NXE will be available free, as all previous updates have been. When you sign in after release, you will be shown the usual "There is an update for XBOX LIVE" message.
This update will take longer than normal, so installation might take a short while.
Some ISPs that have difficulties with larger downloads may timeout, but as always it will packaged with newly released titles as well as on the XBOX.com website burnable to disc.
All the languages currently supported will continue to be supported by NXE. Those outside of North America however may not have access to the NetFlix or Primetime services, just a friendly heads-up on that. As deals need to be made on a per-country basis.
If you do not have a Hard Disk (XBOX Arcade Console), you will still be able to recieve the update... however any cached data will be removed upon shutdown/restart of your console. So for those with limited bandwidth we recommend aquiring a Hard Disk. Currently the 20GB model is available for about the price of a game, so might be worth picking one up now if you don't already have one.
The Background of NXE is fully customisable, allowing you to set many options to your own preferences. NXE is all about improving your XBOX Experience, and customisation of your dashboard is one of these that has recieved particular focus.
All of your previously purchased themes and gamerpics are still fully compatible, and will work seemlessly with the NXE Dashboard. You have the choice to not only choose Gamerpic or Avatar but use both at the same time if you choose to... although perhaps your mug from the Vision cam was nice as a gamerpic, the results on a T-Shirt sometimes aren't flattering.
All of the resources on NXE, particularly via Marketplace will download at varying quality levels to allow for quicker loading times on slower connections or at peak times. Everything is also cached to the Hard Disk, meaning once it's on your XBOX itself it will load instantly until updated on LIVE using no additional bandwidth.
There will be a meeting on the 15th that developers have been asked to attend that outlines some of the new media requirements for NXE Marketplace, this includes the possible inclusion of their marketplace media on-disc along with the system update.
The maintaince update on September 29th 2008 was in order to update the current LIVE servers for NXE and the Holiday period influx of new subscribers. In-particular the addition of number of servers for games and marketplace storage.
While advertisment will still be present, they will now be individually accessible from the top-menu of each section. It is felt this form of advertisment will be less intrusive as not to distract you from what you want to do, while having enough presence to make you want to check them out.
What is nice about the new advertisement design, is that they no longer feel the main aspect of a page; instead they blend really well with the overall experience. Feeling more like "points-of-interest" rather than billboard like... there is also more space for advertisement now you can select them individually which provides more space for information if you choose to check it out.
As far as games go, there are a number of aspects that are changing within this new update. There is a meeting on the 15th to explain these to developers, as well as the additions to the certification process. Specific options like VSync however will still be done at the developers discression. It is suggested that you contact the particular developer/publisher about issues with their titles, or suggestions on improving the experience.
As far as music goes, there is a big change to the XBOX Audio system coming that includes the media playback.
Any suggestions are welcome and should be sent to the XBOX Team, either via e-mail or the XBOX Team blog.
Improving your experience is the key goal of everyone at Microsoft.
Marketplace searching is definately a feature that would be good to have available. Especially due to the amount of content now present. The preset menus do help finding the content much easier now, obviously though having a search system similar to Windows Vista would improve the experience even more. This said there is a particular issue with performance for such a task. Windows users are used to waiting for searchs while people on consoles are not.
You may yet see this feature implimented or atleast some form of easier sorting/quick-selection system.
That isn't to say it definately is there, but it is being looked in to. It might not be present in the initial release, you are likely to see this added later. If this is implimented you can be sure it won't be limited to just those who own the chatpad, however that will make it a damn sight easier.
There is not yet a set date for release for NXE, there are number of issues with the LIVE Servers themselves that need addressing prior to release. You might still be experiencing some problems with LIVE since the maintainance, and recent short downtimes being experienced in-particular. Once these issues have been addressed, setting a more specific release date can be assurtained.
There are teething problems with all new systems, however there are many people working hard to try and minimize these issues. Despite the NXE as a dashboard basically be completed and currently being tested, there are a number of features that are still being finished.
It is almost finished just hang in there!
Enjoy the build up coverage over the next month, as there is more that will be shown off as it gets closer to release.
Phew! That was long, but hopefully answers the majority of questions.