Xbox 360 Dashboard Update Beta Due This Week

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Microsoft has started to register consoles in preparation for its dashboard beta later this week.
The software giant sent beta participants details on Tuesday on how to register their console for the upcoming beta. The instructions indicate that Microsoft will being pushing the update to beta participants in the next 1-2 days.

Microsoft started accepting nominations last month and closed after just 24 hours due to popular demand. The newly designed dashboard will offer the following features:

• New design with integrated Kinect voice and gesture controls
• Beacons
• Facebook Sharing
• Cloud Storage for Game Saves and Xbox LIVE Profile

Codenamed “Madrid”, the November dashboard update will bring Microsoft’s Metro style interface to the Xbox. Microsoft is also preparing to include Youtube and Bing on the Xbox. Bing users will be able to use Kinect’s voice recognition feature to search for movies, music and other content on their consoles. Microsoft is also planning to include some type of Marketplace with applications for xbox 360. The new dashboard will enable Microsoft’s upcoming Windows Phone integration with Xbox.

[video=youtube;1SbICrhUFVE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SbICrhUFVE[/video]

Microsoft will also introduce an Xbox LIVE TV service as part of its dashboard update. The company announced deals with nearly 40 content providers recently. Bravo, Comcast, HBO GO and Syfy are amongst a number of TV providers for U.S. Xbox owners. The BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5 are partnering with Microsoft in the UK to offer programming on the Xbox 360. Xbox users will need the latest dashboard update, due in November, to experience live TV with Xbox LIVE. Microsoft is planning to make the TV channels available to Xbox LIVE gold subscribers and some partners will integrate Kinect experiences with their TV channels. Microsoft’s TV service is powered by the company's Silverlight software.

source: Winrumors
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