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Massive Xbox One Update Arrives Nov. 12

Angela Moscaritolo
 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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Heads up, Xbox One owners. Your game console is about to get a huge upgrade.

During the Halo 5: Guardians launch event on Monday evening, Microsoft's Xbox chief Phil Spencer announced that the much-hyped Windows 10-powered Xbox One update will arrive on Nov. 12. First tipped earlier this month, the free update will bring a "complete redesign built on the cornerstone of Windows 10," offering "the fastest and most social Xbox experience ever."

You will, for instance, be able to start and join parties, add friends, and check messages without leaving full-game mode or pausing the action.

Another long-awaited feature launching as part of the update is Backward Compatibility. Currently available to members of the Xbox One Preview program, the feature lets you play your old Xbox 360 titles on the Xbox One for free. This will initially work with 100 games, including Borderlands, and Microsoft said it plans to add support for "hundreds more" titles in the future.

Other new features arriving Nov. 12 include: a new Community area where you can see the latest updates and interact with other gamers by liking, commenting on, and sharing your favorite content; a revamped OneGuide where you can browse TV listings and trending shows; and one-click access to GameHubs, where you can get updates on your favorite games directly from the developers.

For a full rundown of the changes, head over to Microsoft's "New Xbox One Experience" site.

Meanwhile on the Xbox gaming front, Microsoft last week rolled out some new social features for users of the Xbox beta app on Windows 10, including a Facebook friend finder.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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