Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Dashboard Fall update goes live

The Dashboard Fall Update for the Xbox 360 goes live today, as promised by Microsoft. Xbox Live Director of Programming Larry Hryb (aka Major Nelson) mentioned that the big MS is currently in the process of deploying these updates to Xbox Live.

Furthermore, Microsoft mentioned that there are a total of 300 individual changes that came with the Dashboard Fall update. More on this and some reminders from Microsoft after the jump!

The Dashboard Fall Update for the Xbox 360 goes live today, as promised by Microsoft. Xbox Live Director of Programming Larry Hryb (aka Major Nelson) mentioned that big MS is currently in the process of deploying these updates to Xbox Live.

Hyrb cautioned that that there are several things Xbox 360 owners have to keep in mind during this period of transition:

• YouÂ’ll be prompted to accept the update when you sign into Xbox Live sometime in the next few hours.
• You will only receive the prompt for the update upon sign in. You wonÂ’t get it in middle of a game.
• Regardless of what you have heard, it’s not geographically based. No one area of the world will get it before another. 
• If you log out and then back in again, this wonÂ’t force the update, it will only anger people on your friends list who will see you sign in, then out, then in, then out.
• Be patient, everyone will eventually receive the update.

Furthermore, Microsoft mentioned that there are a total of 300 individual changes that came with the Dashboard Fall update. To experience them all, we believe that you must accept the update and tinker with Dashboard yourselves.

But for starters, here are a few of the most notable ones:

• Xbox Originals: With this new service, announced on November 13, you can download-to-own full original Xbox games that were previously only available at retail
• Xbox Live Arcade Hits: On Xbox Live Arcade, the Arcade Hits program kicks off as some of the best-selling Xbox Live Arcade games become available at permanently reduced prices
• Inside Xbox: A new direct feed brings current news straight from Xbox.com into the Xbox Live Dashboard providing an easy, predictable entry point where you can discover what’s new in game releases, events, Xbox Live Marketplace offers, and lots more.
• Enhanced online profile: If you’re interested in sharing a few more details about yourself you can go beyond your motto and further personalize your profile with an expanded bio. The extended bios will be visible to “Friends Only” or the entire Xbox Live community.
• Expanded Friends List access: A quick and easy way for gamers to expand their personal community on Xbox Live, members will be able to see the Friends Lists of other Xbox Live members, boosting their social networking experience on the service.
• Enhanced Parental Controls: Family Timer, a strong and flexible new addition to the Xbox 360 Family Settings, enables parents to set the amount of time their Xbox 360 can be used on a per-day or per-week basis by their children or other members of the household.
• New video features: The convenience of full-screen movie previews and enhanced video codec support further expand the options when it comes to the Xbox 360 entertainment experience.
• Easy-to-use navigation features: With several noteworthy changes in the Xbox Live Dashboard, from the new Game Store button to the Video Store button to enhanced visuals and descriptions in the video library, Xbox LIVE members can find what they want, when they want it.

Via Major Nelson