Verge is reportingMicrosoft is testing a modified version of IE 9 on the 360 ..... In the early days of this generation, I thought I wanted a browser on my console. Now I don't really know (depends on how well it supports video, zoom, text rendering, etc), but I'm not opposed to it, I just don't know how much I'll actually USE it. What do you guys think?

Unless IE 9 is behind their Gold pay wall, exposing IE9 would break their Gold pay wall.

Porn on XBOX. Yay.

My Xbox and PC are on the same TV, so this doesn't bother me. I can see some people wanting a terrible internet experience like this though.

Because more stupid online features instead of exclusives is just what the console needs

And considering we live in an age of tablets and smart phones and considering the console controller and voice commands are terrible ways to navigate web pages....IE9 on the XBox 360 should be filed under "not a great idea".

I'm not on the fence about any console browser. They're all garbage. Especially mobile ones, which given their control interfaces would be the only reasonable ones to use anyway.

I really doubt they'd add it to this generation this late in the game. Microsoft tests a lot of stuff.

"Xbox, Naked Cartoon Pussy".

@jonnyboy said:

"Xbox, Naked Cartoon Pussy".

Oh cool! I can set my homepage on my Xbox to Giantbomb!

Damn it! and here i where hoping they would bring Netscape on the 360. Oh well.

I wouldn't use it, but WHATEVS

@AndrewB: You're right about MS testing a lot of stuff. But I wonder how much whatever updates we see to the 360 this year (you know there will be some) are really tests for their next console.

I never use the browser on my PS3. Well, I did once to watch a Giant Bomb live stream, but that was just to test the browser. I have a HTPC that I normally use for that kind of thing. I can't imagine what I would use it for, but maybe Microsoft has some ideas for content as well, like a portal to host user created silverlight apps/games.

My Xbox and my laptop are plugged into the same television, so I don't even need to get up to get on my computer. The Xbox has precisely one purpose and one purpose only: Games. Every single other thing they could possibly add on to the Xbox, my laptop can already do and does it better.

Hey, if they want to add it, that's fine. I won't be using it.

I would use it, assuming that it does everything reasonably well. Using a PC-oriented browser on a TV sucks.

My computer is right beside my Xbox but I suppose it would be neat for anyone that doesnt have ease of access to it.

I thought the Xbox didnt have keyboard support ? It would take ages to navigate any pages.

@Deathmachine117 You are forgetting about the chat pad !

@Deathmachine117: I actually tried this out and plugged my keyboard into the USB port and it worked surprisingly so I guess they added support??

Seems interesting... Not sure if I would really use it though because I already have PC hooked up to my TV. Maybe if it supports everything (Flash, Java etc.)

Oh my..... I've always thought that MS was a bit of a dumbass for not having an online browser, but of they're loading it with IE, I wont like it much at all. Props to Nintendo for using Opera though And at this late in the game? New consoles are rumored to be announced soon.

With a keyboard plugged in, might work when looking up a walkthrough/tip while the pc is going through defrag/system updates but overall meh.

Hopefully, if they actually release this, it'll be something better than IE9. I have IE 11 on Windows 8 right now, I don't understand why they would tinker with IE9 since it's so old.

@AndrewB said:

I'm not on the fence about any console browser. They're all garbage. Especially mobile ones, which given their control interfaces would be the only reasonable ones to use anyway.

yo, that Nintendo DS internet browser. i almost bought that thing. thought it would be cool to watch pages load for 10 minutes

I don't see the point in this, especially in this day and age, surely you have a laptop or smart-device of some-sort nearby?

@kogasu said:

@Deathmachine117: I actually tried this out and plugged my keyboard into the USB port and it worked surprisingly so I guess they added support??

Seems interesting... Not sure if I would really use it though because I already have PC hooked up to my TV. Maybe if it supports everything (Flash, Java etc.)

It's always had keyboard support, I believe. I remember playing FFXI with one to chat, and even using it to create my first XBL account. Mouse support, however, is a PS3 thing (still pointless since like one game supported K/M, I think).

And IE9 on Windows Phone 7 is serviceable, though I'm not sure about flash / java. If they have Kinect scrolling support or something like that, it may make the browser quite a nice little extra - it's basically the only way I see it working properly on a console.

@AjayRaz said:

@AndrewB said:

I'm not on the fence about any console browser. They're all garbage. Especially mobile ones, which given their control interfaces would be the only reasonable ones to use anyway.

yo, that Nintendo DS internet browser. i almost bought that thing. thought it would be cool to watch pages load for 10 minutes

So did I. Then I actually did use the one on my PSP for awhile. It works in a pinch (for about 10% of the internet), but I'd only ever use it as a last resort which never comes up.

Then I opened the 3DS browser long enough to try and load Giant Bomb and have it fail every time.

@drummand:

I am fully opposed to having a browser on the 360. I don't need to give any reason.

Hope they at least optimize it for big screens, not that I'm going to use it anyway.

@Jack268 said:

Because more stupid online features instead of exclusives is just what the console needs

I think microsoft has proven that the xbox doesn't need exclusives, but if that's what you want go check out FEZ or Trials Evolution.

Only if I can use Kinect to find porn!

I would use it to pirate TV shows.

Browsers are the sort of things where it's either fine or you never want to use it. It takes years to develop a good browser. Unless you're serious about making a good one, don't bother.

As a follow up I have to ask, why does the XBox 360 need a browser? In almost every way I can think of off the top of my head your smart phone is going to have a better interface. All adding a general browser does is add complexity and another component that needs to be patched.

On the other hand, this would be a fast way to get survey numbers (ala Netcraft) to bump up IE9. Now every XBox 360 shows IE9 even if it is only used for a handful of things.

I'll probably never use it, but sure I guess? Hopefully the interface and general functionality will be better than a lot of the other apps they've come out with.

Who cares whether they put one on it or not? It won't really make much of a difference if you don't want to use it... except by making the dashboard a tiny bit more of a cluster fuck to navigate.

Meh. I have an older PC with a decent graphics card hooked up to my TV to use as my porn box. Still, it would be nice to have keyboard support on the 360 if it worked with more than just IE.

I have a browser on both the Wii and PS3. The Wii one is actually not half bad. But I also never use it. The PS3 browser is awful and I also never use it. So I don't see why I would use a 360 browser.

@Azteck: I did not know that. Thanks just one of the many secrets of my Xbox that I find out on a daily basis.

If I can open it while I'm in game and not have to leave game to use it like I can on 3DS, then I'll use it all the time.

Shrug. Same as FB & Twitter for me - would hardly ever use it, but still nice to have the option. Bring it.

I would have to be a pretty big idiot to be offended at more options even if I didnt think i would use them that often.