Xbox 360: Microsoft accepting more testers for 2012 Xbox LIVE update public beta

Microsoft is looking to increase the number of public beta testers for their 2012 Xbox LIVE update.

"The amount of interest we received in July for the 2012 Xbox LIVE Update Public Beta was so staggering that today we’re announcing a second open call for Xbox LIVE subscribers to test out the beta program," Microsoft's Larry Hryb, better known as Major Nelson, said. "I can tell you that we’re accepting far more beta-testers this time around, but space is still limited and once the spots are filled the beta will be closed."

The new Xbox LIVE update for Xbox 360 contains a ton of new features including:

• Internet Explorer for Xbox
• Recommendations and ratings
• Pinning and favorites
• Enhanced category search and discovery features
• Voice search (in specified markets)

You can sign up for the beta here; once selected, an update will be pushed to your Xbox 360 in the next few days. Microsoft has said that the high demand on the sign up sight has led to several users being unable to access the registration link. They suggest to just "keep trying".

If you would like to participate, please register for the 2012 Xbox LIVE Update Beta here. You will be required to agree to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for confidentiality reasons. Any participant who violates the NDA will be removed from this beta and all Xbox betas moving forward, and will not have access to Xbox LIVE until the end of this beta program period. Our NDA enforcement squad is really good at finding violators; so save us both the trouble and don’t test them. We also ask that you fill out a brief 5-minute survey at the end of the beta to let us know what you think.

Your interest and passion in helping the Xbox team has been awesome and we’re very excited to see the early feedback so that we can make Xbox even better. Thanks again for your participation and enjoy!