Xbox 360's Dashboard Recieves a Full Makeover. +More

[Gikoku Harakami]

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During E3, Microsoft revealed a new Dashboard overhaul, with a flurry of new features. Plus with the introduction of Avatars (which could be compared to Nintendo's Miis).

The new dashboard is now more elegant, simpler, and more streamlined than the current. The look is very similar to Xbox 360's front page website Flash, but much more interactive.

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Once 360 owners turn on their consoles this Fall, they'll be greeted with a pop-up for a system update, the Update will upgrade their consoles to the new Xbox 360 Experience.

The avatars themselves will also be completely customizable from head to toe. With the inclusion of many XBLA games to feature your new Avatars in them. You'll also be able to watch movies with your friends on Xbox Live, share photos and view Slideshows with your XBL contact list.

But with the new dashboard "reboot", it raises the question of what happens to all the Dashboard Themes people paid for, are they still useable, or will we just have to throw them away?

[Zquad]

Wow, this is awesome sh*t!

[Gikoku Harakami]

Also, the Xbox 360 Guide has also gotten a makeover. When you press the Guide button, a mini mono-chromatic version of the old Dashboard Blades will pop-up on-screen, with everything you need from the dashboard in a simple little pop-up, and it looks pretty nice too.

[m800_runner]

indeed, they are putting the wii out of a job....hehe i am feeling really f..king evil today owns all

[Dark Drakan]

Good to see the dashboard getting a makeover, it was a good system but some parts were cluttered with content. Any updates and fixes are very welcomed by me.

[Tsuyu]

The matter of old themes is a serious one. I paid money for that stuff, I don't want ti rendered obsolete.

[Dark Drakan]

Originally Posted by Tsuyu

I wonder how it will work out with old themes. I paid money for that stuff, I don't want ti rendered obsolete.

Just a guess but i imagine all the old themes and gamerpics will be used for Tags and the blades if you wish. I dont think they would totally discard the old system and all its features.

[Gikoku Harakami]

Originally Posted by Dark Drakan

Just a guess but i imagine all the old themes and gamerpics will be used for Tags and the blades if you wish. I dont think they would totally discard the old system and all its features.

They're ditching the entire Dashboard system, but only for the main interface. The old dashboard system will remain, but it will become the new Xbox Guide, that'll pop-up in the middle of the screen at anytime you want. Everything that was originally on the dashboard, will be in the new Guide Pop-up (everything)... so, they might end up allowing you to keep your Themes, but only have them useable for the Xbox Guide.

[Dark Drakan]

Originally Posted by Gikoku

They're ditching the entire Dashboard system, but only for the main interface. The old dashboard system will remain, but it will become the new Xbox Guide, that'll pop-up in the middle of the screen at anytime you want. Everything that was originally on the dashboard, will be in the new Guide Pop-up (everything)... so, they might end up allowing you to keep your Themes, but only have them useable for the Xbox Guide.

Sounds perfectly fine to me, id be happy with that.

[Gikoku Harakami]

Major Nelson just confirmed in an audio podcast (on Xbox.com) yesterday morning, that the Avatars will be optional, and NOT a required feature when you update to the new dashboard. He also mentioned, that every single thing you can do now on the Blades Dashboard, can be done in the new Blades Guide in the New Xbox Experience. There won't be any ads at all in the Blades Guide, however he did say that ads will be on the Dashboard, but he didn't state where at (in the Marketplace, or on the Dashboard in general). The Group Chat feature will also be able to be triggered at any time, you don't need to start a game to use it. You can be on the dashboard, and immediately get into a group chat without a game.

As for game installs, they too like the Avatars are optional, and won't be required to play any or certain games. The install feature will be available for every 360 game, and not just the new ones. Nelson gave an example that if you have a multiple-disc game (Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon, etc) that you can install any one of the discs that you so choose, and it'll run that specific game disc off the hard drive (but you will still need the disc in the tray).

[Dark Drakan]

Originally Posted by Gikoku

Major Nelson just confirmed in an audio podcast (on Xbox.com) yesterday morning, that the Avatars will be optional, and NOT a required feature when you update to the new dashboard. He also mentioned, that every single thing you can do now on the Blades Dashboard, can be done in the new Blades Guide in the New Xbox Experience. There won't be any ads at all in the Blades Guide, however he did say that ads will be on the Dashboard, but he didn't state where at (in the Marketplace, or on the Dashboard in general). The Group Chat feature will also be able to be triggered at any time, you don't need to start a game to use it. You can be on the dashboard, and immediately get into a group chat without a game.

As for game installs, they too like the Avatars are optional, and won't be required to play any or certain games. The install feature will be available for every 360 game, and not just the new ones. Nelson gave an example that if you have a multiple-disc game (Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon, etc) that you can install any one of the discs that you so choose, and it'll run that specific game disc off the hard drive (but you will still need the disc in the tray).

All sounds great to me, optional is the best way to please everyone and im happy about that. Im really happy about the group chat feature especcialy. I wont have to listen to annoying young kids now when im in a party. Just enter group chat and mute everyone else... perfect.

[moonfever]

Thanks for the great news, think I'll go check it out.