Tag Archives: last.fm

In probably the most obvious announcement of the day, Microsoft has confirmed that Facebook and Twitter will only be available on Xbox 360 for Gold Members.

This bit of news was slapped in with the price cut announcement.

“Xbox LIVE Gold Membership will be required for Twitter and Facebook when they are available, and is required for Netflix. Games, media content and Netflix membership are sold separately; a hard drive is required for storage,” Microsoft’s press release reads.

Both FB and Twitter are expected to land on the service this fall along with Last.fm.

Via GameZine.

Live GM Christina DeRosa has told Joystiq that the service’s Silver members may be granted limited access to Last.fm for free.

“Silver users will be able access what we’re considering a trial period of three hours a month, which comes with video advertising,” she said.

“Gold users will have unlimited ad-supported access, so they can use it 24 hours a day. There will also be a premium offering on a subscription basis from Last.fm, that will be commercial free and will also have more sophisticated personalization features, like Loved Tracks.”

Last.fm launches on 360 this autumn. Thanks, Destructoid.

Microsoft’s announcement that 360 is to be integrated with Facebook, Last.fm and Twitter was “far and away the most important” news of E3, Wedbush Morgan’s Michael Pachter’s told Gamasutra.

The analyst said “that the media completely missed its importance,” adding that it signals a new direction for the machine, that of a “functioning computer” in the living room.

Pachter also said that the move “gives the company a huge jump start on a hopeful Apple, which has as yet to make a dent in sales of its AppleTV (intended for the same purpose).

“Microsoft appears to me to understand that it can leverage its 30 million installed base advantage if it moves quickly, and Apple will have a long way to go in order to catch up. By far, this was the most important announcement of E3.”

Very interesting stuff. Hit it. And if you’re not using Twitter already, then get with the program, soldier.

With Xbox 360 becoming a home entertainment system that offers not only games, but Netflix and soon Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm, Shane Kim wants to assure gamers that the console is still all about games.

“It happens to be a great video game console,” Kim told Kotaku. “That’s not going away. We want to make people understand that we’re not leaving the gaming space.

“I definitely think that we can expand off that base, and that gaming is still going to be an important part of entertainment.”

Bill Gates previously stated that the creation of Xbox was so the company could strategically “get into the living room.”

More through the link.

Kotaku‘s unearthed some more details of the Last.fm service that will be integrated into XBL later this year.

Yes, there’s still no date but you’ll have the ability to share your playlists with friends and create your own, unique Last.fm station.

The feature list in full:

• browse artists & tracks and compile custom playlists
• share those playlists, and other recommendations, with friends via “Party Radio” (you’ll also be able to listen in on the same songs/playlists together)
• create your own Last.fm station
• check out artist pages complete with photos, band info and other info like how to find similar artists.

Microsoft has announced Last.fm will be free for all Live Gold subscribers.