The Spring May Dashboard Update was released this morning. Here is the list of what is updated from Microsoft’s press release. I’ve listed a few of the key features below.

• Windows Live Messenger integration. Windows Live Messenger on Xbox 360 will text chat using the virtual keyboard accessible on Xbox 360, or by connecting a USB keyboard to the console. This summer Microsoft will launch a QWERTY text-input device, a new accessory that will connect directly into the Xbox 360 controller to support text and instant messaging.
• A richer Achievement notification pop-up will showcase the name of the unlocked Achievement and the gamerscore value without needing to leave the game to check the Achievements list.
• Enhanced family settings features for Xbox LIVE communications enable different defaults for video chat and voice chat.
• A new Xbox LIVE Marketplace blade lets Xbox LIVE members access the content they seek — whether it is game content or TV shows and movies (available in the United States) — from one place on Xbox LIVE.
• Updates to Xbox LIVE Arcade allow owners to quickly see which Xbox LIVE Arcade games their friends are playing and join in the fun. Xbox LIVE members can also compare progress of leaderboard scores and Achievements directly with all friends on their friends list. Expanded Tell a Friend capabilities make it easier than ever to boast about Achievements and high scores.
• A new option in Auto Downloads provides faster access to the entire collection of free, trial-version Xbox LIVE Arcade games.
• New progressive download controls provide easy access to optimal viewing options by letting people fast-forward, rewind, pause and resume as their video is downloaded from Xbox LIVE Marketplace.
• Extension of the background download functionality will allow owners to set their Xbox 360 console to turn off automatically after downloads are complete.

I’m pretty excited about a few of these updates. The MSN Windows Live Messenger integration is pretty cool , but I’m not sure how much I will use it since it can only be used for chatting. If I could also use it to invite my friends on Messenger to the game I am currently playing then I know I would use it all the time.

The updated Achievement info that pops up when you get an achievement now is great. I no longer have to pause my game to go see what achievement I just got. I never really thought about it before but this is a great little addition.

The new Marketplace blade is nice because it makes it really easy to find whatever content I’m looking for instead of having is spread all over the other blades.

The one update I’m really happy about is the background download option. Now I can turn off my Xbox 360 when I’m done playing and it will keep downloading. Before I would keep my Xbox 360 on while I was at work to do the downloads and then when I got home I would have 20 or 30 invites from my friends list that were sent throughout the day to clean up. Now I just turn it off and it automatically goes into a lower power mode where I am offline so my friends will not spam me with invites, but it still downloads the latest Xbox Live Arcade games for me.