Microsoft’s Xbox 360 dashboard fall 2011 preview program site goes live

By Tom Warren, on 11th Oct 11 12:32 pm with 22 Comments

Microsoft is now accepting nominations for its Xbox 360 dashboard fall 2011 update.

The software giant is opening up its connect site for a public preview program:

“We are now accepting new users into the Xbox LIVE Update Public Preview – Fall 2011 session.  If you clicked on the link from Major Nelson and have not registered yet, please make sure you sign in with a Windows Live ID in the upper right hand corner.  You only need to register one time.”

Message on Microsoft's connect site

The company is expected to announce full details of the preview program this week as it readies the new dashboard update. Codenamed “Madrid”, the November dashboard update will bring Microsoft’s Metro style interface to the Xbox. Microsoft is also preparing to include YouTube and Bing on the Xbox. Bing users will be able to use Kinect’s voice recognition feature to search for movies, music and other content on their consoles. Microsoft is also planning to include some type of Marketplace with applications for Xbox 360.

Microsoft will also introduce an Xbox LIVE TV service as part of its dashboard update. The company announced deals with nearly 40 content providers recently. Bravo, Comcast, HBO GO and Syfy are amongst a number of TV providers for U.S. Xbox owners. The BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5 are partnering with Microsoft in the UK to offer programming on the Xbox 360. Xbox users will need the latest dashboard update, due in November, to experience live TV with Xbox LIVE. Microsoft is planning to make the TV channels available to Xbox LIVE gold subscribers and some partners will integrate Kinect experiences with their TV channels. Microsoft’s TV service is powered by the company’s Silverlight software.

Update: Microsoft has changed the wording on the nomination form, “We’re sorry, but at this time we are not currently accepting registrations for the public preview program stay tuned for future updates when the registration process begins.”

Thanks to WinRumors reader Simon for the news tip

  • BigChiefSmokem

    Where is my Silverlight app support, MS?

    Time to make this money.

    • Dubz420

      haha. I hot in the beta. Jealous much? Its pretty cool cuz I hadn’t played my xbox for a few months and I get on some website and saw the beta so I signed up. Jealous much?

  • Anonymous

    so can you not actually register for it yet? Major Nelson has not even blogged about this yet.

  • http://twitter.com/Henryed07 Henry Edwards

    I really want to be able to get the public preview, come on Major Nelson, blog about it and give us a link.

  • rojo

    can’t log in with Windows Live ID. I think something is wrong with the service. 

    • http://www.zunecards.net/index3.php wetworker

      I was able to login. 

  • http://www.creepinjesus.net CreepinJesus

    Whar’s the catch?  Usually those running the Beta are restricted in some way, right?

    • http://twitter.com/chipper_95 Paul Cotter

      the only restriction i have ever heard of is the one beta (last fall i think) where they were improving the audio quality of the voice chat.  you could only chat with other people who were also in the beta which was kind of a big deal but other than that, i don’t think there have been any restrictions/catches.

  • Anonymous

    not working for me :(

  • http://www.facebook.com/robert.vogt3 Robert L Vogt

    yah i try to add it to my dashboard and i get a error message, there such a tease. :(

  • http://twitter.com/chipper_95 Paul Cotter

    yeah you can’t register for this yet guys.  i’m guessing that all ms did was make the landing page that major nelson will eventually link to once they start accepting applications for this preview program.  i’m sure that page will be updated a bit once that process starts though.   so all i really did was bookmark this page and hopefully they announce something today or in the next few days.

  • Typhos

    Is this US only ?

  • Anom

    Wake up the Major :)

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jason-Boyd/576666141 Jason Boyd

    There will be no new registrations, the page clearly says that they are no longer accepting registrations and that they have reached their target volume

  • Tokertm

    What … It’s full already ??? WTF ??

  • http://twitter.com/arnehelseth Arne Helseth

    This is weird.

    The page itself has been up for ages – it’s the same landing page they’ve used for dashboard betas in the past. A while back it was changed to include the fall 2011 beta, both external and internal. The external basically said to check back later for a possible public beta whereas the internal section said to contact NN to join.

    A short while ago it was changed to say that the internal beta had concluded (or at least was no longer accepting new participants) and the external beta is now accepting sign-ups. However, there was no way to actually sign up, there was no “poll” as there usually is and the page was the same no matter if you were signed in or not.

    An even shorter while ago, half an hour at most, it was changed again to say that external signup is now closed as well. I dunno what they’re playing at, but there has obviously not been any external sign-up available. Of course, as per usual, the guys in the know are keeping schtum on the issue.

    Oh well, doesn’t really matter I guess. Not like they’re about to open the Xbox to third party silverlight apps anyway.

  • Cr0wley

    Page has been updated: ‘We’re sorry, but at this time we are not currently accepting registrations for the public preview program stay tuned for future updates when the registration process begins.’

  • William Moore

    So it says ”
    Public
    Preview Program: We’re sorry, but at this time we are not currently accepting
    registrations for the public preview program stay tuned
    for future updates when the registration process begins.”
    I take from this that since to says to “stay tuned for future updates when the registration process begins” that registration hasn’t happened yet. So someone jumped the gun in saying it had launched.

  • http://www.zunecards.net/index3.php wetworker

    “We’re sorry, but at this time we are not currently accepting registrations for the public preview program stay tuned for future updates when the registration process begins”.

    I was on it last year. Pretty sweet to get to use it b4 it’s launched. would be nice to get on that list again.

  • Issac Espinal

    Question. Will services be limited for this preview like they were the last time when they did a public preview where people weren’t able to do things like join private party chats that were hosted be someone that wasn’t in the preview program?

  • Iwesley 95

    i mangage to sign up before thet cloased it im hoping i get it because i have kinect and can check all features of the dash :)

  • Bigdave_1999_99

    Registering for this is over with… They filled the Beta program quota in 36 hours.