JUNE 1 | PHYSICAL: Not just about games, Xbox Live is enhancing TV and film viewing with improved high-definition offerings and new social networking features.
These improvements coincide with Xbox replacing its previous store interface with the Zune Marketplace. The amount and type of content doesn’t significantly change, but the download store now syncs up with Microsoft’s existing Zune music/video brand. Zune features 20,000 TV episodes and films.
Starting this fall, Xbox Live subscribers will be able to instantly view select 1080p high-def content from the Zune service on their consoles. Previously, Xbox Live offered lesser quality 720p and required users to wait as long as four hours to download and watch the film. Pricing will not change with these upgrades, ranging from $6 to $4.50 for high-def streaming. All Xbox Live films are available for rental only.
In another advancement, due in August, Netflix subscribers will be able to set up community viewings of the company’s streaming movie and TV episodes on their Xbox 360 consoles. People can watch themselves as avatars viewing the selected Netflix content, and then will be able to chat to each other through their Xbox Live headsets.
Additionally, Xbox Live is connecting people to live TV for the first time to help people enjoy more events with their buddies. The sports-geared satellite channel SkyNet will deliver live content through consoles, without a receiver dish, to Ireland and U.K. Xbox users only. Similar to the Netflix community features, people can set up party viewings around various SkyNet sports games.
There is work underway to bring live TV to U.S. viewers on the 360, according to the company.
Xbox Live also is integrating people’s Facebook and Twitter accounts directly onto the console. Users will be able to update their statuses in real time from the 360, as well as view their photos on a relatively big TV screen, among other features.
Marc Whitten, Xbox Live general manager, wants the TV set to impact more than just the people sitting in one room.
“How do you make it more social?” he asked, following Xbox’s press conference on Monday. “Why can’t TVs interact with each other? That is the future of home entertainment.”
People are increasingly enjoying the Xbox Live world. There are currently 20 million subscribers, marking a 67% jump from this time last year. Also, 6 million people connect to Xbox Live each day, according to the company.
“This is about changing how you get content,” said Whitten.
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