Get ready for a whole new Xbox experience folks! Microsoft announced today, the new Xbox Experience - effectively changing the way users interact with the Xbox 360 console as well as providing a new look and feel to how users will play video games, watch multimedia content and interact with users on Xbox LIVE. That alone is big, but Microsoft and Netflix (as expected) also announced a partnership whereby Netflix subscribers will be able to view movies and TV shows directly on the Xbox 360 (think Roku Netflix Player here folks).

First let’s talk about the new Xbox Experience. The folks at Kotaku have an excellent write-up as to what the new experience will comprise of/look like. Here are some of the major tidbits for you to consider. First - why even update the Xbox Dashboard interface? Well the original interface was designed for dealing with hundreds of different pieces of content. However, the Xbox 360 has turned into a device that drives not hundreds but potentially thousands of pieces of multimedia content and thus this necessitated a new user interface.

Secondly, this update is not an optional upgrade or feature of the console. It will effectively replace the Blade user interface we’ve come to love (or hate). The user interface features an Apple iPod/iTunes like Cover-Flow user interface (or similar to the Flip 3D UI from Vista). Kotaku reports that the new Xbox Guide and user interface will be faster than the current interface. Also - more importantly, all of your old content will indeed work with the new user interface.

Other new features being introduced with the Xbox experience include:

• LIVE Party - Share your experiences with friends all over the world
• Personalize your Xbox with Avatars
• Enjoy new content from places such as Netflix, NBC Universal, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, SCI FI Channel, USA Network, Constantin, and MGM.

The new experience also includes a new lineup of games, movies, and TV shows including the following:

• New Xbox LIVE Primetime - a collection of virtual game shows that allows thousands of gamers to become contestants from their own living rooms. One such game will be 1 vs. 100
• New console games such as Final Fantasy XIII, Gears of War 2, Resident Evil 5,Fable II, and exclusive GTA IV episodes
• Music content such as Lips, Rock Band 2, Guitar Hero World TourandDanceDanceRevolution® UNIVERSE3.
• Family titles such as Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts,Scene It? Box Office Smash and Viva Piñata®: Trouble in Paradise.

Ok.. now onto the Netflix/Microsoft partnership. You will now be able to view your Netflix Instant Queue list directly on your Xbox 360 console.  This new addition will be available to Xbox LIVE Gold members who are also Netflix subscribers. Movies can be enjoyed within 30 seconds of selecting the title with controls consisting of fast forward, pause, and rewind.

AND finally, there are two new colors available for the Xbox 360 wireless controller - a red model and a green model. The red model will sell for $64.99 while the green model will go for $44.99.

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