Xbox Live dashboard update preview invites begin rolling out

You've already read our thoughts on the new Xbox Live dashboard update, and now it's time for those who put in their name for the preview program to join the fun. Microsoft today began sending invites that'll get you set up for the download, so that you can enjoy Avatar marketplace and a slew of new Netflix options (and irksome restrictions for Starz Play titles). Registration is still open if you still want a shot at nabbing it before August 11th. Didn't get an email? A second wave of invites is going out tomorrow, but also be sure to check the Connect site you registered at anyway, as Microsoft notes those who opted out of receiving emails will have no other way of confirming.

[Via Joystiq]

[matto889 Posted Jul 28th 2009 11:32PM]

I was invited

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 8:54AM]

let us know how it treats your firmware, if you know what I mean

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 9:13AM]

it treats the firmware(1.51) fine...no ban yet if you know what i mean

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 10:50AM]

I just downloaded the update... just exploring it right now

[(Unverified) Posted Aug 11th 2009 1:26PM]

you should update to version 1.6 - it's been out for a while now (if you know what I mean)

[spin cycle Posted Jul 28th 2009 11:32PM]

I wish I were invited to pay real hard cash for a new shirt for my avatar.

[KEROLiUKAS Posted Jul 28th 2009 11:37PM]

lol xbawks.

[Entourage Posted Jul 28th 2009 11:40PM]

Yeah it's better than that one trick pony we all mistakingly bought *cought* Wii *cough*

[KEROLiUKAS Posted Jul 29th 2009 12:11AM]

I didn't. though it is sorta fun, but i guess that's cuz i don't own one so i dont get to play it much.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 28th 2009 11:43PM]

I'm in on it, but I'm having trouble using the browsing option for Netflix. All I get is my Instant Queue and the Party Mode. Is anyone else having the same issue?

[ninjahaiku Posted Jul 29th 2009 12:39AM]

I too had this problem, I exited Netfilx and relaunched and then everything worked.

[LexSky Posted Jul 29th 2009 4:20AM]

Yes im having the same problem. Exiting and restarting unfortunately didnt fix it for me. hmm anything else i should try?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 28th 2009 11:51PM]

I received the update. Not bad so far! Netflix update is simply awesome.. BUT were is the 5.1 surround sound???? ARG!! ARG!!!

[spyker3292 Posted Jul 28th 2009 11:52PM]

I got mine.

[Corazu Posted Jul 29th 2009 12:06AM]

I've got it as well..and, not much for Canada :/

wtb Netflix on the XBox for Canada..

[catdogburger Posted Jul 28th 2009 11:53PM]

I got mine......Not really much for Canada though :(

[MichaelB Posted Jul 28th 2009 11:59PM]

I GOT IN YESS
if any one wants to test netflix partys mesg me GT silentkiller sk

[dirthurts Posted Jul 29th 2009 12:00AM]

Netflix video quality is MUCH improved. Love Silverlight.

[dirthurts Posted Jul 29th 2009 12:00AM]

HD streaming now btw

[gstock99 Posted Jul 29th 2009 12:02AM]

I got mine!

[dubz Posted Jul 29th 2009 12:12AM]

I got it. Nothing too major, but some nice new additions. I also like the help center.

[Maeztro Posted Jul 29th 2009 12:19AM]

Got invited but I was too busy playing the new GOW2 maps to notice anything!
(Except the update process itself..)

[Neon Jebus Posted Jul 29th 2009 12:20AM]

Oh they want 320 points for an RC car for my avatar to play with. Oh man...that's just golden. And I really want to laugh except I know tens of thousands of people are going to buy that thing.

[SNOOP97DAWG Posted Jul 29th 2009 12:23AM]

Yup, I'm in

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 12:36AM]

got mine woot woot

[cloud858rk Posted Jul 29th 2009 12:49AM]

I got in, and with what appears as everyone else, lol.

[Jerome36 Posted Jul 29th 2009 1:12AM]

I didn't get in :( Oh well, I wasn't picked in the first round for the NXE, but was selected in the 2nd or 3rd round. Hopefully that's the case with this one too... Not that there's a whole lot I'm really looking forward to. Mainly the upgrade to the NetFlix app!

[acniehaus03 Posted Jul 29th 2009 1:19AM]

the netflix update alone was well worth it... makes it so easy to add stuff and they even added a ton of new stuff to the netflix library...

[UnixSystemsEngineer Posted Jul 29th 2009 1:33AM]

Guess I didn't read last week's article closely enough. I thought it had already been released to the public. Here I was wondering why my 360 hadn't updated yet..

[gage006 Posted Jul 29th 2009 1:43AM]

The connect site for me says "Xbox LIVE Update Preview | Status: Participating ". Does that mean I was accepted? No update waiting for me on the xbox.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 12th 2009 4:37AM]

I got invited as well!

The auto connect for Party chat is hit and miss...imagine it will get better when everyone has the update. The signal depiction in Netflix during playback is quite nice, and the ability to add movies to your queue from online is amazing. Can't wait to see it fully realized when everyone is online!

[Dragod Posted Jul 29th 2009 2:09AM]

I got it, too. I was surprised, then quickly disappointed. I canceled my Netflix service about a month and a half ago. Not enough I wanted to watch after like 3 months of DVDs. Not enough on instant that caught my eye. It was nice while I still had stuff to watch... Also, quality wasn't too good on my damn 1.5mbps connection.

[shoorty0690 Posted Jul 29th 2009 2:40AM]

Damn. Apparently, a 15-20mbps internet connection, a netflix membership, and a user who plays more than 10 hours a week wasn't enough for them for todays accepted members. I'm hopeful for an email tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

[Bakaneko Posted Jul 29th 2009 3:02AM]

Netflix + 20Mbps connection?

Yeah, they already had me, so you were just redundant... sorry...

But yes, its a very small update, really. The Avatar Marketplace is as bad of a sleazy money trap as you'd imagine, of course. Netflix updates are very nice (It now sizes your connection on logging in and keeps watch apparently... end result being streaming once you're in the interface happens very quick).

I don't really notice any changes to the sluggishness of the Guide feature though... I'm one of those unfortunates that gets the 5 to 10 seconds pauses once in a while.

[npa189 Posted Jul 29th 2009 3:28AM]

i got it, they probably like my FIOS and that I play 15+ hours a week.

[man1c Posted Jul 29th 2009 4:27AM]

got in, and tried everything. tis a great update. just signed up for the netflix free trial. when that runs out ill surely keep my subscription going.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 4:49AM]

Got it, can't say the additions are earth shattering!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 5:55AM]

I was surprised to get first wave invite seeing as I'm in the UK. We don't even have netflix!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 7:39AM]

Why dont they let everybody in and just release it properly.

[SmokemeaKipper Posted Jul 29th 2009 7:46AM]

No invite, but the update installed last night. New privacy settings, I had to reset them before 1vs100 would work.

faster dashboard is FAST

[MRCUR Posted Jul 29th 2009 8:10AM]

Got the update last night. I noticed it changed the color of my avatar's shirt (it was the "Power" one with the RoL) since they added a bunch more color options for that shirt. I did buy a Halo 3 shirt, which worked well, but the marketplace aspect of the avatars was a bit slow.

It's definitely a beta still, but I'm happy with it. I'm really waiting for the Facebook, Twitter, etc.

[SmokemeaKipper Posted Jul 29th 2009 11:34AM]

I had 200 points to blow. It was a toss up between the chicken with a pulley or the giant Q-tip. I looked more ninja with the Q-tip. The eye patch is of course mandatory.

[steenbag Posted Jul 29th 2009 9:15AM]

I got the invite. Haven't gotten the actual update yet though.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 8:48AM]

had the same problem with netflix.. had to restart it a few times to fix the problem but after that it works fine now.

wondering if it was a over load last night as we all got on board.

[Buckaroo Banzai Posted Jul 29th 2009 9:59AM]

Got mine last night, but haven't had any time to look through it yet. At first glance, it adds a lot of items that _talk_ about the new features... but you have to go digging to actually _see_ the new features. Maybe tonight I'll go spelunking.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 11:03AM]

The update is available for those who got an invite. My gamertag now has a number on it representing how long i have been a paying member of xbox live. The netflix party watching does not work with the starz play like i heard on here a few days ago. I tried it with unbreakable and the option was not available. There is a new hdmi color space setting. the games on demand are the exact same old xbox title that they have had on there forever.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 11:02AM]

Yeah.. the guide is faster. Netflix is cooler. Eyepatch+Avatar= 40 Microsoft Points less in my account.
However, there's no "On Demand" games yet...At least none that weren't already there (Originals).

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 29th 2009 9:56PM]

Heads up guys, despite having not recieved an email invite I got the update when I booted up the 360 about 15 minutes ago.

[KrazyKiko Posted Jul 29th 2009 10:54PM]

Got the update for my 360; no crashing or issues yet.

[Broo Posted Jul 29th 2009 11:34PM]

signed up a week ago and when I powered up my 360 and there were updates; after the download I was in the preview dashboard

seems to be a bit faster than before- and seems to work Ok with v1.6...