XMB
Users |
Settings |
Photo |
Music |
Video |
TV/Video Services |
Game |
Network |
PlayStation Network |
Friends |
---|
Description
The Xross Media Bar (or XMB) is the graphical user interface for the PS3
The first Sony product with a XMB interface was the "Sony PSX" in 2003 (A hybrid of a PS2 + DVR player with recorder capabilityes only released in japan, see: PSX sony.co.jp and Wikipedia PSX), later was used by the PSP, then PS3 and some Bravia TV's
The word "Xross" (the "X" itself) is a reference to the alignment of the icons in rows and columns, each column is a category
System Software can be updated from the XMB settings by using an .PUP file
Installable Content (games or apps in .pkg format, and a few PS2 Discs), and contents in PS3 Discs, are "preloaded" by XMB using an small file (see: PARAM.SFO) this file is indexed in a database for efficiency purposes and fast access (see: XMB Database) and contains an identifyer that belongs to an specific XMB column (see: CATEGORY)
The dynamic wave on the background theme 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 various photos format(.MPO since FW 3.70) with Photo Gallery or an ordinary musical/non-musical slideshow, rip audio CDs, rip iTunes AAC protected files, play and copy music 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).
Web browser, also supported with USB or BlueTooth keyboard, can download multiple file types but with some restrictions. Shortcut for launching website is also possible from TV/VIDEO collumn.
Since FW 4.30, trophies have been moved to the PlayStation Network category, in which Online shopping through the PlayStation Store is possible.
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 PS3 reserves 48 MB of RAM at all times for XMB functions, multi-task in ways such as listening to stored audio files while surfing the web, looking at pictures or playing games.
The XMB by default changes its color depending on the current month of the year and brightness depending on the time of the day (only in original and classic Themes). XMB color can be configured to "default" (changes every month) or one of the 12 color preconfigured for months, in XMB Settings column ---> Theme settings ---> Color
This change of color affects background, waves, all the icons, and other images like the "side menu". The color is applyed to the originall images like a "color filter" layer over them (note originall icons are semitransparent white to improve this effect)
The background images changes acordingly with the month. The file lines.qrc contains 24 textures_month_bg_*.dds images of 64x32 pixels. Each day has 2 different images for "day" and "night". See Qt Resource Container (QRC)
The color filter and brignhness values in this tables are not the exact values, is unknown how this filters are applyed, where are stored, and how works, see Talk:XMB for speculations
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 |
Virtual Shell (VSH)
The Virtual Shell encapsulates the XMB interface. It is loaded at: /dev_flash/vsh/module/vsh.self
And has numerous modules and descriptor files. The VSH does not directly load the XMB interface, it loads support modules to do that instead. The modules directly responsible for the XMB interface are in /dev_flash/vsh/module/ and include:
explore_category_friend.sprx explore_category_game.sprx explore_category_music.sprx explore_category_network.sprx explore_category_photo.sprx explore_category_psn.sprx explore_category_sysconf.sprx explore_category_tv.sprx explore_category_user.sprx explore_category_video.sprx
explore_plugin.sprx explore_plugin_ft.sprx explore_plugin_game.sprx explore_plugin_np.sprx
VSH Modules
All the .sprx files inside /dev_flash/vsh/module/. See: Plugin Interfaces page
Those modules are responsible for processing the XMB descriptor files (.XML format) used to generate the XMB interface. All of the above modules except for "explore_plugin_game.sprx" and "explore_plugin_np.sprx" contains a full list and location of XMB configuration files and the "root" entry which is to be loaded for the root of the category for each firmware type (CEX/CEX-Shop/DEX/ARC/TOOL).
It's important to note that explore_plugin.sprx is capable of managing most of the XMB categories, and thus, not all of these modules might be in use at any time. The explore_plugin.sprx is actually available to vsh.self and other modules through the xmb_plugin.sprx and xmb_ingame.sprx See XMBML module-action
Modules Resources
All the .rco files inside /dev_flash/vsh/resource/. See: Resource Container (RCO) page
RCOXML Configuration Files
These are XML files which defines the visual structure of XMB, are embedded inside all .rco files. See: RCOXML Coding page
There are 2 modes used by XMB: "XMB Main" and "XMB In-game", and other modes that replaces XMB like the "Coldboot", "Gameboot", or "Impose"
XMB Main (xmb plugin)
The XrossMediaBar after the coldboot, with full functions of all the items/icons displayed
- Managed by: xmb_plugin.sprx / xmb_plugin_normal.rco
XMB In-Game (xmb ingame)
Introduced in firmware 2.40, available inside games by a short press of button
Is a reduced version of the XrossMediaBar where most of the icons are "dummies" that triggers a message like: "to use this function you need to quit the game and return to Main XMB, want to quit?". The only items that are really enabled are the ones usefull to use inside games, like savegames view, trophies view, gamedata view, friends, chat, etc...
There are also some icons, options, or settings that only can appear in this mode (never displayed "XMB Main" mode)... like screenshots icon in the photo colum (when enabled), or some settings specific for emulators (in settings column, things like resolution, filters, etc...)
- Managed by: xmb_ingame.sprx / xmb_ingame.rco
- Note XMB In-Game is inneficient in concept, because displays items that are dummies not needed and cant be used, in some games the loading of XMB In-Game is laggy (specially the loading of savegames and trophies submenues)
- http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2008/06/ps3-ingame-xmb-2.40-clock.jpg
- http://www.viddler.com/simple/1ffb1ce3/
Impose Menu (impose plugin)
Available in "Main XMB" and inside games by a short press (under 2.40 firmware) or long press (over 2.40 firmware) of button
Allows to asign controllers to players, view battery levels of controllers, quit game, etc... http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2008/01/ps3-in-game-menu.jpg
- Managed by: impose_plugin.sprx / impose_plugin.rco
ColdBoot (custom render plugin)
The old animation when PS3 boots (from 1.00 up to 2.60 firmware)
- Managed by: custom_render_plugin.sprx / custom_render_plugin.rco
ColdBoot2 (custom render plugin)
The new animation when PS3 boots (from 2.70 up to Template:Latest firmware) , associated with coldboot.raf
- Managed by: custom_render_plugin.sprx / custom_render_plugin.rco
GameBoot (custom render plugin)
The animation when a game boots
- Managed by: custom_render_plugin.sprx / custom_render_plugin.rco
OtherBoot (custom render plugin)
Unknown, seems associated with OtherOS
- Managed by: custom_render_plugin.sprx / custom_render_plugin.rco
Languages
Language files are stored inside Resource Container (RCO) files, are loaded based on a user setting stored in XRegistry.sys
XMB can be configured to display the texts in several languages, and every language uses a language code internally to identify it, this same language codes are used in contents that contains several languages availabes (like games, trophy installers, themes, etc...).
See: Languages page
Code | Name | Support | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2-digits | 2-letters | Localised | English | PS1 | PS2 | PSP | PS3 | PSV | PS4 | PS5 |
00 | ja | 日本語 | Japanese | ALL | ALL | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
01 | en | English (United States) | English (United States) | |||||||
02 | fr | Français | French | No | 1.50 | |||||
03 | es | Español (España) | Spanish (Spain) | |||||||
04 | de | Deutsch | German | |||||||
05 | it | Italiano | Italian | |||||||
06 | nl | Nederlands | Dutch | |||||||
07 | pt | Português (Portugal) | Portuguese (Portugal) | |||||||
08 | ru | Русский | Russian | EXT | ||||||
09 | ko | 한국어 | Korean | 2.00 | 1.50 | |||||
10 | ch | 繁體中文 | Chinese (Traditional) | 2.70 | 1.60 | |||||
11 | zh | 简体中文 | Chinese (Simplified) | |||||||
12 | fi | Suomi | Finnish | No | No | |||||
13 | sv | Svenska | Swedish | |||||||
14 | da | Dansk | Danish | |||||||
15 | no | Norsk | Norwegian | |||||||
16 | pl | Polski | Polish | 3.10 | ||||||
17 | br | Português (Brasil) | Portuguese (Brazil) | 4.00 | ||||||
18 | gb | English (United Kingdom) | English (United Kingdom) | |||||||
19 | tr | Türkçe | Turkish | 4.30 | 2.00 | |||||
20 | la | Español (América Latina) | Spanish (Latin America) | No | No | |||||
21 | ar | العربية | Arabic | 2.00 | ||||||
22 | ca | Français (Canada) | French (Canada) | 2.50 | ||||||
23 | cs | Čeština | Czech | 5.00 | ||||||
24 | hu | Magyar | Hungarian | |||||||
25 | el | Ελληνικά | Greek | |||||||
26 | ro | Română | Romanian | |||||||
27 | th | ไทย | Thai | |||||||
28 | vi | Tiếng Việt | Vietnamese | |||||||
29 | in | Indonesia | Indonesian | |||||||
30 | uk | Українська | Ukrainian | 9.50 | 3.00 |
Fonts
All the .ttf files in dev_flash/data/font/
The fonts are loaded by the rcoxml files (rcoxml files contains font definitions like color, sizes, type, etc...) and based on a user setting stored in XRegistry.sys
Font can be configured in XMB -> settings -> Theme to "original", "rounded", and "pop". See: XMB Fonts page
XMBML Configuration Files
Are the configuration files for the modules responsibles of the contents in the 10 XMB categories, loaded individually by the associated dev_flash/vsh/module/explore_category_*.sprx module
All the XMBML configuration files are included in all firmwares for all PS3 models, and are located in path: /dev_flash/vsh/resource/explore/xmb/
For more information about the structure of this files see: XMBML Files, XMBML Coding, XMBML Functions and XMBML Coding Examples
XMB | Users |
Settings |
Photo |
Music |
Video |
TV/Video Services |
Game |
Network |
PlayStation Network |
Friends |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pre Logins (Common) |
category_user_login.xml root |
category_friend.xml root_hide_friend | ||||||||
Retail CEX View id |
category_user.xml root |
category_sysconf.xml root |
category_photo.xml root |
category_music.xml root |
category_video.xml root |
category_tv.xml root |
category_game.xml root |
category_network.xml root |
category_psn.xml root |
category_friend.xml root |
Debug DEX DECR View id |
category_user.xml root |
category_sysconf.xml root |
category_photo.xml root |
category_music.xml root_for_dex |
category_video.xml root_for_dex |
category_tv.xml root |
category_game_tool2.xml root_dex |
category_network_tool2.xml root |
category_psn.xml tool_root |
category_friend.xml root |
Shop (Staff) SHOP View id |
category_user.xml root |
category_sysconf.xml root |
category_photo.xml root |
category_music.xml root |
category_video.xml root |
category_tv.xml root |
category_game.xml root |
category_network_shop.xml shop_staff_root |
category_psn.xml shop_staff_root |
category_friend.xml root |
Shop (Guest) SHOP View id |
category_user_shop.xml root |
category_sysconf_shop.xml root |
category_photo.xml shop_root |
category_music.xml root |
category_video.xml root |
category_tv.xml root |
category_game.xml shop_guest_root |
category_network_shop.xml root |
category_psn.xml shop_guest_root |
category_friend_shop.xml root |
Arcade ARC View id |
category_sysconf.xml root |
category_photo.xml root |
category_music.xml root |
category_video_bdu.xml ? root |
category_game_tool2.xml root_arcade |
category_network.xml root |
category_friend.xml root | |||
AV/Test AV TEST View id |
category_user.xml root_for_BDU ? |
category_sysconf.xml root |
category_photo.xml root |
category_music.xml root |
category_video_bdponly.xml ? root |
category_tv.xml root |
category_game.xml ? root_for_BDU ? |
category_network.xml ? root |
category_psn.xml root ? |
category_friend.xml root ? |
XMB database Filters (Common) |
registory.xml | registory.xml | registory.xml | |||||||
upload_list.xml | ||||||||||
download_list.xml | ||||||||||
playlist.xml | videodownloader_list.xml | savedata_list.xml | ||||||||
Others | ||||||||||
XML FallBack | null.xml root | |||||||||
Obsolete and Unknown |
category_widget.xml root |
|||||||||
category_network_tool2.xml root_info |
||||||||||
category_photo.xml stage_demo_root |
category_music.xml stage_demo_root |
category_network.xml stage_demo_root |
category_friend.xml stage_demo_root | |||||||
category_friend_tool2.xml root_for_soe | ||||||||||
category_avchat.xml root | ||||||||||
category_network_.xml xai_test_root |
||||||||||
category_network_.xml store_root |
||||||||||
category_video_bdponly.xml root |
||||||||||
category_user.xml root_for_BDU |
category_game.xml root_for_BDU |
|||||||||
category_user.xml root_power_only |
||||||||||
category_game_tool2.xml root_for_ingame_gaikai_dex root_for_sdps3_gaikai_dex |
||||||||||
category_game_exitonly.xml root |
||||||||||
category_media.xml ? root |
||||||||||
category_user_tool2.xml root |
||||||||||
debug.xml ? root |
||||||||||
root.xml ? segmentize root |
XMB Layouts
This files contains a list of numeric values that defines the positions, sizes, etc of most/all the items displayed in XMB. Are divided in 4 resolution modes, most specifically by his heigths: (272, 480, 720, and 1080), and 2 types: (factor, and grid).
For more info about this files see: XMB Layouts page.
Path | Filename | Usage | Resolution | Aspect Ratio |
---|---|---|---|---|
dev_flash/vsh/etc/ | layout_grid_table_1080.txt layout_factor_table_1080.txt |
1080p and 1080i for Full HD displays | 1920x1080 | 16/9 |
layout_grid_table_720.txt layout_factor_table_720.txt |
720p for HD displays | 1280x720 | ||
layout_grid_table_480.txt layout_factor_table_480.txt |
480p and 480i for ED and SD displays | 640x480 | 4/3 | |
layout_grid_table_272.txt layout_factor_table_272.txt |
PSP/PSV/PC Remote Play | 480x272 | non standard |
- 576p and 576i (the ED and SD displays for PAL regions) sems to be managed with the same XMB Layouts than 480p and 480i (the ED and SD displays for NTSC regions)