Microsoft To Add Internet Explorer To Xbox 360

Gaming device maker Microsoft is one up again with the Internet Explorer to be included in the Xbox 360 console. However, plans are to go slow to ensure that ultimately it is stable to give users a richer experience. According to Xbox blogger Nelson, Microsoft will be going about this update in a planned manner, beginning from a small subscriber base and limited areas; this update will cover all users in the end. That, according to the blogger, will ensure that the most stable version will reach the users.

The initial effort at the update will cover an estimated 3 million Xbox consoles across the globe and the rest planned for update in course of couple of weeks, according to reliable source within the industry. Sources are also asking Xbox owners not to panic if they do not see the update immediately in their console. Chances are that the update may take a little longer than usual to show in their devices. They are also advising users to keep checking for the update as frequently as possible.

It is not just the addition of a browser that is interesting according to the source, the grapevine they add, is the revamped dashboard that seems to captivate users. However, according to some users who have already had a hands-on experience, changes for most part is purely cosmetic like for example tiles on panes complimented with TV and a movie channel. Users in the US can expect to get a sports channel as well.

The other bells and whistles of the update, sources say, are the ability to pin content onto the dashboard. For example, you can add films or music you have enjoyed, and if you prefer you can rate and view recommendations you liked most. Another noticeable feature in the Xbox update is the exclusion of Zune from the Xbox vocabulary altogether. That means you will not longer see the Zune Video Marketplace, and instead there is an addition called the Xbox video, an on-demand video store. That, users say is a welcome feature.

According to some people in the know of things, Microsoft will add some additional features once Windows 8 is fully integrated. With the Windows 8 in place, you can expect the Xbox to give you Smartglass, or pinch and zoom. Once in place it should be possible to interact with the Xbox through the PC and tablets as well, we learn from reliable sources. However, these features will require that the users pay for these services. Xbox music will host around 30 million tracks of music this year itself for free as long as users are willing to make do with advertisements.

The operation of the IE browsers is simple and fully HTML 5 compliant. That means sites with videos not in HTML may not play at all. You can also pop down web pages as an icon on the home screen for viewing later. The integration of IE, not really a popular browser, is likely to increase its user base over a period, some say.