Xbox 360 guide, the big xbox update autumn 2009

17. November 2009 is the day for Microsoft's upgrade of the software and services available via the Xbox 360 The console is usually two upgrades per year, one in the spring and autumn.

Last time we saw such a big update that this was in November 2008, which Microsoft introduced a new user interface with some new features, called the New Xbox Experience (NXE).

Zune, Facebook and Twitter

This year is the social media and entertainment that are in focus. Microsoft has millions of paying subscribers in the online community Xbox Live and for members over 18 years we are now offering access to both Facebook, Twitter, and not at least the movie rental service, Zune Video Store. Zune also will not require that you are over 18

xbox 360 guide has already had access to the main features of the update. Here are our impressions of the services that are available from 17 November 2009.

Twitter has taken the world by storm in the last year and been very much more than people who only use the 140 characters to say what they are doing. All the time going on the interesting discussions and it appears fun photos, links and strong opinions.

Xbox 360's Twitter client can be started once the update is downloaded and is of the simple battle, at least compared with those who are available for PC and Mac. Nevertheless, it can all the basics and are easy to use.

When you start the client downloads the latest updates from those you choose, and you can easily answer, repeat, or add an update to your favorites. To update your own status, press the X button and type what you want. You can also search on Twitter and get an overview of the most popular topic right now.

Strangely enough, you can not update Twitter while you play, which had been a cool and handsome feature. Except I have nothing to fault with the Xbox 360's Twitter client, it is a good if perhaps a little unnecessary expansion of computer capabilities.

Facebook on the 360 is missing some functionality and focus on the most important parts, such as pictures, wall and comments.

Amputee Facebook

Unlike Twitter, you must download a small program before you can use Facebook on your machine. When it is done and you log in, you will be greeted by something very similar to the traditional menu system to the machine.

Microsoft has chosen to focus on a few Facebook features and then adapted to the experience of 360 You can include waving goodbye to the groups, applications, invitations and sending messages. There you have access to are your friends their profiles, photos, and their and things that are posted on the walls, and the ability to post comments.

Just what is in and of itself all right, the walls and pictures is probably what many think is Facebook's most important functions, but implementation is poor. Since the Facebook application is built up in the same way as the traditional menu system, you must often scroll through long lists to find what you want.

Facebook at 360 is both cumbersome and tedious. Combined with that you do not have access to some types of content, making scrolling that we doubt that the Facebook application will be a great success.

Through Zune Video Store offers rentals of movies up to full HD quality.

In Movie Party, you can go to the movies with your virtual friends.

Zune forged for success

Zune Video Store is for many the big news in this year's fall update. Simple terms we are talking about renting movies via the Xbox 360 in up to full HD resolution.

Microsoft promises around 100 movies in the Zune Video Store to launch, as well as new movies every week after launch. When we tested the service were 89 movies available. Of these, 19 are in HD.

Most of the films is also several years old, the news we find, for example, V for Vendetta from 2005. But the service also has real news as Watchmen, so we can only hope that Microsoft is able to provide an updated movie service and not an offer Mon resorted to from time to time and the lack of anything better.

The Zune Video Store, you can both read about the film and see the trailers before any rent the movie.

Playback and navigation of movies from Zune Video Store is like a bullet.
The technical solutions behind the interface and the Zune Video Store, there is little to fault with.

Provided you have a stable and fairly fast Internet line starts the film almost immediately, fast works great, the quality is bright and we have not seen mincing or the like. If you stop the movie, you can continue from where you left off, and the interface is as easy to use as 360 regular DVD player.

Microsoft itself has said that the 4 megabit hold to stream 1080px video and based on our tests seem to vote well. Wireless users must also watch out a bit, even if you have a quick line out to the internet can be bad relationships within the wireless network like destroying experience.

Zune Video Store also supports something Microsoft has chosen to call "Movie Party", which lets you watch movies with others via Xbox Live. Unfortunately we have not been tested this, but the idea is certainly good.