Xbox LIVE Update Tomorrow Includes Netflix Browsing

Don't miss out on the new Xbox LIVE update coming tomorrow (August 11, 2009). The new update is a fairly big one and will allow users to download full Xbox 360 games and play them without a disc. You'll also be able to "party watch" movies online through Netflix. The Netflix system will also receive a much-needed overhaul, allowing users to search and update their Watch Now queues right in the interface - without having to leave the Xbox 360 and use a web browser. Avatars also get an overhaul with both props and "premium" content for those who like to spend money on outfitting animated icons with the latest fashions... but seriously, anyone who does this needs help. The August 11th update also allows every piece of game content on Marketplace to be rated, so you can add your personal ratings and see what others think is cool. Here's the full breakdown of features:

Games on Demand

Enjoy the convenience of finding and buying new games right from the comfort of your own living room.  Download a wide selection of full Xbox 360 games over Xbox LIVE. Games on Demand will be available for purchase on Xbox LIVE starting August 11 as part of the Xbox LIVE Update. You will be able to browse and purchase games through the Xbox LIVE Marketplace on the Web starting August 13. 

• Shop- Games on Demand are found in the Game Marketplace and include a large library of favorite titles right from the start.  More titles are added every Tuesday, so check back whenever you’re in the mood for a great new game. 
• Purchase - Purchase full games using Microsoft points or a credit card.  Games are downloaded directly to your console (hard drive required), and your purchase history is stored by Xbox LIVE, meaning you can delete games and re-download them again if you run out of space.
• Playing and Sharing -    As with other LIVE content, your game license is linked to your Xbox LIVE account.  Download your purchased games to any console you are logged into with your Gamertag, and anyone else can play on the console that your game was originally downloaded to.  No physical disc is required to play these games!
• Find Manuals - Game manuals can be viewed, downloaded, or printed from Xbox.com. Just locate your game in Web Marketplace and select “See Game Manual”.

Avatars

Avatars have been given quite a bit of attention. There is now a new Marketplace and Avatar Props. The Avatar Marketplace will be available on Xbox LIVE starting August 11 as part of the Xbox LIVE Update. Users will a healthy dose of narcissism will be able to browse and purchase Avatar apparel through the Xbox LIVE Marketplace on the Web starting August 13.

• Avatar Props - Equip your avatar with animated items they can interact with and carry around. 
• Avatar Marketplace - Reflect your sense of style with the new Avatar Marketplace.  Download and purchase premium items, including branded apparel from your favorite fashion labels and Xbox 360 games.

Netflix

Now you can watch movies with your friends and find new movies to add to your Instant Queue without leaving your seat or booting up a PC. 

• Party Watch - Catch a show with your friends!  Bring your party into Netflix and watch a movie or TV show together.  (Feature available with supported titles.)
• Find Content Faster - Browse through New Releases and other genre lists based on the types of shows you’ve previously watched, all from the comfort of your couch.
• Improved Playback Experience - Improvements have been made to ensure a better experience when adapting to changing network conditions.
• Improved Presence - Richer information is now displayed in the Friends channel and in the Guide showing what you and your friends are watching.

Parties

Xbox LIVE has some new and improved features for party reconnections and streamlined party invites.

• Party Reconnections - If a user is disconnected from a party inadvertently, they will be automatically reconnected to the party without any user interaction.
• Streamlined Party Invites - Invites are now just a click away!  Never again will you have to navigate through multiple screens to get all your friends together.

Account Management

Been an Xbox LIVE member for a while?  Check out some of the new features they have added for legacy users.

• Gold Member Veterans - Been here long?  Show it off!  Anyone looking at your gamer card will now know how long you’ve been an Xbox LIVE Gold member.  And who knows, there might be other perks for you, too.  Thanks for sticking around!
• Subscription Notification - If your Xbox LIVE subscription is about to run out, you will now be notified when you sign into Xbox LIVE.  No more surprises the next time you hop in to frag your friends.
• Fixing Invalid WLID's - If the Windows Live ID you provided has expired, you will now be prompted to update it the next time you sign into Xbox LIVE.  

Account Recovery

Many changes have gone into the account recovery process to speed it up and to increase reliability. 

Video Display Options

Various improvements have been made to make it easier for you to see your game in the highest resolution possible when using an HDMI connection.

• Display Discovery - Override audio and/or video formats independent of the display's capabilities.
• How It Works - By default, the console uses the information provided by the display (via its EDID) to determine the audio and video capabilities of the device. However, often the data is invalid or malformed, hence compatibility issues are encountered. When disabling display discovery, the EDID of the display is ignored, thereby enabling the audio and video settings to be overridden with the desired format regardless of display support.
• Who Should Use It? - The Display Discovery feature is available for DVI and HDMI connections in the Display settings section of System Settings in the dashboard. Please note that Display Discovery should only be disabled if audio and/or video related compatibility issues are encountered, otherwise, the output quality may be compromised.
• Monitor Support - Additional monitor resolutions are now available for HDMI connections.

User Ratings

User ratings help you find content that other people think is excellent

• How It Works - Every piece of game content on Marketplace can now be rated using a 5-star system.  Just open up the details on what you want to rate and choose the Rate button.  Each time you press the Rate button, you add one star to your personal rating.
• Sort by Ratings - Find great games, demos, and more that you might have missed out on.  Just visit Browse All in the Game Marketplace and click on “Top Rated” to see what everyone’s been talking about.

UI Improvements

Some parts of the dashboard have been slightly re-organized to make it easier to find the things you’re looking for.

• Indie Games - We listened to our community and have decided to rename Xbox LIVE Community Games to Xbox LIVE Indie Games. This new name better represents the independent spirit of these titles.  User ratings are also available for Indie Games, allowing you to share your rating for a game and use ratings from others to find great new games.
• Achievement Browser - Launch a game directly from the Achievement browser making it even easier for you to max out your Gamerscore.
• Achievement Tracking - A new All Games view inside the Profile panel includes a summary of Achievements earned across all the games played, and shows off all your completed games.
• Achievements - Check out the changes to the Achievement browser while playing a game.  It’s now much easier to read through all the achievements so you can rack up that Gamerscore.
• Streamlined Navigation - New entry points in the Dashboard for Active Downloads, Redeem Code, Auto Sign-In (via Profile), Create Profile, and Recover Gamertag are included, so that these features are easier to find.
• Voice Messages - When recording a voice message, a warning is now displayed if no audio is detected so you don’t accidentally send blank messages to your friends.

Console Settings

Microsoft has reorganized the Console Settings menu with fewer, more intuitive categories.

• Memory - Time stamps now appear in the Memory Area.  This is particularly handy when managing saved games. 
• Friends List Sorting - It’s now much easier to find your friends!  Sort your friends list by Activity, Gamertag, or Online Status (default).  Just press the Y button while you’re viewing the friends list in the Guide to change the sorting order.

New Experiences Coming

Xbox LIVE even has some new experiences coming all the time.  This fall, Xbox LIVE will see the addition of the following new features:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Last.fm
• Zune Video