Microsoft and Mountain Dew have teamed up to bring you the Halo 3 RSS Reader so you can now see what's happening around the web quickly, easily and Halo-y. Imagine the excitement as you file through your links with this awesome logo shaped reader with it's...

Ok, I'm done.

The Halo 3 RSS Reader [Xbox.com]
[via Major Nelson]

Don't have a T-Mobile HotSpot account? Well, for the first six months (after the first log-in) PSP users can enjoy the service gratis, then decide if they want to keep it going at a "special rate."

I have an account and use it quite frequently for work when I'm away from home, but don't see myself busting out my PSP during my next Hyatt stay. More details are in the release after the jump. Michael McWhertor

Sony Computer Entertainment America Offers PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable) Users T-Mobile(R) Hotspot Access

Online Gaming and Internet Access at T-Mobile HotSpots Now Available to PSP Owners as Part of Latest PSP System Firmware Update

FOSTER CITY, Calif., March 29 — Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced a new firmware upgrade for the PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable) system, version 3.30, enabling PSP users to play compatible games online, surf the Web, and download podcasts at more than 7,000 T-Mobile(R) HotSpot locations, including select Starbucks coffee shops, Borders bookstores, Hyatt Hotels, and more than 70 major airports across the United States.

This limited time promotional offer includes six months of Wi-Fi network access to T-Mobile HotSpot starting at the initial log-in on the T-Mobile HotSpot network for PSP owners who have downloaded the firmware update. Once the six-month period is complete, T-Mobile will offer PSP owners an option to purchase a subscription at a special rate. Details of the post offer will be available directly from T-Mobile. PSP owners must log-in to the T-Mobile HotSpot Network by March 28, 2008, to access the
six-month promotional period.

"This new offer enables SCEA to take portable gaming and entertainment to a new level of mobility and convenience for PSP owners," said Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "With T-Mobile's service, we're making it possible for the PSP community to connect in new ways and access the online content they want in more places than ever before. More and more PSP users are going online to challenge each other in multi-player games, and we can now make it more convenient to access online gaming as well as the Internet, showcasing the rich feature set that PSP has to offer."

Joe Sims, vice president and general manager, broadband products and services, T-Mobile USA, said, "Through SCEA's offer to PSP owners, T-Mobile HotSpot is expanding the ways customers can stay connected. Now the millions of loyal PSP users in the United States will be able to go online at thousands of T-Mobile HotSpot locations across the country that they may already frequent daily."

PSP users can now enter a T-Mobile HotSpot location and access compatible online games via the PSP's Wi-Fi functionality. Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters, the highly acclaimed newest chapter in the popular franchise, is the first title to take advantage of this new online access, enabling PSP owners to tackle the title's various multi-player options whenever they're at a T- Mobile HotSpot. Additional software titles supporting access to T-Mobile HotSpot locations will be released later this year.

Additionally, this new capability makes it easier than ever to access the PSP system's multimedia features beyond online gaming. PSP owners can take a break from the controls and watch a streaming video or download a podcast while drinking lattes at Starbucks, check out online reviews of the latest book releases while browsing at Borders, or access online city guides for restaurant and nightlife recommendations when passing through the airport or a Hyatt hotel.

Additional Firmware 3.30 Upgrades
The firmware 3.30 update is now available and includes the addition of T- Mobile HotSpot access as well as the following upgrades.
— Full-resolution video — PSP users can now view videos saved on a Memory Stick Duo in full resolution (720x480).
— Thumbnail support — Thumbnail files for video and RSS content can now be displayed.

PSP system firmware updates can be wirelessly downloaded directly to a PSP system using a Wi-Fi connection; downloaded to a PC from http://www.us.playstation.com/psp and transferred to a PSP system through a USB cable; or installed using upcoming UMD(TM) software.

About PSP (PlayStation Portable) handheld entertainment system
PSP is the first truly integrated handheld entertainment system designed to handle multiple applications - music, video, photo, Internet, live and recorded TV, and wireless connectivity, with games as its key feature. PSP system features an unmatched library of entertainment content, totaling more than 200 games and nearly 450 feature films, TV programs, and videos from major studios and record labels, as well as downloadable content from the Internet.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation(R) and PS one(R) game console, the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, and the PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system, and the ground-breaking PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets, and distributes software for the PS one game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system and the PSP system for the North American market. Based in Foster City, Calif. Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment
Inc.

About T-Mobile USA
Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile USA, Inc. is a member of the T-Mobile International group, one of the world's leading companies in mobile communications, and the mobile telecommunications subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom AG. At the end of December 2006, more than 106 million mobile customers were served by companies of the Deutsche Telekom group — 25 million by T-Mobile USA — all via a common technology platform based on GSM, the world's most successful digital wireless standard. T-Mobile's innovative wireless products and services help empower people to connect effortlessly to those who matter most. Multiple independent research studies continue to rank T-Mobile highest, in numerous regions throughout the U.S., in wireless call quality and wireless customer care. For more information, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.t-mobile.com. T-Mobile(R) is a federally registered trademark.

NOTE: "PlayStation", "PLAYSTATION", "PSP" "PS one" are registered trademarks and "PS3" is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Visit us on the Web at http://www.us.playstation.com.

Check it, download it, love it.

Download file

The freeware program allows you to stream audio and text xml feeds to your Xbox 360 console automatically.

Unfortunately, the initial version of the program, which cam pre-installed with a bunch of the top Xbox podcasts, automatically hit up each podcast and downloaded the 30 most recent casts. Two really bad things immedially happened, a bunch of Xbox 360 users had their PC Xbox 360 harddrives swamped and a bunch of podcast sites had their servers shutdown thanks to the enormous amount of download bandwith.

Gamertag Radio's Godfree wrote to say that their sever had more than 42,000 hits with more than 500 gigs of bandwith in less than 48 hours and now their site is toast. Fortunately, GT Radio doesn't have to pay for their overages, I'd hate to see what this is doing to sites where people have to pay out of their pockets.

Hopping over to the XB Stream site, I see that the creators already have a temporary patch up and are hard at work on a permanent fix.

If you have downloaded a previous version of XB Stream please immediately follow these steps below. Several podcast sites are being continually hit by XB Stream and using up massive amounts of their bandwidth. Please please follow the steps below to fix this issue ASAP, as we should respect the podcasts. 1. Uninstall XB Stream completely. 2. Download the new version on this website and install (it still is listed as version 1.0) 3. The new version will not download audio podcasts by default - PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THIS YET 4. I will include a permanent fix by today/Monday which will only download 1 audio podcast.

So it sounds like you should avoid XB Stream until Monday, or at least carefully follow the above instructions if you do get it. It sounds like once this kink has been worked out it will be a pretty cool program to get for your 360. Brian Crecente

XB Stream

'Second Life' Events Go Public With Eventful [Clickable Culture]

Last week's PSP firmware update includes a gimped version of an RSS feed, and Slashdot links to a bit that has a Sony spokeswoman saying if enough customers ask for it, they'll unleash the RSS potential of the handheld. Want more progress? Ask for it.

Sony May Complete RSS Support for PSP [Slashdot]
Sony Will Consider Text RSS [Digital World Tokyo]
PSPodcasting