RSS on your PSP, v. 1.3
CONTENTS:
Introduction
1. What is RSS?
2. RSS on your PSP
2.1 RSS Channel Guide (with firmware 3.5)
3. How do I use the RSS feature on my PSP?
4. Annotated site-list
Video Game Podcasts
Other Podcasts
5. Acknowledgements
Introduction
This is meant to be a simple guide. Its purpose is to provide you the information you need to make use of the RSS feature on your PSP and provide a list of sites with interesting, useful, and even amusing content. I've organized it like an FAQ because it's an efficient way to present information and a format that gamers know. If you find any errors or omissions, drop me a PM or make a post and I'll correct the problem. Thanks for looking!
1. What is RSS?RSS generally stands for Really Simple Syndication. It describes a format for publishing digital content on the Web. Programs called aggregators, typically part of a web browser, can be tethered to these feeds and will check for updates automatically, as long as your web-enabled device is connected to the Net.
2. RSS on your PSP.
The RSS aggregator on your PSP supports audio and video - at this point, it doesn't support blogs and other essentially text-based media like that from news sites. Video RSS feeds can be downloaded only. Audio feeds, however, you may listen to in a streaming format on demand. For the moment, this guide focuses on AUDIO feeds.
2.1 The release of Firmware 3.5 has introduced a new feature for RSS on your PSP. It's now possible to access an official Sony webguide that can help you find RSS feeds available in your region (NA, Europe, Japan). At least for now, the site's fairly limited. It is, though, definitely worth checking out. The RSS Channel Guide is located under the RSS section of the XMB.
3. How do I use the RSS feature on my PSP
It's pretty easy. Visit a site that hosts a podcast and click on the .rss/.xml link. This is typically an orange-coloured button -- orange has become the colour denotative of RSS. Your PSP browser will then ask you if you want to subscribe and manage the feed under the RSS feature. This is crucial: to stream a feed, rather than download it, you must select the link for the MP3 formatted one. Often MP3 is the only feed offered, but sites like MajorNelson.com, for instance, offer the RSS in both MP3 and WMA format.
4. Some sites:
This list is a work-in-progress and, as of the writing of this first version, I haven't had a chance to listen to all the feeds, but where ever possible there are annotations to help you decide whether you want to try a particular RSS. Some of these were written by me, some are written by the individuals who provided the link. As a rule, these podcasts are professional done, interesting, and sometimes amusing.
The HotSpot -- The podcast from Game Spot. The show appears weekly, on Tuesdays. Various GS editors talk industry news and new releases, read and respond to listener email and field pre-recorded questions from callers.
Gamespot UK Podcast: Fairly different from the GS US podcast; a little more formal, with a certain emphasis on the discussion of issues within the gaming industry and gamer culture. Comes out fortnightly. Worth a listen.
1up yours podcast -- a little more risque than the HotSpot; sometimes called The View for gamers. It's smart, but it's also pretty funny. Like the Hotspot it's a round table discussion. Unlike the HotSpot, this one also features interviews from industry insiders and some pretty creative language (viz. lots of swears). The show appears on Fridays.
EGM posdcast -- Electronic Gaming Monthly's weekly podcast. The show appears on Mondays. Like the 1up, it's pretty much uncensored. More business, less funny stuff than 1up Yours. The often focuses on the magazine (obviously). Again, a round table. Great for frank comments and reviews.
OXM podcast : Official Xbox Magazine Podcast; less focused on the magazine than EGM is. Hosted by two editors from the mag, the show is often centered around an interview.
Major Nelson : I really like this one, but I'm never quite sure what's going on. What I mean is, on the one hand Larry Hryb is pretty adamant that the blog and the podcast are his own, done on his time and his dime, but really, for the amount of time he puts into them, what's that leave for his actual job? Plus, he definitely toes the M$ party line: games published by M$, in particular, are favourably treated. (The frank comments you hear about games and accessories on shows like 1up and EGM you really won't find here.) I want to believe the man, but I feel like some skepticism is healthy. Anywho, I like the podcast and Major Nelson is definitely charismatic. The show appears on Sundays. It's yypically run just by Major Nelson, though sometimes he has a co-host.
IGN Games Podcast
Joystiq Podcast
Playstation Fancast - The PSP and PS3 fanboy site editors discuss PSP and PS3 topics. The show lasts from 50 minutes to under 2 hours and 10 minutes. One show was 2 hours and 40 minutes long I believe? Usually every Monday they put it up but there are a few times they won't. That only happened once.
Xbox 360 Fanboy's Podcast - The people who bring you the great content on xbox360fanboy.com discuss 360 news.
PlayStation Mayhem - Go to the official PSP website on your PSP and go to RSS and add PlayStation Mayhem. Not really my favorite as they usually never talk about games. Mostly about music. Check it out though but they rarely update. Last update was in May.
Orange Lounge Radio - Video game podcasts dedicated to what gamers really want to know. An independent voice in a crowded world of video game podcasts, Orange Lounge Radio is dedicated to giving a forum for every gamer to have their voice. Hosted live weekly for the past four years by DarkSakura, skie & Loki, OLR gives listeners the opportunity to interact directly with the show and give their feedback on the hot topics in the gaming industry through live call-ins, a chatroom and email.
PSP Podcast The PSP and PGR Podcasts are weekly news shows dedicated to the Sony PSP.
The Video Game Show -The Video Game Show is a weekly show that will inform you about the things that are going on in the gaming industry. Although we specialize in console gaming, we'll get you up-to-speed on the entire gaming world through the use of news, reviews and interviews.
The PSP Show
GDC Radio "GDC Radio, in association with the Game Developers Conference and Gamasutra.com, provides professionally recorded MP3's featuring the game industry's top leaders and innovators. Choose from a wide variety of downloadable GDC lectures or Panels, including GDC Mobile, Serious Games Summit GDC, Independent Games Summit, Casual Games Summit, and Game Career Seminar." -gdcradio.net (Weekly)
Player One Podcast Gaming podcast hosted by Greg Sewart and Chris Johnston (ex-EGMers). Good because 1000 gaming podcasts are just not enough. Plus they at least have SOME credentials and an interview with industry types every once in a while. (Weekly)
OTHER PODCASTS
Mysterious Universe - A weekly program dedicated to bringing you the latest news from beyond the mainstream. From future science, ancient history, and the paranormalto the UFO phenomenon, join us in taking an alternative look into the Universe around us.
The Official Lost Podcast For Fans Of The ABC Drama Lost, A Weekly Podcast Hosted By Ex. Producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. They Discuss The Previous Weeks Episode, Preview Next Week, Hold Cast Interviews and Answer Fan Questions. There Are Plenty Of Jokes, Answers, Spoilers, and Interesting Tidbits.
A.B.O.V.E. - A fast paced comedy/talk podcast by ex radio presenters Hannah Lewis, Adam Court, and Paul Saunders talking about everything in a chat with your mates down at the pub format about the great questions of life, the mysteries of the universe and their own inadequacies.
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History - Was Alexander the Great as bad a person as Hitler ? What was the greatest army of all time? Which U.S. President was the worst? Hardcore History discusses the issues and questions history fans love.
CBC Radio 3 podcast: A great mix of music, and they recently added a track of the day podcast; their chart show has one too. You can subscribe to them all with this superfeedhttp://www.cbcradio3.com/podcast/ or get each one individually with
http://www.cbcradio3.com/podcast/radio3/ for the regular podcast
http://www.cbcradio3.com/podcast/r330/ for the R3-30 chart show
http://www.cbcradio3.com/podcast/trackoftheday/ for the track of the day.
The Tony Kornheiser Show Podcast of daily psuedo-sports radio show hosted by Tony Kornheiser, a sportswriter and columnist for The Washington Post. Funny, if you're old and/or aging rapidly. Be warned though, you will hear more about American Idol, celebrity home invasions, and "Animal Uprisings" than actual sports. (Daily)
Buzz Out Loud A lighthearted, tech-news podcast from CNET. "Molly Wood, Tom Merritt, and Veronica Belmont give you their take on what's happening in tech news."-iTunes (Daily)
Indiefeed Podcast featuring single-song new music drops in several different genres including Alt. Rock, Hip Hop, Electronica, etc. Also gives artist and album info for each song. Different feeds for each genre. Good for finding new music. (Weekly)
Cheap Ass Gamer has a videogame podcast
PSP Fanboy now has a couple of RSS feeds. Here's the podcast, the PlayStation Fancast, which is a weekly show on everything PS3 and PSP:Then is the video RSS feed, which includes new trailers every week:And finally, this is the background RSS feed, which includes new backgrounds for your PSP every week:
The Acidplanet electronica podcast
Make your own podcast: http://www.podomatic.com/. This is good for saving space on the Memory Stick or accessing your music from a different location.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Gamespot user fvjonj provided more than half of the links and took the time to provide the annotations for them, as well. War_on_Errorisr, tonemd_basic, scxzor, AsakuraHao2004, and mosespippy all provided additional content links and annotations.
DrFish62 shouted encouragement and, crucially, "stickified" the thread.
Thanks dudes!
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