A new video has leaked online demonstrating the new, unreleased, Xbox 360 Dashboard and the new features included within.
The dashboard update is expected to launch nearer the end of the year, but one YouTube user has uploaded a video showing it off early. We see the new graphical layout of the dashboard including a Tiles system, much like Windows Phone 7 for smartphones.
It would appear that Microsoft are looking to unify Windows Phone and Xbox, and perhaps the forthcoming Windows 8 OS for PCs will be same, creating a familiar user interface which is on all devices.
We also see a new “discoverable” feature which seems to allow the Xbox 360 user to find nearby consoles, similar to when you search for discoverable Bluetooth devices with a mobile phone. We don’t see exactly how this feature will work in the video, but perhaps it will allow the Xbox user to connect wirelessly with other nearby consoles, Windows PCs and Windows Phone.
Another massive feature which we see in the video is Skype video calling integration. As we all know, Microsoft acquired Skype earlier this year and everyone fully expects to see Skype video calling on Windows Phones, Windows 8 PCs and the Xbox 360. The video seems pretty legit, despite many tech blogs debunking the possibility of Skype on Xbox – let’s not forget this dashboard update isn’t due out until the end of the year, so it could well be possible.
Microsoft has very recently removed the video from YouTube, leading us to believe there was a fair amount of authenticity within that they didn’t want eager gamers to see.
Like the sound of the new dashboard? Let us know what you think!