New Xbox Experience is the new dashboard update for the Xbox 360 console which was available from 19th November 2008 at 10.00am (GMT). Microsoft stated that they would make the dashboard look different and now here we have it.When I first turned on my console, it came up a message asking me to install a new update (Which obviously I did). It then installed the New Xbox Experience onto my hard drive and all was well. After it had installed, it crashed on me so I had to turn off my console and try again. It worked fine this time and wow, just look at it.
When you first start the New Xbox Experience, you must create your very own Avatar. It can be either a boy or girl. To be honest, I think the Mii system is better on the Nintendo Wii as you can make them look more like yourself than the avatar... well that's what I think anyway. You can also change their clothes and apparently, in time we will be having more to choose from.
So after I had made my avatar, I was free to roam my new and improved Xbox 360. First of all, the one difference I noticed is that the whole system runs a lot smoother (Before, the keyboard used to go slow, but not anymore). It has crashed with me once though but that was when I was checking out my friends and I'm sure the server is busy right about now.
Music and Videos still seem to run the same but one thing that is really bugging me is that there is no Forward or Rewind buttons when playing music. I just hope they decide to add it sometime soon because it is one of the most annoying things. Another annoying thing about the New Xbox Experience is that you cannot use Party or Photo sharing if you're on Xbox LIVE Silver.
The new Guide is very nice. When I first saw screens of it I thought it was horrible, but when using it properly it is really nice and handy. It is very small and sits in the centre of the screen, making it feel less cramped. You can also switch from one Xbox LIVE Arcade game to another even while you're playing a game which is awesome and it also switches fast.
The marketplace seems a bit awkward to use right now but I'm sure that in time I will get used to it. It just seems really complicated at the moment. The themes work ok-ish. Existing themes are used just like normal, sitting at the back of your screen but with the new floor in the way, it cuts off half on the picture which is a shame.
I think that's about all there is to know about the New Xbox Experience. It installed pretty fast as well... probably around 10 minutes in total. As I said, it is a shame that you cannot use some of the features on an Xbox LIVE Silver account. Everything else seems fine. I'm starting to like the new avatar system as well.
pages such as Game Library aren't much different but they do look a bit nicer and more stylish. Some games in the marketplace also have their very own wallpaper for when you're browsing the games media which reminds me, they have added screenshots to most games now in the marketplace. I think this is great because you can see just how good the game looks before buying it.
I am still sort of missing the old dashboard but I don't think I will for long because I think the New Xbox Experience makes the Xbox 360 seem like a new console to me. It's getting around the time when the xbox needs a bit of a change and they have done a good job with the New Xbox ExperienceThank you for reading.
