XrossMediaBar

The XrossMediaBar (pronounced "cross-media bar" and officially abbreviated as XMB) is a graphical user interface developed by Sony Computer Entertainment.

[5] The XMB has been phased out starting with the PlayStation Vita, which adopted a new touch-based user interface called LiveArea.

This feature can be used to watch a video, look at a 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).

On a PSP with at least system software 4.20, the background "waves" effect has changed, with two options under theme, then color.

Subsequently, Sony released software which allows users to create their own themes for the PlayStation Portable.

The PS3 includes the following particular abilities: to store various master and secondary user profiles; to manage and explore photos with Photo Gallery or an ordinary musical/non-musical slideshow; to rip audio CDs, rip iTunes AAC protected files, to copy tracks to an attached storage device; and to play music, movies and video files from the hard disk drive, from an optional USB mass storage or Flash card, or from 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.

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.

[9] Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) and many other sources state that in-game XMB was the single most requested feature for the PS3 in 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 (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,[15] The Beatles: Rock Band, and software such as Folding@home (1.2).

These partial functions of XMB (friends lists and custom soundtracks) have been reserved for the developer to implement.

System software version 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.

PlayStation 3 themes are able to store images and sounds in order for users to customize their system's XMB.

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.