Hands-on with the August 11 Xbox 360 Dashboard Update

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Downloadable Content, Features, Microsoft, Reviews, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Marketplace

This morning, Microsoft hooked us up with an early preview of the next Xbox 360 Dashboard Update. We were able to get a look at the new Netflix features (which no longer require a PC,) the Avatar Marketplace, Game Ratings, Games on Demand, and more. While more coveted features like Twitter, Facebook, Last.fm, and Zune Marketplace won’t be landing until the fall, the update is still a solid one. Here are our thoughts on the next update, which lands on your Xbox 360 on August 11 (or sooner if you apply for early access!)

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Gallery: Hands-on with the August 11 Xbox 360 Dashboard Update

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Xbox 360 Fall 2009 Update Preview

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Downloadable Content, Features, Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Live Marketplace

Lucky us, we are getting early access to the Xbox 360 Fall 2009 Dashboard Update this coming Monday. We will bring you all our thoughts on everything we are able to try out. We have a list of stuff we will have access to on Monday, which you can see after the jump, but we were also able to put together a gallery of some of the things we will be playing with as well. You can find all those images over in our Xbox 360 Fall 2009 NXE Dashboard Update Preview Gallery.

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Gallery: Xbox 360 Fall 2009 Update Preview

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Microsoft Vine beta Social Software

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Microsoft, Science, Software

Microsoft Vine was conceived during Hurricane Katrina as a means of helping people cope both before and after the disaster. Now the beta software can be used as a social tool. Enter your address on the Dashboard and you get the location on a map as well as news and safety information. Invite others to join you and arrange them in groups. Receive any alerts from email, SMS or the Vine client. Ask for an invitation to help test drive the beta version with the promo code 09AAA to speed up the process.

Read More | Microsoft

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First Look: New Xbox Experience setup gallery

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Features, Microsoft, Software, Video Games

So, you know that nifty New Xbox Experience you’ve been hearing about all over the place? Well, our pals up in Redmond gave us the opportunity to grab the dashboard a few weeks before it becomes publicly available on November 19th. We have a bunch of info coming your way in the coming days (and, please, feel free to leave any questions on the forum and we will answer them all - seriously, ask away!). In the meantime, though, we thought we would take you through the setup process. After downloading the update (which takes a good, I dunno, 10 seconds), your Xbox 360 will reboot, load the new firmware, and hit you with a high impact video before dumping you into the new dashboard. It really is all sorts of fancy. We’ve created a New Xbox Experience setup gallery with a bunch of pictures showing you the process of installing, setting up, creating your avatar, and browsing around the new interface. Go ahead and take a look, and don’t forget, leave your questions here.

Read More | New Xbox Experience Gallery

Gallery: First Look: New Xbox Experience setup gallery

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New Xbox Experience coming in November?

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Microsoft, Rumors, Xbox 360

Well, this is an odd piece of news. Apparently, one eagle-eyed gamer realized that release details of the New Xbox Experience dashboard update were staring him right in the face, by way of an advertisement in the current dashboard. As you can see in the image above, in the ad for Rock Band 2, you see the phrase “Check out the New Xbox Experience coming in November!” Okay, cool, but can we view this as accurate? Microsoft always has the last say on when their dashboard updates hit, but they also have final say on how advertising appears within the Xbox ecosystem. Thoughts?

Read More | Joystiq

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Hyundai to Feature Dual In-Dash Monitor

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Corporate News, GPS, Movies, Music, Transportation

It isn’t enough that you are fighting with traffic, your cell phone, and GPS while driving, not to mention the dreaded back seat driver hammering in your ear. Hyundai will soon be releasing an in-dash dual monitor into the company’s Grandeur. So while you watch the road, the map, and listen to your missed messages, you can also be distracted by your passenger watching a DVD. We think we would rather sit that one out, thank you very much.

Read More | Aving

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Leopard 10.5.2 update now available

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Apple, PC / Laptop, Software

Time to fire up Software Update yet again, as the Leopard 10.5.2 update has just been released. We knew this one was meant to fix a ton of stuff under the hood of the OS, and the file size we are seeing is pretty much in line with that. A whopping 341 MB download. 10.5.2 includes fixes for Active Directory, Airport, Back to my Mac, Dashboard, Dock, Desktop, iCal, iChat, iSync, Finder, Mail, Networking, Parental Controls, Preview, Printing, RAW Image support, Safari, Login and Setup Assistant, System, Time Machine, as well as a few other areas. We told you it was big. Hit the Read link to get the full scoop, as this download might take you a few minutes…

Read More | Mac OS X 10.5.2 Update Notes

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Buddy Hangs On

Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Cell Phones, Design, Handhelds, Misc. Tech, Portable Audio / Video

Now that you have a whole slew of new gadgets to play with, you are going to need something to hold them on your desk or in your car besides your pockets. The Bendable Buddy can hold cell phones, MP3 players, mini-cams, even glasses and cans. Peel and stick tape allows it to stick to any surface that may not be totally stable, such as a dashboard. The Buddy is only $4.98 and the company offers discounts if you want to buy some for the entire office.

Read More | Stocking Stufferz

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Xbox 360 Dashboard Update Video Leaked

Posted by Michael Cardiff Categories: Release Dates, Rumors, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, Xbox Live Arcade, Xbox Live Marketplace

Our papa-site Gear Live pointed out this video from MyGamerCard.net that was supposedly leaked from Gamespot.com. This one is looking real legit, and boasts some exciting features:

 
* Ability to add up to 600 Windows Live Messenger contacts to your Friends List.
* Text chat with up to 6 Live Messenger contacts at once during games or movies.
* The Marketplace will be getting its own Dashboard Blade.
* The Marketplace will be skinned independently of the Dashboard, for special events.
* The Marketplace will be getting a new, easier-to-navigate remake.
* Achievement Pop-ups will now display how many points and which Achievement you have gained.
* Low-power downloading (fans off) and auto-off after finishing queued downloads.
* View partially downloaded video files.

Much like Gear Live, we’re still wondering “where the browser at?”, but it’s looking like Microsoft is still doing a great job of beefing up their already impressive online features.

Read More | Gear Live

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Xbox 360 Spring 2007 Dashboard Update Video

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Microsoft, Rumors, Software, Video Games

If this one is a fake, it’s a darn good one. The guys over at MyGamerCard.net are saying this was leaked on Gamespot, and subsequently pulled, but not before it was downloaded and placed on YouTube for our benefit. What you will find above is a video walkthrough of the Xbox 360 Spring 2007 Dashboard update. Claiming that it will be released on May 7, 2007, it boast quite a few new features, including:

• Ability to add up to 600 Windows Live Messenger contacts to your Friends List.
• Text chat with up to 6 Live Messenger contacts at once during games or movies.
• The Marketplace will be getting its own Dashboard Blade.
• The Marketplace will be skinned independently of the Dashboard, for special events.
• The Marketplace will be getting a new, easier-to-navigate remake.
• Achievement Pop-ups will now display how many points and which Achievement you have gained.
• Low-power downloading (fans off) and auto-off after finishing queued downloads.
• View partially downloaded video files.

What we like most? The fact that you can start watching movies files before they finish downloading, along with the fact that when you earn an acheivment, you get the details in the pop-up notification instead of having to hit the guide button for the full scoop. Everything else seems to be fluff for the most part, unles you have tons of Windows Live contacts. Our main question? Where the hell is Internet Explorer?

Let us know what you think of the video in the comments.

Read More | MyGamerCard.net

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