Skip to main content

Xbox 360 dashboard update adds 50 new web streaming and cable TV partners

xbox-360-dashboard-upgrade-2011-official
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Those of you who like to watch Hulu Plus and Netflix on your Xbox, prepare for a pleasant surprise. Today, as predicted, Microsoft has expanded its app partners on the Xbox 360 from 3 (ish) to 50. Yep, 50. These partners range from music streaming services, to movie sites like YouTube all the way up to HBO Go, Comcast Xfinity, and Verizon FIOS. The Xbox is simultaneously about to become a cable TV set-top box and a pretty broad Internet streaming/download platform. Google TV, you may have your work cut out for you.

The full list of partners are below. Some of them require a full cable TV subscription, while others will not. The new upgrade will be able to search through all services connected to an Xbox. So if you want to find, say, The Office, you only have to search for it in Bing and Microsoft will find the app you need to watch it. Kinect users will have expanded voice control options as well.

In addition, as we’ve known, the entire Xbox 360 dashboard will get a Windows 8-like facelift with the update, which doesn’t yet have an official release, though it’s believed to come out in mid November.

Entertainment Partners on Xbox 360 (and countries of availability):

  • ABC iView – Australia
  • AlloCiné – France, Germany, Spain, U.K.
  • Antena 3 – Spain
  • Astral Media’s Disney XD – Canada
  • AT&T** – U.S.
  • BBC – U.K.
  • blinkbox – U.K.
  • Bravo – U.S.
  • BSkyB** – U.K.
  • Canal+* – France, Spain
  • Channel 4 – U.K.
  • Channel 5 – U.K.
  • CinemaNow (Best Buy) – U.S.
  • Comcast – U.S.
  • Crackle – Australia, Canada, U.K., U.S.
  • Dailymotion – Available in 32 markets
  • EPIX – U.S.
  • ESPN** – U.S.
  • Facebook** – Available in all 35 Xbox LIVE markets
  • FOXTEL** – Australia
  • GolTV – Spain
  • HBO GO – U.S.
  • Hulu – Japan
  • Hulu Plus**– U.S.
  • iHeartRadio (Clear Channel) – U.S.
  • Last.fm**– U.K., U.S.
  • LOVEFiLM – Germany, U.K.
  • Manga Entertainment – U.S.
  • Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment/Real Sports – Canada
  • Mediaset – Italy
  • MSN with MSNBC.com – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Spain, U.K.
  • MUZU.TV – France, Germany, Italy, Spain, U.K.
  • Netflix**– Canada, U.S.
  • Rogers On Demand – Canada
  • RTVE – Spain
  • SBS On Demand – Australia
  • Syfy – U.S.
  • Telefonica – Spain
  • Televisa – Mexico
  • “The Today Show” – U.S.
  • TELUS** – Canada
  • TMZ – U.S.
  • Twitter** – Available in all 35 Xbox LIVE markets
  • UFC – Canada, U.S.
  • Verizon – U.S.
  • VEVO – Canada, U.K., U.S.
  • VimpelCom** – Russia
  • Vodafone Portugal** – Portugal
  • YouTube – Available in 22 markets
  • ZDF – Germany
  • Zune**– Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, U.K., U.S.

We’ve highlighted a few of the Internet streaming services. The addition of YouTube and Dailymotion is welcomed, as is Facebook. At the same time, we’re sad that Vudu, Amazon Instant Video, Pandora, and other big streaming services weren’t added. Most of the attention has gone toward cable TV programming around the world, which can be quite costly. Still, it’s good to see cable TV services expand their reach and attempt to start offering services consumers want how they want them. Hopefully this trend will only continue. We look forward to the day when HBO Go and ESPN won’t require a $100 monthly cable subscription.

Finally, Microsoft released this not-so-pretty infographic to show off the new Xbox Live.

xbox-360-live-stats-10-2011
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Jeffrey Van Camp
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…
Ubisoft confirms Assassin’s Creed remakes are in the works
Basim perched on a ledge overlooking Baghdad

In a company interview with CEO Yves Guillemot posted on the Ubisoft website Thursday, the executive reveals that there are remakes of Assassin's Creed games in the works, although he doesn't specify which ones.

"Players can be excited about some remakes, which will allow us to revisit some of the games we've created in the past and modernize them," he says, implying that it could pertain to games made before Odyssey. "There are worlds in some of our older Assassin's Creed games that are still extremely rich."

Read more
Surfaced patent shows what an Xbox streaming console would’ve looked like
An Xbox Series X sits next to both Series S models.

There have been a few Xbox devices that have never come to fruition, one of which was Keystone, a prototype for an affordable game streaming device you could hook up to your TV or monitor. Thanks to a surfaced patent, we've gotten an even closer look at what it would've potentially looked like.

The patent, first spotted by Windows Central, gives us a more complete view of the device. We've previously seen the Keystone in the flesh. Microsoft Gaming head Phil Spencer is known for hiding teases and interesting collectibles on the shelf in his office. In a 2022 X (formerly Twitter) post congratulating Bethesda on Fallout's 25th anniversary, you can see a small white device on the top shelf that's actually a Keystone prototype. Xbox told Digital Trends that it was a version of the device made before it decided to "refocus our efforts on a new approach.”

Read more
Wordle Today: Wordle answer and hints for June 28
Someone playing Wordle on a smartphone.

We have the solution to Wordle on June 28, as well as some helpful hints to help you figure out the answer yourself, right here. We've placed the answer at the bottom of the page, so we don't ruin the surprise before you've had a chance to work through the clues. So let's dive in, starting with a reminder of yesterday's answer.
Yesterday's Wordle answer
Let's start by first reminding ourselves of yesterday's Wordle answer for those new to the game or who don't play it daily, which was "ORDER." So we can say that the Wordle answer today definitely isn't that. Now, with that in mind, perhaps take another stab at it using one of these Wordle starting words and circle back if you have no luck.
Hints for today's Wordle
Still can't figure it out? We have today's Wordle answer right here, below. But first, one more thing: Let's take a look at three hints that could help you find the solution, without giving it away, so there's no need to feel guilty about keeping your streak alive -- you put in some work, after all! Or just keep scrolling for the answer.

Today’s Wordle includes the letter D.
Today’s Wordle uses two vowels.
Today's Wordle can refer to a large number of animals, particularly livestock like cattle or sheep, that are moving together in a group.

Read more