August 11, 2009 Xbox LIVE Update truly cranks it up a notch – with features that improve your entertainment experience and give you new ways to express your individuality and connect with friends. With this update, you can download full Xbox 360® games and play them without a disc, and you and your friends will be able to party watch movies online through Netflix! Dress up your avatar to impress with premium props and branded apparel from fashion labels. And this update allows every piece of game content on Marketplace to be rated, so add your personal ratings and see what others think is cool. But that’s just the beginning. Check out all of the new features of the Xbox LIVE Update below.

Games on Demand

Enjoy the convenience of finding and buying new games right from the comfort of your own living room. Download a wide selection of full Xbox 360 games over Xbox LIVE. Games on Demand will be available for purchase on Xbox LIVE starting August 11 as part of the Xbox LIVE Update. You will be able to browse and purchase games through the Xbox LIVE Marketplace on the Web starting August 13.

Avatars

Avatars have seen lots of love! Check out the new Marketplace and Avatar Props. The Avatar Marketplace will be available on Xbox LIVE starting August 11 as part of the Xbox LIVE Update. You will be able to browse and purchase Avatar apparel through the Xbox LIVE Marketplace on the Web starting August 13.

Netflix

Now you can watch movies with your friends and find new movies to add to your Instant Queue without leaving your seat.

Party Watch – Catch a show with your friends! Bring your party into Netflix and watch a movie or TV show together

Parties

Everyone loves to Party! Check out the new and improved party reconnections and streamlined party invites.

Party Reconnections – If a user is disconnected from a party inadvertently, they will be automatically reconnected to the party without any user interaction.

Gold Member Veterans – Been here long? Show it off! Anyone looking at your gamer card will now know how long you’ve been an Xbox LIVE Gold member. And who knows, there might be other perks for you, too. Thanks for sticking around!

Many changes have gone into the account recovery process to speed it up and to increase reliability.

Video Display Options

Various improvements have been made to make it easier for you to see your game in the highest resolution possible when using an HDMI connection.

UI Improvements

Some parts of the dashboard have been slightly re-organized to make it easier to find the things you’re looking for.

Indie Games – We listened to our community and have decided to rename Xbox LIVE Community Games to Xbox LIVE Indie Games. This new name better represents the independent spirit of these titles. User ratings are also available for Indie Games, allowing you to share your rating for a game and use ratings from others to find great new games.

Achievement Browser – Launch a game directly from the Achievement browser making it even easier for you to max out your Gamerscore.

This fall, Xbox LIVE will see the addition of the following new features as well:

Facebook
Twitter
Last.fm
Zune Video

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Debates are raging as to what the future of movie distribution will look like. There are those who claim that physical discs like DVDs, Blu-ray, and whatever format will eventually supplant Blu-ray will always deliver a superior viewing experience versus anything that will be available via streaming. Pundits on the other side of the debate, say that as broadband’s footprint continues to expand and quality is improving.

Interestingly, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings is siding firmly with the latter camp and it would even appear that Netflix is gearing up to move all of its eggs from the mail-distribution basket to the online streaming basket. Hastings indicated that perhaps as soon as later this year or sometime in 2010, Netflix might start offering online-streaming-only subscription plans beyond just its current Starz plan.

I am super excited that they are even considering this move, because 90% of my Netflix experience is via my Xbox 360. Streaming is one of the best things Netflix ever did, keeping me occupied while I have to wait for the snail mail to come! [via Slashdot]

Try Netflix streaming to your Xbox 360 for 2 weeks completely FREE
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By law, full-power television stations nationwide must begin broadcasting exclusively in a digital format by June 12, 2009. The U.S. Congress approved an extension of the deadline, which was originally set for February 17.

Way back in 1996 the U.S. Congress authorized the distribution of an additional broadcast channel to each broadcast TV station so that they could start a digital broadcast channel while simultaneously continuing their analog broadcast channel. Later, Congress set June 12, 2009 as the final date that full-power television stations could broadcast in analog.

Fast-forward to today, if you are a late-adaptor, your time is up now — today, nearly 100% of all major networks turned off their analog signals, forcing those with circa-90’s era bunny ears and black-and-whiteTV’s even further into the stone age.

The solutions are numerous and simple:

1. Get Cable or Satellite Service:
It’s 2009, Cable and Satilite Service can be had with 100’s of channels for under $30 a month and bundled with internet in some cases. I like the Dish Network, cheap, lots of channels, and the picture is crystal clear — only about $20 a month too.

2. Get a Digital-to-Analog Converter Box:
If you’d like to go the non-cable/sat route, you can get a converter box at Amazon for about $30-$40. Every U.S. household can get up to two coupons–each with a code good for $40 off the cost of eligible converter boxes on Amazon right now.

3. Stop Watching Traditional TV and Get An Over-the-Internet or Rental Service:
While you might not be able to completely replace your TV, you can do a darn good job. Hulu.com offers a free, legal way of watching some of your favorite shows (like Family Guy or 30 Rock) online, any time you want.

Other options include Blockbuster Total Access or Netflix, they let you rent DVD’s from their website and get them to your door in a day or 2. They also have a service where you can stream 1000’s of movies and TV shows instantly to your computer or TV (even your Xbox 360 with Netflix).

I hope this guide gives you an informed choice about your TV usage and provides an option that will fit into your budget. Again, cable and satellite TV subscribers with analog TVs hooked up to their cable or satellite service should not be affected by the transition to full-power analog broadcasting. If you have any questions, feel free to email me or leave a comment.

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