Xbox One home screen customization confirmed for next update

Xbox One users will have way more customization options soon

Microsoft is absolutely killing it with Xbox One updates, and the next one to roll out is no exception.

The company promised when the new Xbox launched that it would frequently update it with new features, and the latest much-requested addition is the ability to assign background colors and images for each profile on your console.

Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Game Studios Phil Spencer signaled in early October, that this feature was coming, but he didn't say how soon.

Now Xbox Live Director of Programming Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb has confirmed on Xbox Wire that users will be able to choose a custom background color or assign any high-res achievement photo - accessed by unlocking achievements in games - as their home screen image.

A later update will also let users set any image at all as their background, using the Xbox One's media player app.

There are also major changes to users' profiles, including the return of the "bio" section and the ability to pin certain screenshots, clips, achievements, and other materials to your profile as a sort of Xbox résumé.

The new live TV OneGuide also has trending lists and popular movie lists for users unsure what to watch, and there's a new "What's On" section of the dashboard that serves much the same purpose.

Finally the console's Internet Explorer app, SmartGlass, and the Xbox One store have all been improved as well.

Check out the video below to see some of these additions in action. The new update is rolling out to preview users now, and will arrive for more users in November.

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IFA 2014: The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has arrived, and its QHD screen is stunning

Easy on the eyes

Samsung has just launched the much-anticipated Galaxy Note 4 at IFA 2014, and while it might not attract as many initial "oohs" and "aahs" as the Galaxy Note Edge, this is another solid effort from the South Korean company with plenty to get excited about.

Leaving the big design alterations to its edgey sibling, the Note 4 arrives with the same 5.7-inch screen that was attached to the Note 3. But Samsung has boosted the viewing quality with a Quad HD Super AMOLED (2,560 x 1,440 resolution) display, which will adapt to different lighting conditions.

And it's just as well, because the camera has also jumped up from 13MP to 16MP and now lets in 60% more light for improved images, so you should have some decent snaps to make use of that rich display.

And making all that magic happen is a 2.7GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage on the inside, also powering the latest version of Android, 4.4 KitKat.

The Note 4 also comes with a more premium design than its predecessor, sporting a metal rim around the outside of the phone, though the back is still a faux leather affair, which might not be music to everyone's ears.

As you might expect following the Galaxy S5 and Samsung's wearables, the Note 4 now comes with a built-in heartrate monitor on the rear, though we're still not convinced this is a hugely useful feature.

And this being a Note device, Samsung has given the S Pen more reasons to exist with two new pen options - fountain and highlighter - to give off that extra bit of calligraphic realism.

Samsung says the device will be available in October but hasn't announced a price yet - we suspect we'll be hearing one very soon.

Want the full rundown? Read our Samsung Galaxy Note 4 hands on review

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Asus ZenWatch flaunts its stylish metal body and curved screen (pictures)

The Asus ZenWatch is the first smartwatch using Android Wear -- Google's operating system designed specifically for watches.

Made of metal, curved glass and real leather, it's an attractive device and is due to go on sale later this year for "around €199", although detailed pricing and availability in the UK, US and Australia is yet to be announced. That Euro price converts to around $260 or AU$280, and Asus expects it'll be roughly £200 in the UK.

Asus' new smartwatch is powered by Android Wear, and looks to classic stainless steel for an edge in the wearable war. / Read Editors' take

September 3, 2014 4:15 AM PDT Photo by: Andrew Hoyle/CNET / Caption by: Andrew Hoyle

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