Dashboard Update Launching Before November 25th, Bringing Silverlight App Store?

The latest Xbox 360 dashboard already looks to be the biggest update Microsoft have brought to the console. A completely revamped UI designed to be fully controlled with a controller and Kinect, with universal voice search and a new app page with access to content from dozens of TV and entertainment providers. It also appears that Microsoft are readying the framework that powers the new dashboard for future third party development.

The framework, codenamed Lakeview, is a modified version of Microsoft's Silverlight framework allowing voice and gesture control via Kinect. Sources say Microsoft have made major changes to Lakeview's capabilities even in these final weeks, with the goal of creating a more mature platform that will allows other third-party developers to use the framework to create apps for the Xbox 360.

A Silverlight app store for the 360 has been rumored for a while now, specifically with the ability to share apps between Windows Phone 7 and eventually Windows 8. With this update, it looks like Microsoft are readying the platform to allow exactly that.

Sources also state that Microsoft are planning to have the Dashboard ready to launch before Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year and the start of the Christmas shopping season. The previously rumored launch date of November 15th would give Microsoft enough time to market the new dashboard's capabilities before Black Friday, November 25th.

With so many changes and over 40 new content providers, Microsoft are likely in a race against time to get everything ready. We'll let you know as soon as a solid date is announced!

Source: GigaOM

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