So i'm currently testing the XBOX Live autumn dashboard update and one of the more interesting things is the inclusion of Internet Explorer 10.

 

I'm playing around with it now and will report back as to how it feels but in the meantime, what are peoples thoughts on this?

 

Do you want a web browser on your XBOX?

Do you need one?

Do we now need to test our sites out in yet another browser?

 

My personal thoughts are that i'm unlikely to use it BUT at the same time i do think it's a worthy addition for those times you just can't be arsed to get off the sofa.

This makes an Xbox360 a business expense!

Hmmmm and i've been eyeing up a slim line one for my living room

 

*cough* i mean 'office'

This makes an Xbox360 a business expense!

 

QFTW.

I must say the interaction between Win 8 and the XBOX has gotten very good!

I think it's just an afterthought. Microsoft have been positioning the XBOX into a "Media Hub" position both through features and marketing dollars. Hell, some TVs can browse the internet. Their amazing box would look pretty silly if it couldn't. It would be like releasing a games console that couldn't play DVDs. Oh wait.

 

I've played around with it for a bit and it's a nice implementation, but I already have a media PC hooked up to the TV so I doubt I'll use it much.

^^^ Completely agree with this.

 

For MS to push the XBOX as a media centre they really did need to implement a browser of some sort and now they have.

I still don't (wont?) browse the net on my TV just because i don't find it an enjoyable experience BUT i totally agree they needed to add the option for people that would enjoy it.

 

I'm not sure how far they are going to take this incarnation of the XBOX. I have strange feeling that this autumns dashboard update will the second from last major improvement they push out to the current generation console. I think they'll do one after this but i fully expect them to announce the successor to the XBOX 360 next year (maybe even this year) that will be an all in one Games/Media system.

Not to be too nit-picky, but the XBox browser is a version of IE9. You can find a developer guide at http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30442

 

I don’t have an XBox so I’ve not tried the browser myself, but I was involved with the Wii browser in some capacity when I worked for Opera, and my Samsung TV has a WebKit based browser. I believe there is a future in TV based browsing, but they’ve been crying out for a viable control mechanism. The Wii has a wand, and that is OK, but typing and navigating gets tiring after a while. It is way better than using a remote control though, like the Smart TV. Voice could be an interesting option, but the way things are going seems to be to use something like a tablet or phone as a touch surface to navigate with. This seems to be what the XBox does with Project Glass, so I'd be interested to see how that works.

 

The main question is why would you surf on the TV instead of your phone/tablet/laptop. I think the context is key here. With the TV you can (or will be able to) hook into things like the TV stream, that give context to what you are watching. That is fairly interesting, but perhaps the main use case is for social surfing. Phones are very private 1-2-1 experience, while a large TV is ideal for gaming (perhaps with a second screen for private info), media streaming, and other such multi-user web experiences.

Just another reason not to get an Xbox, only joking, I'm personally waiting to get the PS4. Never really been a fan of browsing on consoles. Do any of the others browser on a console instead of a PC/Laptop/Tablet etc. ?

Looking through stats for this forum, quite a few people use the Nintendo Wii browser to view the site! - Interesting I thought... Shouldn't you be playing Mario!

I've tried it before, and never liked any browsing experience on any console....so slow moving the cursor with a pad and what about typing! Arghhhhh

Console + gamepad = web browsing.

 

What fresh hell is this?

Looking through stats for this forum, quite a few people use the Nintendo Wii browser to view the site! - Interesting I thought... Shouldn't you be playing Mario!

 

I've tried it before, and never liked any browsing experience on any console....so slow moving the cursor with a pad and what about typing! Arghhhhh

 

I used my xbox for browsing once and ended up just plugging a wireless mouse/keyboard in anyway. So might aswell have just used my computer, which sits next to it lol

Edited March 20, 201313 yr by AaronAlderman

I think I used to get a browser on the Sega Dreamcast. This was the days of 56k connections though so could be my vivid imagination. Just hooked up the Wii for the first time in 3 years or more. It's bad enough looking at a 4:3 screen on widescreen, let alone using a browser on the Wii. Very interesting though...

Personally I think the whole idea of browsing on a console is essentially pointless.

But then I'm completely biased and pro PC
PC MASTER RACE!

 

Although I did have a rather bizarre experience, trying to use a homebrew web browser for the Nintendo DS-Lite