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June Xbox One Update With Real Names, External Storage Goes Live
Xbox One owners are waking up to a surprise on their consoles. Microsoft rolled out the June update last night, and now you no longer need to sign in with a Gold membership to access media apps like Netflix and Hulu.
This update also brings real names (if you want to use them) and external storage options to Xbox One (both originally announced prior to the console's launch). Microsoft has also announced that Hulu will be offering three-month trial membership to Xbox Live Gold members. This update is timed alongside an update to the SmartGlass app.
If you’re an Xbox Live Gold member, the first two Games with Gold titles for Xbox One were made available yesterday. You can download Halo: Spartan Assault and Max: The Curse of Brotherhood now. Note that Xbox One Games with Gold are tied to your membership, so in order to retain access, you need to maintain your membership.
[Source: Xbox Wire]
Our Take
I like the pacing of the Xbox One updates, but this one has some wrinkles. I’ve had some issues with the Smartglass app crashing when trying to watch TV, which necessitated a complete reboot of the system to re-enable television. There is a button for DVR on the new remote screen, but it isn’t enabled yet (at least not for my model set-top box).
The console-side functions like real names, external storage, and automatic sign-in all seem to working great. This update adds a number of important features and those seem to be operating perfectly.
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