Welcome to Morning Hangover -- an excellent way to start your day with the crew at TheFeed...no matter what you're recovering from. Every morning you'll hear musings from our editors and have the chance to share your thoughts on what's going on in the gaming world.
Patrick has made much ado about the most recent Xbox dashboard additions, especially Facebook and Twitter. I totally agree with him there isn’t much incentive to use either of these features on your console instead of a laptop or a cell phone. But the other two features of the update? Those are much more worthwhile. The rebranded video marketplace (now Zune Marketplace) delivers streaming 1080p-quality HD video and 5.1 surround sound to your console within seconds. It’s a huge leap for the service, and clearly defines the role that my consoles have in movie-watching: I’ll use my PS3 for physical media (Blu-rays and upscaled DVDs) and my Xbox 360 for streaming content.
Also, as an iPhone owner, I’ve fallen in love with Pandora, but forgot my Last.fm login. I spent a very bleary-eyed Tuesday night reconfiguring my music taste to fit Last.fm. I can’t vouch for everyone, but I love the idea that I now have streaming music running through my game console (read: running through my entertainment center), and it’s full of possibility for me to discover new music alongside my favorites. I would’ve preferred Pandora, but I’ll happily take the Last.fm app for now.
360 owners, do you think you’ll use these features?
PS3 gamers, got a workaround solution you’d like to share with the rest of the class? The newest Winamp Remote isn’t really doing it for me.
Comments
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masterbedgood
I've been playing around with the updates quite a bit... I'm not much of a Twitter person, but Facebook is okay... I don't see myself spending hours with those, but I'll have a late night update every now and then, I'm sure. With the Zune video marketplace, I really would have liked to see the Zune streaming service instead of last.fm... although, I suppose that wouldn't have been as beneficial for people who aren't subscribed to the Zune Pass. Maybe someday...
I really like the updated video marketplace, though. I'm a bit disappointed that not every movie is available for streaming or purchase (I'd much rather buy a movie for 15-20 bucks than pay 6 bucks to watch it once...), and some movies were available for HD rental, but only SD purchase. The 1080p instant streaming is an excellent feature and works brilliantly. I will say that I would like to see a video subscription service option with the Zune Pass (like pay an extra 10-15 bucks a month for unlimited video access), as I would much rather pay 10-15 bucks a month to watch countless movies than 6 bucks at a time to watch a single movie.
Warrior567
i'll use last.fm. not twiter or facebook. i don't think that any of these features are console sellers, just nice addons to getting a 360
DreamingDarklyRobin
I like last.fm but I hate the fact you have to pay $5 a month just to make a personalized radio.
fightingsioux
Personally I use my game console for gameing so all of the other features dont really mean much to me. All of those things I can't do on my PS3 i can just as easily do 3 feet away on my lap top
silenced
ya i got it yesterday to and facebook and twiter were ok but i was looking forward to last fm but i live in canada and last fm doesnt come out till spring on the new update so its gay
Zuul
Yeah this is ridiculous. I was reading through some comments yesterday and saw some other people expressing frustration at this problem as well. Anyone care to help out?!
Zuul
Wow I had a couple hundred word comment to make here with ZERO profanity in it but your poorly-executed filters are blocking me from submitting it! This is annoying!
lacuna420
I jumped on Xbox Live about midnight this morning, to find that my update preview was ready to go.First I checked out Facebook, and Twitter.Neither are great integrations. Then I checked out Last.Fm.I planned on checking it out for about 10 minutes, but ended up spending 4 hours tagging songs I had not heard in forever.Last.Fm is by far the best thing in the new update.
WhiteWallsBTBAM
I'd rather own physical copies of my media and that includes music. There is something about having your movie collection and music collection on a shelf neatly organized.
GingerKid
I just have my PS3 and PC set up as a Media Server. I use torrents to download all the TV shows and movies I want and stream them to my PS3. It's not BluRay quality but still pretty good and I buy my favorites on BluRay. Oh, and it just so happens I can use that same PC to get Facebook/Twitter, I don't need that crap on my console.
G4Sterling
FWIW, I prefer streaming media and digital distribution to physical media, but I think it comes down to how you live.
When I was a teenager, I liked the idea of owning games, and probably would've flipped out at the idea of storing everything on a hard disc. As Mr. Pfister just pointed out as we were chatting, "at that age, the idea of owning something and having your own property is more meaningful."
As an adult, I have too much crap. Give me a big hard drive that takes up less physical space in my living space. I stopped buying CDs unless it's something older that I know I can't find digitally. When I was a music journalist, my CD collection was beyond ridiculous. I've consolidated all that music onto a hard drive, and it means less clutter.
I get the idea that some people like physical copies of something, and I think there's room for both. There's gonna be people who want the disc to show off, and there's gonna be people who want the bragging rites of saying "Yeah, I have dozens of games in one place."
What you'll see is more incentive given toward digital distribution (extra content for buying a downloadable version, or publishers cutting the shipping/printing costs off the game price) and that's where the nudge towards downloads will happen. Look at GT5. Sony's selling the disc version for around $60 in Japan, but it's selling the downloadable version for around $45. I hope that becomes standard.
RRODisBack
There's two types of people in this world: owners and renters. The people that own their homes and cars like me are the people who prefer owning physical copies, building their riches. The people that rent apartments and lease cars are the people who prefer renting streams, throwing all of their money away and will never own anything. Mirite?
EntropyMu
I use Pandora through the web browser on the PS3, so it goes through my stereo. Since you like Pandora, I'm a little surprised you haven't tried that. It works great. I think (but I haven't tried it) that Last.fm works too.
As far as movies go, unless streaming movies become cheaper (instead of more expensive) than renting/buying a physical copy, I don't see how a physical copy isn't superior in every way. No lag, no clogging up hard drive space (especially an issue on the 360), no chance of losing the rights to something you own.
The ISPs are trying to move to pay as you go, but if they do, I suspect you'll see consumer advocate groups find some lawsuits, since they don't really care about the bandwidth, they just don't want internet competition for their tv/movie business.
moose_
I'm with RROD on this one. I will always prefer physcial media to streaming content. Always.
SmarterThanYou
Another +1 for MS and -1 for Sony. The gap just gets bigger and bigger.
LarcenousLaugh
I will always like having a physical copy of movies. I think it goes back to the "not having all my eggs in one basket". What if my cable goes out? My internet connection is gone, which means that my ability to stream is gone, which means that not only have I watched TV, I have lost my movie library as well. I like the option of getting a digital copy with a movie purchase, those fit wonderfully on my iphone, but I think moving completely streaming and online is just to big a jump for the industry to handle.
RRODisBack
I prefer owning physical copies as opposed to renting a limited selection of instant streams. Plus, streaming doesn't match the quality of Blu-Ray. I would just rather own than rent. Streaming will never replace owning movies.
MrPickering
Cant wait for streaming HD. I've held out on getting a BluRay player since I dont buy movies very much anymore. (thank you Netflix)
My one hope is they bring ZUNE PASS to the xbox marketplace. I would pay a subsription for Zune Pass and Xbox Live for unlimited HD streaming... or even just unlimited access to the ZUNE marketplaece. I would probably even cancel Netflix if Marketplace continues to get movies close/on their release date.
BossTweed
If Microsoft adds all the episodes of Attack of the Show and X-Play plus G4TV Specials, Spike TV Specials to Netflix. I would consider using the Zune Marketplace. An add on Blu-Ray Disc player or recorder to the Xbox360 and Natal.
SlickyFats
I have never liked streaming media. I have a 5mbps connection at home and it is always having to buffer and play and freeze and play and freeze. No thanks. Also ISP are not going to allow all of this streaming media to continue. I heard Pay-as-you-go internet is coming soon. Also I prefer physical media in my hand.
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