Dreaming of Dashboard 2.0

(An editorial piece on the Xbox 360 Dashboard) On the eve of E3, The Fanboys muse on what a reboot of the Xbox 360 dashboard could look like, and how it could improve your experience with your console.

[Condoleezza Rice]

The Blades are meant to resemble the Consoles curves,so unless Microsoft are going to unveil a redesigned Xbox 360,the Dash won't be changing anytime soon.

Keep the dream alive though,with enough articles on the necessary improvements the Dash has to undergo,Microsoft are sure to start listening!

[Yoma]

I don't like dashboard now. The one on the images at the bottom looks cooler.

Anyway, Microsoft will never be listening to the consumers.

[ry-guy]

I really like the design he showed us. I like the wallpaper idea not being obscured by the blade system themselves. Even if you do buy one of those neat themes all the other stuff clutters and obscures your view of the theme itself.

Hope you are taking notes, Microsoft.

[Truplaya]

its a nice idea and i like his suggested new look. The current one does already show you what's in tray though, and Y is mapped to something but apart from that he's spot on. Allt he wasted space could be used better and his design stops things overlapping each other.

[Rich1631]

I agree that the 360 dashboard is in need of an overhaul but his design is too cluttered.

[edhe]

The dash needs to be redone - if only from a performance point of view.

But i think we'd all like to see it tuned for HDTVs, smaller fonts, less clutter, cleaner ins & outs and less digging down to find what we want (use a standardised 'start' button to play games/films/etc from the top level that you see them from, or to join in mate's games (like x for invite)

I like that article, points things out well, well considered options if not entirely up to date but i'm not fond of his style, though i appreciate what he's done in the mockup.

There's a reason there was no spring update, i hope there's something come E3, or something gigantic in autumn.

[Domenikos]

I would like to see a XMB analysis to show how great it is and what it should improve.

[titntin]

I thought this was real good article and analysis, and I love to see MS completely rethink their approach, even if I'm fairly sure they won't.

I've never really liked the blades dashboard,it works well enough, but its a bit 'cartoony for my tastes. So a replacement would be cool!

I know some won't like me for saying it, but as an owner of 360 and PS3, the user interface for PS3 is far sleeker and sexier. especially at the proper 1080P resolution, and it has a lot more room for free personalisation. MS should definately make more personalisation options available for free like on PS3. If you wnat to use one of your next gen machines as your main media server, theres not much contest if you want something thats looks sleek - IMHO of course!

Thats a shame, because all the functionality is there and ready in the 360 - it just doesn't look cool! Feel free to disagree, but I'd like to hear what you think IS cool about the current cross blades design especially with the enforced advertising...

[Dareaver1]

what advertising, there is once in a while an advertisement which is accompanied by free themes and gamer pics. What's the big deal, and not only that, they are rarely there long or are inconspicuous like the Ford Sync thing which is being advertised because MS created the Sync software.

I could understand if MS had these really big advertisements that you had to sit and watch, but they are usually small and out of the way.

Some people on here really can't grasp the idea that this stuff is expensive to implement. MS takes most of the responsibility with paying for online gaming from the developers. We (the gamers) weigh part of that burden with our annual payment and some of the advertisement pays for the rest.

Why do some of the real gamers notice that everything downloads faster on Live then PSN, how do you think they are paying for all that bandwidth. But is 50 dollars a year really that crippling for some gamers. Look at the cost of these consoles and their games. If you have 10 360 or PS3 games, that means you have paid over 600 dollars, not only that, imagine if you bought legendary or collector editions.

I find the blades very easy to use. If i want to know what's going on in the 360 universe, the first blade is there, then we have the marketplace blade that is separated if i want games, videos, active downloads, account access, to see what's new, and what's the most popular. Then there is the games library blade, that is where you find all you demos and arcade games, what you played last and what's been most popular to download. Next we have the multimedia blade, it allows you to listen to your music, watch all available videos, look at all pictures and it's intuitive and you can change you source on the fly. Lastly you have the systems blade, it allows you access to change the options of how the 360 operates from resolution, memory management, and to connections.

The blades are very simple and keep the community aspect of XBox live and the 360 within grasp. 360's biggest selling point is the community aspect and it's ease of use. I think the current xmb is fine enough. Everything can use improvements, but why have everything the same.

And i can't stand the fact that everyone is giving so much credit to the PS3 and PSN for attempting to emulate live. It's like cheering for Second place. All these features have been available on live since it's inception except for the movie and tv show downloads, but so many sites are giving all the credit to the ps3 like it started it all. My goodness, all that attention for catching up to what the competition has been doing for over a year now. Wow, simply mindblowing.

[Dareaver1]

I can't wait for Home to come out. All those people with problems with advertising are going to hate Home. Sony even said it themselves. They are going to TRY and keep Home free by having advertising incorporated in it.

These companies are in the business to make money, who ever really thinks that any of these companies are honest or have any intention outside of making money, are delusional.

The way some fanboys on this site talk about their favorite companies can be sickening at times. It's like the try to personificate these companies and make them seem like a down-to-earth best friend. When all these companies are the exact opposite. They are all sharks, surviving on the law of the jungle, Survival of the fittest, kill or be killed. They don't care about any of us, all they want is what's in our pockets; a man made commodity that we have put value to. Plain and simple.

@Titntin - my comments aren't really direct at you, most of them are just generalizations. I have great respect for you, and i have known you to have some of the most insightful conversations on this site. So, much respect to you....

[titntin]

It is rather amusing how you ask " what advertising" and then go on to explain that there are adverts on live and why they are justified!

You're happy having that on your TV, thats fine, but I'm happier with an interface where I have customised backgrounds icons and sounds - I've designed my own XMB and I've no place for ads on it!

The idea that people are having a hard time with, is that one company can do it and absorb the costs, another company does the same thing and charges. It would be a lot weirder if people wern't asking the question!

As for download speeds, I can only relate to my own experiences as I haven't seen any reliable speed comparisons and I've yet to notice a difference. Its true that many PSN games take longer to download than Live arcade games, but thats simply as MS has a really small limit on the size of downloadable games - nothing to do with the transfer rate.
Whilst theres not quite the huge choice of live, I've found many of the titles on PSN to be significantly higher quality, big games developed for PS3 running in true 1080P.

I'm suprised that you don't see why people are impressed with the update? For 18 months now, the 360 purists ahve been saying that Live is so much better because of these features and thats why its worth paying for. Those features are now given to all PS3 owners for free.
How can that not be a good thing? I don't think anyone is claiming that they innovated these options, but surely you'd agree that PS3 getting this functionality is a great thing? Indeed you could argue that the trophy development adds extra excitement to the concept.
I can't see what problem anyone would have with this unless you're simply mad because one of the stalwart defences of 360's live fee has been squished.

Those that are happy with live - carry on and enjoy! Don't begrudge or belittle PS3 owners getting a slice of all the stuff you've been telling them they've missed out on for so long!

Its brilliant that these features are coming to PS3, and kudos to Sony that the PSN remains free and not subsidised by advertising. Anyone begrudging PS3 owners this excellent update is simply mean spirited!

[r2kcipher]

it seems like Home will be like walking though time square. and the developers having space to advertise there new games will benefit us all. i don't see many people having a problem with this. as long as they don't over do it, and its free.

[JasonXE]

Why are you guys talking about 2nd life...oh wait you mean home, nvm.

[Dareaver1]

i'm not begrudging PS3 users or gamers for what they are getting. They should of had it in the beginning after all it's suppose to be a gaming console. I'm just saying that it's like more credit is being given to PSN for catching up, and then they try and take shots at Live, even when they know that PSN is essentially emulating Live.

But some features are still missing like Cross game chatting. The community aspect of Live is one of it's strongest appeals, and i'm sorry but PSN is not up to snuff yet.

I congratulate PSN gamers for getting these features. I appreciate them every time i play my 360, and it helps bring the gaming community to the forefront, but i just don't think it's right that they take pot shots at Live. If it wasn't for Live, none of these features would have been implemented.

As for advertising, the reason i said what advertising is because it's not an everyday occurence and it's not all in your face, there's not even that many of them. All the advertisements i have seen on live had been game influenced. Let's see, the Burger King ads where directly related to the BK games, then we have the Doritos ads, which was related to the Doritos create a game contest, then there is the Halo 3 Mountaine Dew ads (as you can tell, directly game related). The Live ads are by no means in your face or obtrusive, go on Live right now, and i can guarantee that all the ads are for games nothing else. Right now, go and check. I just think it's foolish that a lot of PS3 gamers come on here complaining about things on Live they know nothing about, they just regurgitate what their fanboy brethren have said, and think it's facts.

And as far as bandwidth speeds, i'm not comparing live games to the likes of Warhawk, that's a retail game that is available for download, that's like comparing the download of SuperStarDust HD to one of the Live originals. Live is clearly faster at downloads, i can download a HD movie in no more than 15 minutes, i've heard PS3 users complain about demo downloads and updates that can exceed 15 min. Like you said, your personal experience might be different, but that might just be you. I have heard from more multi-console owners say that Live is significantly faster at downloads then PSN.

And another thing is, i want the systems to offer different things. I don't want PSN to be exactly like Live and vice versa. Live has it's community aspect, and PSN has it's simplistic Techy feel. That's their strengths.

@r2kcipher - an ad is an ad is an ad. If you complain about one, then don't be a hypocrite and give the other a free pass. Live Users 50 dollar annual fee goes into a lot of things behind the scenes, and all the ads i have seen on Live have been game oriented or influenced so it's not like you have an out of place Nike ad. And you also get free themes and gamer pics. I don't mind the ads as long as it helps improve Live, just like you like the Timesquare feel of Home, i like the behind the scenes improvement that Live gets. And also the gamer reporting and rep tools. That's another strength of Live.

Live is a great tool, and has helped take many games to the next level, look at all the arcade games most of them have online support and they all have enabled chatting and many other features. Please if you can't see past the 50 dollar fee and into everything that Live offers then most likely you will never get it. Gamers win with a unified system. Developers are more free to do other things and implement other features that you might not always get on multi-plat counter parts.

[titntin]

"Live has it's community aspect, and PSN has it's simplistic Techy feel."

Once I read that, I just knew there was to be no reasoning with you.
Despite the fact you have no experience of PSN, you somehow think you know what its about and what its like to live with? I have loads of mates on PS3's with camera's. We regularly have multiperson video chat sessions to keep in touch despite the fact we all live in diffent parts of the country now. Is that not comunity? Ever seen all the bext gen communitty features in a game like singstar? Thats comunity. As far as I've seen, comunity for 360 owners means having some teeenage americans shouting obscenities at you as they camp on a respawning point. If you ARE an annoying US teenage kid, maybe thats brilliant, but for adults who like to play games, thats not community at all - at least not one we want to partake in, and its why I let my live subscription run out and did not renew it.

You've obviously sucked at Mr Gate's teat for far to long to ever be weened onto anything else. Feel free to keep sucking...the rest of us will continue to live in real world and call it as we see it.

[r2kcipher]

well i don't think all adds can be considered the same. commercials are annoying because they interfere with what you are doing. billboards don't and if they do they must be illegal.

if you subscribe for a game website you get no adds that's how live should be IMO. it should be one or the other not both.

[Dareaver1]

first and foremost, when i said simplistic and techy, i'm referring to what most PS3 users have said. They have said that the interface was simple and easy to use. They also have said that they like the simple non-cluttered way the PSN XMB looks. When i said community and live, that's what they bank on. MS has always pushed the community aspect of the 360 and live.

I'm sorry if you had a bad experience online, but i've had great experiences online. My favorite game to play online is Forza 2, there are some great racers on there. I mostly play with european racers and my co-workers. I have had bad experience when i play shooters like Gears and Halo3, but i don't blame that on Live. I have also had great times on Halo 3 and Gears, especially when i get a good squad together, it makes the whole gameplay awesome. I also loved playing UNO and all the Live Arcade games that have the Cam available like Tetris Splash also. I've had great experiences also with Girl gamers.

But the way you responded, i can't say that i liked the ridicule. I've always tried to be objective in my views, even though i lean more to 360, i don't down the PS3 to make it seem better. I just compare what's available now and try to share my perspective. But i guess i must have offended you in someway, so i won't respond to any of your posts from now on. I like to debate and conversate with people who don't resort to low blows or offensive statements. I found that MS statement/ridicule to be very offensive.

I'm all for good debates and differences of opinion, but i try my best to not offend people.

@r2kcipher- you are never forced to watch any ad on the 360. They don't make you watch a video or commercial in order to play a game or demo, or to gain access to XBox Live. They have a clicker that constantly changes, and sometimes you will see a game related ad, like i said, i have never seen a useless ad on there, all have been directly related to a game or to an MS product. It's just like a changing billboard.

[Tarasque]

Well first off the 360 disc tray does have detail's tell's you what game and show's your last achievement's with that game.

[Tunerboy8732]

but I wouldnt mind a new one.The blades are cool in my opinion but I wouldnt mind some new features added to it.

[predator423]

In my opinion I do indeed think the dashbord is in need of an overhaul. and i like his desighn more than the one right now,but i would like to see like a myspace type area open to the public or just friend that you cane cusomize to your liking.and i'd also like to see an internet web browser.I maen come on microsoft practicaly owns the internet and they cant put a web browser on there own console.the nintendo WII did.and to able to put more than just one custome theme on you dash.

[JasonXE]

was this flash 3d enviroment on Xbox.com had when releasing the xbox 360. I would like to see how they would implenntment that.

Something here --> move mouse cursor to click on that trailer <--_> etc. I don't know if anybody remembers.

[MetalProxy]

I though they said the 360 dash board was perfect? People must be getting board with it already :).

[JasonXE]

but where thinking of a evolution from it. While others are copying it (not well either), we are already thinking forward and continue leading the pack.

[BlackCountryBob]

I like his mock up but TBH I still think it lacks the sophistication, elegance and accessibility of the PS3 XMB. It would be nice to see a bit of a redesign though, I sometimes feel that with the Sony firmware updates they are constantly adding stuff and moving forward while the 360 has remained at a standstill, a refresh would I be nice.

[DJ]

PS3 has the upper hand in terms of interface and store design, but any sort of improvement on the 360 side would be much appreciated.

[ChrisGTR1]

also remember those rumors about the Wiis or w/e characters. then there was no spring update.then theres also XNA youtube like free gaming... so im thinking there gonna unleash the motherload of updates this winter, maybe some of it at e3?

[GlossGreen]

I agree, I don't really care for the way the blades look on the 360. I think the marketplace really needs the most work. I really prefer how PSN does the info pages for games. It pulls up a full page with a detailed description of the product. I have one other problem with the blades. If there is advertising on the blades why is Live $50?

[Deadman64]

Very creative ideas. I'd love to see them implemented.

[SKUD]

I love the idea of reserving 8% of space for advertising. Hell make it 4%.

[Ali_The_Brit]

XMB owns the stupid blades

[why do droids cry]

what the same xmb that has been in every xbox?

[M1am1U]

I think those were some pretty good and very reasonable ideas. Here's to hoping MS does some listening and comes out with a nice update. I enjoy the idea behind the blades, but I do think some tweaking is in order.

[highps3]

Ps3 interface is way better plain and simple. Microsofts intereface has turned into a freakin maze with non stop advertisments. Frankly they can make it a little better but Sony got this one right. The fact I cant use my own custom pictures as a background is LAME. The fact that they charge you for them is even LAMER!

[sneekstream]

designs look hot

[DJ]

It's scary to see how much of the Xbox 360's interface is dedicated to advertising (23%) versus user space (13%). The redesign's allocation is much better. I mean you are paying for the console and the online services; concentration should be on the gamer, first and foremost. I remember Sony talking about this in regards to advertising in HOME, and now I'm starting to understand the problem.

[psnCAShville_615]

stupid looking xbox dashboard, dont you dare cal it xmb, microsoft wish they had patent to xmb ... sony owns eff u 360 fanys

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

Droids are just pissed cuz they are still waiting for everything, they get daily updates of sh!t thats still 15yrs away. LOL they have to wait on Sony, who is waiting to see what Microsoft is doing so they can take 5yrs trying to copy it.