Finally. I no longer have to avoid garish and unconsidered layouts, to shield my eyes from the never-ending bubbly-shiny everything, and to forgive myself for interacting with a bottomless palette of grays and greens paired together simply to play a video game on my Xbox.

Minimizing.

After a brief update made available two evenings ago, Xbox owners were blessed with a crisp interface; one that is positively familiar with its siblings: the Zune (r.i.p.) and the Windows Phone. Upon landing onto the Dashboard, the user is refreshingly welcomed to the belated use of a grid, the implementation of a system of icons, as well as a hierarchy that may or may not bring you to tears.

Dated Xbox Interface (OOH shiny!)

A Refresh

Zune Interface

Windows Phone Interface

The most apparent consistencies between the three include the typographic treatment of the Windows typeface, Segoe UI (which is super sexy, mind you), the usage of a single, prominent color, and a tightly knit grid system based on different sizes of similarly shaped containers.

With a single and final sigh of relief, the Xbox decides to act its age. I am so proud of you, Xbox.

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