1. An Xbox minus networking is a sad Xbox. The Xbox 360 truly comes alive when online. It has built-in Wi-Fi, although Powerline networking is another way to go. Alternatively, a re-streamer such as Belkin’s ScreenCast that connects it wirelessly to your TV could let you place the Xbox 360 near your router while your TV is in a different room.
  2. It’s not just about gaming. The Xbox 360 is more than just a games machine. Aside from a cut-down Foxtel variant, the latest dashboard update also features Internet Explorer for full-screen TV browsing, as well as a variety of apps.
  3. Xbox SmartGlass. Got a smartphone or a tablet? Xbox SmartGlass is a free companion app for Windows Phone, Android and iOS that allows you to replicate almost all the features of a controller, and more.
  4. Use Kinect for more than just gaming. Kinect is also woven into the way the Xbox 360 works; once it’s identified you, you can wave your arms to select items, talk to it to launch programs or conduct Bing searches.
  5. Embrace the pins. The complexity of the Xbox 360 dashboard brings one big problem with it: it can be a chore searching for specific games or directly heading to your favourites. Pinning content gives you quick and easy access to it straight from the main page — no searching required.
  6. Install your games for stress-free shooting. Got an Xbox with a 250GB hard drive? You may want to install your disc-based games to it. Not every game will install, they’ll eat up to 8GB of space each and you’ll still need the original disc, but after that, game loads are faster and much quieter.

 

Do you have any suggestions for getting the most out of an Xbox 360? Let us know in the comment section below.