Microsoft previews Xbox One dashboard, reveals console can control your home theater

Despite having seen plenty of impressive Xbox One games in action, we're decidedly less familiar with the console's user interface. To this point, Microsoft has only demonstrated the UI in small doses, both at the Xbox One unveiling and later E3. Aside from brief glimpses of a live programming guide, snap functionality, and other features, Microsoft has largely focused its promotional efforts elsewhere. Thankfully the company is putting a larger spotlight on the Xbox One dashboard at Gamescom 2013. The software shown off to journalists today was non-final, but paints a clear picture of what gamers can expect this November. The flat menu design is a clear evolution of the Xbox 360's current dash, though it's looking closer to a full-blown Windows experience than ever before

[allformats]

Here we go with the TV TV TV TV TV thing again. You are starting to do well by showing games, MS. Stick to that, and when you're established, talk about TV.

I don't need Xbox One controlling my Home Entertainment System.

[malokevi]

Freekin awesome if you ask me. I just got a nice new Yamaha RX-A830 AV receiver and $2000 speakers to match... with my Xbox One at the helm, with full 7.2 Surround support... shy#s about to get reel.

[GameCents]

LOL, reel...

[slampunk]

^^^ What malokevi said..... This sounds great!!!

[Transporter47]

Must be good to have money to waste ;)

[malokevi]

lol, actually there's a huge burn hole where my pocket used to be.

I have 2 months so sew it up!

[GameSpawn]

I hope they are kidding about the "IR blaster". I think IR blasters are atrocious in design and function. HDMI controlling is the way to go as there is nothing visible connecting and syncing all the devices.

HDMI already supports passing commands through to devices and it's this method I hope is truly used. Different manufacturers have their own name for this (Samsung calls it Anynet+) but it is all the same thing.

My PS3 supports this HDMI command passing through my receiver and TV. When I turn it on my receiver and TV will follow suit and automatically switch to the appropriate inputs and turn on if they are off. When I turn my TV off the receiver will automatically shut off as well (the PS3 doesn't due to the possibility of background downloads running). Hell because of Anynet+ (Samsung TV and Samsung Receiver) I've never had to use my receiver remote once.

[kenmid]

What's wrong with having a all round entertainment system? I'm not just talking about Microsoft but Sony too. It's nice to has so many features in these consoles.

[RememberThe357]

The worry is that the focus will shift away from games and youyr have an Xbox that is more of an entertainment center than a gamer center and since we're all gamers thats a scary thought. MS does follow the money so I wouldn't be too surprised to see that. But so far they've done a good job of showing both sides and it's hard not to like these little features they keep showing off.

[Blaze929]

RememberThe357 - why are people acting like no exclusive games means no games? Do people not see the massive Xbox 360 library? And for some reason we'll just see less of that on the Xbox One?

Oh because multiplatforms don't count as games...even though they were some of the best titles released this gen...and well happen again with GTA V.

[RememberThe357]

If your trying to justify why you chose one console over an other (thats exactly why these stupid conversation happen) then multiplatform games don't matter in those arugments. If I can get all those multiplatform games and them some more exclusives then then I have chosen the better console.

At least thats how I see the psychology of it, I don't necessarily agree with it. I'm getting a PS4 first because of price and I like their line up more. With the clarification that you can turn Kinect off I'm willing to go in on an Xbone now. I'm just going to have to wait, I don't print money. I did the same at the beginning of this gen when I bought the 360 first. I ended up going through a ton of 360s and over the last year the 360 games line up versus the PS3 games line up has been no competition. Sony just supports their systems a little better IMO. I will be buying both though, make no mistake.

[rela82me]

It's obviously not been their focus for the last few months, however, they did develop these features is not like they aren't going to show it off some...

[IcicleTrepan]

Did you even read the article?

[OC_MurphysLaw]

@allformats...no you don't "need it" but its a very nice feature to have. Just like the snap mode... you don't need it cause you have that pc or smart phone near by...but is a nice feature to have.

[FamilyGuy]

Yeah I never understood people complaining about extra features, this is a goooood thing! lol

[redwin]

And talking about smartphones, did you read about that Xbox One phone ? Don't hate read it. http://www.pc-tablet.com/27... I would definitely give up my 4s for this one.

[XboxFun]

Why wouldn't you want it to control your home entertainment system.

What would be the downside of it doing that and playing games?

[falviousuk]

We will ignore the deal Sony are maming with viacom to use their cable channels on the PS4.

Sony trolls, will ignore these things, and the great gams centric E3 and gamescom from both companies.

We should have a big troll button on posts to remove these vermin.

[Kayant]

No one can deny this is a great feature well only trolls and blind fanboys. The Sony deal is not really for Playstation mainly people forget Sony is a hardware & entertainment company so this will be a perfect companion for their Smart tvs, Blu Ray players, Android phones and ofc Playstation.

If done right this could push more people into completing killing their cable plans. All they will need is their tv and they get NetFlix and this which will be enough for most people. But it all depends how it works in practice.

[ShinMaster]

Again with this?

Do you people not know the difference between a DVR and an online video streaming service?
Online streaming isn't new. Sony has done it before with Video Unlimited, along side other services like Hulu and Netflix on PS3/Vita. No cable box required.
I don't know why people are surprised by this. Sony is an entertainment giant. They own one of the biggest music labels, film and TV productions. They're also cutting out the middle man, cable companies.

Xbox One has cable TV DVR features (much like the PSX or PS3's Play TV and Nasne).
What Sony and Microsoft are doing are very different things. I know you guys want to believe that what Sony is doing is somehow reactionary to the Xbox One, but you'd be wrong. It's a desperate assumption.

I'm not saying that Microsoft is doing something bad, btw.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

@Format this isn't the 90's.

Consoles are much more than gaming these days you know that? MS showned more games than the 360 this time around so dont be greedy.

Sony is also opting into TV as well so stop whining.

[GameCents]

Dayyyyumm...son you just got anti-trolled! Thought your brethren would back you up on your anti Xbox One crusade didn't you? hehehe.

[Donnyskillz]

then dont use it and stop whining!!!!!

[corvusmd]

Oh my god shut up....your opinion isn't so important that you need to whine about everything you don't like...yes you are entitled to your own opinion...NO , I am not going to even try to get you to change it (I'd rather you take that whinny annoying attitude over to PSN), but seriously whining about crap that you apparently don't care about just makes you look like a scared whiny baby. If you don't like it, DON'T BUY IT, and move on like a man, stop being a little kid

[redcar121]

It does more than games stop crying

[NatureOfLogic]

Xbox can control your tv, Innovation./s

[OC_MurphysLaw]

horrible trolling...clever /s

[CrimsonStar]

I'm totally not going to down vote you. /s... see what I did there?

[stage88]

Why's there a low battery icon on the first picture. It's that the controller?

[darthv72]

funny at first but i dont think its a battery indicator.

[princejb134]

Dam why put a windows 8 home screen
The current xb360 home screen looks so much sexier compared to the tiles

[magzter]

You can customize the X1 dashboard like the W8 startmenu so it's a bit silly to say that the current one looks better then the new one, when the new one can look very different depending on how you want it to look.

[princejb134]

not that different because at the end of the day it would still be tiles on the homescreen
the tiles arent very appealing in my eyes but good thing is we dont look at the homescreen much
i would be gaming 95% of the time

[captain_slow82]

here we go sony show off there UI last night MS are wooooo this is where we have you beat

an this is the knee jerk reaction LOL

makes me laugh because such a big company can act like big kids LOL

just shows there so use to there own way now they dont like it looool

MS pick up your toys stop acting like big kids

[kenmid]

What are you talking about?

[falviousuk]

hes not talking a about anything, hes being a troll.

Would like to see a proper video of how the dashboard works, and how you access the content etc

[Cmk0121]

You do realize MS showed UI back in may right? it was shown at the reveal of the consoles hardware...SMH some folks

[Mustang300C2012]

Doesn't even matter man this is just ignorance and trolling all rolled into one popping his head out.

[GodGinrai]

shhh dont tell em that! you will give em nothing to troll about..and that means I will have nobody to laugh at.

[GameCents]

Sometimes you read something so incoherent and illogical that it actually and scientifically makes you dumber.
I'd like to sue N4G for reckless endangerment, allowing such braincell killing nonsense to stand on their site.

[GodGinrai]

Sometimes people go so far off the original topic...I have to scroll back to the top of the page to remind myself what the hell they are "supposed" to be talking about.

[robotgargoyle]

This is a competitive race. Of course MS is going to show their UI. I don't think it was a knee jerk reaction. They had probably already planned to at some point during Gamescom.

They (Sony and MS both) didn't have any ground-shattering announcements, really. Why not spend a little time detailing the UI.

[captain_slow82]

claps ;)

[CrimsonStar]

Wtf did I just read ?

[robotgargoyle]

Dunno if I needed claps. Uh....thanks?

[Cmk0121]

All sounds pretty awesome , hope they do a reveal/walkthrough of the UI when they announce release date!

[smokeyf]

I can't wait to yell at my xbox to tell my other home entertainment components what to do!

[Mustang300C2012]

I can't wait to say in a calm voice commands to my new Xbox One since you know they showed off the features in a video the day of the reveal how this is no longer going to be an issue.

[GameCents]

There's a word for your condition, and help.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

[NatureOfLogic]

Their UI looks just like the new Playstation store.

[No_Limit]

"It starts with logging in; Pocket-lint reports that Xbox One permits up to six accounts to be signed in simultaneously, with Kinect able to distinguish between those users by the sound of their voice. You can tell the console to display your friends list, for example, and if another player makes the same request moments later, Xbox One is smart enough to know which list should be on screen."

That is the best thing ever invented for a media dashboard IMO. Can't wait to test it out when I get mine this November!

[gaelic_laoch]

Windows 8 Lite

[cervantes99]

The article states "Xbox volume up" - I hardly call that controlling my home theater! Now if I can say "Xbox Oppo Blue Ray" or "Xbox Preset One" or "Xbox Tivo" then maybe that would be controlling my home theater. However, my tablet already does these things with the Harmony app.

I doubt it will control any complex theater though. More info is needed I guess.

[Ctiboi2010]

@Cervantes99

"There's good news for home theater enthusiasts, too. Microsoft is taking advantage of the console's IR blaster in a big way. The Xbox One can control individual components of your living room setup — a TV, receiver, etc. — recognizing commands like "Xbox, volume up" to make quick changes."

You're right, the article does state that you can say "Xbox volume up". Judging from the article it sounds to me like they author was simply just trying to give an easy example of one of the capabilities. I highly doubt they were trying going to go in depth about every single command at this point. It says that it can recognize commands LIKE "Xbox volume up", with the word like leading me to believe there must be other possibilities. The assumption that this is the only possible command or that there are only a few minor capabilities may be too early to say considering none of us have seen it in action for the purpose of a remote. Only time will tell.

On another note, the Xbox1's integration into my home theater setup is very anticipated now and If it indeed has the ability to function as a harmony remote that would be great. If not, I already have a harmony remote so that's no issue there lol.

I also can't wait to see what the PS4 will have in store after the big announcement of their deal with Viacom. Both consoles will have some great new features and new levels of media which will be a welcomed addition to the great slew of games they will each have. Looking forward to more information from both companies.

[cervantes99]

You are correct and I was being a little sarcastic toward the article and not the XB1.

This will be of great interest to me too!

[PositiveEmotions]

The difference in xb1 home tv entermaintment is that you need an aditional box/cable provider for the xb1 to even work which is good an its own ways of course i also like the voice command thing.

With the ps4 you dont need that aditional box/cable provider to be connected to the ps4 for it to work sony wants viacome to come to ps4 before the end of the year and sony is also it talks with warner cable and disney if it happens (which i hope it does) we will have a bunch of channels for a possibly low price. So basically the ps4 is the real all in one enternaintment console.

Now i like both consoles idea but i have to give to sony on this one.

As for the UI i like them both iqually

[SignifiedSix91]

All that's already done on the 360 with xfinity and a few other cable companies, which means they'll be on the X1 too.

Looks like someones never been on LIVE.

[PositiveEmotions]

I can careless about xbl features i only use xbl for letflix

[GodGinrai]

I have all those channels VIA sky player installed on my X360. Its nothing new. It was also free to me as an existing sky customer.

[Jeff257]

@SignifiedSix91

That is also the issue. You have to subscribe to a particular cable company to use those features. Sony is working to bring the content directly to the PS4 and other devices they make without needing a cable subscription. Granted you will most likely have to pay for the content but then you can choose what you want instead of paying for a whole lot of things you may not even watch.

[SignifiedSix91]

@Jeff

You're wrong. If i had xfinity with the packages i wanted, that's what would be available on the 360 while using the app on there. Its the same exact thing sony is doing. Why cant you guys accept that? lol

[vividi]

Great feature

[bub16]

my ps3, skybox and tablet can control my home theater. any upto date hardware should do this lol your funny microsoft

[MALVAD0]

i have a UNIVERSAL CONTROL that can control my home tv,stereo,blue ray and cable box and my tv has 4 HDMI so tha way i can plug my cable box into the tv insted to da xb1 and i dont need voice command when is more easy to use da remote control is more faster just press da buttons

[smokeyf]

If you speak in any way close to how you type then buttons may be your only option...

[BattleTorn]

You just made we realize the advantage of the X1's HDMI in port.. cause I don't have 4 HDMI ports.

My TVs have 2, sometimes 3.

And considering I have my PC connected all the time, that leaves me 2, sometimes 1, port left. Which often results in me having swap ports, for another console per se. I've had to do this before, when I was actually playing with Wii U, and PS3/360.
I can't imagine how much swapping having both next-gen consoles might entail.

And, I don't even have a cable subcription (port) to worry about. For those with cable, I imagine a free'd up HDMI port could be quite invaluable.

[kingPoS]

The IR blaster huh. I guess that's one piece of tech that'll never go out of style.

Just like CD's (I really want it to stick around)

[Max-Zorin]

I see the Chad Warden stunt dummies refuse to back off every Xbox article.