Xbox One Update: New Media Player, Party Controls, Boot To TV

Although it has been barely two weeks since Microsoft unrolled the August update for the Xbox One, it is already releasing the September update for the console while we're still in August. This update brings a lot of user-requested features into the mix, including the ability to kick out people in the Party App, delete multiple recorded videos at once, and boot the Xbox One directly to the TV.

In terms of app updates, the biggest would be the new Media Player app for the Xbox One. This app will support more formats than its Xbox 360 counterpart could ever hope to play, at least soon. For now, i can play media files from any USB drive you plug into the console. In the hopefully near future, it will also support DLNA. Animated GIFs and the MKV container will also be coming at an undisclosed date. The Party App has also been updated to give more power to the party overlord, including setting the party to invite-only, monitoring what everyone else is playing, and, if necessary (or just for fun/spite), remove someone from the group.

There are also some behavioral changes to the console. You can now set the Xbox One to boot directly to TV instead of the start screen, useful for those who have theirs set to Instant On. It is now also possible to batch delete files from GameDVR instead of doing it one by one, a handy feature when, like Major Nelson's Larry Hryb below, you record multiple small clips that you later spin into an epic montage. The Xbox One now also has a useful way to monitor not just your network speed but your data usage as well.

The Xbox One itself isn't the only one getting an update. The SmartGlass apps have been enhanced to make it an even better extension of your console experience. Now users will be able to post status messages on their Activity Feeds right from their smartphone or tablet, removing the need to switch away from your current Xbox One activity. You can also now initiate recording gameplay video from SmartGlass' Now Playing bar.

In addition to the software updates, Microsoft is expanding the availability of features and services to more countries. Users in Australia, Canada (French), Italy, Spain and Mexico will now be able to turn on their consoles using the "Xbox On" Kinect voice command, while Brazil, Mexico, Austria, and Ireland join the ranks of those who have OneGuide available to them. All of these coming today in Microsoft's advance party for the September Xbox One update.

SOURCE: Microsoft