Microsoft Rolls Out Redesigned Dashboard Ahead Of Kinect Launch

Microsoft has launched its latest Xbox 360 dashboard update, which includes Kinect support, ESPN programming, Zune integration, and more. The new Xbox Live dashboard updates the Xbox 360 UI and allows users to navigate menus and voice chat with others using the impending Kinect hardware, and updates the proportions of Xbox Live Avatars to be better suited for Kinect-based games. Xbox Live gold members will have access to ESPN programming via their console, and will be able to watch a variety of clips and games taken from the ESPN networks. The new Zune integration includes community and music recommendation features, and allows users to use the Zune Pass, a subscription service for on-demand music across a range of platforms. The update also adds a search feature to the Netflix portal, as well as new options for family settings and parental control. The changes to the dashboard UI include a reorganized game store, which separates Xbox Live Indie Games from the list of other titles, making the indie titles less visible than they were on the previous version of the dashboard. Some indie developers have expressed concerns over this new structure, worried it may reduce sales of indie titles on Xbox Live. Other changes in the update, as detailed by Xbox's Larry 'Major Nelson' Hryb, include new wireless connection options, a new virtual keyboard, improved voice quality, and more.