Netflix Xbox 360 Experience Updated to Support Kinect Gestures, Better UI & Improved Viewing Quality

Tweet

Microsoft has pushed its latest Xbox 360 software update to eligible consoles, and along with this comes a new Netflix app that offers better audio and video quality, more content selections, and a new user interface.

Microsoft’s latest Xbox 360 update offers the new Metro UI familiar to Windows Phone 7 users. Microsoft also makes it easier for users to search content, and even talk to the Xbox 360 using voice commands through the Kinect.

Along with this update, Netflix announces a new app for updated Xbox 360 consoles, which feature better content search and control features. The new Netflix experience is said to have been designed from ground up based on user feedback. New features include the following:

• Improved browsing experience. Netflix provides significantly more titles, and enhances the browsing experience with up to three times more title available on screen to choose from. The interface has been optimized for TV, which better showcases the movies and TV shows available on Netflix.
• Richer play experience. This includes access to audio settings, subtitle settings, the ability to rate shows, and episode selections. The new Xbox Netflix app also offers related titles while you watch a show.
• Support for voice and gesture controls. Navigation and control of play functions is made easier with voice and gesture controls via Kinect.
• Adaptive streaming. This optimizes picture quality while adjusting to the current bandwidth.
• High definition audio and video. Netflix now supports 720p high-definition content and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound.

The Netflix app for Xbox 360 is now also available more countries, including Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Colombia with Xbox Gold LIVE. Users who already have the Netflix app will get an automatic update along with the Xbox 360 update released yesterday. Meanwhile, users who don’t have the app yet can download it for free from the Xbox Marketplace.