VidZone! First Look
The PS3's latest exclusive XMB app is here, and it's fantastic.Published 11/06/2009 at 14:00 by nofi
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VidZone! is not only exclusive to the PlayStation 3, it’s exclusive to us Europeans, too. For once we get something really cool that our friends in the States can only look on with envious eyes. Of course, everything’s half the price over there and they’ve had the movie download service for ages, but hey, let’s gloat in this while we can because VidZone! is worth gloating over.
So, first things first, VidZone! needs to be downloaded from the Store. Depending on when you’re reading this it’ll either be up there, or will be shortly. The application, which is free, is just 20MB and once downloaded will appear on your XMB right underneath the Music column, meaning the last Firmware must have prepped your PS3 ready for this.
Once in, VidZone! is your typically slick SCEE affair, with a gorgeous (and intuitive) menu system giving you easy access to your playlists and, of course, the music itself. Sony have worked wonders with the day one artist list, there’s over 4,000 of them on there and although quite a few of them are from independent labels, VidZone! at least carries two major distributors from the off, with more to come.
These 4,000 artists constitute 10,000 music videos, which is an incredible amount, and span a wide range of genres including Alternative, Bollywood, Classical, Comedy / Themes, Dance, Hip Hop, Jazz / Blues, Pop, R&B / Soul, Rock / Metal, and World. It’s like browing through iTunes but faster and on your TV rather than your iPhone.
You can search artists by letter, and for the lazy you can quickly browse through three categories: The Chart, Recommended and Dance Hits, and of course navigating these and selecting tracks for streaming or adding to your playlist works just the same way as you’re familiar with from using the PlayStation Store. Once playing music videos can be paused, fast forwarded, rewound and skipped like magic.
Songs can also be downloaded for your mobile phone as a ringtone for £1.50. In addition, there are options for downloading the video or just the music track for your phone, however, these are currently unavailavable. The service does have a small amount of advertising and the adverts themselves can be clicked on. For example, an advert for Battlefield 1943 will take you to the PlayStation Store where you can download the latest trailer for the game. You can watch the videos in full screen, however image quality does suffer and they do not actually fill your screen.
So, yeah, it’s pretty cool. There’s a massive selection of music on there which should cater for all tastes and with the built-in options to download tracks to your mobile phone and the promise of more labels popping up soon, VidZone! has come out of nowhere and totally revolutionised your XMB and transformed your living room parties for ever. Wicked stuff.
Comments
Please note that all comments are the opinion of the individual author and not TheSixthAxis.
cc_star | 11/06/2009 14:05
Team TSA: Writer
7869 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Oasis, Kasabian, Aphex Twin, System of a Down, Rage Against The Machine, Pearl Jam, Kings Of Leon…
oh and Justin Timberlake
Something for everyone
Really looking forward to this… roll on 3:00
MrBilly | 11/06/2009 14:06
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409 TSA Points | Member since: Jan 2009
can’t wait to check this out for myself, i’ve only heard good things of it
give up | 11/06/2009 14:07
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214 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
Will vidzone be released alongside the rest of today’s store update, or seperately?
3shirts | 11/06/2009 14:08
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2487 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
Two questions:
1) Can you use it through RemotePlay?
2) Will TheSixthAxis PS3 theme be updated for the new icon?
darknight88 | 11/06/2009 14:11
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324 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
Well the answer to ure 1st question is that it is full compatible with remote play.
2nd question…havnt a clue!
colmshan1990 | 11/06/2009 14:11
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1106 TSA Points | Member since: Apr 2009
Is there a TSA PS3 theme?
Where can I get it?
give up | 11/06/2009 14:11
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214 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
Two questions, three shirts, I wonder what you have four of…
hannes_truce | 11/06/2009 14:20
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2919 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
nipples?
Chimpanzee | 11/06/2009 14:24
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481 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
As it’s a logo, I doubt it’s customisable in a theme. Like the PSN logo.
Chimpanzee | 11/06/2009 14:24
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481 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Oh, and where is the TSA theme?
hannes_truce | 11/06/2009 14:19
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2919 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
I’m glad that there’s a large variety of genres. but they missed the best one : Ska
give up | 11/06/2009 14:38
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214 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
Hate to sound a goof but what is ska?
hannes_truce | 11/06/2009 14:49
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2919 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
erm, best known example is ‘madness’ or ‘the specials’ more modern stuff you should check out though : ‘the slackers’ or ‘oi skall mates’
Tuffcub | 11/06/2009 14:54
Team TSA: Writer
4070 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
Oh now i feel old.
kevatron400 | 12/06/2009 01:38
Don't call him Kevatron400.
1756 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
Cuh, young people these days eh? Hodgi will tell em. *cough(Check out Twice The Size)cough*
BrendanCalls | 11/06/2009 14:23
Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc - YOHIMBÉ!!!
1417 TSA Points | Member since: Forever
Am looking forward to getting home from work to try this out,
I reckon my missus will love it too
3shirts | 11/06/2009 14:24
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2487 TSA Points | Member since: Aug 2008
Are we still talking about VidZone?
give up | 11/06/2009 14:28
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214 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
4chords | 11/06/2009 14:25
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89 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
What is the cost to watch the music videos?
give up | 11/06/2009 14:29
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214 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
Free!!
give up | 11/06/2009 14:30
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214 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
You have to pay to download them though
spooner_22 | 11/06/2009 14:30
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1167 TSA Points | Member since: May 2009
Cool, looks good, will defo check it out…needs some rock though!
MaNiAc-Uk | 11/06/2009 14:32
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50 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
so looking forward to getting out of the office and heading home to download it from the psn 25 meg download so 10 mins will have it on my system ready to test hope the ghostbuster demo does come out to day as would kick start the week end for me and my mates with burnout island and what ever else the brilliant psn network has to offer lol…
give up | 11/06/2009 14:37
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214 TSA Points | Member since: Feb 2009
10 mins for 25mb, ouch that’s slow.
MaNiAc-Uk | 11/06/2009 14:41
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50 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
might hard wire the ps3 for better leach speeds as via wireless my router is crap 20 mins till it goes live at 3pm gmt on the store playstaion blog is saing.
Colinbarr66 | 11/06/2009 14:36
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1020 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
As long as it has Rise Against I’m happy
hannes_truce | 11/06/2009 14:50
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2919 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
seconded
Colinbarr66 | 11/06/2009 15:01
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1020 TSA Points | Member since: Mar 2009
Woo im not the only Rise Against fan on here. Alot of people hate them
Paragonknight | 12/06/2009 11:06
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3 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
I think I’ve only heard one song of theirs and I think that’s through WWE Smackdown vs Raw. It was called Survive I think.
yogh_wayne | 11/06/2009 14:38
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2852 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
I don’t really watch a lot of music videos, but will have a look at it. If it’s available in Germany at all…
MaNiAc-Uk | 11/06/2009 14:44
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50 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Australia get it 3pm GMT
15 mins and counting so whats the first song every one going to watch.
AddictedAndy | 11/06/2009 14:47
PS3Addict
490 TSA Points | Member since: Oct 2008
Im hoping the Dance Music scetion is going to be pretty comprehensive. The term ‘Dance music’ is such a generalisation these days.
Tuffcub | 11/06/2009 14:55
Team TSA: Writer
4070 TSA Points | Member since: Dec 2008
Lots of Beyonce im gussing
Dafro1989 | 11/06/2009 14:57
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629 TSA Points | Member since: Sep 2008
Sweeeet. Now this is the sort of thing Sony need to promote more!
MaNiAc-Uk | 11/06/2009 15:00
Member
50 TSA Points | Member since: Jun 2009
10,000 music videos, 4,000 artists should be a good nights entertainment that with what ever updates we get with the store should be a great night in lol