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Microsoft Needs Testers For A New Xbox Preview Program

And all you need to do is get a Live account, fill out a survey, and hope for the best.

It's that time again. Microsoft needs a few (thousand) good people to test out the forthcoming Xbox Live dashboard update, which, as Major Nelson explains it, will see the release of an enhanced Netflix client (searching is go!), the long-awaited ESPN app, and an updated Zune video store. As with most update preview programs Microsoft runs, your opportunity to participate is contingent on patience and luck.

The patience part factors in when you begin the enrollment process over at the Microsoft Connect site. Once signing in with your Windows Live credentials, you'll be asked to fill out a survey. The luck part revolves around it immediately accepting you into the program, which it will this time around. No waiting is required. Whew.  
  
  

   

This preview opportunity, as Major Nelson notes, is available to both Silver and Gold-level Xbox Live subscribers. Gold members, however, will be given "priority" over the non-paying Silver folk. Also, that Windows Live ID needs to be connected to your Xbox Live ID, or else you'll be getting nowhere fast. 

100 Comments

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lunalicrichard

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Edited By lunalicrichard
@TrippinBungalow said:
"No party chat is kiiiind of a dealbreaker. "

for me it is . i wanted to do it ,until i read that your chat is cut off for the duration.
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cozmod

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Edited By cozmod

You would think this thing would be automatic, considering I even beta tested Xbox Live back on the original xbox days.I feel like I deserve a badge or avatar sticker or something.

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kagato

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Edited By kagato

Major Nelson tweeted whilst i was on the way home that they now have enough testers and are refusing anymore.  I was lucky enough to register last night as soon as i got home from work, im in the UK too.  There was an option to choose which country you where from and they where all in there.

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louiedog

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Edited By louiedog
@TehJames said:
" Great that the US are getting all this sweet updates!!   No, not really. Give some love to Europe. "
Did you try signing up? I know people in the UK who have gotten in on it. It's not US only.
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TehJames

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Edited By TehJames

Great that the US are getting all this sweet updates!! 
 
No, not really. Give some love to Europe.

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TorMasturba

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Edited By TorMasturba

These are the sort of people I actively avoid lol, looks good for people who like that sort of thing though, and that's all that matters in the end.

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suikoden352

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Edited By suikoden352

i got accepted into the program as well. i've started using espn 3 more often and i like what is offered with it. will be nice to have it right there instead of having to hook my laptop up to my tv all the time. a bummer though that non preview ppl can't party chat with preview ppl but hopefully the full release goes out soon after the preview stuff so we can all party up anytime we want with all friends and not just some.

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louiedog

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Edited By louiedog

Major Nelson just tweeted that they're almost full. Now is the time to decide if you want in or not.
 
@mfpantst said:

" mother humper, I actually need to be at my xbox to do this..... pffffffbbbbbbbb "


@kagato said:

" @mfpantst said:

"mother humper, I actually need to be at my xbox to do this..... pffffffbbbbbbbb "
Yeah i got caught out on that one too, hope there is still a space by the time i get home tonight! "

I just checked and you can get your serial number by going to the support page and requesting a repair. If your console is registered it will show up there. You don't actually have to go through with the request, it's just a place to select which console you want repaired.
 
The console ID is available from the license transfer tool here. Select "star the processs now" (you don't have to go through with it and it should show up. I've actually done a transfer, so you may need an extra step to get to a place to see your consoles if you haven't already done it. 
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kagato

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Edited By kagato
@mfpantst said:
"mother humper, I actually need to be at my xbox to do this..... pffffffbbbbbbbb "

Yeah i got caught out on that one too, hope there is still a space by the time i get home tonight!
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mfpantst

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Edited By mfpantst

mother humper, I actually need to be at my xbox to do this..... pffffffbbbbbbbb

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kahi

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Edited By kahi
@Mordi

Aka better voice quality :)
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teh_destroyer

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Edited By teh_destroyer

Better Netflix is always a good thing.

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mordi

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Edited By mordi
@aaron.bolthouse@gmail.com said:
" I dont like that I can't party chat with non-preview people, this wasn't true in the two previous previews I participated in :-( "
That probably means they made enhancements to it though.
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aaron.bolthouse

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Edited By aaron.bolthouse

I dont like that I can't party chat with non-preview people, this wasn't true in the two previous previews I participated in :-(
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stubadubb

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Edited By stubadubb

I've been accepted into the preview program, but does that actually mean I'm definitely getting the new dashboard during the preview?

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NickyDubz

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Edited By NickyDubz

Espn n nervous should be sweet

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thedude1

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Edited By thedude1

Boom. I be in dis.

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WinterSnowblind

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Edited By WinterSnowblind
@BestUsernameEver said:

"Is it just added features for the dashboard, or is it the leaked 'updated' dashboard with really square panels and the such? "


It's the new dashboard with all the features and appeareance.  I will say the square theme is a bit odd looking, but it's certainly much cleaner.  Considering how much people were complaining about the amount of "ads" and clutter though, I see why they've gone for something like this. 
 
Also looks to be much easier to navigate with Kinect.    
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Zaapp1

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Edited By Zaapp1

I got it, thanks GB.  I think it's pretty funny that the first three things they ask you are that you're aware you're not getting a kinect out of this...

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budgietheii

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Edited By budgietheii

Think I'll be going for this.
 
yes this is an achievement post.

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DarkCipher

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Edited By DarkCipher

i believe they will accept ton of people until they hit a certain number, gotta realize there are ...i wanna say millions that play xbox every moment i bet once they hit a high number lik e...i wanna say 500,000 it will start rejecting

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wyrdo

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Edited By wyrdo

Cool, let's see if they can make the dash even more annoying than the last update!

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megatronica

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Edited By megatronica

Got in. Don't really care about party chat since the only friends I have are either never really online or kind of annoying on the mic.

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contenderdaz

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Edited By contenderdaz
@Bouke:  Hey,,I've 
 
Hey,,I've entered and am in the UK
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WiqidBritt

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Edited By WiqidBritt

so I can't party chat with people outside the preview program? I think I'll wait this time, I've been in on the last few previews.
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Bouke

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Edited By Bouke
@Bennyishere:
How are you getting Netflix in Europe though? I thought that Netflix was only available for people in the US...
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Bennyishere

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Edited By Bennyishere
@Bouke said:

" Has anyone from Europe entered? "

Yes, and I was accepted immediately. Interesting seeing how I do not get ESPN nor Netflix...
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Bouke

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Edited By Bouke

Has anyone from Europe entered?

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trevorallengreen

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Edited By trevorallengreen

i signed up. hopefully my console gets flagged for the update.

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Damien

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Edited By Damien
@EvilHaole said:
" Too bad ESPN won't work for live games if your ISP doesn't support ESPN3.com.  "
Everyone keeps saying this but has it ever been confirmed?  Link?
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swoxx

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Edited By swoxx

I'm in!

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dkazona

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Edited By dkazona

No netflix or ESPN here, so I'm not going to bother with this preview. I'm jealous of all the people that do get that stuff, though.

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Wejoti

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Edited By Wejoti

I don't think I will use the update simply because party chat is kind of important to me at the moment.  If I were a non-social gamer I would go for it by all means.

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BestUsernameEver

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Edited By BestUsernameEver

Is it just added features for the dashboard, or is it the leaked 'updated' dashboard with really square panels and the such?

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RobustLaser

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Edited By RobustLaser

Awright, I'm in. 

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jakob187

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Edited By jakob187

Wait...so now we actually CAN broadcast the games live at work?! 
 
WOOT!

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LeoMinor

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Edited By LeoMinor

Anyone NOT get accepted? Seems like everyone, including me, were accepted.

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blacklab

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Edited By blacklab

in

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WilliamRLBaker

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Edited By WilliamRLBaker

I signed up for that weeks ago, I had an account on connect from the last 2 betas I took part in on xbox 360...

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Evil_Alaska

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Edited By Evil_Alaska

Too bad ESPN won't work for live games if your ISP doesn't support ESPN3.com. 

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Coombs

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Edited By Coombs

I would sign up if I had any interest whatsoever in any of those features.

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Branthog

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Edited By Branthog

Their sign-up didn't work for shit. I wouldn't have actually participated, but I thought I'd check out the signup, at least. When you click on the first link they give you, it never actually took you anywhere. Probably some proprietary IE bullshit and I'm not going to load IE just to sign up to be someone's beta testing bitch.

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ladnar

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Edited By ladnar

Wingo is cool  wish he still did sportscenter

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kristov_romanov

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Edited By kristov_romanov
@nukesniper: Don't even get the Netflix stuff down here in Australia.  I hear Canada only just got streaming.
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honeycut1

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Edited By honeycut1

I got accepted as soon as I submitted the information.  I'm not thrilled to read the warning that it could kill my system and party chat is gone, but I don't have to worry about that until they push the update.

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nukesniper

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Edited By nukesniper
@kristov_romanov said:
" Got in. Hope it doesn't explode my Xbox.  I wonder if anyone is being denied? "
Yeah really. They took me right away, and I don't have netflix. I might sign up for a trial or something during this though, just to see the new app. The old one was ok, but I still wanted more.
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Cincaid

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Edited By Cincaid

Got accepted as well

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Metalman781

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Edited By Metalman781

not sure if i will use this or not

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Jackel2072

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Edited By Jackel2072

looks like most everyone who signed up got in. I would have killed to get into the Kinect Beta 

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JJWeatherman

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Edited By JJWeatherman

Nice. I signed up and was accepted. Now I pray this doesn't break my system.  :P