Xbox 360:Dashboards Overview

A menu system application for the Microsoft Xbox 360 is known as a dashboard (or "dash", for short). Such programs are normally installed to the internal hard drive, although the stock Microsoft dashboard is installed on the console's internal flash chip.

The stock Microsoft Dashboard offers basic content management functionality, downloading games from the Xbox Live Marketplace, and also has the ability to play back DVD video and CD audio. With the HD player application, it can also play HD DVDs. Modded consoles can run homebrew dashboards with additional features - 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 XeXMenu, although it's easy to install other dashboards instead or alongside of your starter option.

Microsoft Dashboard

The system menu pre-loaded onto stock Xbox 360 consoles, with four major facelifts over the years. Allows management of save games, playing and downloading games from the Xbox 360 Marketplace, playback and importing of audio CDs, or configure system-wide settings. The Microsoft Dashboard on the Xbox 360 can also play HD DVDs, but only with a Xbox 360 HD DVD player attached to the console with the corresponding app installed to the system. Unlike most homebrew dashboards, it does not offer FTP services, nor the ability to launch XEX files. The file manager is also simplified to only allow users to manage official games from the Marketplace, save files, profiles, and official disc installations.

Aurora

Aurora is a modern fully features custom dashboard focused around the coverflow design of its game launcher. It is from the same team that developed FreeStyle. Features include customizable skins, automatic downloads of cover art, the option to manually install and use any title update, custom game scanning paths, FTP support, ConnectX support, integrated system link online play using LiNK, and a plugin system. It is the most recently updated dashboard, with an official website at XboxUnity.net and an official support forum at RealModScene.com. An FAQ can be found here.

FreeStyle Dash
	FreeStyle is famous fully featured dashboard created for the Xbox 360 and has various features, which include FTP, weather information, hosting a Samba server, ConnectX support, custom game scanning paths, integrated system link online play using LiNK, and a plugin system. The stock theme is made to mimic Microsoft's "New Xbox Experience" dashboard style, but Freestyle also has significant customization options for both the stock theme and additional themes.

XeXMenu

XeXMenu is a simple dashboard for the Xbox 360, and was one of the earlier dashboards created in the Xbox 360 scene. It has standard features like FTP, custom themes, and app/game folder discovery. As such, it doesn't have the highest feature set compared to other dashboards, but it also features a version pre-made as an Xbox Live Demo that allows access to it directly from the Microsoft Dashboard. It tends to be the first homebrew app people install on a modded Xbox 360 since it's the easiest to use dashboard that comes with compiled as an Demo/XBLA title, and is used as an entry point to open Dashlaunch and/or boot other dashboards.

XeXDash
	XeXDash is another early custom dashboard for the Xbox 360. It has similar features to XeXMenu, while also being able to scan for XBLA and XBLIG titles. It features a version compiled as an Xbox Live demo accessible from the Microsoft dashboard.

XeXLoader
	XeXLoader is the first menu that allowed you to choose XEX files. It also includes a file browser and an ISO ripper.

IngeniouX
	Another simple dashboard with interesting features, like a built in calculator and text editor. It also has a built-in FTP server, customizable background, and the option of a version compiled as an XBLA.

Viper360
	Viper360 is a very basic dashboard for the Xbox 360 created early in the scene. It is essentially only an XEX launcher with a basic file manager, but it does come with a version packaged as an Xbox Live Demo.

Emerald
	Emerald Dash is a basic dashboard for the Xbox 360 created early in the scene. It is little more than a menu to choose games, but the source was released.