Xbox 360 system software

Xbox 360 Dashboard is the updateable software and operating system for the Xbox 360. It resides on a 16 MB file system and has access to a maximum of 32 MB of the system's memory. The updates can be downloaded from the Xbox Live service directly to the Xbox 360 and subsequently installed. Microsoft has also provided the ability to download system software updates from their respective official Xbox website to their PCs and then storage media, from which the update can be installed to the system.

The Xbox 360 game system allows users download applications that add to the functionality of the dashboard. Most apps required the user to be signed into a valid Xbox Live Gold account in order to use the features advertised for the given app. But as of the 2.0.16756.0 update, most apps do not require a Xbox Live Gold Subscription to access them. Although the app may have its own subscription to be able to use it. With the exception of a few early apps, Microsoft has added partners to develop apps for the Xbox 360 system since the NXE Dashboard update in 2008.

The current public version of the Xbox 360 system software is 2.0.17349.0 released April 30, 2015.

The current preview version of the Xbox 360 system software is  2.0.17425.0 released June 27, 2015.

Following the success of Xbox One preview program launched in 2014, in March 2015, Microsoft announced the Xbox 360 preview program to the public.

History of updates
{| style="width:100%; font-size:90%;" class="wikitable collapsible expand" ! style="background:#3d4; text-align:center;" colspan="4" | Table of versions: Xbox 360 Updates ! style="background:#e9e9e9; width:10%; text-align:center;" |Version ! style="background:#e9e9e9; width:10%; text-align:center;" |Release date ! style="background:#e9e9e9; width:10%; text-align:center;" |Availability ! style="background:#e9e9e9; width:70%; text-align:center;" |Description/Features ! style="background:#2fc0ff; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * - valign="top"

2.0.17425.0
! style="background:#3d4; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * June 27, 2015
 * System Software/   Xbox Live Changes
 * - valign="top"
 * - valign="top"

2.0.17349.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * April 30, 2015
 * Public
 * System Software/Xbox Live Changes
 * Plug in any external USB hard drive up to 2 TB
 * Purchase history
 * Password reset
 * Network statistics
 * Microsoft account balance now appears in the top-right corner of the Xbox Dashboard.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.17150.0

 * December 11, 2014
 * Public
 * System Software/Xbox Live Changes
 * Mandatory update that prepared for subsequent growth of the service
 * Fixed problems with the Xbox store
 * Xbox One Games with Gold on Xbox 360 - Redeem Xbox One Games with Gold for free on your Xbox 360. Build your game library every month so new games are waiting for you to play when you purchase an Xbox One.

! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * - valign="top"

2.0.17148.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * December 4, 2014
 * Public
 * System Software/Xbox Live Changes
 * Mandatory update that prepared for subsequent growth of the service
 * - valign="top"

2.0.16767.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * September 4, 2014
 * Public
 * System Software/Xbox Live Changes
 * Mandatory update that prepared for subsequent growth of the service
 * Fix some video output problems
 * - valign="top"

2.0.16756.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * June 4, 2014
 * Public
 * System Software/Xbox Live Changes
 * Entertainment apps can be accessed without paying for an Xbox Live Gold membership.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.16747.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * April 1, 2014
 * Public
 * System Software/Xbox Live Changes
 * Xbox Video rentals started on one platform can be continued .I. on another.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.16547.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * December 12, 2013
 * Public
 * System Software/Xbox Live Changes
 * Some changes have been made to how child accounts are managed and created.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.16537.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * August 26, 2013
 * Public
 * Xbox Live changes:
 * Microsoft Points discontinued for purchases in favor of local currencies.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.16203.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * February 19, 2013
 * Public
 * System Software Changes/Other:
 * Update to default settings; visible only to certain users in the EU
 * (Swedish and more languages added)
 * New Free Games
 * Fixed some bugs on dashboard
 * - valign="top"

2.0.16202.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * November 27, 2012
 * Public
 * System Software Changes/Other
 * Displaying the incorrect playlist name when launching a playlist from Xbox SmartGlass to the console
 * An error with Xbox Video closed-captioning
 * An error with Xbox Music that some were experiencing
 * - valign="top"

2.0.16197.0
Unpublished Changes: Kinect Changes ! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * October 16, 2012
 * Public
 * System Software Changes/Other
 * Internet Explorer browser to Apps
 * "My Pins" panel
 * "Recent" panel
 * Recommendation panels to Dashboard
 * Ability to name console from settings
 * Access to Xbox Video and Xbox Music apps
 * Gamertag in corner of screen now shows user's email address
 * "Security Proofs" under Account Security
 * Smaller background stage size
 * Combined TV and Video into TV & Movies
 * Removed Companion Devices from Console Settings
 * Removed Facebook & Twitter from Social Apps with introduction of Internet Explorer
 * Authentication servers updated
 * Added support for up to 32GB USB drives
 * Removed "quick play" feature, replacing it with "recent".
 * Adds voice commands and bing voice search in Brazilian Portuguese.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.15574.0
Unpublished Changes: ! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * June 20, 2012
 * Public
 * Kinect Changes
 * Bing voice search available in Australia and New Zealand
 * CB is split into two pieces
 * CB boot chain had been refurbished (CB 5772, 6752, 4577)
 * - valign="top"

2.0.15572.0

 * June 12, 2012
 * Public
 * System Software Changes/Other
 * Avatar Store added to social on the Dashboard
 * Updates to the Avatar Store
 * Adds "Manage Exercise Info" to player's Profile
 * Adds the option to select or remove TV providers in Settings/TV
 * Adds the option to turn off Ratings Collection Sound in Settings/Console Settings/Audio
 * Disables support for unlicensed 3rd-party wireless controllers (e.g. Datel Wildfire Evo).
 * Bing Pictures in Bing Search switch now in every country

Xbox Live Changes
 * Improvements and preparation for future Xbox Live Enhancements

Unpublished Changes: ! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * CB bootloader has changed
 * RC4 keystream calculation has changed (Salt added to process block)
 * - valign="top"

2.0.14719.0

 * February 23, 2012
 * Public
 * Kinect Changes
 * Fixes voice recognition issues for non-English users

Unpublished Changes: ! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * CB bootloader has changed
 * - valign="top"

2.0.14717.0
Unpublished Changes: ! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * February 16, 2012
 * Public
 * System Software Changes/Other
 * Fixes color space issue and improves overall performance.
 * Requires Credit Card to be added to use the 1 Month Gold free trial membership (Free trial will now be set initially for Auto-Renewal.)
 * CB bootloader has changed
 * - valign="top"

2.0.14699.0

 * December 6, 2011 (Due to the delay in the release, this update was released in separate waves)
 * Public
 * System Software Changes
 * Interface redesigned with a Metro-style design inspired by Windows Phone.
 * Anti-Piracy 2.5/2.6 scheme updated (Checks different for each console)
 * Cloud Storage for Games Saves and Xbox Live Profiles. (Requires Xbox Live Gold subscription)
 * Facebook Sharing.
 * Stereoscopic 3D for games & experiences that support it.
 * Support for dual play.
 * Updated Standard and Kinect Dashboard with Full Voice.
 * Bing on Xbox Live (search).
 * Beacons
 * New toast notifications: (Gamertag) plays this
 * New toast notifications: (Gamertag) plays this

! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * Xbox Live Changes
 * Expanded Kinect Voice Support.
 * Netflix UI changed
 * Netflix parties removed
 * Live television on Xbox 360 with Bing Search support.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.13604.0
This is a general system maintenance update and there are no new features that will show up once the system has been updated. ! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * October 11, 2011
 * Public
 * System Software Changes/Other
 * Support for real time update dae.bin table Anti-Piracy 2.5/2.6 over Xbox Live
 * Update contained a compatibility patch for the new Xbox 360 Speed Wheel.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.13599.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * July 19, 2011
 * Public
 * System Software Changes/Other
 * Mandatory update that prepared for subsequent growth of the service.
 * Anti-Piracy 2.5 scheme updated to 2.6
 * Reflashes the DVD drive PLDS DG-16D4S new stock firmware 0272 and locks SPI.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.13146.0
(Released in 6 Waves) ! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * May 19, 2011 to May 31, 2011
 * Public
 * System Software Changes
 * Reflashes the DVD drives to support XGD3 Media : PLDS DG-16D4S, PBDS VAD6038 and PLDS DG-16D2S, to a new stock firmware : 0272, 04421C, 02510C. Also patches Samsung MS25 & MS28.
 * Anti-Piracy 2.5 scheme updated.
 * Support for the new XGD3 disc format for games, adds 1GB of usable disk space and extra anti-piracy features to new games.
 * Adds a new 1 hour Auto-Off setting in addition to the 6 hour Auto-Off setting previously available.
 * Xbox Live Changes
 * Adds PayPal support as a payment option for all Xbox Live users, except : Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Finland, Greece, Hungary, India, Japan, Russia, South Africa, South Korea and Taiwan.
 * Other
 * Minor bugfix.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.12625.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * January 19, 2011
 * Public
 * System Software Changes
 * Adds further anti-piracy 2.5 scheme to more popular games Halo: Reach, Call of Duty: Black Ops and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
 * Fixes ‘Boot to Disc’ option.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.12611.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * November 1, 2010
 * Public
 * Kinect Dashboard/System Software Changes
 * Kinect Dashboard from NXE
 * Adds the ability to install game updates to the HDD. (select games only)
 * Adds the new anti-piracy 2.5 scheme to newly released games Fable III, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
 * Adds a visual refresh to incorporate elements of Microsoft's Metro design style.
 * New boot screen animation with redesigned Xbox 360 orb and ribbons.
 * Improved Avatars to 2.0 version with human-like proportions.
 * Improved HDD load time.
 * Xbox Live Changes
 * Adds ESPN as an app download via Xbox Live. Certain ISPs do not support the service. ESPN can be limited or blocked entirely.
 * Updates Zune adding Zune Music and ZunePass functionality.
 * Updates Game Marketplace with a Metro-style redesign and easier navigation.
 * New codec for Xbox Live voice chat that improves communication quality.
 * Better connection when using a wireless network adapter.
 * Improved Netflix integration by enabling to search the entire Netflix catalog from within the console.
 * Added Netflix support for Canada.
 * Improved "toast" notifications. One example being "Friends using this app" now shows when a friend uses Facebook instead of it referred to as a "game" when it's started.
 * Kinect Changes
 * Adds a motion menu specialized for Kinect under system settings.
 * Adds Kinect Functionality for Zune, Last.fm, Sky Player.
 * Adds Video Kinect as an app download via Xbox Live. This app lets players video chat with the Kinect sensor bar.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.9199.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * April 6, 2010
 * Public
 * System Changes
 * Allows up to two USB flash drives or external hard drives to be used for storing profiles, game saves, demos and more up to 16 GB each, 32GB combined.
 * Allows content transfer to another attached storage device. Content transfer does not copy installed games.
 * Restores to banned consoles the ability to install games to hard drive, which decreases load times and eliminates noise due to disc spin.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.8955.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * October 23, 2009
 * Public
 * System Software Changes
 * Disables support for 3rd-party memory cards (e.g. Datel Max Memory).
 * Detects all consoles with any firmware version of Xtreme or iXtreme until 1.61.
 * Disables hard drive installs for banned consoles, can no longer be used as a media center, and user information, such as profiles and game saves, appear corrupted when used on another console.
 * Xbox Live Changes
 * Enables (previously inactive) WPA2 support for the official Xbox 360 Wireless Networking Adapter.
 * Enabled Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm and Zune Marketplace on November 17, 2009. Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm are only available to Xbox Live Gold Members.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.8507.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * September 23, 2009
 * Public
 * System Software/Xbox Live Changes
 * Mandatory update that prepared for subsequent growth of the Xbox 360 console and/or Xbox Live. Specifically, preparations for the additions of Facebook, Twitter, and Last.fm to the dashboard.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.8498.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * August 11, 2009
 * Public
 * System Software Changes
 * Fixes the (second) JTAG hack. This is the final update that pertains to a JTAG hack.
 * Update that fixes issues with limited games and with dashboard.
 * Adds Display Discovery to allow console to override factory settings for HDTV resolutions and refresh rates. Also discovers the best possible resolution and refresh rates that the HDTV is capable of displaying (Selected HDTVs).
 * Adds HDMI Reference Levels
 * Fixes a vulnerability used to run arbitrary code.
 * Ability to eject tray using a gamepad even when a disc is already inserted. (X Button)
 * Improves Xbox Guide performance.
 * Reduces hard drive game installation sizes.
 * Adds a Clear Cache option to the storage units.
 * Xbox Live Changes
 * Adds the Avatar Marketplace.
 * Adds Games on Demand to the Game Marketplace.
 * Community Games rebranded to Indie Games.
 * Adds the ability to rate content (Uses a 5-star rating system).
 * Introduces Xbox Live Gold Member Veteran Status.
 * Improves Netflix.
 * Users can now change the instant queue from the console.
 * Adds Netflix movie parties.
 * Adds a "Prizes" area to Xbox Live Primetime.
 * Xbox Live Primetime (Summer 2009).
 * Play game shows with friends over Xbox Live to win Microsoft Points and Themes (For example: 1 vs. 100).
 * - valign="top"

2.0.7371.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * April 2, 2009
 * Public
 * Other
 * Fixes issues with limited games
 * Blows e-fuses that (temporarily) fixes the JTAG hack.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.7363.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * February 3, 2009
 * Public
 * System Software/Other
 * Mandatory update that fixed HDMI audio issues caused by the New Xbox Experience update.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.7357.0

 * November 19, 2008
 * Public
 * NXE: New Xbox Experience

System Software Changes
 * Completely redesigned GUI with a navigation system similar to that of Windows Media Center.
 * New pop-up/in-game Live Guide, using a redesigned version of the blades interface.
 * New sound effects (menus only, notification sounds remain the same).
 * Ability to preview themes before setting them.
 * Ability to disable notifications (new messages, chat requests, etc.) or mute the notification sound.
 * Support for 1440×900 and 1680×1050 16:10 resolutions (letterboxed) over VGA, HDMI and when using DVI.
 * Ability to change to QWERTY keyboard in place of alphabetical keyboard.

Xbox Live Changes
 * Xbox Live Party allowing for eight-person chat and image sharing.
 * Fully customizable Avatars for use in upcoming games and on Xbox Live. (Some current games also received an update on November 19 to support the new Avatars).
 * Access Xbox Live Marketplace on a PC via Xbox.com with the ability to queue downloads to the Xbox 360.
 * Ability to watch Netflix movies on an Xbox 360. (User must be in the US, a Gold Xbox Live member, and a Netflix Unlimited subscriber)
 * Increases the Active Downloads queue limit from 6 to 40.

Other
 * Option to install games to hard drive in order to decrease load times and to make the hardware quieter. The disc must still be present for the game to load.
 * Information from Xbox Live regarding the game in the disc tray.
 * Quick Launch for launching games on the console.
 * Ability to remove games with 0 gamerscore from the profiles played games list.
 * Upon starting any Xbox 360 game, users will be notified if any of their friends and/or party are playing the same game.
 * Auto Start – Option to set whether one wants the disc to run/or stay idle when the disc tray closes with a game or media disc inside, by default it's set to run.

NOTE: Update requires 128 MB of free memory ! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * Microsoft has stated that the NXE will be released to non Xbox Live members (e.g.: on DVD in OXM) at a later date. It is now also available with certain games on the disc itself.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.6717.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * August 6, 2008
 * Public
 * System Software Changes/Other
 * Mandatory update that prepared for subsequent growth of the service.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.6690.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * April 18, 2008
 * Public
 * System Software Changes/Other
 * Mandatory update that prepared for subsequent growth of the Xbox 360 console and/or Xbox Live.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.6683.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * December 4, 2007
 * Public
 * System Software Changes
 * Support for MPEG-4 Part 2 video playback and AC3 audio. (With Optional Media Update)
 * Original Xbox games played now appear in the user's played games list.
 * Parental Timer.
 * Xbox Guide opens significantly faster.
 * Game gameplay fades out when console is turned off.
 * Redesigned user interface.
 * Improved performance.
 * Xbox Live Changes
 * Inside Xbox news feed.
 * The marketplace has been redesigned and is now more organized.
 * The user's downloaded videos are now organized by TV show and season.
 * Social Networking features.
 * Other
 * Players can now put their name, city of residence and a biography under their gamertag.
 * Adds the ability to view users' friends' friends list (Friends of Friends).
 * Xbox Live Arcade trial games are no longer written to Gamercard.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.5787.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * September 20, 2007
 * Public
 * Other
 * Prepared the system for communication with the Xbox 360 Big Button Controller (bundled with Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action).
 * - valign="top"

2.0.5766.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * August 7, 2007
 * Public
 * Other
 * Prepared the system for communication with the Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Les Paul wireless guitar controller.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.5759.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * May 9, 2007
 * Public
 * System Software Changes
 * Switchable aspect ratio during video playback (Auto to Letterbox, Zoom, Stretch, Native).
 * The information bar that turns on via the On-Screen Display (OSD) now shows exactly how much time has lapsed in the playback of the video file.
 * Windows Media protected content (WM-DRM), which can now be streamed from the PC to the console. If the WM-DRM license is missing or corrupted, then a specific error message is displayed to the user. Bookmarking is also stored for protected content.
 * Option to boot straight into Media Center Extender mode (as well as changing the MC logo to the Vista version).
 * Low-power background download function. The storage device, one core of the CPU, the fans, and any other components required for downloading remain powered, but rest of the system, such as the GPU and the disc drive, is shut off. System completely powers off once downloads are complete.
 * Download blocks to prevent a download from starting if it will not fit onto a storage device, without deducting any points associated with the content item.
 * Xbox Live Changes
 * A separate, fifth blade for the Marketplace.
 * A more consistent interface for the Marketplace.
 * Option to automatically download all free Xbox Live Arcade games.
 * Other
 * Two new languages, Russian and Polish.
 * Title of a game (when inserted into system) appears in the tray icon on the Dashboard menu. When highlighted, achievements and Gamerscore are displayed for that game based on the signed-in user.
 * Support for MPEG-4 videos.
 * Windows Live Messenger integration with the Dashboard.
 * Support for "Reference Levels" to video.
 * The ability to see the percentage of downloaded Video Marketplace content and where the ‘chapters’ exist for the said file.
 * More specific “Achievement Unlocked” message, detailing the achievement unlocked and how many points it is worth.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.4552.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * January 9, 2007
 * Public
 * System Software Changes
 * Fixed a Privilege escalation vulnerability in the Hypervisor that allowed non-signed code (such as Linux) to run on the Xbox 360, with direct hardware access.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.4548.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * November 30, 2006
 * Public
 * Xbox Live Changes
 * Improved performance on wired headsets when used with a wireless controller.
 * Other
 * Video output issues on VGA connections fixed.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.4532.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * October 31, 2006
 * Public
 * System Software Changes
 * Support for 1080p video output.
 * Support for the external HD DVD drive attachment.
 * Cosmetic changes to the Dashboard.
 * Xbox Live Changes
 * Support for Zune.
 * Option for automatic downloading of trial versions of newly released titles in Xbox Live Arcade.
 * Other
 * Streaming of WMV files from a computer through the use of Windows Media Connect, connected USB device, CD or a DVD.
 * Windows Media Player 11 as a supported streaming program.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.2858.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * June 13, 2006
 * Public
 * System Software Changes/Other
 * Improved character recognition for users with the localized Chinese-language version of the dashboard on their Xbox 360(s).
 * - valign="top"

2.0.2857.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * June 6, 2006
 * Public
 * System Software Changes
 * Option to resume DVD playback from where it was last stopped.
 * Option to boot to either a disc or the dashboard when system is turned on.
 * New slideshow options for Photo Viewing, which can save folder layouts between sessions.
 * Concurrent downloads, allowing multiple downloads as background tasks.
 * Xbox Live Changes
 * Xbox Live Marketplace was reorganized.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.2258.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * March 2, 2006
 * Public
 * System Software Changes/Other
 * Prepared console for subsequent system and title updates.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.2255.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * January 30, 2006
 * Public
 * System Software Changes
 * Improvements to the Xbox Guide.
 * Option to retain saved games when a profile is deleted.
 * More detailed messaging for unreadable disc or region errors.
 * Xbox Live Changes
 * Network configuration improvements for Xbox Live members in the Netherlands.
 * Other
 * Increased accuracy of "last time played".
 * - valign="top"

2.0
! style="background:silver; white-space:nowrap;" |
 * November 22, 2005
 * Public
 * System Software Changes
 * Update available at product launch.
 * - valign="top"

2.0.1888.0
! style="background:#e9e9e9; width:8em; text-align:center;" |Version ! style="background:#e9e9e9; width:8em; text-align:center;" |Release date ! style="background:#e9e9e9; width:8em; text-align:center;" |Availability ! style="background:#e9e9e9; width:8em; text-align:center;" |Description/Features
 * November 22, 2005
 * Public
 * First version of the Xbox 360 System Software released.
 * Original shipped version (The backup of 2.0.1888.0 remains in the backup kernel storage).
 * - class="sortbottom"
 * }

Xbox Live Preview Program
Starting with the NXE Dashboard (2.0.7357.0), Larry Hryb (Xbox Live's Major Nelson) and other team members hosted a new segment using Microsoft Connect to allow members of the Xbox Live Community to get a chance to have a preview of the next dashboard. Small bug fixes & minor improvements are not included with the Preview Program, this is only limited to major releases (NXE, Kinect, Metro) which only seem to be released in the month of November of each year since the console's launch in November 2005, as well as the Preview Program's inauguration during the NXE Dashboard being rolled out in November 2008. In 2009, the Preview Program returned in August for a summer update (3 months earlier than the regular annual update). Then, the incentive returned in 2010 for the Kinect Dashboard, but users were unable to grasp the full concept of the dashboard because the Kinect sensor was not hitting store shelves until 3 days after the Kinect dashboard had rolled out to all Xbox 360 owners.

The Preview Program incentive enrollment usually starts in (approximately) March/April, or it can happen between August & September, depending on when a major dashboard release is being planned. Those who applied would be notified no later than 2 weeks after the enrollment date with the new Preview Program dashboard launching as early as 24 hours after acceptance. Any Xbox Live member may apply, but those who are Gold Members get higher priority due to the many Gold Member incentives already in place. All details for an upcoming Preview Program can be located on MajorNelson.com when the time is near.

Backwards compatibility
The Xbox 360 system software includes built in software emulation support for the original Xbox game system. Software emulation is achieved with downloadable emulation profiles, which require a hard drive. The last reported update to the list was in 2007 and support has since been discontinued for adding new titles.