This is a thread with answers to some of the Frequently Asked Questions regarding the "New Xbox Experience" Fall Update.  It's also a good place for you to post information, videos, and links about the "New Xbox Experience" Fall Update.

What is the "New Xbox Experience"?
The "New Xbox Experience" is an system software update coming November 19th that will completely redesign the user interface and add a lot of new features.

When is the "New Xbox Experience" Fall Update coming out?
The New Xbox Experience Fall Update will be coming out on November 19th, 2008.

Will the "New Xbox Experience" Fall Update be optional?  Will I be able to change back to the old dashboard?
No, the "NXE" Fall Update is mandatory if you want to continue using Xbox Live.  You also won't be able to change back to the old dashboard.

How much space will the "New Xbox Experience" Fall Update take up and will it require a Hard Drive?
The "NXE" Fall Update will take up 128 MB of memory and a Hard Drive is required.  However Microsoft has announced a memory upgrade program that will allow consumers who purchased the newly discounted Xbox Live Arcades to get in on the NXE.  Eligible Xbox 360 Core owners can get a free 512MB memory card or a refurbished 20GB hard drive for $19.99. Arcade owners are eligible for the refurbished 20GB hard drive and three months of Xbox Live for $29.99.  How do you know if you're eligible? Visit Xbox.com, input your serial number, and Microsoft will let you know whether your Xbox is ready to level up.

Will the "New Xbox Experience" Fall Update cost anything?
No, the "New Xbox Experience" Fall Update will be free of charge.

How can I get the "New Xbox Experience" when it's released?
You can get it on Xbox Live, when you sign in to Xbox Live, a notification will pop up asking if you would like to Download and Install the update.  You can also get the from Xbox.com and burn it to a CD or DVD.  For more information, see this page: LINK.  The "NXE" Fall Update will also be available on some games post-"NXE" Fall Update release like Gears of War 2.

What new features will be included in the "New Xbox Experience" Fall Update?

• Completely redesigned user interface (Resembling Windows Media Center)
• Party system for up to eight players
• Avatars
• Xbox Live Primetime (For Example: 1 vs. 100)
• Option to install games to hard drive
• Quick Launch for launching games on your console
• Netflix instant watching support
• 16:10 over VGA and HDMI, support for 1440x900 and 1680x1050 resolutions
• Access Xbox Live Marketplace on the web
• Redesigned Live Guide

What will happen to my Gamer Pictures and Themes?
You will still be able to use all you Gamer Pictures and themes.  This link shows a picture of how themes will look with the New Update.

What are avatars?  Do I have to use them?
Avatars will be your online identity on Xbox Live.  You can express your style, check out new outfits and share this with the community.  Avatars will also be integrated into Xbox LIVE Arcade games, LIVE Party, as well as retail games.  No, you don't have to use your Avatar, it is optional(you can use a Gamer Picture in its place).

What's Xbox Live Primetime?
A collection of virtual game shows such as "1 vs. 100," Xbox LIVE Primetime allows thousands of gamers to become contestants and play together for prizes.  The games will have achievements, leaderboards, and you will be able to invite friends.  These will be scheduled throughout the day, prize details are unknown.

Will Xbox Live Primetime be available everywhere on release?
No, Xbox Live Primetime will be launching only in North America, France, Germany and the U.K.  It's unknown if or when other regions will be added.

How will the "Play From Hard Drive" feature work and what's the point?
You will be able to copy your games from the game disc and play directly from the hard drive.  The disk drive won't have to spin therefore lowering noise, wear-and-tear on the disk and disk drive, and overall system heat.  Also games will run smoother and load quicker(noticeably slower on older games) Of course, you will still need the disc in the tray to prove you own the game.  This feature will require alot of space as the game saves are quite large(ex. GTA IV is 7 GB), so you might want to pick up a new hard drive.

Do you have to be a member of Netflix to stream Netflix Instant Queue movies to Xbox 360?
Yes, you will have to not only be an Xbox Live Gold member, but you will also need to have at the minimum, a One-at-a-Time Netflix(Unlimited) membership to use the "Instant Queue" feature.

Do my friend's have to Netflix to watch movies while in my party?
Yes, your friends will need an Xbox Live Gold account and a Netflix membership.

Will I be able to stream all of the movies from Netflix?
No, you will only be able to stream movies from Netflix that are in the "Instant Queue" section.  The "Instant Queue" section consists of older movies and shows(some newer) only, there are no new releases in the "Instant Queue" section.

Is Netflix streaming available to everyone?
No, the Netflix streaming feature will only be available to US members.

Is this the end of the Blades Interface Dashboard?
No it’s not going away; they are now built directly in to the new Xbox guide. Every feature and option is available right from the guide.  You can even access your full games library at all times.  No matter where you are (in dash or in game), immediately call up your games played list and directly launch a game.  Picture

How will the Xbox Live Marketplace work on the Web?
You will be able to browse and purchase Marketplace content whenever you want from Xbox.com and it queues up content for download.  Purchase that new map, television episode, the latest Xbox LIVE Arcade game or set up a movie to watch when you get home from work. 

Will the notifications(look and noises) change, specifically will that blessed sound when an Achievement unlocks stay the same?
The alerts look the same – actually, like the entire interface, they look sharper, cleaner. Oh, and the sound is the same.

Sources, Videos, Pictures, and other links:

New Xbox Experience Page at Xbox.com
New Xbox Experience - Games Played(Major Nelson)(Gamerscore Blog)
New Xbox Experience - A Look at Avatars(Major Nelson)(Gamerscore Blog)
New Xbox Experience - Themes and Friends Channel(Major Nelson)(Gamerscore Blog)
New Xbox Experience - Game Marketplace(Major Nelson)(Gamerscore Blog)
New Xbox Experience - Marketplace on the Web(Major Nelson)(Gamerscore Blog)
New Xbox Experience Trailer
New Xbox Experience Netflix Info Video
Game Installation Process Video
Dashboard In-Depth Walkthrough Video

Please add any new information with links that you may find regarding this "NXE" Fall Update.

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Sounds cool, now i must wait for my 360 to return...

There will be 8 people private chat soon too from what i hear.

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-> My old clan site

 lXI JD lXI wrote:

There will be 8 people private chat soon too from what i hear.

Yea, I was thinking that, but I guess that would go under the 8 player party.

I'm curious about the game install. Will we still need to have the game in the disc drive or will it be a full install?

 Morn0007 wrote:

I'm curious about the game install. Will we still need to have the game in the disc drive or will it be a full install?

Yes; to insure you own the game. It will still cut down on loading times and noise. :)

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GamerLimit
Lead by example.

Don't forget that it will brick 70% of all people who get the update.

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 Rb I Charlsy wrote:

Also when you're holding a gun you can fire it by pressing RT

 Morn0007 wrote:

I'm curious about the game install. Will we still need to have the game in the disc drive or will it be a full install?

It's answered in the FAQ.

 TooLegitVolz wrote:

How will the "Play From Hard Drive" feature work and what's the point?
You will be able to copy your games from the game disc and play directly from the hard drive.  Not only will the drive not spin, but load times are quicker, as well. Of course, you will still need the disc in the tray to prove you own the game.  This feature will require alot of space as the game saves are quite large(ex. GTA IV is 7 GB), so you might want to pick up a new hard drive.

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Good job man. Game installation it's quite pointless? It's just for loading time and noise? And that is worth me sitting there, waiting for 7GB to install on my newly purchased HDD just to fit these games to get quicker loading ti...... It's pointless IMO as for online players, you loading faster than someone who hasn't installed the game isn't going to give an advantage is it? I am sure there has to be more to it.

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" />DeviantArt Clicky!

Does anyone know if we're going to be able to install Xbox backwards compatible games too?

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Beat it, Brucey! Go home and play with your wooden dolly!

 DarkStryder360 wrote:

Good job man. Game installation it's quite pointless? It's just for loading time and noise? And that is worth me sitting there, waiting for 7GB to install on my newly purchased HDD just to fit these games to get quicker loading ti...... It's pointless IMO as for online players, you loading faster than someone who hasn't installed the game isn't going to give an advantage is it? I am sure there has to be more to it.

Well, the disc drive won't have to spin, which will therefore generate way less heat.  So that should drastically lower the chance of disk drive problems and hardware problems(overheating).  I definitely plan on using it.

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 B Plumbtree wrote:

Does anyone know if we're going to be able to install Xbox backwards compatible games too?

Good question, I doubt it, but it would be worth looking into when it is released. 

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Go Everwhere, Study Everything, Fear Nothing
Twitter

This sound's like it is going to be a pretty sweet update [:

I can not await it.

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Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.

I knew all of that, but great guide. This should be stickied to avoid repetive threads.

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All Points Bulletin possibly the best game idea I have seen.

 Coldlogic47 wrote:

I knew all of that, but great guide. This should be stickied to avoid repetive threads.

I'm sure alot of people know must of the stuff in this game.  But I have seen tons of questions asking about the release of the Fall Update, also asking if you need to have the disk in the drive to play a game install, also questions about Netflix, and other questions as well.  So hopefully it can help clear up some of the repetitive quetions.

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Good luck on avoiding the repetative questions.  It drives me nuts.  BTW, miss your old gamerpic

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Go Everwhere, Study Everything, Fear Nothing
Twitter

 Syncshock wrote:

 Morn0007 wrote:

I'm curious about the game install. Will we still need to have the game in the disc drive or will it be a full install?

Yes; to insure you own the game. It will still cut down on loading times and noise. :)

Don't forget, wear on the disc drive.

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 Orion Nights wrote:

Good luck on avoiding the repetative questions.  It drives me nuts.  BTW, miss your old gamerpic

Thanks, I know a couple people weren't fans of it and I was asked to change it by some random people a couple of times.  So I got my UT gamerpicture out just in time for college football.

It actually fits my Gamertag better.....

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Why would you care what others think of your gamertag....wait I know.  You are a nice guy and care what other ppl think.  Sometimes I too care, most of the time in fact, but in the end its a representation of your character.

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Go Everwhere, Study Everything, Fear Nothing
Twitter

 Orion Nights wrote:

Why would you care what others think of your gamertag....wait I know.  You are a nice guy and care what other ppl think.  Sometimes I too care, most of the time in fact, but in the end its a representation of your character.

Oh I didn't care, I had that gamerpicture up for a couple of months now, I was ready for a team.  Plus I wanted my UT Gamer Picture up for football season as well.  I use my UT gamer pictures during College Football and Basketball.

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I change mine all the time to fit whatever game I am playing or mood I am in.  With Football season here I will probably change over to a team pic as well, just dont know who to go with this year, they all seem destined to do horribly.  Go Redskins!!

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Go Everwhere, Study Everything, Fear Nothing
Twitter

Brand new 7:42 video from PAX 08 of Major Nelson demoing the new dashboard.

http://savygamer.co.uk/2008/08/new-xbox-experience-from-pax.html

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What the *** was with the camera man in that video?

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I can't wait for....
X blades
Ninja Blade
Halo 3:Recon

 Ashido480 wrote:

What the *** was with the camera man in that video?

That was just a regular person at PAX, he was most likely trying to watch the presentation as well.

Taken from his page:

Major Nelson demoed the New Xbox Experience at 10:30 Pacific today, and I have it all on video. I was watching the screen rather than the camera, so there's a couple of times my aim is off and you end up watching the Ubisoft sign rather than anything else, but all the pertinent info is available. I'll be posting a more in-depth breakdown shortly.

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I'm not gonna use it, the loading times are quick enough and the noise doesnt bother me one bit.  Kudos to Microsoft for giving us the OPTION to use it.  Congrats