Let’s start with the v5.00 update for PSP. In this version, you’ll notice the addition of the PlayStation Network icon on the XMB. You can now sign up for PlayStation Network, manage your account and access PlayStation Store directly from your PSP - meaning you can download games directly to your PSP while connected via Wi-Fi. Getting games, demos and trailers while on-the-go has never been easier! Check out the screen below. (more…)
Joost, the web-based provider of on-demand and live television, launched a browser-based version of its offerings this morning. While users of the service’s Mac and Windows software can still get at their channels, Joost’s new model allows anyone with Flash capabilities, and a temporarily-required browser IE or Firefox (more…)
Oddly enough, there have been two separate accounts of a 4GB version of the new Nano showing up on store shelves in the Netherlands. There was no mention of a 4GB Nano at Apple’s “Let’s Rock” event, so these legit looking images have us puzzled. The sources claim that this rogue Nano comes in all 9 colors and is priced at the equivalent of $169—as you can see in the following product link. [Product Page and One More Thing]
Right, I’ll be honest: the last time I went to a gig with my Dad I was probably playing bongos in a band called The Silent Call at Welwyn Garden City’s premier shed/venue/lacky-boozer, The Green Room. Or it could have been Simple Minds at some Marks & Spencer-sponsored picnic where the number of camping stools outnumbered the crowd.
Last night, witnessing Metallica play in-the-round at the 02 Arena in front of 18,000 squealing fanatics represented a bit of a departure. After some neat wangling from NME’s Ben Patashnik we found ourselves in one of the stadia’s sponsored boxes (“nachos, sir?”) for probably one of the oddest gigging experiences of my life: my Dad and I necking red wine and headbanging to ‘For Whom The Bell Tolls’…
While Metallica were stunning – that’s coming from someone who likes metal but doesn’t have ‘St Anger’ tattooed across his shoulder blades – but the most impressive, striking thing?
Not RobTrujillo’s lip-curl gurn, Lars Ulrich’s thunder-crack drumming or James Hetfield’s amusing call for the crowd to put their camera phones away (“You can call mummy later, Youtube won’t make you famous”) but the 10 minutes the band spend at the end of their set thanking the crowd, throwing guitar picks, shaking hands and just generally (genuinely) appreciating those who’d turned out.
Now if that sounds wanky, compare that to an experience I had in NME’s signing tent a few years ago when a certain American band (who might come from Las Vegas) grumbled and bitched their way through 20 (arduous) minutes felt-tipping autographs for the people who’ve bought their records, and well, it makes a difference.
Whether you’re a fan of metal or not, it’s refreshing to see it’s not just riffs but respect that has got Metallica this far.
Were you there? What did you think of the gig? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
Greg Cochrane
While digging through the new Zune 3.0 software, a Zuneboards forum member discovered several new colors on 120GB and 16GB Zunes for those who want to branch out from basic black. From the looks of things a blue, white and red version are in the mix—available in different color configurations that could include a black or silver backing. Obviously, none of this has been confirmed yet—but hopefully there will be more to come. [zuneboards] (more…)