Cross Media Bar
Encyclopedia
The XrossMediaBar is a graphical user interface
developed by Sony Computer Entertainment
. The interface features icons
that are spread horizontally across the screen. Navigation moves the icons, instead of a cursor
. These icons are used as categories to organize the options available to the user. When an icon is selected on the horizontal bar, several more appear vertically, above and below it (selectable by the up and down directions on a directional pad).
Originally used on the PSX
, the XMB is used as the default interface on both the PlayStation Portable
and the PlayStation 3
. Since 2006, it has also been used in high-end WEGA
TVs, the BRAVIA
starting with the 3000 (only in S-series and above), the Sony XEL-1 OLED TV, HDTV set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, some Sony Cyber-shot
cameras and the high-end AV receivers. The Sony Ericsson K850, W595, W760 and W910 feature a version of the XMB as their media menu, indicating that the next implementation of XMB is in Sony Ericsson
mobile phones. The XMB is also the menu system in the new generation of Sony's BRAVIA TVs. Sony has also added the XMB to its latest range of VAIO
laptops.
The interface won the Technology & Engineering Emmy Award
for "Outstanding Innovation and Achievement in Advanced Media Technology for the Best Use of Personal Media Display and Presentation Technology" in 2006.
, once a category is selected, its options appear below the icon, selectable by pressing right on the directional pad. The categories that are currently available are, from left to right, Settings, Extras, Photo, Music, Video, Game, Network, and PlayStation Network. Going back is possible by pressing the left directional button or the
button (for European and American version), or 
button (Asian versions only). Some items have an option menu that can be displayed by pressing the 
button. The XMB is capable of limited multitasking. This is accessed by pushing the "Home" button on the 1000 and 2000 PSP version and the "PS" button on the 3000 PSP while listening to music, looking at photos, etc. This feature can be used to watch a video, look at a certain photo, listen to music, and look at the current web page, all while browsing the XMB. However, what is in the background will be cancelled if any item is accessed on the XMB (except if viewing pictures while listening to music). The background color on the XMB changes color depending on the current month. On a PSP with firmware 2.00+, the background color can be changed or the background can be changed to a picture. On a PSP with firmware 3.70+, it is possible to listen to music and view photos simultaneously. On a PSP 2000 or 3000 series model, there are a number of additional colors available for the XMB. On a PSP with firmware 4.20+, the background "waves" effect has changed, with two options under Theme, then Color. These two options are the ability to change between the new "waves" effect and the classic "wavy lines". On update 5.00, the XMB received the PlayStation Store
as a new feature.
The PlayStation 3
version of the XrossMediaBar includes ten categories of options; two more than the PSP: Users, Settings, Photo, Music, Video, TV/Video Services, Game, Network, PlayStation Network, and Friends. The dynamic lines on the background are more condensed into a 'ribbon' rather than the PSP's large waves, unselected icons shrink slightly and every selectable background color has been made a shade darker. The PS3 includes the ability to store various master and secondary user profiles, manage and explore photos with Photo Gallery or an ordinary musical/non-musical slideshow, rip audio CDs, rip iTunes
AAC
protected files, play music and copy tracks to an attached storage device, play movies and video files from the hard disk drive, an optional USB mass storage or Flash card, or an optical disc (Blu-ray Disc
or DVD-Video). It also has compatibility for a USB keyboard and mouse and a full web browser
supporting downloading of multiple file types. The Friends menu allows email with emoticons and attached picture features and video chat which requires an optional webcam
(although the PlayStation Eye
and the EyeToy
are official webcams, most USB webcams will work). The PlayStation Network menu allows online shopping through the PlayStation Store
.
Also, the PlayStation 3 adds the ability to multitask in ways such as listening to stored audio files while surfing the web or looking at pictures. The PlayStation 3 XMB supports a variety of file formats (see PlayStation 3 System Software
). The PS3 reserves 48 MB of RAM at all times for XMB functions.
Prior to the update, basic forms of XMB friends lists could be found in some modern (August 2007 or newer) PS3 games including; Resistance: Fall of Man
(Since the 1.1 patch), Warhawk
, Rock Band, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
, Kane & Lynch, Burnout Paradise
(also includes in-game XMB headset accessory menu). In addition, custom soundtracks, taking on the user interface of the XMB has been implemented into a few games such as Mainichi Issho
, Super Stardust HD
, Burnout Paradise
(ver 1.3), MLB 08: The Show
, Wipeout HD
, Ghostbusters, High Velocity Bowling
, Pain
, The Beatles: Rock Band
and software such as Folding@home
(1.2). These partial functions of XMB (friends lists and custom soundtracks) have been up to the developer to implement the function.
Firmware
revision 1.90, released July 23, 2007, allows users to change the background of the XMB to display any image saved on the console's hard disk drive. Firmware 2.00 added the ability to select the background color of the XMB (from the same choice as the PSP), and the brightness of the color. The same update also added extra font choices, and the ability to use custom themes that change the icons, wallpaper, color, font, and, in some cases, the click sound effects. With the release of firmware 3.00, a 'sparkle' effect has been added to the default theme and night time black theme has the current month color as a basis, instead of white.
s from third-party developers. PlayStation 3 themes are able to store images and sounds in order for users to customize their system's XMB. Themes can be shared via the internet and can be downloaded directly to the PS3 system via the PS3's web browser
.
Sony Computer Entertainment also makes official themes available through the PlayStation Store
, a service which is part of the PlayStation Network. Theme files are generally small in size, rarely exceeding ten megabyte
s.
A Dynamic Themes feature was added in software version 3.00 which allows the user to use animated themes. These themes usually feature animated backgrounds which change throughout the day or respond to user input.
, a small development company based in Kyoto
, Japan
, developed the graphics technology behind the XMB, its stylized background, and the built-in music visualizers. Sony has also collaborated with Stanford University
to bring the Folding@home
project to the PS3. Once downloaded, the program can be configured to run when the system is idle or executed manually from the XMB. Folding@Home has now been integrated into Life with PlayStation
.
and ) although usually pressing the left directional button will bring the XMB back to the previous menu and using the start button to start software. Another button is required to display an option menu on a certain item (usually ). Some items might not have an option menu. Additionally, 
is used to group files on the XMB.
The XMB can also be controlled by using the BRAVIA TV remote control (on both BRAVIA TVs and PS3 slim models) and by using the PlayStation Move controller by waving the Move around left to right as well as up and down. The controls have been cited as being similar to the film, Minority Report
.
Graphical user interface
In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
developed by Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. is a major video game company specializing in a variety of areas in the video game industry, and is a wholly owned subsidiary and part of the Consumer Products & Services Group of Sony...
. The interface features icons
Icon (computing)
A computer icon is a pictogram displayed on a computer screen and used to navigate a computer system or mobile device. The icon itself is a small picture or symbol serving as a quick, intuitive representation of a software tool, function or a data file accessible on the system. It functions as an...
that are spread horizontally across the screen. Navigation moves the icons, instead of a cursor
Cursor (computers)
In computing, a cursor is an indicator used to show the position on a computer monitor or other display device that will respond to input from a text input or pointing device. The flashing text cursor may be referred to as a caret in some cases...
. These icons are used as categories to organize the options available to the user. When an icon is selected on the horizontal bar, several more appear vertically, above and below it (selectable by the up and down directions on a directional pad).
Originally used on the PSX
PSX (DVR)
PSX was a Sony digital video recorder with fully integrated PlayStation and PlayStation 2 video game consoles. Since it was designed to be a general-function audiovisual device, it was marketed by the main Sony Corporation and was released in Japan on December 13, 2003 . It was the first Sony...
, the XMB is used as the default interface on both the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
and the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
. Since 2006, it has also been used in high-end WEGA
WEGA
WEGA was a pioneering German audio and video manufacturer, manufacturing some of Germany's earliest radio sets.- History :WEGA was founded as Wuerttembergische Radio-Gesellschaft mbh in Stuttgart, Germany in the year 1923. In 1975, it was acquired by Sony Corporation...
TVs, the BRAVIA
BRAVIA
BRAVIA is a Sony brand used to market its high-definition LCD televisions, projection TVs and front projectors and for the PlayStation 3 , along with its home cinema range under the sub-brand BRAVIA Theatre. The BRAVIA name is an acronym of "Best Resolution Audio Visual Integrated Architecture"...
starting with the 3000 (only in S-series and above), the Sony XEL-1 OLED TV, HDTV set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, some Sony Cyber-shot
Cyber-shot
Cyber-shot is a line of digital cameras made by Sony. The first cyber-shot was made by Sony in 1996. The Cyber-shot range is well known for its proprietary InfoLithium battery pack, the trademark Carl Zeiss lenses, and overall design. Also, all Cyber-shot cameras accept Sony's proprietary Memory...
cameras and the high-end AV receivers. The Sony Ericsson K850, W595, W760 and W910 feature a version of the XMB as their media menu, indicating that the next implementation of XMB is in Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB is a joint venture established on October 1, 2001 by the Japanese consumer electronics company Sony Corporation and the Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson to manufacture mobile phones....
mobile phones. The XMB is also the menu system in the new generation of Sony's BRAVIA TVs. Sony has also added the XMB to its latest range of VAIO
VAIO
VAIO is a sub-brand used for many of Sony's computer products. Originally an acronym of Video Audio Integrated Operation, this was amended to Visual Audio Intelligent Organizer in 2008 to celebrate the brand's 10th anniversary...
laptops.
The interface won the Technology & Engineering Emmy Award
Technology & Engineering Emmy Award
A Technology and Engineering Emmy Award is given by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievement in technical or engineering development...
for "Outstanding Innovation and Achievement in Advanced Media Technology for the Best Use of Personal Media Display and Presentation Technology" in 2006.
PlayStation Portable XMB
On the PlayStation PortablePlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
, once a category is selected, its options appear below the icon, selectable by pressing right on the directional pad. The categories that are currently available are, from left to right, Settings, Extras, Photo, Music, Video, Game, Network, and PlayStation Network. Going back is possible by pressing the left directional button or the
button (for European and American version), or button (Asian versions only). Some items have an option menu that can be displayed by pressing the button. The XMB is capable of limited multitasking. This is accessed by pushing the "Home" button on the 1000 and 2000 PSP version and the "PS" button on the 3000 PSP while listening to music, looking at photos, etc. This feature can be used to watch a video, look at a certain photo, listen to music, and look at the current web page, all while browsing the XMB. However, what is in the background will be cancelled if any item is accessed on the XMB (except if viewing pictures while listening to music). The background color on the XMB changes color depending on the current month. On a PSP with firmware 2.00+, the background color can be changed or the background can be changed to a picture. On a PSP with firmware 3.70+, it is possible to listen to music and view photos simultaneously. On a PSP 2000 or 3000 series model, there are a number of additional colors available for the XMB. On a PSP with firmware 4.20+, the background "waves" effect has changed, with two options under Theme, then Color. These two options are the ability to change between the new "waves" effect and the classic "wavy lines". On update 5.00, the XMB received the PlayStation StorePlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games,...
as a new feature.
| Month | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Color |
Themes for the PlayStation Portable
Users with system software version 3.70 or newer for the PlayStation Portable have the ability to download themes in .PTF format and apply them to their system's XrossMediaBar without using custom firmware. Subsequently, Sony released software which allows users to create their own themes for the PlayStation Portable.PlayStation 3 XMB
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version of the XrossMediaBar includes ten categories of options; two more than the PSP: Users, Settings, Photo, Music, Video, TV/Video Services, Game, Network, PlayStation Network, and Friends. The dynamic lines on the background are more condensed into a 'ribbon' rather than the PSP's large waves, unselected icons shrink slightly and every selectable background color has been made a shade darker. The PS3 includes the ability to store various master and secondary user profiles, manage and explore photos with Photo Gallery or an ordinary musical/non-musical slideshow, rip audio CDs, rip iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
AAC
Advanced Audio Coding
Advanced Audio Coding is a standardized, lossy compression and encoding scheme for digital audio. Designed to be the successor of the MP3 format, AAC generally achieves better sound quality than MP3 at similar bit rates....
protected files, play music and copy tracks to an attached storage device, play movies and video files from the hard disk drive, an optional USB mass storage or Flash card, or an optical disc (Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
or DVD-Video). It also has compatibility for a USB keyboard and mouse and a full web browser
Web browser
A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...
supporting downloading of multiple file types. The Friends menu allows email with emoticons and attached picture features and video chat which requires an optional webcam
Webcam
A webcam is a video camera that feeds its images in real time to a computer or computer network, often via USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi.Their most popular use is the establishment of video links, permitting computers to act as videophones or videoconference stations. This common use as a video camera...
(although the PlayStation Eye
PlayStation Eye
The PlayStation Eye is a digital camera device, similar to a webcam, for the PlayStation 3. The technology uses computer vision and gesture recognition to process images taken by the camera. This allows players to interact with games using motion and color detection as well as sound through its...
and the EyeToy
EyeToy
The EyeToy is a color digital camera device, similar to a webcam, for the PlayStation 2. The technology uses computer vision and Gesture recognition to process images taken by the camera...
are official webcams, most USB webcams will work). The PlayStation Network menu allows online shopping through the PlayStation Store
PlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games,...
.
Also, the PlayStation 3 adds the ability to multitask in ways such as listening to stored audio files while surfing the web or looking at pictures. The PlayStation 3 XMB supports a variety of file formats (see PlayStation 3 System Software
PlayStation 3 system software
The PlayStation 3 system software is the updateable software and operating system of the PlayStation 3. The process of updating is almost identical to that of the PSP...
). The PS3 reserves 48 MB of RAM at all times for XMB functions.
In-game XMB menu
In-game XMB was debuted before the launch of the PS3 by SCEI and was omitted due to technical reasons from the official launch. In-game XMB, a much-wanted feature similar to Xbox 360's in-game guide, was added to the PlayStation 3 on July 2, 2008 via system update 2.40. However, roughly eleven hours after its release, download of the system update was disabled amidst isolated reports of problems reported by small groups of users since installing the update. Users that had not already downloaded the update were only able to download the previous version, 2.36. On July 8, 2008, System Software version 2.41 was released for the PlayStation 3 which restored the in-game XMB functionality of version 2.40 and addressed the problems Sony had found in 2.40. All of these issues were addressed in the 2.40 system update. Although the ability to play users' own music in-game was added with this update, the feature is dependant on game developers who must enable the feature in their games, or update existing games. Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) and many other sources state that in-game XMB was the single most requested feature for the PS3 in the last year (2007).Prior to the update, basic forms of XMB friends lists could be found in some modern (August 2007 or newer) PS3 games including; Resistance: Fall of Man
Resistance: Fall of Man
Resistance: Fall of Man is a first-person shooter video game for the PlayStation 3. It was developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. The game is set in an alternate history 1951, and follows Sgt...
(Since the 1.1 patch), Warhawk
Warhawk (PlayStation 3 game)
Warhawk is a quick-paced multiplayer third-person shooter, vehicle and flight combat game developed by Incognito Entertainment exclusively for the PlayStation 3. It is a remake of an aerial warfare game of the same name, which was a launch title on the original PlayStation. Apart from the...
, Rock Band, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is a 2007 first-person shooter video game, developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Wii. A handheld game was made for the Nintendo DS. The game was released in North America, Australia, and...
, Kane & Lynch, Burnout Paradise
Burnout Paradise
Burnout Paradise is the seventh game in the Burnout racing video game series. It was developed by Criterion Games and published by Electronic Arts. It was released in January 2008 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and on February 5, 2009 for Microsoft Windows...
(also includes in-game XMB headset accessory menu). In addition, custom soundtracks, taking on the user interface of the XMB has been implemented into a few games such as Mainichi Issho
Mainichi Issho
Mainichi Issho is a November 11, 2006 Sony Computer Entertainment online game for the PlayStation 3. It is based on the Toro franchise, a cartoon character which is a mascot for SCEJ. This game is exclusively for the Japanese market...
, Super Stardust HD
Super Stardust HD
Super Stardust HD is a downloadable game for the PlayStation 3 video game console developed by the Finnish company Housemarque. It is also known as Star Strike HD in Japan....
, Burnout Paradise
Burnout Paradise
Burnout Paradise is the seventh game in the Burnout racing video game series. It was developed by Criterion Games and published by Electronic Arts. It was released in January 2008 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and on February 5, 2009 for Microsoft Windows...
(ver 1.3), MLB 08: The Show
MLB 08: The Show
MLB 08: The Show is a baseball simulation video game developed by SCE San Diego Studio published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Portable systems. It the longest-running officially licensed Major League Baseball game series on the PlayStation...
, Wipeout HD
Wipeout HD
Wipeout HD, trademarked and stylised as WipEout HD, is the eighth title in the Wipeout racing video game series, developed by Sony Liverpool for the PlayStation 3 console...
, Ghostbusters, High Velocity Bowling
High Velocity Bowling
High Velocity Bowling is a virtual bowling sports game available from the PlayStation Network, and available for download Via the PlayStation Store. The game was released December 6, 2007 for the PlayStation 3. The game was developed by SCE San Diego Studio's in-house studio, Team Ramrod, and...
, Pain
Pain (video game)
Pain is a 2007 video game for the PlayStation 3, developed by games studio Idol Minds. It was originally released as a downloadable title available from the PlayStation Store and was first released in North America on November 29, 2007 and in Europe on March 20, 2008 and became the most popular...
, The Beatles: Rock Band
The Beatles: Rock Band
The Beatles: Rock Band is a 2009 music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games, and distributed by Electronic Arts. It is the third major console release in the Rock Band music video game series, in which players can simulate the playing of rock music by using...
and software such as Folding@home
Folding@home
Folding@home is a distributed computing project designed to use spare processing power on personal computers to perform simulations of disease-relevant protein folding and other molecular dynamics, and to improve on the methods of doing so...
(1.2). These partial functions of XMB (friends lists and custom soundtracks) have been up to the developer to implement the function.
XMB color schemes
The XMB's default background color changes depending on the current month of the year, and it changes brightness depending on the time of day. Major color changes occur on the three days before the 15th and 24th of each month, while the color gradually changes between those dates.| Date | Jan 15 | Jan 24 | Feb 15 | Feb 24 | Mar 15 | Mar 24 | Apr 15 | Apr 24 | May 15 | May 24 | Jun 15 | Jun 24 | Jul 15 | Jul 24 | Aug 15 | Aug 24 | Sep 15 | Sep 24 | Oct 15 | Oct 24 | Nov 15 | Nov 24 | Dec 15 | Dec 24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Color |
| Time | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value |
Firmware
Firmware
In electronic systems and computing, firmware is a term often used to denote the fixed, usually rather small, programs and/or data structures that internally control various electronic devices...
revision 1.90, released July 23, 2007, allows users to change the background of the XMB to display any image saved on the console's hard disk drive. Firmware 2.00 added the ability to select the background color of the XMB (from the same choice as the PSP), and the brightness of the color. The same update also added extra font choices, and the ability to use custom themes that change the icons, wallpaper, color, font, and, in some cases, the click sound effects. With the release of firmware 3.00, a 'sparkle' effect has been added to the default theme and night time black theme has the current month color as a basis, instead of white.
Themes
.p3t is the filename extension for static PlayStation 3 XrossMediaBar themes. Themes can be created by Sony's official PlayStation 3 theme creator software or by theme compilerCompiler
A compiler is a computer program that transforms source code written in a programming language into another computer language...
s from third-party developers. PlayStation 3 themes are able to store images and sounds in order for users to customize their system's XMB. Themes can be shared via the internet and can be downloaded directly to the PS3 system via the PS3's web browser
Web browser
A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...
.
Sony Computer Entertainment also makes official themes available through the PlayStation Store
PlayStation Store
The PlayStation Store is an online virtual market available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The Store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games,...
, a service which is part of the PlayStation Network. Theme files are generally small in size, rarely exceeding ten megabyte
Megabyte
The megabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage or transmission with two different values depending on context: bytes generally for computer memory; and one million bytes generally for computer storage. The IEEE Standards Board has decided that "Mega will mean 1 000...
s.
A Dynamic Themes feature was added in software version 3.00 which allows the user to use animated themes. These themes usually feature animated backgrounds which change throughout the day or respond to user input.
Developer
Q-Games LtdQ-Games
Q-Games is a video game developer based in Nakagyō-ku, Kyoto, Japan. It has a mixture of foreigners and Japanese nationals on staff and works closely with both Nintendo and Sony.-Foundation:...
, a small development company based in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, developed the graphics technology behind the XMB, its stylized background, and the built-in music visualizers. Sony has also collaborated with Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
to bring the Folding@home
Folding@home
Folding@home is a distributed computing project designed to use spare processing power on personal computers to perform simulations of disease-relevant protein folding and other molecular dynamics, and to improve on the methods of doing so...
project to the PS3. Once downloaded, the program can be configured to run when the system is idle or executed manually from the XMB. Folding@Home has now been integrated into Life with PlayStation
Life with PlayStation
Life with PlayStation is an online multimedia application for the PlayStation 3 video game console on the PlayStation Network. The application has four channels, all of which revolve around a virtual globe that displays information according to the channel...
.
BRAVIA XMB
On the BRAVIA TVs that have the XMB, the BRAVIA version of the XrossMediaBar includes seven categories of options. These include: Settings, Photo, Music, Video, Digital, Analogue, and External Inputs. The BRAVIA XMB menu works similarly to the in-game XMB menu on the PS3, except with the "Home" button instead. Therefore it lacks a background and is not BRAVIA's start up menu. Like the PSP and PS3, it has the ability to perform system updates and access the user's music and video on the TV. Unique to the BRAVIA XMB however, is the ability to view digital channel information just by scrolling through the items on the menu. Although inputs can be instantly selected through the TV, XMB also handles the devices plugged into the TV along with the TV channels. Analogue channels, unlike digital channels, do not display channel information on the XMB.Control
Generally, the XMB requires 8 different options on a controller. A 4-way directional pad is used to choose categories (using the left and right directions) as well as highlighting options or actions within these categories (using the up and down directions). Two additional buttons are required to select items which are highlighted, as well as to return to the previous "level" of menus (Usually and ) although usually pressing the left directional button will bring the XMB back to the previous menu and using the start button to start software. Another button is required to display an option menu on a certain item (usually ). Some items might not have an option menu. Additionally, is used to group files on the XMB.The XMB can also be controlled by using the BRAVIA TV remote control (on both BRAVIA TVs and PS3 slim models) and by using the PlayStation Move controller by waving the Move around left to right as well as up and down. The controls have been cited as being similar to the film, Minority Report
Minority Report (film)
Minority Report is a 2002 American neo-noir science fiction film directed by Steven Spielberg and loosely based on the short story "The Minority Report" by Philip K. Dick. It is set primarily in Washington, D.C...
.
See also
- Wii Menu
- Xbox 360 Dashboard/NXE
External links
- 7 page article describing the XMB on IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
- PS3 Themes Website with themes and wallpapers for the PS3
- Examples of Official Themes for the Playstation Portable
- PS3 Theme Extractor to unpack the PS3's P3T theme files