E308: Dashboard with themes, downloads and launch area

by Xav de Matos { Jul 16th 2008 at 2:05PM }

Major Nelson just added a trio of images to his flickr account outlining examples of how the new dashboard redesign will retrofit existing Xbox 360 themes, a more detailed download page for content on the Xbox Live Marketplace and an example of a game specific launch page. Microsoft has promised the new dashboard will still allow themes -- as seen in the image above -- and we anticipate the photo will change based on the area of the dashboard you visit.

For images, and an analysis of the images for downloads and specific titles jump in.

The new download area for content is completely overhauled with the ability to add more information regarding the download for a specific game. Scrolling through each piece of content displays the window of information, reducing the amount of button presses it takes to jump into purchasing or learning more. We'd hope the new design would allow for a full display of gamer pictures, but with the new Avatar system we doubt it's a focus.

The game specific launch center adds everything from access to (what we expect are) streaming trailers, screenshots and description of the game selected. Demo download and launch appears to be included in the game specific page and the Play Now function could be an option made available when a game is inserted or added to the harddrive, or always displayed and will outline the steps needed to be taken to play. You know. Put the game in somehow.

[Thanks, Drew]

Tags: dashboard, dashboard-redesign, e3-08, e3-2008, e308, major-nelson, new-xbox-experience

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

webster1990 @ Jul 16th 2008 2:09PM

I knew this would look a lot better when themes were applied, i can't wait for the "Fall" (Autumn for us Brits) update.

Grant @ Jul 16th 2008 2:12PM

Americans call it Autumn too, Fall is just more common.

tan @ Jul 16th 2008 3:15PM

lol
i just birthday/xmas time lol

cos my bdays in november:)

xFenixKnightx @ Jul 16th 2008 3:21PM

Woah, now I really love this new look! 360FTW!

Joe @ Jul 16th 2008 2:10PM

Nice, i kinda like this new dash

dmb360 @ Jul 16th 2008 3:08PM

It looks nicer, but look at how much usable space is is wide open, you are still stuck with the smaller text boxes like on the current dashboard. I wonder if this will actually help the current issue of content cluttering the marketplace.

I second the motion to get rid of the ads!

jrb @ Jul 16th 2008 4:16PM

true. the text boxes look the same, but for me one of the big problems when browsing content on the current dash / blades, is that it doesn't allow for rich content. (images, text formatting).. where as the new dash appears to cater for both of these.

i think it's great how there was one key point that people were critical of when the first slew of shots came out a couple of days ago. Themes.
And here we see, as we all suspected, microsoft had not only thought of, and catered for them, but they also look totally kick ass.

hats off to the xbox team, once again.

AoE @ Jul 16th 2008 7:32PM

at least they're not filling the usable space with ads this time around. I'm sure if you took all the advertisements away from the blade interface, it would look similarly barren.

emirabal @ Jul 16th 2008 2:11PM

But will i be able to keep the blades if i so please, that is the question.

The Beta Max @ Jul 16th 2008 2:16PM

Well the blades are still around when pushing the Guide Button but for main interface you have to use the new design.

Studley @ Jul 16th 2008 2:17PM

Yes, see the screenshot/text in this post:
http://gamerscoreblog.com/team/archive/2008/07/16/560022.aspx

"You will be able to access every part of what exists in the 'blades' today, by calling up the Guide."

webster1990 @ Jul 16th 2008 2:21PM

You wont be able to stick with the current menus if that is what you mean, but like other people have said the new guide menu is very similar to the main "blade" menus we use at the moment

CB @ Jul 16th 2008 2:32PM

Thanks for the link Studley. Was looking for a video of it being used.

internetDM @ Aug 25th 2008 1:28PM

yes you can still use blades, it will be an option to change back to blades once the update is out.

Stone @ Jul 16th 2008 2:17PM

hmm.....what's that I see? No advertising??? PLEASE say they dropped all of those stupid ads from the dashboard and I'm all for the change!

Mrblonde @ Jul 16th 2008 2:23PM

I kinda liked the ads myself. But, it would disrupt this new theme.

victor360hd @ Jul 16th 2008 2:17PM

Look Great I cant wait

itsburnsie @ Jul 16th 2008 2:18PM

So does this mean all of the whiners complaining about their wasted points can be quiet now?

Retrofitting old themes, very nice MS.

Bravo6 @ Jul 16th 2008 2:22PM

Why is it whining if you want to use something you've paid for?

And I've never purchased one, btw.

Andrew @ Jul 16th 2008 3:12PM

I think it's pretty dumb to pay for images to use as your background in the first place.

Mrblonde @ Jul 16th 2008 2:18PM

Wow. This looks sooo awesome and nice. Very very sleek looking. Now everyone can stop complaining about their themes and gamer pics. This looks so amazing and very very user friendly and a huge step up from the current dashboard. Avatars will be a wait and see for me still. I loved the new look when I first saw it and now I love it even more. Guys, get some videos of this in full action soon.

kdubbb @ Jul 16th 2008 2:19PM

Liking it more and more. At first I thought it was kind of a kiddie, only aesthetic change, but I think it looks pretty sweet now, and much more organized.

Ben @ Jul 16th 2008 2:21PM

Are gamerpics out the window?

Mrblonde @ Jul 16th 2008 2:26PM

In the pic displaying the Halo stuff above, at the bottom it says picture pack so its safe to say that they will be here to stay. It could change, but I have a good feeling our library of gamerpics will still work.

007craft @ Jul 16th 2008 2:56PM

Are you blind? the gamerpic is right there on the first picture. Here ill even Circle it for you.

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/7253/2674486108e1bb0a4947hk7.jpg

Ben @ Jul 16th 2008 3:13PM

Well, of course I saw that picture, but I'm wondering if my gamerpic now will just be replaced with my Avatar and I won't be able to change it.

Chris @ Jul 16th 2008 3:36PM

its gamerpic or avatar its your choice

Erik @ Jul 16th 2008 2:20PM

Looks nice, just wish that it would come out sooner. Though, I think the avatars looks a little stupid. I would rather have an avatar creator along the lines of the Sims 2 character maker.

Bravo6 @ Jul 16th 2008 2:23PM

Yeah I think the avatars look pretty gay. Too Wii-ish imo.

Neuromancer @ Jul 16th 2008 2:42PM

Nice homophobia

Bravo6 @ Jul 16th 2008 2:43PM

If you really take that term as meaning homosexual in that context, please pull your head out of your ass. If you were just trying to be funny.. keep trying

Vcize @ Jul 16th 2008 2:24PM

Woah, nice. The themes have a much bigger effect on this dash than they did on the old one, where I actually preferred the default theme. Will probably go with a real one now, the Gears one looks like it fits in awesome with the new dash.

Mario @ Jul 16th 2008 2:26PM

I wonder if it will work with my itouch or 3g nano?

john paul @ Jul 16th 2008 2:33PM

3G nano works, iPod touch can't open up hardrive so it doesn't work.

Neuromancer @ Jul 16th 2008 2:42PM

Yeah and only unprotected media will work (MP3 for example)

jdkay20 @ Jul 16th 2008 2:27PM

I like the download page and the game page but the main page with theme still needs more work.

Maxi @ Jul 16th 2008 2:28PM

Looks better now but I'm still not a fan of avatars. I want to see how friends lists/invites etc are displayed in the guide button best not be some avatar waving at me saying come play! :D

Main sales dashboard = kiddies and lame stuff. Guide button for hardcore gamers please ^.^

Dwag @ Jul 16th 2008 2:29PM

I think are gone but it too soon to tell I'm still saying that they should use the money we pay only for XBL and not profit.

I think ads are gonna get in there somewhere.

leo2178 @ Jul 16th 2008 2:29PM

New dash = OK
No Ads = Great!
Avatars = Horrible!!

Procris @ Jul 16th 2008 2:32PM

Sadly ads are still going to be featured in the new dash. Microsoft had them turned off for the E3 demo showing.

Neuromancer @ Jul 16th 2008 2:43PM

Yeah no doubt they'll be in there somewhere

Konchu @ Jul 16th 2008 3:44PM

There were ads but they are better placed under Spotlite.

Dwag @ Jul 16th 2008 2:31PM

I wanted to say: now that I think about ads are gonna be in there somewhere.

Procris @ Jul 16th 2008 2:31PM

The major problem here is not the new look itself. Its the fact ads haven't been shown in the demo at E3. Microsoft have already said there will be ads.

Neon Jebus @ Jul 16th 2008 2:42PM

Where is the information about the ads. I'll admit I haven't been able to follow all the news too close. What I have been able to read or watch hasn't said anything about ads still being around.

If they are in the store front I have no issue. That's the only place ads should be though...