Xbox 360 Dashboard

Facebook and Twitter invade Xbox Live.

The Xbox 360′s original graphical user interface was the Xbox 360 Dashboard; a tabbed interface that featured five “Blades” (formerly four blades), and was designed by AKQA.

It could be launched automatically when the console booted without a disc in it, or when the disc tray was ejected, but the user had the option to select what the console does if a game is in the tray on start up, or if inserted when already on.

A simplified version of it was also accessible at any time via the Xbox Guide button on the gamepad. This simplified version showed the user’s gamercard, Xbox Live messages and friends list.

The Preview

It also allowed for personal and music settings, in addition to voice or video chats, or returning to the Xbox Dashboard from the game.

On November 19, 2008, the Xbox 360′s dashboard was changed from the “Blade” interface, to a dashboard reminiscent of that present on the Zune and Windows Media Center, known as the “New Xbox Experience” or NXE.

Since the console’s release, Microsoft has released several updates for the Dashboard software.

These updates have included adding new features to the console, enhancing Xbox Live functionality and multimedia playback capabilities, adding compatibility for new accessories, and fixing bugs in the software. The latest Dashboard update was made available on September 23, 2009.