XBox Live Update - Preview Program: First Imressions?

Fingleberries

Hey All,

Just wondering if any / many signed up for this and what the initial thoughts were on updating?

In fairness, I installed it this morning just before going to work and didn't have much time to play around with it but I have to say the feature I was looking forward to most Zune Video Marketplace while technically good, and streaming movies is OK, is still a major disappointment as we're stuck with the same crappy content of 200-250 brutal films.

I'll have more of a chance to look through it at the weekend. But Twitter doesn't really interest me, and Facebook is the devil as far as I am concerned ... Might be curious enough to check out Halo Waypoint for a bit.

What do you all think of it so far?

tomred1

Didn't know the update was out today. What is Zune anyway?

Muppet Man

tomred1 wrote: »

Didn't know the update was out today. What is Zune anyway?

Microsofts attempt at an iPod.

Fingleberries

tomred1 wrote: »

Didn't know the update was out today. What is Zune anyway?

The Zune is an iPod type thingy from Microsoft (only available in the States since release two or three years ago). The Video Marketplace on the XBox is being rebranded Zune Video Marketplace, and instead of downloading movies it'll stream them to the XBox - no waiting to buffer and all. It's supposed to allow streaming at 1080p.

The Preview program update went live today - the full update will probably be generally available middle of November or so.

Great potential, but scabby amount of content for Ireland. Pity

calex71

Installing now , ill report back later.

Edit: Facebook works nicely for what it's worth. Very much in keeping with how the rest of the dash works. Can't say ill ever use it again though lol

bluemachaveli

Anyone with a custom 120gb HD having any problems?

silvine

Have they added MKV support or changed the music player?

bucks73

No Last.fm for anyone outside of UK or US. That sucks as was looking forward to that.

Facebook is almost useless as you cant access any apps, vids or links.

Twitter is a little more useful but still cant access links.

Had a look at the Zune Marketplace but its something I wouldnt use anyway.

Sky Player arrives next week.

All in all...meh.

randomname

That's pretty crap. They need to integrate a web browser into the dash somewhere now that would be a good feature.

bucks73

Facebook and Twitter are almost so useless at the moment it did get me thinking that maybe theres a browser in the works somewhere in the future to allow better use of these features.

greenman09

I wasnt asked to update

calex71

greenman09 wrote: »

I wasnt asked to update

Did you sign up ? It's not being pushed to everyone just those that signed up to the beta thingy.

nicklauski

Did you get an email saying you were accepted, or did the xbox just update itself?

bucks73

It updated itself. Major Nelson said emails werent sent out first as they decided to get the ball rolling on releasing the update. If you go the MS Connect page where you first signed up it will tell you if you are in or not. They are releasing the update in waves over the next few days so just beause you didnt get it today doesnt mean you are not in.

nicklauski

Thanks dude.

Fingleberries

It wasn't part of the preview, but has anyone else noticed the new Ads on the system (for example, the other day there on the Spotlight / Inside XBox channel there was a video ad for Borderlands, if you highlighted it you go sound, if you clicked it it went fullscreen)?
First time I'd seen one of them ...

ondafly

got the update too - I was impressed by how quickly the photos in facebook load up etc, that was kinda cool. However bit annoying when people post youtube links and you obviously can't watch them.

nicklauski

Fingleberries wrote: »

It wasn't part of the preview, but has anyone else noticed the new Ads on the system (for example, the other day there on the Spotlight / Inside XBox channel there was a video ad for Borderlands, if you highlighted it you go sound, if you clicked it it went fullscreen)?
First time I'd seen one of them ...

I thought that was pretty cool. Was half expecting all the videos to be like that.

On my profile on Connect it says participating. So with a bit of luck it'll update when I turn on after work

bucks73

Fingleberries wrote: »

It wasn't part of the preview, but has anyone else noticed the new Ads on the system (for example, the other day there on the Spotlight / Inside XBox channel there was a video ad for Borderlands, if you highlighted it you go sound, if you clicked it it went fullscreen)?
First time I'd seen one of them ...

Yeah saw that...pretty cool.

ShaneU

Does the 1080p streaming actually work? post your download speed if it does.

AdMMM

I'm a Last.fm subscriber, do I get Last.fm then?

bucks73

No.

That_Guy

Went to the Microsoft Connect website and signed in. In the "My dashboard" section it says

Xbox Live Update Preview | Status: Participating (quit?)

Does this mean that I'm in the preview program?

animaX

So this is an optional update is it? It wont be forced on me will it? The reason I'm asking is because I can't apply updates due to my restricted internet access

AdMMM

bucks73 wrote: »

No.

Now that's annoying!

Blackdragon

animaX wrote: »

So this is an optional update is it? It wont be forced on me will it? The reason I'm asking is because I can't apply updates due to my restricted internet access

If you signed up to the preview then it will be forced on you. You will not be able to sign back into live untill the update is applied.

Scruff

bucks73 wrote: »

No Last.fm for anyone outside of UK or US. That sucks as was looking forward to that.

Agreed

Facebook is almost useless as you cant access any apps, vids or links.

dont use facebook myself

Twitter is a little more useful but still cant access links.

or twitter

Had a look at the Zune Marketplace but its something I wouldnt use anyway.

me neither

Sky Player arrives next week.

not a sky subscriber so wont be using that either

All in all...meh.

very meh indeed

nicklauski

I like it.



That is all.

bucks73

AdMMM wrote: »

Now that's annoying!

Tell me about it. Last.fm as probably the app I was most looking forward to and now we cant get it.

I vented my anger on the preview program forums in a constructive way and sent the link to Major Nelson. It will probably be ignored but theres no harm in letting them know how we feel and I would definitely encourage others to do the same. If youre not happy you might as well let them know.

joe123

Ive the preview thing aswell and am not impressed at all. Cant test any films unless you pay for them so thats pointless. Dont like facebook/dont like Twitter.

Hopefully Sky thing will be good...but still not sure if you have a sky sub and xbox live sub do you get it free or is it extra.

That_Guy

Just had a look through the Preview Program. I use Facebook so that was ok I suppose. Bit time consuming to write messages if you don't have the little keyboard thing to attach to your controller.

Don't use Twitter and sucks that you have to pay for Zune content. Even a 10 minute preview of something would've been ok to judge as to whether or not it will be good or not.

With the Sky player coming on Tuesday I'll have no need to pay for Zune content.

All in all meh. Facebook is the only thing I'll probably use tbh but even then it won't be all that much I'd say as I've a perfectly good laptop which sits beside my 360 and works better than the XBL version of Facebook.

shanec1928

got this yesterday nothing special about it facebook is rubbish on it

pipeliner

whats the deal with using unauthorised memory. Is that blocked? I use my xbox as a media player so if i get the update, will that be taken away from me

DeVore

This truely sounds like crap. Do Not Want.

DeV.

That_Guy

DeVore wrote: »

This truely sounds like crap. Do Not Want.

DeV.

It's a novelty that will very quickly wear off. Really don't need this crap tbh. It seems that Microsoft are trying to make it less of a gaming console and more of a everything but gaming console.

Beanstalk

Dear Microsoft,

Please give me a proper browser or GTFO.

Yours,
Mr. Fed up of your lack of originality

Thor

yeah i agree this whole update was pretty weak. last.fm was the one thing i was looking forward to and bang its only in uk and us, POINTLESS!!!

facebook app does work well but come on, people who actually are on facebook enough to want to use an app like that would more than likely have there pc's on all day so that is just worthless on an xbox.

twitter is ok, but all you can do is read tweets and post them its kinda stupid, you can't do anything else on the xbox dash. i mean you have to go into it as a program. it should have been on the dashboard so it was quick to type a tweet. if you can't do it during a game then whats the point of having it on a gaming console.

Fingleberries

Ok, after a full weekend playing around with this, I can say that it is utterly 'meh' and wouldn't warrant any of the fanfare MS are giving it.

The Zune Video streaming is really good, but the selection of videos is below minimal to say the least. From their earlier spiel it sounded like they would finally be offering loads of content globally. Not so.

Facebook and Twitter are both things that I don't agree with and would be just as happy not having them on the console. I played with them for a bit, and quickly realised why I dislike them so.

Last.FM and News & More don't work for Ireland so there's no need for them to plug this as a major feature.

Also the new Music Games channel seems like such a waste of space too.

Overall, I never had much of a problem with the NXE, but I thought it was supposed to de-clutter the dashboard. This update seems to add some more clutter back.

Overall verdict: Had potential, must try harder. 3/10

calex71

might have been useful if it automatically tweet the game you are playing or achievements won.

EasyBoy1974

calex71 wrote: »

might have been useful if it automatically tweet the game you are playing or achievements won.

I think you and I have different definitions of the word "useful" :P

bucks73

calex71 wrote: »

might have been useful if it automatically tweet the game you are playing or achievements won.

If you sign up to Xbox Live Nation they have an app that does this for you.

TrueAchievements.com also have a similar app.