Home version 1.00 now available to beta testers, introduces Clubs

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Finally! After years of waiting, looks like Home is finally to release to the masses. Version 1.00 of the Home client has been released to beta testers. The new Home moves from the "Game" section of the XMB to the more appropriate "PlayStation Network" area.

A slew of changes have hit Home in its 1.00 update. The virtual PSP has disappeared, replaced with an easier-to-use Menu Pad (pictured). Various areas of Home have been renamed. An Online Manual and Tutorial have been added, to make it easier to understand the numerous features of Home. Players will now be able to background download new Home areas -- it was a big hassle having to wait for a few minutes before loading each new area.

One of the big features of 1.00 is the Clubs system. This feature allows players to create clubhouses, where up to 32 players can meet. Although this feature is free to beta testers, it will be a paid service when Home rolls out to the public.

The new 1.00 beta looks like a significant improvement over previous versions of the service. Now, we're going to wait for Sony to officially release the service to the entire PlayStation Network community.