Sign up to test XBL autumn dash update

By Tom Bramwell Published 21 July, 2009

Available in any Xbox Live region.

Microsoft has opened sign-ups for its "Xbox Live Update Preview Programme", which will allow some of you to get your hands on the next dashboard update early.

To get involved, you need to register on the Microsoft Connect site with the Windows Live ID associated with your Xbox Live gamertag. Then there's a survey and you're prompted to provide your gamertag and Xbox 360 Console ID.

The programme is open to anyone who lives in an Xbox Live region, and Gold and Silver members can both sign up, although Gold users will be given priority.

According to Major Nelson, "We're looking for multiple thousands of participants, so your chances of making it in are good."

In case you can't remember what's included in the autumn update, check out last week's full rundown. Highlights include Netflix updates (US), Avatar Marketplace, Games on Demand, and changes to user ratings, parties, video display options and various other minor areas.

However, features touted at E3 including Last.fm, Facebook and Twitter integration, and Zune HD instant-on videos, are not included.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000. Follow him on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (21) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • bad09 #1 3 years ago

    If anyone on EG get in please tells us if the dash is still a horrid mess of adverts after the update. Or if the custom music off a device no longer takes 5mins to load. Or if I don't need go make a cup of tea while the Marketplace info loads up.

    Thanks!

  • DFawkes #2 3 years ago

    I tried to sign up. But it want's my console serial no. I don't have that with me at all times! Maybe I should write it down and carry it around. I'll have to wait until later it seems.

  • Xerx3s #3 3 years ago

    "If anyone on EG get in please tells us if the dash is still a horrid mess of adverts after the update. Or if the custom music off a device no longer takes 5mins to load. Or if I don't need go make a cup of tea while the Marketplace info loads up."

    Sure the marketplace is utter shite atm but I don't know where you dreamed up the other two points.

  • bad09 #4 3 years ago

    "Sure the marketplace is utter shite atm but I don't know where you dreamed up the other two points. "

    1. Well since NXE any time I try to whack on custom music from a USB or Ipod or PSP, it takes an age and I've heard others have this problem to. I use to love custom music as well!

    2. COME ON! NXE is an awful mess of buy me. I don't mind ads as such but I shouldn't have them on my dash in the volume NXE does. It's funny before the NXE I couldn't see why people had a problem with ads on the dash. Now I see why they did.....

  • seasidebaz #5 3 years ago

    I try to whack on custom music from a USB or Ipod or PSP

    Why not just put your music on the HDD? Also, do you still need to install the iPod compatibility update from the marketplace?

  • bad09 #6 3 years ago

    well I used to but space is very tight now, I've only got a 20gb and there is no way on Earth I can bring myself to pay what MS ask for a measly 120gb.

  • Fab4 #7 3 years ago

    I just hope they fix the dashboard loading issues I've had. I have a 40Mbps download speed and the amount of time it takes to, for example, load the gamerpics/data of people I have recently played is beyond a joke. I fear entering the dashboard in-game because the chances are it just freezes for a few seconds.

    NXE...biggest piece of crap ever. Just a big advertisement for DLC.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #8 3 years ago

    Groovy, I'll try that out. Although Silver ATM so probably won't get in.

  • mega7ech #9 3 years ago

    To be honest Ive no problem with adverts at all. Adverts are everywhere in practicaly every area of life so I dont see why they shouldnt be on Xbox live - you can just ignore them like you can everywhere else, not hard really. But, as others have said, SPEED UP THE GODDAM DASH MS!!!!!

  • HoriZon #10 3 years ago

    Got in last year will give it another shot for this year!

    As for the advert argument you by a DVD and it has adverts for other films before the menu loads on most titles nowadays, you pay for Sky and still get adverts and so on. Its just life.
    Edited by HoriZon at 21/07/09 @ 12:59

  • Darren #11 3 years ago

    @mega7ech - What you say about adverts is very true but they're not shoved in yer face on my PS3, PC or Wii when I turn them on! The Xbox 360 is the only console that does this the minute you sign into LIVE rather than taking me straight to My Xbox. Yes, it's mostly games related stuff but nevertheless it needlessly slows down the whole dashboard as a result IMO. I'm convinced that it is the reason for the irritating delays I get while accessing the Marketplace and Friends lists for example because it doesn't happen on any of the other machines. It's either that or LIVE is oversubscribed and rubbish.

    Personally, I'd rather Microsoft restricted the advertising to the Marketplace only so it only appears when you enter it and kept the dashboard free of it completely like Nintendo and Sony do with their Shopping Channels and PS Stores respectively.

  • bad09 #12 3 years ago

    I agree absolutely Darren!

    I'm not against ads, it's like you say it's there in your face and on your dash. On PS3 I have to use something like PSN or Vidzone to get advert bombardment and I am fine with it. On a DVD and my Sky + I can forward the ad and I'm fine with it. Cinema I can go in later and miss them and again I am fine with it. NXE I'm stuck with useless junk everywhere cluttering my screen.

    NXE is not a patch on EG at the mo tho, adblock is coming out if that carrys on I think...

  • lambtron #13 3 years ago

    "@mega7ech - What you say about adverts is very true but they're not shoved in yer face on my PS3, PC or Wii when I turn them on! The Xbox 360 is the only console that does this the minute you sign into LIVE rather than taking me straight to My Xbox."

    Hmm, my Xbox must be different from everyone else's - I have to explicitly navigate to the adverts to see them. Not sure why that's the case for me but since it's like that doesn't bother me.

  • penhalion #14 3 years ago

    @Lambtron

    It's not just you. That's how the dashboard has always been. I switched on my XBox a few minutes ago to check and I have no idea where this nonsense about adverts is coming from.

    As for the early dashboard testing. I'll give it a wide miss as there are bound to be problems and I don't want to put my gamer score or profile at risk just to test this stuff out early.

  • WinterSnowblind #15 3 years ago

    I think people over react about this whole dashboard thing personally. I do agree that it should boot staright into My Xbox rather than the spotlight, but generally I enjoy flicking through them to see what new content has been added or if there's any new interviews or discounts.

    I consider it news more than "ads" and even the few that are blatent advertisements still aren't particularly intrusive. If you don't want to see them, a quick flick of the advertisement takes you to My Xbox.

  • TheBlackBandit #16 3 years ago

    I'm having a problem even signing up. I put in my password and email address, then occasionally get a server 500 error, and if not that, a spinning green wheel. I'm running Mac OS X with Safari, but I get the same problem on microsoft windows.

    Any ideas?

  • lennon #17 3 years ago

    Im with the cant see the problem crowd. Is it honestly that much hassle to close your eyes and push up once on the controller.

  • Vordred #18 3 years ago

    i just hope the issues wth NXE, its a pain everything is slow and clunky, i only good thing we got out of it is Parties. i would have rather kept the old dash and added parties to that.

  • yorkieshaman #19 3 years ago

    Darren - If you don't like the ads, you can hide the welcome channel. When you switch on, your 360 will then start on the 'My Xbox' channel.

    My Xbox -> System Settings -> Console Settings -> Go all the way down to Welcome Channel (off the bottom of the screen -> Hide

    MS probably should have made this more visible.

  • Phreak_UK #20 3 years ago

    Well, they've made it as difficult as they can for anyone using anything other than IE, so F.O. M.S.

  • TheBlackBandit #21 3 years ago

    Has anyone actually got the update yet?