 Leads The Way To A New Video Product Experience" see it here.
He states, "This is now the benchmark against which all other living room initiatives should be compared,” before continuing:
“With more than 57 million people worldwide already sitting on a box that’s about to be upgraded for free, Microsoft has not only built the right experience, it has ensured that it will spread quickly and with devastating effect.”
Leaving objective reports behind us, in terms of actual offerings for the UK Xbox Live user:
"TV and movie fans can instantly stream live television via our current UK TV partner, Sky, as well as enjoy a variety of fantastic content from the likes of AlloCiné (Screenrush), blinkbox, Channel 4, Channel 5, Crackle, Dailymotion, LOVEFiLM, MSN Video, MUZU.TV, YouTube and Zune, as well as, in 2012, the BBC."
It's got to be said that if you're bored of gaming and want to watch some passive entertainment then that is a pretty good looking set of offerings. Bear in mind though that, "Xbox LIVE Gold membership and/or additional subscriptions/fees may be required. Kinect functionality available with select Xbox LIVE content and varies by feature and country."
You will, however, notice from the screenshot, the order in which Microsoft is prioritising its Xbox 360 offerings:
"Bing - Home - Social - TV - Video - Games - Music - Apps - Settings"
For a full list of features in the "NNXE" check this link.
Microsoft itself heads up its announcement as follows:
"The Future of TV Begins Now on Xbox 360".
This is followed by:
"Kinect for Xbox 360 brings voice control to living room entertainment with update that launches December 6th".
Basically what we have here is a big 'up' for the Bing search engine, TV and Kinect's voice control methods laid out as follows:
"Tomorrow, the future of TV entertainment begins with the launch of an all-new Xbox 360 experience, including the first wave of custom voice controlled entertainment apps on our online service, Xbox LIVE. Xbox 360 is transforming how you enjoy TV entertainment, giving you the power to control all your favourite content - games, music, movies and sports as well as live and on-demand TV – using your voice.
"Thanks to the unique combination of Kinect for Xbox 360 and Bing Search, you say it, Xbox finds it. It’s that easy."
“A new era in entertainment begins where all your entertainment is together in one place—your games, movies, TV shows, music and sports,” said Don Mattrick, president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “With this update, Xbox 360 system owners will experience Kinect voice control integrated with Bing search, making your TV and entertainment experiences more social and personal than ever.”
Microsoft has even managed to get a research organisation on board with James McQuivey of Forrester Research quoted. Forrester is the kind of organisation that makes its cash by providing what must be considered to be objectivity based on factual analysis. Its paying clients can then use this research to convince their clients.
Mr McQuivey has produced a researched and objective blog post entitled objectively, Engaged TV: Xbox 360 Leads The Way To A New Video Product Experience" see it here.
He states, "This is now the benchmark against which all other living room initiatives should be compared,” before continuing:
“With more than 57 million people worldwide already sitting on a box that’s about to be upgraded for free, Microsoft has not only built the right experience, it has ensured that it will spread quickly and with devastating effect.”
Leaving objective reports behind us, in terms of actual offerings for the UK Xbox Live user:
"TV and movie fans can instantly stream live television via our current UK TV partner, Sky, as well as enjoy a variety of fantastic content from the likes of AlloCiné (Screenrush), blinkbox, Channel 4, Channel 5, Crackle, Dailymotion, LOVEFiLM, MSN Video, MUZU.TV, YouTube and Zune, as well as, in 2012, the BBC."
It's got to be said that if you're bored of gaming and want to watch some passive entertainment then that is a pretty good looking set of offerings. Bear in mind though that, "Xbox LIVE Gold membership and/or additional subscriptions/fees may be required. Kinect functionality available with select Xbox LIVE content and varies by feature and country."
You will, however, notice from the screenshot, the order in which Microsoft is prioritising its Xbox 360 offerings:
"Bing - Home - Social - TV - Video - Games - Music - Apps - Settings"
For a full list of features in the "NNXE" check this link.
Companies:
Microsoft
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Comments
PaulRayment 5 Dec 2011 14:23
1/3
A bit missing from all this is that Bing doesn't work with all TV content which makes it like the Radio Times with pages missing.
If I say "X-Men" and Bing shows me the X-Men movies available to stream (and pay for) through Zune but misses that I can also stream (for free) the first X-Men movie on 4OD then that's pretty poor.
Still, it's better than it was, just not as good as it should be. Does anyone pay for a monthly Zune music membership? No? didn't think so.
Oh, and one thing I've been on about from the start...what about podcast downloads or even internet radio? Should be well easy but no, nothing.
If I say "X-Men" and Bing shows me the X-Men movies available to stream (and pay for) through Zune but misses that I can also stream (for free) the first X-Men movie on 4OD then that's pretty poor.
Still, it's better than it was, just not as good as it should be. Does anyone pay for a monthly Zune music membership? No? didn't think so.
Oh, and one thing I've been on about from the start...what about podcast downloads or even internet radio? Should be well easy but no, nothing.
yo mama 7 Dec 2011 20:56
2/3
@PaulRayment f**k yu
yo mama 7 Dec 2011 20:57
3/3
bitch nigga a muthu f**ka lick my balls :P