Xbox Update - Hour Delay - Xbox Arrives - After 11

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Dec 4:

Microsoft to update Xbox with new features, entertainment channels

Microsoft delayed a much-publicized update to its Xbox 360 video game console Tuesday morning, but the new offering began rolling out to consumers about eleven hours after the company's intended release.

The update, which Microsoft says will offer more content options and Kinect controls, was supposed to go live before 7 a.m. PST Tuesday morning, Larry Hryb, the director of programming for Xbox, said Monday.

However, Hryb said Tuesday morning on Google (GOOG )+ that it was pushed back.

"FYI: The timing for Xbox 360 dashboard update has been slightly delayed. I'll have a status update later today," Hryb tweeted.

After continuing to push back news on when the service would be updated throughout the day Tuesday, Hryb tweeted a few minutes before 4 p.m. PST Tuesday that the "first set of customers will be getting the Xbox LIVE update within the next few hours."

Just before 6 p.m., Hryb let Xbox Live customers still waiting to test out the new features that the update was live.

"We are a go! The Xbox Update is currently on its way to all 35 million Xbox LIVE members around the world," he tweeted.

The software update is supposed to include access to a swath of new digital entertainment content, including video

channels from the likes of YouTube, HBO and Epix, and digital music from iHeartRadio. Subscribers to Comcast's pay television service will be able to access all of the company's on-demand video via the Xbox.

Microsoft also promised a universal search feature that will allow users to search for movies and other content across various digital content providers. And it will let owners use Microsoft's Kinect accessory to navigate the entire Xbox interface. Previously, users could access only a handful of functions through Kinect.