Xbox LIVE dashboard update rolls out today, Internet Explorer unleashed
Update: After a little wait, our Xbox 360 update has finally arrived. If you’re a 360 owner in the UK and you’ve not checked your console recently then you should find this little install waiting in the wings when you next sign in.
October 24, 2012
This is perhaps the first time that we’re actually happy to see Internet Explorer coming to any device.
Today Microsoft begins rolling out the latest update for the Xbox LIVE dashboard which will see among other things, Internet Explorer become available on Xbox 360’s in the UK and elsewhere.
The Xbox 360 is nearing the end of its life as a games console but since its launch we’ve seen it adopt more and more features like YouTube, 4oD and Sky Go apps that make it as much of smart TV shoe-in as a games console. The addition of a web browser pretty much cements the 360’s position as king of the living room.
Part of the update will let you quickly pin shortcuts to any favourite sites, TV shows, games and apps. And yes, if you haven’t already heard, this includes smut – check out YouPorn’s blog post on the matter here (NSFW). All of your pinned stuff will be collected under the My Pins section.
The Quickplay section will also be renamed Recent and will throw up a list of what you’ve most recently accessed through your 360. So maybe you should hold fire on those YouPorn searches if you don’t want anyone to know what you’re doing between Dishonored sessions.
Other notable additions include Bing voice search being extended to video results on the web (including YouTube) and the ability to rate and recommend content, check Rotten Tomatoes ratings and see what your Xbox friends are giving the thumbs up to.
The initial wave of the update will hit three million Xbox 360 consoles before rolling out to everyone else over the rest of the month. Microsoft is adopting a phased rollout in order to ensure a stable release and recommends that you keep checking back to see if your machine is ready.
Those waiting for SmartGlass will have to wait a few weeks – that’s not due to come out until Windows 8 is released. Perhaps more exciting than having Internet Explorer on our 360’s will be the ability to use our phones to type searches into YouTube and Bing instead of using the left and right buttons on the 360 controller which is SUPER EFFECTIVE.
October 16, 2012
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