14 DAY TRIAL // As weird as it may sound, Microsoft's loss of the Xbox 360 exclusivity of console Netflix streaming came in the nick of time. Last week, Sony also implemented this feature for its PlayStation 3, but it did so in a time window that offered Microsoft the perfect opportunity to strike back. Microsoft has a thing for the month of November, so it tends to make all new releases during this period. As such, the company took advantage of the situation, and launched a counterattack by providing some brand-new application support for the Xbox Live.
Starting November 17, Xbox 360 users will have access to Twitter, Facebook, Last.fm, and Zune on-demand HD video support. First announced at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2009 press conference, the Xbox 360 Twitter will allow gamers to post tweets outside of the actual titles. They will also be able to sync their gamertags with their Facebook accounts, sharing photos or in-game shots. The Xbox Live dashboard will also allow them to check up on any updates concerning their online friends.
In the entrainment department, Last.fm will provide music streaming in a fashion similar to that of the Netflix application, displaying a dedicated menu window on the console's dashboard. Also, with the help of Zune, the Xbox Live users will be able to purchase or rent HD video in 1080p and 5.1 surround sound, with "no waiting for downloads or buffering," according to Microsoft. Its "News and More" application will also become available on the console's dashboard, and will feature pieces of news taken from The New Yorker and MSNBC, but also comic strips like Dilbert.
All these features won't be available to everyone, and they won't be available for free. Facebook, Twitter, and Last.fm will be exclusive to Xbox Live Gold members, but Silver subscribers will be able to get a sneak peek at them during a free Xbox Live Gold weekend. Starting November 20, 9 a.m. Pacific time and ending November 9, 23 a.m. Pacific time, Silver Xbox Livers will be able to log on to their account and see just what they missed when they opted to dodge the Gold membership.