Xbox360 Dashboard Ideas
Now that I got the politics out of the way, I thought I would go back to something a bit more interesting (to me, at least)—the Xbox360 Dashboard Update. If you have been living under a rock (or just not the computer nerd type), you would know that the Xbox 360 dashboard is getting a remix. You can read all about the updates on engadget. To summarize, the dashboard will look like the one pictured above. Not only does it get a new look, but it also gets access to Netflix. This is pretty big deal considering the only ways to access Netflix from your couch is via a DVD, the roku, or a media center PC. The update also provides the ability to create some pretty robust avatars, which my girlfriend is sure to like (she loves creating avatars on the Wiiiii).
I am pretty excited about the update, but I would like to see more. So, I compiled a quick list of what I would like to see.
Zune Marketplace Integration—Yes, I have a Zune and frankly I love it. So, it is no surprise that I would love to see the Zune Marketplace brought to the Xbox 360. In fact, I think it is perfect for the 360. The points are shared across both platforms and both have a strong focus on multimedia. Also, I think syncing the Zune to the Xbox would make a lot more sense in the long run. Having the Zune experience in my living room would add to the incentive to finally purchase the Zune “all-you-can-eat” music pass. It would essentially create a live jukebox with access to several million songs. Rocking out to the channels in the 3.0 software would be pretty cool in my living room, as well.
Third-party Application Marketplace—The Netflix integration is pretty much a third-party app, so why not open the system up to a marketplace, ala the Iphone Appstore? You would essentially do for the TV, what the Iphone has done for the portable device. This would create the first multimedia platform for the TV that developers can have access to. An app store on the 360 would be a huge competitive advantage. This would overnight put the system far above the Wii, PS3, and AppleTV. And, the possibility for Apps are endless—Pandora, Last.fm, Facebook, and Twitter, etc.
Web Browser—This is my final request. Why not integrate a web browser into the device? You have made attempts in the past at a web-enabled TV box. Remember the MSN (or web) TV? Don’t let past failures haunt you. The Xbox 360 is a good platform to have a browser on.
I am sure I could think of more additions to the system, but Zune Marketplace Integration, a third-party application marketplace, and a web browser are tops on my list. What would you like to see?
October 3rd, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I agree with all 3 and so would almost everyone else. I saw recent news about adding Zune capabilities to Windows Mobile so I would expect Xbox to follow suit. Microsoft needs to capitalize on its competitive advantages over Apple.
October 6th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Is the Netflix thing already a done deal? How can I get this on my 360? I have downloaded HD movies through the marketplace, but it’s like 4 bucks per.
October 6th, 2008 at 9:33 am
It is a done deal. It will come out with the dashboard update. No specific date to my knowledge has been set. But, it should be sometime this fall.
October 16th, 2008 at 10:56 am
[...] back, I wrote an article about improvements I would make to the Xbox360. One such improvement was integrating the Zune into the Xbox360 platform. Well, it looks like [...]
November 20th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
[...] Xbox—I am really looking forward to going home and firing up the Xbox 360 to get the dashboard update. Even though I do not get the Netflix service, I think a change will be welcomed. I was a big fan of the blades, so we will see if this is better. Now, I think Xbox needs to focus on tighter integration with the Zune Marketplace and maybe opening this thing up to third-party apps. [...]