Twitter, Facebook To Hit Xbox Live November 17

Xbox Live's integration with new social and multimedia features will launch on November 17, Microsoft company revealed today. As announced at E3, Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm are all coming to Xbox Live Gold subscribers, and high-definition video for the company's Zune handheld will launch on the same day. It's part of the company's plans to make its platform into "the largest social network connected to the TV," as Microsoft says. With Xbox Live integrated with Facebook, users can update their status on the social network about their activity on the service, including their movie and game use, in addition to the ability to access friends' statuses directly from the console. Facebook friend lists and Xbox Live friend lists will be able to cross-reference one another. Users can tweet directly from their consoles, while the social features for Zune HD video will let subscribers share movie-watching experiences with voice chat among up to seven friends. As for Last.fm, users can personalize their music playlists via Xbox Live, and in the U.S. and UK, the service will offer users video game-themed listening selections. “We’re delivering some truly exciting social entertainment experiences to our members,” comments Xbox Live GM Marc Whitten. "Xbox LIVE’s differentiator has always been our community, and we’ve already seen a tremendous response to these features in our public preview." Adds Whitten, "It’s the community that drives us forward and allows us to pioneer new ways of connecting people through the entertainment they love." Xbox Live will also get a new "News and More" channel with a regularly-updated stream of content from partners like MSNBC and The New Yorker. "From the launch of Xbox LIVE nearly seven years ago, to milestones like Video Marketplace, Netflix and the New Xbox Experience, we’ve continued working toward our vision of connected entertainment for everyone," Whitten continues. "I’m proud to say that next week marks another great stride in fulfilling that promise, and we’re already imagining what the future has in store."