Xbox Live News and Music Marketplace Channels new to next update
The next major update for Xbox Live is quickly approaching. As we’ve reported previously, the update will include Xbox Live integration with Twitter, Facebook and Last.fm and releases on November 17, 2009.
In addition to adding the new online features of Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm, it will also include two newly revealed and previously unheard of channels, which people involved in the beta have been able to point out.
First up is an all-new News Channel. This channel features full integration with MSNBC.com and will display news not only in text format, but also videos taken from television Network NBC and from MSNBC TV. In addition, you’ll have access to cartoons taken from New Yorker magazine as well as Dilbert comic strips!
Even bigger news for gamers though is an all new Music Marketplace Channel. This channel will take all of the music game downloadable content available on Xbox Live, and stick it in one place. This includes music downloads for the Guitar Hero, Rock Band and Lips games. In addition, the channel will also offer high definition (including up to 1080p for all videos) downloadable music videos on this channel. These can be downloaded either to your Xbox Live hdd or to a Zune music player.
Finally, the Music Channel is also where you will find the Last.fm integration.
Both are great news (pun intended) for gamers. It’s good to see them streamlining and adding so many new features. I’m a huge news guy and I always spend a lot of (wasted) time on the Wii’s news channel, so it’ll be cool to see it integrated into Xbox Live. I just wish it was with a less polarizing station from my political standpoint. But what can you do, eh.
