Facebook Invades Xbox Next Week, PS3 Eventually
Fulfilling a promise made in June, Microsoft is trotting out a new firmware update Tuesday that lets you access Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm from your TV.
GamePro reports that Sony will be beaten but not outdone, and leaked images of its own PS3 also running Facebook, projecting a similar update on the way someday. It took the PS3 a year longer than the 360 to land Netflix streaming, so don't hold your breath.
The question remains as to how useful Facebook access will be, but like a Swiss Army knife, it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it, I guess.
The way I see it, Facebook is for sapping away tedious work hours, not valuable "Modern Warfare 2" moments. What do you think?
Facebook coming to PS3 soon; FB & Twitter on Xbox Tuesday [GamePro]
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I've been in the preview for a few weeks now. It's pretty well done. It's basically how facebook was before the influx of all those damn applications.
In fact, since you can't run those applications on the xbox, I think a lot of people will flock to it.
Out of all the new features coming, Last FM is one of the best IMO. Anytime you play a song, a slideshow of the artist/band plays on your screen. It's perfect for parties, but it would be nice if you could listen to last.fm and play a game as well.
Oh well. Maybe down the line.
It will probably post updates like "XXX has received the Great Job achievement"
that's pretty awesome, I can't wait to try this out on my XBOX 360.
Hopefully XBOX can get Slacker Radio or Pandora on there too.
For once I'm glad the PS3 isn't getting something. I hate Facebook, twitter, and all that social networking garbage.
(Yes, get off my lawn!)
@lawnmowerdeth: Really? I love facebook, it keeps the wife on the computer for an hour or so giving me an uninterrupted hour on the ps3 :)
@AHepburnGuy: +1 for Pandora. I am listening to it now at work and when I sleep at night I have it playing on my blackberry. It would be nice to have to on the tv as well for the days I am cleaning the my apt. and want more variety than my ipod.
I'm on the preview as well and love the Facebook app. I can easily read my news feed, read comments, post comments, and update my status. I'm not bombarded by advertisements and don't have to worry about all those other silly applications. In addition, I'm able to see photos quickly and think the photos are exceptionally well done on the 360 - much better than the website version.
I find it simple to use and a great way to FB. The only thing I'd love to see is achievement integration with FB. In other words, when you get an achievement, you have the option to publish it to your wall.
@Dyscord:
Oh yeah, Last FM totally rocks. My fiance has the preview, too, and he put in the most obscure bands he could think of and it found them and built a great station for him.
I also think it would be awesome to play it while in the games. Here's hoping they add that feature.
Technically, PS3 already has Facebook, Twitter and Pandora (no Last FM). These can all be accessed using the web browser. Of course, the user interface on the 360 dashboard will make them much more user friendly than the PS3 web browser.
I have both systems and I look forward to any kind of integration with new services. It would be nice if they make these optional additions, since not everyone wants to clutter up their dashboard/XMB with apps they do not want/use.
@wooster11: There was some kind of app that sorta did that, I seem to recall. You put in your gamertag and it synced up with Live.
@Aladdyn: Clearly you have not discovered the joy that is Grey's Anatomy and the other chick-TV-dramas. I'm tempted to buy her back seasons just so I can re-play Fallout 3.
Well, seeing as the PS3 has a web browser built in, you COULD say that the PS3 has had Facebook since launch!
FYI.. Facebook and Twitter on the 360 require a Gold Live membership. maybe when the facebook app on the the ps3, which will be of course free to access, is released, Microsoft might change the Gold requirement.
I'm in the preview, but I really see no value in the current implementation of Facebook integration. If I want to use facebook I'll use my computer instead of typing on a tiny MS chatpad. If they had it integrated in a way that allowed you to use Facebook while you're playing a game, that would be useful (so you could entertain yourself while waiting for a multiplayer game to start).
I think the comments about being "bombarded by ads" are funny. Facebook has one small ad in the sidebar, while on the Xbox you're looking at ads as soon as you turn it on (the ads don't bother me on either, but they're certainly more "in your face" on the Xbox).
Also, you people know you can block applications, right? Or you can use Facebook Lite and not see ANY applications.
@shoelace414: To my knowledge, it actually doesn't. You can use a third part site like Raptr to track your acheievments and post them on facebook/twitter if you want.
@ramfan1701: Raptr does that. You link it with your gamertag, facebook and twitter if you wish and it'll post your acheivements as well as what you're playing. It's a nice tool for gamers.
@Colonel Jack O'Neill: They're seperate downloads. You download them like you would download a demo. They're not built into the update.
@Aladdyn: Facebook used to keep my wife at bay, but then she got addicted to Uncharted 2 multiplayer. Now I can hardly get any PS3 time :( One night she played till 5 in the morning and I was sleeping and then I was like "oh this is how it feels". hmm
@Dyscord: Thanks for the tip. It'd be nice if I didn't have to sign up for anything else though... especially since FB is now on the Xbox itself.
@Colonel Jack O'Neill: The uploader should know better; the correct title is "Fuck tha Police".
/Ironic grammar Nazi.
Can you get Facebook on your commode? That must be the last place left where there's any privacy.
@Colonel Jack O'Neill: So opposed to any form of social networking, yet feels compelled to comment on every story. (I know this isn't "networking" like FB or Twitter, but he's making damned sure he's known among the Consumerist community.)
@Dyscord: My only issues are with Twitter only displaying the last 50 tweets and Last.FM not working with custom playlists in games.
Minor issues for things I get for free with a service I get a lot of use out of (Especially with Modern Warfare 2 out now) but these are things I'd like to see fixed in future updates.
Unless FB is blocked at the router, which is a weirdly popular customer request these days.
Not judging, just saying.