Preview Programme For New XBox 360 Dashboard Opens

Microsoft is to give the new XBox 360 dashboard a public preview.

XBox Live members will be able to sign up for the chance to download and test the new system before it goes on general release.

To get the chance to be a part of this, users have to register their interest on Microsoft's website, where they'll receive an invitation to the programme should their application prove successful.

Director of communications Larry Hryb said in a statement: "This is an important programme as we continually strive to ensure the reliability of a service that reaches tens of millions globally. We could not do so without the ongoing help of our great community."

The preview will feature many of the dashboard's new features, such as the Windows Phone-inspired Metro design, greater Facebook integration and cloud storage for save files and profiles.

The new dashboard should be released some time in November.

Forty years of games consoles...