Weekly: Xbox Dashboard Launch Problems!

Everyone thought that it looked so good.... well, there are some problems!


by Stevie Smith - Nov 20 2008, 13:00

New Xbox 360 dashboard leaves users with missing features, patchy service and hardware problems.

I Microsoft's much vaunted and eagerly awaited dashboard overhaul for its popular Xbox 360 console has now arrived. Yet, while undeniably richer and more glitzy than the original interface, the new interface download hasn't been all moonlight and roses for the console's installed user base.

More pointedly, the “New Xbox Experience” (NXE), which shares a passing resemblance with Microsoft's blade-based Vista Aero and Apple's iPod Cover Flow, has caused instances of muddled themes and menus, inaccessible content on the Xbox Live Marketplace, and erratic connections to the trimmed Netflix service.

Also, while promised new additions such as cute and customisable avatars and harddrive software installations were certainly in attendance at launch, the heavily publicised Xbox Live Primetime service, which will enable subscribers to engage in multiplayer-style game shows and huge multiplayer competitions, has been hit with a delay.

More notable issues being dredged up by the download include streaming hiccups with Netflix, which hardly adds polish to a talked-up service that this week revealed literally hundreds of its (cough – Sony) titles will not be viewable through the Xbox 360.

Perhaps more worryingly, QJ.net has reported that the new NXE download has prompted a rash of user complaints regarding noticeable slow-down, connection freezes, system lock-ups and other problematic errors. Also, those users equipped with modded consoles are also facing the possibility of being struck with the dreaded Red Ring of Death – although apparently unmodded hardware is also at risk.

While NXE arrives as an immediate download prompt for both Silver and Gold users of Xbox Live, GameSpot reports that Microsoft is so keen to get all Xbox 360 owners to embrace the new interface it is offering those without a hard drive a free 512MB memory card or a $20 20GB hard drive so they can download it.

Microsoft has not officially commented on the reported hardware glitches.

From this writer's perspective, being an Englishman living and working out of Germany, there's a tangible disappointment that Microsoft hasn't used the NXE launch to also usher in a more user-friendly and flexible Xbox Live service.

Understandable regional licensing restrictions notwithstanding, while individual language packs are appearing as downloadable add-ons for certain games, the inability to select something as simple as a preferred Xbox Live language (regardless of locale) continues to grate.

And, with Apple responding positively to iTunes user complaints and offering movie and TV content with the original language as an option, it's also disappointing to see that Microsoft continues to beat its chest for a 'cutting edge' digital distribution service that isn't even as accessible as standard DVD.