14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has announced that the August firmware update for the Xbox One computer entertainment system is now live, available for everyone to download.
The August update was previously only available to those who opted in the Xbox One dashboard beta, the testing program for upcoming updates.
The changes in the August update are pretty sizable, including support for 3D Blu-Ray discs, as well as the ability to make remote purchases from Xbox.com, including via the SmartGlass companion app.
After downloading and installing the update, Xbox One owners will be able to purchase content while away from the console and have the device wake from standby to automatically start downloads, waiting for users to jump right into the action when getting back to the console.
The feature is especially useful when buying new games or when downloading large files, such as the recent case of Bungie's Destiny beta client, which clocked in at around 12 GB of data, removing the need to manually start downloads and then having to wait for them to complete.
In addition to this, the list of enhancements also includes some updates to the console's Activity Feed and Friend sections, allowing users to share, like, connect and view their friends' activity in a single place, in a much more streamlined manner.
Furthermore, the Xbox One August firmware update also includes a new low-battery notification, that will pop up on screen when your controller is close to running out of juice, preventing those unpleasant moments when you run out of battery power while in the midst of a deadly confrontation and have to scramble to plug the pad in.
The development team at Microsoft has also added a subtle vibration when holding the Xbox home button, to ensure that people get feedback and know that their input when interacting with a notification was successfully recorded.
Xbox One owners will also be able to disable notifications while enjoying video content, in order to make sure that they're not interrupting while watching videos.
The team behind the Xbox One home console has also announced that the system update for the month of September is available to download for those who are enrolled in the preview program.
Notable changes in the upcoming September update include an overhauled Party app, a better Media Player app that supports USB devices and snapping, streaming to the SmartGlass companion app, and some others.
In September, Microsoft is looking to release the Xbox One console in a number of 26 secondary markets, greatly expanding the reach of the console, currently launched in just 13 countries.
