A periodic roundup of relevant news…

• PSP 3.01 software update released
  Buy PSone games online via Playstation3, view music animations, and disable UMD auto-start.
  Sony
• PSP Internet Video Guide
  Learn how to use PSP Video 9 to get YouTube and Google Video onto your system.
  DVR Playground
• PSP sales up
  Hardware sales up 280% and software sales up 168% due to Black Friday and PS3 release.
  Game Daily
• Buy PSP music video downloads
  EMI Music UK’s entire music video library will be priced between GBP 1.89 and GBP 2.19 for MemoryStick download.
  Games Industry

I admit to feeling some trepidation when my Slim Devices Squeezebox review unit arrived. Since buying a house a year and a half ago, my stereo from early high school has sat unused in our basement. (Note the cheesy, Space-Invaders-like display on the screen and the layers of dust.)

I popped open one of the tape decks and look what I found:

Looking at the Squeezebox, I wondered not only if I could make it work with my stereo, but if it would even be worthwhile given my decidedly low-key approach to music.

Here’s the answer: Yes, yes, unequivocally yes. Can I have it for Christmas, please? Pretty please with a cherry on top?

Every new thing I tried with the Squeezebox just made it better — Starting with streaming my own music, then accessing the SqueezeNetwork and finally going full out with Pandora. If you want to skip set-up and some of the more gory details, scroll to the end for a list of pros and (very few) cons.

(more…)

A periodic roundup of relevant news…

• Beatles and Apple near exclusive iTunes deal: Fortune
• EchoStar retrial on TiVo patents denied: Denver Post
• Will paying for user video pay off: GigaOm
• Xbox movie downloads timed: Gizmodo
• Control BeyondTV with Slingbox: Fresh Arrival
• TiVo Glo Remote available for 8,500 Reward Points: TiVo

When I read XM will be launching Radio Hanukkah in December, I nearly spit out my Manischewitz. Other than the dreidel song and Adam Sandler’s ode to Hanukah, I didn’t realize there was other music associated with the holiday. Because you’ve come to expect hard hitting journalism here at ZNF, I journeyed far and wide (into my kitchen) and queried an observant Jew. She couldn’t name any other holiday songs and thinks offering a Chanukah station is “crazy!” Though I think she really meant to say “meshugas!”

I walked into Macy’s yesterday, and what did I stumble upon? Men’s suits on my left, and hey! It’s an iPod vending machine on my right! In truth I didn’t see the iPods until I was leaving the store, though I can’t imagine how I managed to miss them the first time around. Unfortunately I was running late and didn’t have time to examine the iPod choices carefully, but I did get to snap a few pics with my mobile phone.

Note: This Macy’s is located in one of the largest malls in America, so I can’t guarantee that if you stop in at your local store you’ll get the same treat.

What does this shiny display make you wonder? Well, will anyone buy an iPod out of a vending machine? A few years ago you couldn’t lay hands on an iPod in November if you visited every retail store in the area. Now, they’re the CE equivalent to Snickers bars. Except they still require plastic and not that spare change in your pocket.

Personally, I’d buy an iPod out of a vending machine. (It’s just so easy!) But Dave Z. disagrees. And I have to admit, I was by far the most interested passerby at Macy’s today.