andPOP - Pop Culture With Substance

That’s right, this coming week your TV will transform into so much more with social networking, music, and movies come alive on your Xbox 360.  Facebook, Twitter, and Zune video will launch November 17th, on Xbox Live.

Most exciting is instant-on HD video from Zune to be available to Xbox 360 consoles. “We’re delivering some truly exciting social entertainment experiences to our members,” said Marc Whitten, Xbox Live general manager. “Xbox Live’s differentiator has always been our community, and we’ve already seen a tremendous response to these features in our public preview.”

As well, Xbox Live will be debuting a music games store specifically for games such as Lips, Guitar Hero, and Rock Band.

I am excited!

You’ve probably heard that an Xbox 360 Live update was coming, if you knew when or what it entailed is another story. We’re here to set the record straight by discussing a few of the new updates coming to Xbox Live this August 11th.

Avatar expansions

Your virtual character in the Xbox world will be getting a massive update with plenty to styalize and customize your character. The avatar marketplace will open to allow gamers to purcahse premium outfits and accessories.

New props allow your avatar to character items that bring custom animations to your friends channel page. READ MORE »

Local charities in Barrie have been banned from using the upcoming Live 8 concert to collect donations, reports Canadian Press.

Live 8 organizers have reportedly said that letting relief organizations participate in the event would “dilute the focus” of the concert, which is bringing attention to the plight of Africa

“It’s about raising awareness for global poverty,” said Live 8 spokesperson Katherine Holmes. “Bob Geldof said it best: ‘It’s about opening your minds, not your wallets’.”

Geldof is the man responsible for the series of free concerts to be held July 2, which are aimed at pressuring world leaders to provide debt relief for African nations.

The Canadian Live 8 is to be held in Barrie’s Park Place.

Local charities say they are disappointed by the decision.

“It’s a free concert and we had hoped that we could get permission to run a food drive,” said Paula King, the head of the Elizabeth Fry Society. “We figured this would be the ideal time and spot to raise awareness about poverty in Barrie.”

King’s organization, which gives food to the needy and shelter to homeless women, was the one that originally proposed a food drive several weeks ago.

“We had everything in place,” said King. “We had volunteers, we had trucks, we had boxes. All we needed was permission to go.”

Live 8 organizers say they were approached by several charities, all of which were rebuffed.

According to a study by the Ontario government, the number of people using homeless shelters in Barrie rose by 1,235 per cent between 1994 and 1998, the largest increase of any city in the province.