People may or may not know that the Xbox 360 is getting a major system update on November 19, so I’ll shed some insight about the whole thing. I was recently accepted into the New Xbox Experience Preview Program and will be able to try out all the new features before they open it to the world this coming Wednesday. Some of the new features include Avatars, Netflix video streaming, an install-to-hard-drive feature, and of course a revamped layout. I have to say, I’m pretty impressed with this substantial upgrade that will probably change the console forever (not that you’ll be able to go back to the old “blades” system though).
After installing the new update, you’ll be instructed to make an avatar for yourself (which is similar to the Mii system if you have tried the Nintendo Wii before). Most people will probably call it a ripoff, but I think it looks nice. I would expect this component to receive some upgrades as the holidays approach, although I’m inclined to believe that any of the good clothes will end up being paid downloadable content. Just like Miis, they are also intended to become parts of future games and applications, the first of which is the trivia game Scene It? Box Office Smash.
One of the other major features, and likely the most anticipated feature of the entire update, is the install-to-hard-drive feature. The goal is to take advantage of the speedier hard drive to load textures, maps, and other A/V assets rather than stream the data from the DVD drive. A direct result is that loading times are decreased, the normally loud DVD drive is silent, and wear and tear of the primary moving part in the system is virtually eliminated. All you need to do is pop in the disc for the system to verify that you own the game, wait about 7-8 minutes for the files to copy over, and away we go.
This is the new Xbox 360 dashboard. You might notice that it has the same feel as the old “blades” system, but in a reduced format that doesn’t cover half the screen when you bring it up. Everything is more organized and feels much snappier. Actually the entire system just feels sleeker since they managed to cut a few milliseconds between transitions. Along with reducing loading times using the install-to-hard-drive feature, that’s really the whole message that the New Xbox Experience is trying to get across. It’s a full system refresh that will no-doubt extend the life of the console a couple more years and maybe even more if they play their cards right.
Your avatar looks like a blues brothers guy.