14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is getting ready to deploy the brand new dashboard update for the Xbox 360 console, bringing with it a whole new interface, inspired from its Windows Phone 7 handsets, as well as plenty of new features, like TV on Demand or Bing voice search, through the Kinect sensor. In order to properly mark this new Xbox experience, Microsoft has released an open letter to fans, highlighting the major improvements and once again emphasizing that it wants to make the Xbox 360 the core entertainment provider in their households.
The letter, written by Microsoft’s corporate vice president of Xbox Live, Marc Whitten, also includes some boasts some of the major improvements added by Microsoft, like the partnership with 40 TV content providers from all around the world for the TV on Demand feature.
“Dear Xbox LIVE Members,today, we’re launching a new Xbox 360 experience that connects you with your favorite entertainment and games like never before and makes finding and enjoying entertainment as simple as it should be.”
“It’s a vision we shared at E3 and I’d like to thank you for all of your valuable feedback along this incredible ride and share a little more about what we have in store this holiday – from Beacons, cloud storage and Facebook sharing, to our latest entertainment offerings.”
The company already highlighted its TV content partners, which include plenty from the U.S. but also ones from the UK, like the BBC, and from other countries all over the world.
The redesigned interface makes it much easier to navigate, whether you use a regular controller or a Kinect, and you can even use voice commands or the new voice search option, powered by Microsoft’s Bing engine.
“While we’re proud of our capability to connect you remotely to the global community of more than 35 million Xbox LIVE members, sometimes there’s nothing like being with your friends and family. And so we’ve added cloud storage so you can access game saves and your LIVE profile, including achievements, from your friends’ consoles as well.”
Microsoft also pledges to continue offering even more entertainment options for its Xbox 360, so expect other big features to appear in 2012. Until then, the new dashboard update will go live sometime today, December 6.
The update has been delayed by Microsoft. When the update is released, it will be available for download from Softpedia, either to put on an USB stick and then plug that into the console, or burn on a CD or DVD and then play it on the device.