It’s been a good year for Microsoft’s Xbox 360 gaming console. Holding the title of ‘best-selling console’ for ten out of the last eleven months, it’s clear that Microsoft is doing something well here.

Of particular note are two Kinect launch titles: Dance Central and Kinect Sports. Despite being, at heart, a rip-off of Wii Sports, it’s managed to sell over 3 million copies worldwide. Dance Central, a fully-interactive ‘Dance Dance Revolution’-type game developed by Rock Band and former Guitar Hero developer Harmonix, sold 2.5 million copies worldwide since its release late last year.

To help prove the Xbox’s strength in the market, let’s look at the latest NPD sales figures:

• The Xbox 360 sold 297,000 units in April, securing it the No.1 spot in the U.S.
• Consoles sales are up 60% year-over-year, the largest growth of any current console, and likely thanks to the redesigned console released last summer.
• Total retail spending came out to $310 million, the most of any console. This figure includes hardware, software, and accessories.
• The top 10 Xbox 360 games for the month of April included Crysis 2, Mortal Kombat, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12, Michael Jackson: The Experience and Portal 2.

It might also help that the Xbox 360 is currently the only high-definition console with an operational online network. That was mean; I’m sorry, PS3 owners.

Source: http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2011/05/12/kinect-sports-amp-dance-central-help-keep-xbox-360-in-the-no-1-spot.aspx

Joystiq was given some information by a Microsoft tech support about an upcoming Spring 2011 Dashboard Update which would bring a few new features to the Xbox 360.

The information Joystiq received says the update will begin rolling out May 19, and continue to roll out through May 30 on six separate “waves” to “to ensure a high quality deployment.” Avatar Kinect will be coming on May 27, though Joystiq says it will not be included in the Dashboard update, but it will be a separate download.

This update also includes support for a new Microsoft disc format, which not much is known about as of yet. There is only one feature which will be “user facing,” which is PayPal support that will bring the option to purchase points, content, etc. “to new international markets.”

Joystiq asked Microsoft for information on this Dashboard update, but they replied: “We have nothing to announce.”

With the recent occurrence of the PlayStation Network breach, it has left others asking whether or not Xbox LIVE could suffer from the same fate. While Sony has yet to explain what happened, they have left it at a “criminal cyber-attack on the company’s data-center located in San Diego, California.” It is unlikely that Sony will ever detail what actually occurred, but they assured their users that they have “implemented a variety of new security measures to provide greater protection of personal information.”

To see what Microsoft is doing to proactively protect their some 30 million Xbox LIVE users, I asked how safe Xbox LIVE was in terms of security. “The security around our Xbox LIVE service and member information is our highest priority,” replied a Microsoft spokesperson. “While we don’t share specific details, we invest considerable resources to preserve network safety and ensure customer information remains secure.”

Online Safety Tips for Xbox LIVE

While it sounds as though Microsoft is making sure their Xbox LIVE network is as safe as can be, there are still those who will always remain worried as to whether or not their information could be stolen online. The Microsoft spokesperson detailed some steps that any, and all, Xbox LIVE users can, and should, take to protect their information online.

1. Use a strong password – As always, be sure to use a strong password that contains a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, along with numbers and special characters (such as: #, $, %, ^, &, and *).
2. Change your password and secret question often – Be sure to change your password and your secret question and answer often. The spokesperson notes that you can choose to make your password expire every 72 days.
3. Never share your password – Never share your Windows Live ID password with anyone, ever, under any circumstance!
4. Only share your Windows Live ID with those you know – It is not recommended that you share your Windows Live ID with anyone except people you know personally, like friends and business contacts.
5. A good secret question – Be sure to use a secret question and a secret answer that only you know. There always seems to be a secret question option of “Where were you born?” which is probably not a very good choice.
6. Keep your Windows Live ID safe – This coincides with #4, which is to not supply your Windows Live ID to unknown websites, businesses, or forums.
7. Beware of impersonators – There are always people ready to con others into sharing personal information, such as passwords, by impersonating a customer support agent or some other person affiliated with Xbox or Microsoft. If you are worried as to whether or not they are legitimate, you are asked to directly contact Xbox Support by calling 800-4-MY-XBOX (800-469-9269) in the U.S. For those that are in other parts of the world, visit www.xbox.com/contactinfo for the appropriate contacts.

If that’s not enough for you, there are even more security precautions you can take by visiting the Account security for Xbox LIVE page.

Removing Credit Card Information from Xbox LIVE

Some 10 million credit card numbers could have been compromised during the PlayStation Network breach, according to Kotaku. Xbox LIVE can also store credit card information as well, which may leave people uneasy storing the information online in case of an attack on Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE network, to which the Microsoft spokesperson said the same thing: “The security around our Xbox LIVE service and member information is our highest priority. While we don’t share specific details, we invest considerable resources to preserve network safety and ensure customer information remains secure.”

As mentioned, Xbox LIVE can store credit card information, but you can choose not to. This of course will require you to manually repurchase your subscription or enter your credit card information whenever required, but it can add peace of mind.

To get your credit card information removed from your account you can call 800-4-MY-XBOX, or visit www.xbox.com/contactinfo for those that are outside of the U.S., for no charge.

There is no definitive answer as to whether or not Xbox LIVE could fall to a “criminal cyber-attack” such as the PlayStation Network, but we do know that Microsoft is making sure they are doing everything they can to keep member information safe and secure.

Yesterday there were rumors of Hulu Plus coming to the Xbox April 29th, which is tomorrow, and today Larry Hryb — known as Major Nelson — confirmed these rumors.

There was no mention of any sweepstakes as some thought there might be to promote the launch, however Jack Link’s Beef Jerky is providing all Xbox LIVE users with one free week of Hulu Plus, from April 29th to May 6th. If you are a free Xbox LIVE user, don’t worry, you will also get access to the free week of Hulu Plus, but keep in mind that once the week is up, a Gold membership will be required along with a Hulu Plus subscription.

There is no word on which countries will be able to access Hulu Plus, but there is no doubt that it will be US only.

It looks as though Microsoft’s promise of bringing Hulu Plus to the Xbox might be coming as soon as April 29, which is this Friday. That is if the leaked information obtained by Joystiq is to be believed.

Joystiq says that this information comes from a ”legit-looking scan” of the June issue of OXM. The magazine details Microsoft plans to put on to promote the launch of Hulu Plus on the Xbox, “wherein each week from April 29 through May 30, prizes will be awarded to randomly chosen Hulu Plus users,” says JC Fletcher of Joystiq. Prizes would be anything from a Beaches Resort trip, Xbox 360 packages, and even Hulu Plus subscriptions.

However, is it just me or do you think that it is a bit much to give away Beach Resort trips just for the launch of Hulu Plus on the Xbox? Oh well.