When Microsoft announced the spring update for the Xbox 360, owners of its next-gen console rejoiced. The update was created in response to its customers' wishes, and it will add several features to the console that users hoped for.

　　[UPDATE] The company targeted the update's release "about a week" from its announcement on May 26, and it looks as though Microsoft is holding up its end of the bargain. GameSpot has confirmed that the update is now up on Xbox Live and ready for download. Yesterday, Xbox Live director of programming Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb wrote that the update would be available between 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Pacific Time, but it appears that Microsoft unleashed the download earlier than expected.

　　The update includes more than 125 new "features and enhancements," the most notable being a download manager that can prioritize six downloads. Navigation of the 360's dashboard is changed under the update, making it easier for users to find content taken from Xbox Live Marketplace. The various media functions of the 360, including the DVD player, music player, and video viewer, have also been upgraded with new playback options.

　　The update is free of charge, but currently requires an Xbox Live account, either Silver or Gold. According to Microsoft, the download takes less than one minute and will be stored on the system's built in memory--no hard drive space is required.

　　For a full list of features added with the update, head over to the official Xbox Web site. The next major update is scheduled to take place this fall.