Xbox 360 Gets Makeover
Xbox 360, the popular gaming console will be undergoing a "makeover". According to Microsoft, the changes that will be implemented in Xbox 360 would change the gaming experience of Xbox 360 users.
One of the most noticeable changes is the expanded voice and motion control through utilizing the Kinect sensor. By using the Kinect sensor, players could voice it the commands that they want in order to navigate the system. This feature would be able to work with different providers of television shows, movies, and sports content. It would also include support for TELUS, Rogers on Demand, Disney XD, Crackle, Real Sports (Maple Leaf Sports), TMZ, UFC on Xbox Live, VEVO and YouTube. The support for these futures would be available for use by the latter part of December.
In order to use this feature, users should first select the service that they want to utilize through the controller (hand via Kinect's camera/voice command) and then say exactly what they are looking for. For example, if a user would say the name "Christian Bale", all contents regarding Christian Bale would show including Batman-related contents. Users could still also opt to type in their Bing search queries by a controller-based menu. Aside from these features, the dashboard for Xbox 360 also had significant changes. The new layout adapts the "Metro" design elements, a design that is also utilized by Windows Phones and the upcoming Windows 8. Xbox 360 was able to dispose its flipcard design and replaced it with tiles which are the basis for this new design style.
These changes are the biggest ones that were implemented to Xbox 360 ever since it was released for the first time in the market. These changes are also in line with Microsoft's goal to be the frontrunner for the future of entertainment. Don Mattrick, President for Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business said in a press release that these changes would enable users to easily access all entertainment features of Xbox 360. He also mentioned in the press release that "With this update, Xbox 360 system owners will experience voice control integrated with Bing search, making your TV and entertainment experiences more social and personal than ever."