Hellacool Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 I just bought my PS3 a few weeks ago. My main question is; can the menu system be customized? The second I turned on the PS3 the first thing that struck me is that it looks exactly like my PSP that I bought in 2005. In 5 years has Sony done nothing to improve the system? I am hoping I missed something. Granted Microsoft changes their system every year it seems like and not always for the better but at least they are making an effort. Bottom line I want to make sure I am getting the most out of my machine, this thing is a beast and I want to use all of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedon Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 You can change your theme, which will change your font, the background and the shape of your folders. However, the layout cannot be altered. You can also add folders within the folders (grouping). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridlas Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 I like it. Stylish and simple. Why change something if its not broken? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellacool Posted October 27, 2010 Author Share Posted October 27, 2010 I like it. Stylish and simple. Why change something if its not broken? It do not think it is broken, it works and I was able to jump right in since I have a PSP but it just doesn't invite me in to a one stop shop type environment. Everything seems compartmentalized opposed to the XBL one stop shop. I am very used to the XBL environment and was hoping I could mold my PS3 to be similar, seems to take more effort to get what I want in the PS3 menu system, not as intuitive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakey Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 It do not think it is broken, it works and I was able to jump right in since I have a PSP but it just doesn't invite me in to a one stop shop type environment. Everything seems compartmentalized opposed to the XBL one stop shop. I am very used to the XBL environment and was hoping I could mold my PS3 to be similar, seems to take more effort to get what I want in the PS3 menu system, not as intuitive. Everything is in it's little group. You want pictures, video, games, or internet. You can change some of those categories to hold certain file types in a more compact form, or display all. But everything on it is set up pretty nicely imo. Get a Dynamic theme, and it will add that extra umph you are looking for, but that really is all you can do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellacool Posted October 27, 2010 Author Share Posted October 27, 2010 Everything is in it's little group. You want pictures, video, games, or internet. You can change some of those categories to hold certain file types in a more compact form, or display all. But everything on it is set up pretty nicely imo. Get a Dynamic theme, and it will add that extra umph you are looking for, but that really is all you can do. What is a dynamic theme? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotosega Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 an animated theme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Massiveterra Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 What is a dynamic theme? Dynamic Themes are backgrounds that are animated http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7zQs4DgkHY You really shouldn't compare the XMB with XBL. They are really 2 different UI's from the ground up. Look at the XMB as a "one stop shop" and XBL as a "set of different channels" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedon Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 I personally find it a clumsy UI, but it does the trick. I am fine with it the way it is, and I don't care if it gets updated or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Olive Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 What is a dynamic theme? These are dynamic themes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellacool Posted October 27, 2010 Author Share Posted October 27, 2010 Dynamic Themes are backgrounds that are animated http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7zQs4DgkHY You really shouldn't compare the XMB with XBL. They are really 2 different UI's from the ground up. Look at the XMB as a "one stop shop" and XBL as a "set of different channels" Yeah that is my conclusion, I was just hoping to "church" it up a bit. Ill take a look at Dynamic Themes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soulsiphon Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 I just bought my PS3 a few weeks ago. My main question is; can the menu system be customized? The second I turned on the PS3 the first thing that struck me is that it looks exactly like my PSP that I bought in 2005. In 5 years has Sony done nothing to improve the system? I am hoping I missed something. Granted Microsoft changes their system every year it seems like and not always for the better but at least they are making an effort. Bottom line I want to make sure I am getting the most out of my machine, this thing is a beast and I want to use all of it. I'm about 2 months into owning my PS3 now and yes, you can trick it out good :) Not only are there free and premium themes you can get through PSN via the console, you can google for XMB themes and find web sites where you can download and preview themes from your PC then transfer them to the PS3 via USB stick or whatever. I've currently got this WWII pinup girls one going (with XMB icons, background(s), sounds etc) and the wife's login has a dynamic Little Big Planet premium theme which is *really* well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
still1 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 What is a dynamic theme? themes that changes dynamically Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellacool Posted October 27, 2010 Author Share Posted October 27, 2010 I'm about 2 months into owning my PS3 now and yes, you can trick it out good :) Not only are there free and premium themes you can get through PSN via the console, you can google for XMB themes and find web sites where you can download and preview themes from your PC then transfer them to the PS3 via USB stick or whatever. I've currently got this WWII pinup girls one going (with XMB icons, background(s), sounds etc) and the wife's login has a dynamic Little Big Planet premium theme which is *really* well done. This is very good information, thanks. Edit: Just started looking, there are some sweet themes out there. Thanks again, now i'm happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yekGLzhQ4Qju1FtAVcC4 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 I feel Lim the XMB has not aged very well. It worked well with the PSP when the only menu icons were: Settings, Photo, Video, Music, and Game. Now friends are added as well as users, and PSN, and it's fairly clumsy and NOT well integrated. It would be nice to have the PS store integrated in the XMB and the friends list merged with systems users and integrated with PSN menu. As far as usability, it works, but it's not very consistant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shakey Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 I feel Lim the XMB has not aged very well. It worked well with the PSP when the only menu icons were: Settings, Photo, Video, Music, and Game. Now friends are added as well as users, and PSN, and it's fairly clumsy and NOT well integrated. It would be nice to have the PS store integrated in the XMB and the friends list merged with systems users and integrated with PSN menu. As far as usability, it works, but it's not very consistant. Your way doesn't sound consistent at all.... Friends are far different from users who have a profile on my system, and having my friends who are online in a section dedicated just for that is much better. The PS store is sort of already integrated in with some of the XMB, but not completely. I fail to see how it is clumsy, when it is sectioned off, and everything is in it's section. It really is the same thing as what the 360 offers, just with a different GUI. They all have the same sections, it is just the fancy graphics that make them seem different..... The only issue I have is with Live and Home, they should be in the same section, not one in the internet and one in the game... or am I just getting confused atm and they are in the same internet section? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yekGLzhQ4Qju1FtAVcC4 Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 Your way doesn't sound consistent at all.... Friends are far different from users who have a profile on my system, and having my friends who are online in a section dedicated just for that is much better. The PS store is sort of already integrated in with some of the XMB, but not completely. I fail to see how it is clumsy, when it is sectioned off, and everything is in it's section. It really is the same thing as what the 360 offers, just with a different GUI. They all have the same sections, it is just the fancy graphics that make them seem different..... The only issue I have is with Live and Home, they should be in the same section, not one in the internet and one in the game... or am I just getting confused atm and they are in the same internet section? I misspoke, I mean to integrate the PSN account with the system user accounts. It would be nice to be able to simply logon with the PSN account and load configuration settings much like Xbox. On the PS Store, the XMB pulls down the latest titles, but when one is selected, the store still opens to make a purchase. It would be nice to have it fully integrated with the XMB. I would disagree that everything has it's own section. For example, to which section does the PS Store belong? As far as I can see, it is in Video, Game, and PSN. Also, the PSN icon is not exclusive, as many things of the PS3 use PSN. It has a few internet applications, and config data for PSN. Why not place the config data under settings, and rename it to internet applications (I'm not very original). Then just spread PSN to Media and Game and integrate it into their menus? Then remove the Users icon. Friends can stay where it is. When I stated it should be placed in PSN, I was thinking for a use for PSN. Anyway, I just get to thinking sometimes. I enjoy PS3 for games. But for managing my media, not so much for a few reasons. edit: grammer :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wombatt Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 The XMB is the best menu system out there. They use it on their Televisions, Blu-Ray players, DVD Players, PSP and the PS3. Its simple, clean, fast and user friendly. I'm not too keen on any of the themes or anything. I just think it degrades it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedon Posted October 27, 2010 Share Posted October 27, 2010 I agree 100% I feel Lim the XMB has not aged very well. It worked well with the PSP when the only menu icons were: Settings, Photo, Video, Music, and Game. Now friends are added as well as users, and PSN, and it's fairly clumsy and NOT well integrated. It would be nice to have the PS store integrated in the XMB and the friends list merged with systems users and integrated with PSN menu. As far as usability, it works, but it's not very consistant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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