XrossMediaBar

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XMB on a PSX
XMB on a PSX
PSX XMB on a Sony BRAVIA TV
PSX XMB on a Sony BRAVIA TV

The XrossMediaBar (pronounced CrossMediaBar and officially abbreviated as XMB) is the Emmy award-winning [1] graphical user interface developed by Sony.

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 XrossMediaBar 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,[2] the BRAVIA starting with the 3000 (only in S-series and above), and the high-end STR-DA 5200ES AV receiver. The Sony Ericsson K850's and W910's media menu is also a version of XMB, indicating that the next implementation of XMB is in Sony Ericsson mobile phones. The XMB has also been confirmed as the menu system in the next generation of Sony's BRAVIA TVs[3]

Contents

[edit] Playstation Portable XMB

XMB on a PlayStation Portable
XMB on a PlayStation Portable

On the PlayStation Portable, once a category is selected, its options appear below the icon, selectable by pressing right on the directional pad. Going back is possible by pressing the left directional button or the Circle button (for European and American version), or X button (Asian versions only). Some items have an option menu that can be displayed by pressing the Triangle button. The XMB is capable of limited multitasking. This is accessed by pushing the "Home" button 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. 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.

Month January February March April May June July August September October November December
Color

[edit] Official themes for PSP XMB

PSP users with the 3.70 system software or newer have the ability to download themes for the Playstation Portable and apply theme to the Playstation Portable without hacking. Sony released software that allows anyone to create a theme, to see example themes visit the PSP Themes Link in the External Links section.

[edit] PlayStation 3 XMB

The PS3's XMB interface
The PS3's XMB interface

The PlayStation 3 version of the XrossMediaBar includes nine categories of options; three more than the PSP. These include: Users, Settings, Photo, Music, Video, 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 or without a 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 in/compatible file download function. 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 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.[4] The PlayStation 3 XMB supports a variety of file formats (see PlayStation 3 System Software). Because the PlayStation 3 is capable of running Linux, other formats can be played through the operating system, assuming the correct codec is present. In a separate demo Sony presented the "Marketplace" where users can buy and download music. The PS3 reserves 48 MB of RAM at all times for XMB functions.[5]

[edit] 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. According to Sony on January 8, 2008, Summer 2008 will see in-game XMB available on the Playstation 3, a feature similar to Xbox 360's in-game guide feature, a much wanted feature that consumers have demanded since launch[6]. The demands stem from the fact that unlike the Xbox 360, music stored on the console's hard drive cannot be played while playing a game, and if a message or game invite is received during play, the game must be exited before they can be read. Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) and many other sources state that in-game XMB is the single most requested feature for the PS3 in the last year (2007).[7] Sony handed out "In-Shirt XMB" t-shirts on February 19, 2008 at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) held in San Francisco's Moscone Center.[8] Basic forms of In-game XMB friends lists can be found in many modern (August 07' or newer) PS3 games including; Resistance: Fall of Man (Since the 1.1 patch), Warhawk, Rock Band, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, 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 Super Stardust HD, Burnout Paradise (ver 1.3), Folding at Home (1.2) MLB 08' The Show, Wipeout HD, and High Velocity Bowling. These partial functions of XMB (friends lists and custom soundtracks) have been up to the developer to implement the function.

[edit] 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. A major color change occurs on the 15th and 24th of each month, the color gradually changes between those dates, but the major change is during the three days before those dates in each month. However, a later firmware revision (1.90; released July 23, 2007) allows users change the background of the XMB to display any image saved on the console's hard drive.[9]

Colors During the year (At Noon)

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

Example of brightness changes during the day (Times in 24-Hour)

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
Color

PlayStation 3 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, and font can also be changed by themes. The XMB "click" sounds can also be changed in official themes distributed by Sony, such as the PAIN themes).

[edit] Developer

Q-Games Ltd, a small development company based in Kyoto, Japan, developed the graphics technology behind the XMB, its stylized background, and the built-in music visualizers. The PlayStation 3 uses a version of the NetFront browser by Access Co. as its internal web browser. It is the same browser used in the PlayStation Portable (Sony-branded NetFront 2.81) with the same interface, menus and virtual keyboard. Sony has also collaborated with Stanford University to bring the Folding@home project to the PS3.[10] Once downloaded, the program can be configured to run when the system is idle or executed manually from the XMB.

[edit] Control

The logo found on Compatible XMB devices
The logo found on Compatible XMB devices

Generally, the XMB requires 7 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 Square and Circle) although usually pressing the left directional button will bring the XMB back to the previous menu. Another button is required to display an option menu on a certain item (usually Triangle). Some items might not have an option menu.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Technology & Engineering Emmy Award Winners Announced. Emmy Online (January 8, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
  2. ^ (Japanese) Sony Wega | 体験！Xmb
  3. ^ Sony's 'energy saving' TV. Reg Hardware (March 31, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-03-31.
  4. ^ About XMB (XrossMediaBar). Sony Computer Entertainment (2007). Retrieved on 2006-11-10.
  5. ^ PS3 1.80 SDK. Inner Bits (August 21, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ In-Game XMB Support Coming Sometime In 2008. Kotaku (January 8, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
  8. ^ Sony's Wise-Ass XMB Shirts. Kotaku (February 19, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-02-21.
  9. ^ Lempel, Eric (2007-07-24). Firmware update 1.90. PlayStation Blog. Retrieved on 2007-07-24.
  10. ^ Williams, David (2006-09-19). PlayStation's serious side: Fighting disease. CNN News. Retrieved on 2006-09-21.


[edit] External links

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