[ad_1]
Microsoft today releases a major dashboard update for Xbox One. The new October update for the October 2018 Xbox includes new Microsoft avatars, Dolby Vision's support for Netflix, and an Alexa skill to control your console with an Echo device. After more than a year of testing, the new Xbox Live avatars will begin appearing in the Xbox dashboard today.
New avatars will appear on profiles, activity stream posts, friend blocks on the home screen and elsewhere. They are fully customizable to be as varied as possible and there is even a new avatars store to purchase additional cosmetic items for avatars. Xbox users can even keep their old avatar if they wish.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/12094701/2018_0619_avatars_lineup_940_hero.png){kind=avatar}
The second major addition to Microsoft with this software update is a new Xbox skill for Cortana and Alexa. The skill will be available in the United States today, allowing Xbox owners to use voice commands via an Alexa-compatible device to turn on their console, adjust volume and even launch games. You can say "Alexa, launch Destiny 2" so that your Xbox automatically turns on and starts the game.
This is the next step in the tight partnership between Microsoft and Amazon on PDAs, and another one that stems from the ability to connect Cortana and Alexa. Amazon also offers a free Echo Dot to anyone who buys an Xbox One S or Xbox One X in the coming days. The new features are similar to Microsoft's existing Kinect features, but they open the door to millions of Xbox One owners who bought the console before Microsoft breaks down Kinect and kills it.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13253299/9E56FcD.png)
Microsoft is also adding Dolby Vision to Xbox One today. It's limited to the Netflix app for now, but Microsoft promises more Dolby Vision apps will be supported in the coming months. Microsoft consoles now join Google's Apple TV 4K and Chromecast Ultra as the only streaming devices that support both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos.
The October update of the Xbox One Dashboard is available immediately for all Xbox One, Xbox One S and Xbox One X consoles.
Source link
