Our Xbox 360 Dashboard will receive its first major update in six years from tomorrow (December 6th) and not only does that mean a visual overhaul for the LIVE services interface, bringing it into the new Microsoft “tiled” styling which recently surfaced on Windows Phone update “Mango” – but also some great new media features including LoveFilm.
Joining tabs for Microsoft Media Center, YouTube and BlinkBox, LoveFilm’s streaming movies on-demand will be added to tomorrow’s launch line up. Following successful pairings with Playstation 3, PC and Smart TV, the linking of Xbox LIVE and LoveFilm will bridge media platforms again. This time offering Microsoft gamers the over-due opportunity to watch top movies and old faves, as well as some ‘exclusives’ – and unlike those previous adopters the Xbox LIVE LoveFilm service will be fully-controllable via the Kinect gesture control system. This means movies can be searched for by voice and titles and actor names can be used as criteria.
The service goes live tomorrow when the new Xbox 360 Dashboard arrives and subscriptions to LoveFilm will cost £5.99.
Surprisingly the Beeb’s popular iPlayer will be missing from the Xbox 360 Dashboard refresh, but will be coming at some point in “early 2012”.
Despite the absence of the BBC’s playback service which rules out top TV such as Doctor Who, Frozen Planet, Top Gear and the traditional Eastenders Christmas tragedy episode, the void will be temporarily filled by UK telly services Demand 5 and 4OD. We guess it’s okay if you’re into Hollyoaks or something..
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