Xbox:Dashboards Overview

A menu system application for the Microsoft Xbox is known as a dashboard (or "dash", for short). Such programs are normally installed to the internal hard drive.

The stock Xbox:Microsoft Dashboard offers basic save management functionality, and also has the ability to play back DVD video and CD audio. Modded consoles can run homebrewed dashboards with additional features - Xbox:FTP access to the console's full file system is standard, as is the ability to list and launch games or other applications installed to the Xbox's HDD.

Most freshly modded machines will begin with a copy of Xbox:UnleashX, although it's easy to install other dashboards instead or alongside of your starter option.

Xbox:Microsoft Dashboard

The menu system pre-loaded on to stock Xboxes. Allows management of save games, can play or import audio CDs, or configure system-wide settings. The Microsoft Dashboard can also play video DVDs, but only with a Xbox DVD Movie Playback Kit attached to the console. Unlike most any homebrewed dashboard, it does not offer FTP services, nor the ability to launch other programs from the internal hard drive.

Xbox:Anod-X
	An early homebrew dashboard offering most features now considered standard - game launching, file management, FTP, network time sync, etcetera. Also able to play an assortment of musical formats.

Xbox:Avalaunch
	Team Avalaunch's dashboard includes its own IRC client on top of the usual features. It also integrates well with their PC-side game management tool, Xbox:Qwix.

Xbox:EvolutionX
	A very popular dash back in the day, it can still be found on many Xboxes modded during the peak of the scene. It's one of the few dashboards with the ability to flash firmware packages into a TSOP or modchip.

Xbox:LithiumX
	A straightforward and clean dashboard primarily focused towards Xbox gaming. Presents box art and game synopses prepared by the Xbox:Xbox Artwork Installer.

Xbox:Media X Menu (mXm)
	An older dashboard with limited functionality, although in more recent times it's received an update allowing it to make use of resource files set up by Rocky5's Xbox:Xbox Artwork Installer.

Xbox:UIX Lite
	Built to retain the look and feel of the stock dash as much as possible, while still adding in the additional functionality expected of a homebrew dash. The wireframes and choice of colour scheme may be customised through a variety of skins.

Xbox:UnleashX
	One of the most popular dashboards by far, its small installation size and scriptable nature also makes it the menu system of choice for presenting softmod installers and installer DVDs.

Xbox:XBMC
	Starting out as a media player application, its early open-source status led to the development of a powerful media center package with more features than any other dashboard. Massively skinnable and even offering a built-in Python engine for script execution, it was eventually ported to other platforms, where development continues under the name of Kodi.

Xbox:XBMC4Gamers
	An XBMC skin and script collection geared towards Xbox gaming, capable of presenting box art and synopsises for the games in your collection. Its URLdownloader offers a wealth of games, mods, and patches.

Xbox:XBMC-Emustation
	An XBMC skin and script collection geared towards emulation, capable of presenting box art and synopsises for the games in your collection (Xbox or otherwise). Although the dashboard itself merely serves as a front-end for separate emulator applications, various popular emus are bundled, and scripts are included to help install more.