Today the Xbox 360 is getting its third iteration of the dashboard, although it’s release seems to be delayed for some reason. While the console will still be the (mostly) trusty gaming machine you’ve grown to love, the new update brings a host of new features and a much sleeker look than the last dashboard update. A few of us have been able access the beta version of the dashboard under an NDA, which means those involved in the testing can’t talk much about it. With it’s official launch due today, I figured it was time I laid down my views on the ‘New’ New Xbox Experience.
This new Metro look uses a tile based system similar to what is used in the current Windows Phone OS and next years Windows 8. It’s kind of laid out a little like a more compact and concise cross media bar similar to what is present on Sony’s devices (PS3, some TVs and BluRay players). Everything is organized into sections across the top, with large rectangles full of content displayed front and center. It allows for a much easier Kinect interface and is far more appealing than shoving huge lines of ads in your face. The interface doesn’t seem to actually be less riddled with ads than the last dashboard was; they are just displayed better so that Microsoft can show you more things, hopefully meaning that the ads will change more often too.
The new dashboard is far more Kinect integrated, and voice commands work almost perfectly if no-one else talks while you command it (if someone else is speaking it just gets confused). Occasionally, in a room with three or more people it will pick up something from two people saying different words at once meaning your dashboard will end up doing something you don’t want it to actually do. It’s better than the voice commands featured in Halo Anniversary, which don’t actually listen for an initial ‘Xbox’ Command, but they can still be pretty frustrating at times. Thankfully, if you’re in a noisy room you can always turn the Kinect voice command option off.
With my setup at University, the Kinect’s motion doesn’t work very well, though it does notice and prompt me to tune my Kinect setup. However, it does work perfectly under ideal conditions at my family’s home. There it works quite nicely, but if you want to change its scrolling direction it can get awkward. Sometimes gestures will get caught at the sides of the screen and tug the wrong way. Otherwise, it’s pretty well sorted and I think the hold time you need to choose an item on the menu has been reduced slightly from the old Kinect Menu.
The interface still works really well with a controller, but there are some advantages to using Kinect over your controller now. Using Kinect is much faster and requires less scrolling left and right with the bumpers. I often navigate to the menu I want with Kinect’s voice, then single out the item in the menu with my controller. With that said, saying, “Xbox: Play Sonic Generations,” seems to work flawlessly, suggesting that they have added a lot more to the Kinect’s formerly basic vocabulary. You do have to talk to it like it’s a 3 year old on occasion though, enunciating your words, sometimes forcing your voice to point directly at its microphone. These occasional moments will frustrate you, probably making you want to pick up the controller you’re going to use to play the game with anyway.
Microsoft is really pushing video content via TV streaming services and Video on Demand with this update. This could change what some of us do for our TV services. Anyone with a cable subscription and a 360 is almost at the point where their cable is pointless with this new Dashboard. In the UK (and most places outside the US for that matter), not much of this content is actually available. In January, the 360 will finally be getting a version of the BBC’s streaming service which has been available on the PS3 and even the Wii for quite some time now. Microsoft wanted it to be a gold subscriber only service but the BBC doesn’t charge for their content and refused to allow it. Thankfully, it seems like they’ve managed to get Microsoft to change their stance on that particular concept. Hopefully, this will be followed by the other major British channels bringing their streaming services to the console.
The dashboard’s new social features also look very interesting and let you post game requests to Facebook or twitter. I’ve haven’t had a chance to really use this feature, but it should make a larger friends list easier to manage.
Overall, the new dashboard is a far nicer experience with innovative features. It may take a little getting used to after the last dashboard update, and it actually behaves more like the blades dashboard system that was used during the Xbox 360′s launch. The biggest benefit of this update, however, may actually go unnoticed by many; this really is the fastest dashboard the Xbox has ever had. That’s a good thing.
Related posts:
I really like the look of the new dashboard and I think if I had a Kinect, I would like the voice recognition feature for searching but one thing I don’t like about the updated dashboard is the Beacon feature. It just makes things confusing for the person reading the beacon. After signing in (and seeing all the other pop-ups) you see one that says “Friends wants to play game.” You soon find out that it’s not an invite they sent, but just their beacon telling you what they want to play. If there were a way to turn that feature off I would be much happier.