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Vidzone brings free music-video streaming to PS4
The PlayStation 4 might not play CDs (yet) and an official YouTube app is still MIA, but that doesn't mean music and music videos are out of reach. Vidzone has finally taken its streaming app into the next generation, and, unlike Music Unlimited, it's free. Much like its previous-gen counterpart, the video application offers concerts, interviews, custom playlists and even crams the PS4's native social-features in for good measure. You can share screenshots of what you're watching to Facebook and Twitter, for instance, and recent activity in the app also populates the "what's new" activity feed on your friends' consoles. Unless you want your Battlefield 4 clan to know you went on a lengthy Ke$ha binge, however, we suggest turning that setting off.
VidZone brings free music videos to PS4
VidZone, the free music video-streaming app, is now available on the PS4. The PS4 version of the app improves upon its PS3 predecessor with faster start-up times and quicker navigation options. Using the social features of the PS4, you can see which of your friends are watching Katy Perry videos or take screen shots of your favorite videos to post on Facebook and Twitter. The VidZone app has had a home on PlayStation platforms in Europe since 2009, when it made its debut on PS3. The free app quickly reached over a million downloads and was announced for new territories only a few months after its life began on PlayStation. You can download the app right now through the TV & Video section of the PS4 home screen or through the App section of the PlayStation Store.
Vidzone music video streaming app comes to PlayStation 3 users in the US
Music Unlimited has long been Sony's preferred musical portal on the PlayStation 3, but for those who enjoy video to accompany their music, there's a new option available to folks in the US: Vidzone. It's an ad-supported music video streaming service -- not unlike the Vevo app Xbox 360 users enjoy -- that's been available to PS3 owners in Europe for years. Now, their US counterparts can enjoy the 55,000 videos in its library and can view them via genre-based channels or build their own custom playlists. Should you prefer content that's a little less produced, the service also delivers artist interviews and plenty of live events, too. And, whenever you find a new favorite video, you can share it on Facebook. Sound good? You can grab the app yourself from the PlayStation Store or install it directly from the XMB's TV/Video Services option.
VidZone expanding to 11 more European countries
Europe's totally awesome (and totally exclusive) VidZone service is finally expanding its reach. Sorry Americans, but this free music video streaming service isn't coming our way. Instead, eleven new European countries will be able to join the party by year's end. Here's the roll-out schedule: Thursday 26th November: Netherlands, Portugal, Austria Thursday 3rd December: Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland Thursday 10th December: Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, New Zealand According to PlayStation.Blog, new users will have to wait upwards of 15 minutes when initially launching the service. Why? Apparently, there's so just that much content to load when the application is launched for the first time. Each subsequent visit will only take seconds -- good, because we're confident you'll be coming back for more.
VidZone to expand to new territories
With over a million videos downloaded, Europe's VidZone service has been an unprecedented success, something that even caught the service provider by surprise. "It was difficult to assess how well it would do," Louisa Jackson, director of marketing for VidZone, told GI.biz. "By both gaming and music industry standards it's been a phenomenal success."The service has been rapidly expanding, grabbing exclusives before other television and online venues, such as MTV and Yahoo. Most recently, the service announced it will be debuting new videos from Placebo.To expand upon its success, VidZone is planning to expand to other territories beyond Australia and a small handful of European countries. Jackson didn't reveal specifics, but did reiterate the company's support behind the platform. A free update in September will add many user-requested features like 16x9 support and improved search functionality.
Free VidZone app passes one million downloads
Europe's exclusive music video service just surpassed one million downloads. VidZone is SCEE's music video service that streams music videos -- new and old -- for free on PS3 and PSP. In addition to an archive of classics, VidZone most recently debuted U2's latest single, "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight," exclusively through the service.It's no wonder that VidZone has been popular amongst European PS3 owners considering its low cost of entry (free). The European PlayStation.Blog announced earlier today that "VidZone has had over 1 million downloads and 100 million video streams on PS3."We're certainly jealous of our friends across the Atlantic that can access the service. However, in spite of its success, it doesn't look like there are any plans (yet) to bring this service to the US. To see the top 10 videos on VidZone, click past the break.[Thanks, al thor!]
U2 to debut new video exclusively on VidZone
U2 is set to unleash the video for its new single, "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight" on August 17 in the UK, however PS3 and PSP owners will get an early glimpse at the new video, thanks to streaming service VidZone. The news comes courtesy of Casualgaming.biz, who reports that Vidzone doesn't have an ETA for the animated video at the moment, though it'll likely be before August 17. We know how important this is to all of you, so we're going to be hitting F5 on VidZone's site up until then, so we can break this most important news as early as possible. Viva la Edge![Via MCV]
New firmware readies PSP for VidZone content
A minor firmware update for PSP arrived this morning. This brings the portable handheld up to firmware version 5.51. The EU PlayStation blog notes this new update "improves PSP System software stability during use of some features," though doesn't provide any further details. We here at Joystiq hypothesize this quick little fix is readying PSP for the VidZone service which just launched today.The firmware is roughly 27MB, which is a file size close to the VidZone update on PS3 (23MB). For those unfamiliar with VidZone, it's a service that gives PSP and PS3 users free access to music videos via PSN. It's currently only available in specific European countries, so don't go rushing out to download all at once.
VidZone launches June 11 with three weeks worth of content
VidZone, Sony's Europe exclusive free streaming music service, is on the cusp of launching. The date has been set for June 11, mere hours away, and SCEE has announced that you'll be able to enjoy a huge amount of content on day one. More specifically, there will be three solid weeks of content available to stream on launch day. The press release also promises that there's "much, much more on the way."While these 10,000 videos are exclusive to Europe, there's nothing stopping people in the US from downloading it from the PlayStation Store via their European -- er, friend's -- account. Whether or not Sony has put an IP region lock on the software itself is unknown. We'll find out for sure tomorrow.
VidZone brings music videos to the PS3 this summer
Remember VidZone? You probably don't, seeing as we haven't heard anything about the music video service for the PS3 since it was announced at the Leipzig Game Convention last year. It's not dead, though. The service is ready to go live this summer in the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Australia.VidZone will be a completely free, though ad-supported, way of watching music videos on demand. It will allow you to create playlists of streaming videos either from your PS3 itself or from your PSP via remote play. The service will feature "thousands of music videos and live concert videos, as well as behind the scenes, interviews and making of footage." There's no word on how often the service will be updated, but we would hope that more content is added on a fairly regular basis. VidZone is Europe and Australia exclusive, with seemingly no plans to bring it to the US.
GC 2008: PS3 getting free 'VidZone' music service in Europe
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has announced that VidZone, "the online destination for music videos" that we've never heard of, will be offering a free, streaming music video service for the PlayStation 3. The "trial service" is expected to launch in early 2009 in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Featuring a "full playlist of videos from hip-hop to punk and heavy metal to classics," VidZone will allow PS3 owners to build playlists and download songs, music videos (!!!) and ringtones "for a small charge." The best part is that the service will support remote play via the PSP, ideal for those awkward situations when you're out in public and simply must subject yourself and those around you to Kylie Minogue.
