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[clav]

http://youtu.be/M_ZCJvcxWgQ

http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2011/08/17/the-future-of-the-living-room.aspx

The Future of the Living Room
17 Aug 2011 8:00 AM
Summer is a transition time for many people: the break between school years; a vacation before tackling another year of work; and for network television that’s been a guest in our living rooms for so long, summer is a time of transition between seasons.

It’s appropriate then that we are also in the middle of a fundamental transformation of the technology in our living rooms. Traditional broadcast and cable TV are steadily being augmented and enjoyed in new ways such as ‘time-shifted’ and on-demand TV via DVRs and other devices like the Xbox, PCs, tablets and even smartphones. Similarly, DVDs are being replaced by on-demand movie delivery via services such as Netflix and Hulu. And the standard 30- or 60-minute commercial program is no longer the only game in town – today’s entertainment options are a vast cornucopia of content from ultra-short to full length, all delivered over the Internet.

At Microsoft, we believe there’s also a shift underway in how consumers access and control this ever-growing avalanche of TV shows, sports programming, movies, online videos, video games, music and more. At E3, we dropped a few hints regarding how we plan to enhance and expand the entertainment options available to consumers.

Our philosophy is pretty simple: All the entertainment you want, with the people you care about, made easy… This video brings that philosophy to life, while showing off what the combination of Xbox, Kinect, Bing and voice recognition can do for your entertainment experience.

As you can see, integration of products and services like Xbox, Kinect and Bing is at the heart of our strategy. This is just one more example of how Bing is more than just Microsoft’s search engine, competing to win against Google – Bing is also a strategic asset that makes many other Microsoft products better and more attractive to our customers. Thanks to Bing, Kinect and our voice recognition technology, we envision a future where the words “Hey, where’s the remote?” are as outdated as eight-track tapes and rotary telephones.

We also believe in finding new ways to bring people together. Take Avatar Kinect, a new feature we launched last month. Avatar Kinect lets you hang out with your friends, watch entertainment with them, and keep up a running dialogue, whether they’re in the same town or halfway around the world.

This is just a hint of what’s to come. We’ll be rolling out further advances in entertainment over the next few months. Keep an eye on Xbox.com and the Microsoft News Center to see what’s next.

Posted by Frank X. Shaw
Corporate Vice President, Corporate Communications, Microsoft

 

[Einbroch]

Bing as a main tab? :lol

Other than that, what's the point? It looks like the old one, except horizontal.

 

[jambo]

Metro UI om nom nom

 

[Auto_aim1]

Looks pretty good.

 

[The_Inquisitor]

I like it. Big improvement over old UI imho.

 

[JambiBum]

Bing as a main tab? :lol

Other than that, what's the point? It looks like the old one, except horizontal.

You are forgetting live tv and youtube.

 

[Susurrus]

oh cool, even more advertisements in our face.

 

[Gaspode_T]

oh cool, even more advertisements in our face.

I think it's actually less advertisements but with one big one in the middle, the Spotlight and Marketplace sections had a big long row of squares, this only has 1 big spot and two little ones

I can't even imagine how expensive it will be to buy space in that big middle one

 

[PSGames]

This is what Kinect should have launched with in the first place. Looks great.

 

[Acidote]

Updates sound like a meme in my head.

New Xbox 360 Dashboard update.
Keep using the quicker guide button.

 

[clav]

I think it looks great.

 

[Shalashaska161]

Looks nice. Hopefully the Kinect menu isn't as assy as the current one.

 

[AbsoluteZero]

So my themes are going to be useless all over again I assume?

 

[EagleEyes]

Looks amazing. Much improved over the current dashboard.

 

[Uno Venova]

I like how the icon for the game in your disc drive is smaller than the big ass ad for 30 Rock.

 

[infinityBCRT]

It'd be really really neat if the Apps tab eventually lead to an Apps marketplace.

 

[Arnie]

Looks pretty.

 

[Deleted member 81567]

I'm really digging the Windows 8/Xbox Live amalgamation going on.

 

[Sydle]

Looks fantastic on all fronts. I just hope it's fast.

 

[Seraphinianus]

Awesome, new way to view Doritos™ and Axe Body Spray™ advertisements. Can't wait until Axe comes out with a Doritos™ scent--the 360 dashboard is gonna be hot that day. I'm glad that Microsoft Xbox Live™ provides advertisements tailored to My Needs And Interests™ and I look forward to the growth of the Xbox Live Gold Program™ in the future.

 

[SuicidalSteve]

Xbox Xmb?

 

[Maleficence]

How often are they going to change this thing? Jesus.

 

[VanWinkle]

I love that interface. It's amazing.

 

[chubigans]

I get the UI design, but it just feels bizarre in some places. Like this one:

I've always disliked the focus on the left panel of the screen at all times too. Phooey.

 

[charsace]

Reminds me of windows media center.

 

[OnPoint]

I like how the icon for the game in your disc drive is smaller than the big ass ad for 30 Rock.

That's what I noticed as well.

 

[Wario64]

Bing as a main tab? :lol

Other than that, what's the point? It looks like the old one, except horizontal.

Kinect.

 

[SCHUEY F1]

Love the Recent live tile, which is like the People hub on WP7.

 

[Curufinwe]

Awesome, new way to view Doritos™ and Axe Body Spray™ advertisements. Can't wait until Axe comes out with a Doritos™ scent--the 360 dashboard is gonna be hot that day. I'm glad that Microsoft Xbox Live™ provides advertisements tailored to My Needs And Interests™ and I look forward to the growth of the Xbox Live Gold Program™ in the future.

Glol.

 

[Red]

So my themes are going to be useless all over again I assume?

This reminds me: I bought a theme called Monkey Business way back at launch, and it doesn't work at all anymore. It's not even up to download on the marketplace. I have it on my hdd still, but it doesn't actually display when I select it. Was my favorite theme, too

 

[InaudibleWhispa]

Bing as a main tab? :lol

Why shouldn't it be? Doing quick searches is one of the best new features; saves you digging through countless menu's to to find an XBLA game. The easier it is to access that search page with the controller, assuming you're not using your voice, the better. Or are you simply allergic to the word 'Bing'?

 

[Wiseblood]

Other than that, what's the point? It looks like the old one, except horizontal.

The point is that Metro is their new UI design language and they're using it to create a unified look and feel for all their products. Windows Phone 7 already uses it, the 360 will soon use it, and Windows 8 will use it.

 

[JaggedSac]

Looks pretty damn good.

 

[venne]

It'd be really really neat if the Apps tab eventually lead to an Apps marketplace.

Looks like it's already there (lower left).

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

I'm pretty sure all of those pics are from the Kinect Dash.

 

[Kabuki Quantum Lover]

A definite improvement over the current UI. I might actually be compelled to use it more.

 

[NBtoaster]

Just let me default to games and I'll be happy.

 

[Gowans]

3 (including the one massive one) of the 5 squares on the home page is ads. Lovely

They need to get the sky player social stuff into the games marketplace tho.

 

[Frankfurt]

Gorgeous.

 

[gdt]

Wow. I love it.

 

[JaggedSac]

Why shouldn't it be? Doing quick searches is one of the best new features; saves you digging through countless menu's to to find an XBLA game. The easier it is to access that search page with the controller, assuming you're not using your voice, the better. Or are you simply allergic to the word 'Bing'?

On this matter, does it include Netflix and Hulu in the searches? If so, that is friggen awesome.

 

[Uno Venova]

Just let me default to games and I'll be happy.

And miss the sweet updates on the new Windows or T-Mobile phone? Never.

Spoiler

I would be happy as well, but I doubt they will do it.

 

[Gunmonkey36]

A definitive improvement over the current UI.

I probably won't use it much though. I haven't touched my 360 in months nor do I see anything that will make me anytime soon.

 

[Buckethead]

Looks good but the "Game" needs to be the main content.

Not f'n ads.

 

[Doffen]

Sexy.

 

[Sydle]

3 (including the one massive one) of the 5 squares on the home page is ads. Lovely

They need to get the sky player social stuff into the games marketplace tho.

I see one for Windows Phone 7...

???

 

[xbhaskarx]

Big improvement for the most part.

 

[angelfly]

Didn't like the interface on phones and definitely don't like it on 360.

 

[jediyoshi]

yeah girl, make those tiles bigger

 

[Kai Dracon]

3 (including the one massive one) of the 5 squares on the home page is ads. Lovely

They need to get the sky player social stuff into the games marketplace tho.

This is what I hate about the Xbox platform right now. Live isn't a free ad-supported service. It's the dashboard of a console I paid Reel Monies to buy.

So why am I forced to boot to ads, scroll through ads, and basically live Ad Land to use the Xbox? Conveniently (and intentionally I'm sure) you must scroll through layers of marketplace ad space to get to your friends display (if you don't use the guide exclusively).

The sad part is that even the current interface would be great if the user was actually allowed flexibility in what panes to order. It'd be very flexible and sensible.

I've no doubt that this new interface, which honestly doesn't look special to me, will be 90% ads in every screen.