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    Media reports: Coldplayers' flashing Xylobands are keeping fans awake at night

    xfactor2011d_1.pngSeveral articles have surfaced online today in the British media about Coldplay fans claiming that some Xylobands given out at concerts are keeping them awake at night. The Independent, The Sun and the Telegraph have all written a piece on this topic in the last few hours. You can discuss the articles (and of course whether you think they're even newsworthy) at the Coldplay forum now. Read on for the articles.. [thanks Tash]

     

    The Independent: The coloured wristbands that turn stadiums into a spectacle of flashing lights are the real stars of Coldplay's shows, according to some. But fans have been spooked after the glow-in-the-dark devices suddenly began flashing of their own accord, days after the event. Producers of Xylobands, given free to two million gig-goers on Coldplay's tour, have moved to assure fans, who took wristbands home, that they have no sinister powers.

     

    The Xylobands use ultra-low-power microcontrollers to receive and process wireless signals that trigger the wristband's LEDs to light up in sync with the music and stage lights show. They cannot be reactivated outside of the show – in theory. But a concert-goer named Denise wrote on the band's web forum: "My xyloband woke me up in the middle of the night and it's still glowing."

    Another wrote: "Really weird, my dad's white xyloband just started flashing again." A Belgian fan added: "Mine is alive! It started flickering about an hour ago." A respondent said that the only way to stop the glowing was by jamming a pencil clip into the unit.

     

    The band has invested in RB Concepts, the Devon firm which developed the devices. Although Martin said the cost of producing two million bands for the tour was excessive, the company has received hundreds of requests to use them, from weddings to US sports franchises. Clive Banks, who is the co-founder of RB Concepts, said that the "afterglow" is no cause for concern. "There's no mind control or tracking, they are just for fun," he said. The devices may be activated by their proximity to a Coldplay concert. "Our record transmission is 2km," Mr Banks said. "It depends on buildings but they have quite a range in a straight line. There might be some faulty units going off."

     

    Fans speculated that the bands had become activated after locking into a particular radio frequency. "They operate on different frequencies in different jurisdictions so we have to get permission to transmit," Mr Banks said. "We have to meet the health and safety requirements. We don't want to interfere with any emergency services."

     

    The Xylobands were designed by Jason Regler of RB Concepts, who approached the band after seeing them play at Glastonbury. There is some hope for fans disturbed by their glowing bands. "They have a battery and a finite life span," Mr Banks said.

     

    The Telegraph: The glow-in-the-dark devices created for the band’s live performances – known as Xylobands – usually die after the concerts. However, fans have reported that the bands, which have been given out for free to more than a million fans, have started flashing again of their own accord several days after the event. In theory the bands, which create a dramatic effect at Coldplay gigs, cannot be reactivated after the shows end. However, fans have been writing on the group’s web forum page about them doing just that. One concert-goer called Denise wrote: “My Xyloband woke me up in the middle of the night and it's still glowing." Another added: "Really weird, my dad's white Xyloband just started flashing again." A Belgian fan added: "Mine is alive! It started flickering about an hour ago."

     

    It is believed the only way to stop the glowing is to jamming a pencil clip into the band. The Xylobands use ultra-low-power microcontrollers to receive and process wireless signals that trigger the wristband's LEDs to light up in sync with Coldplay’s music and stage lights show. Clive Banks, who is the co-founder of RB Concepts (the company behind the bands), told The Independent that the "afterglow" is no cause for concern. "There's no mind control or tracking, they are just for fun," he said.

     

    The devices may be activated by their proximity to a Coldplay concert. "Our record transmission is 2km," Mr Banks said. "It depends on buildings but they have quite a range in a straight line. There might be some faulty units going off."

     

    The Sun: Coldplay fans have been left wearing a mysterious "alien" glow after turning up at packed concerts. Radio frequency wristbands are handed out at the shows so the whole arena lights up at once during big numbers. But days later fans are reporting how the “Xylobands” are still going off unexpectedly. Around two million of them have been given away over the course of the tour. Fans have been so spooked that Xylobands makers have tried to assure concertgoers that they have no sinister powers. Fan Sarah Roberts, 24, from Dartford, said her band was flashing a day after seeing the band at the Emirates stadium in north London. She said: “It was glowing in my bag a day later but this time there was no music. It’s a little bit eerie. Maybe it was aliens.” Rebecca Treadway tweeted: “My Coldplay xyloband is alive! started glowing last night...spooky.” And Lee Hickmans added: “My Xyloband is FINALLY running out of battery. It’s the light equivalent of a dog whining after hurting its paw.

     

    The company behind the bands has to get permission each time they are used because of the radio signals involved. They are careful to ensure frequencies don’t clash with those used by the emergency services. Inventor Jason Regler reassured music fans: “They have a battery and a finite life span.”

     

    The bands should not work beyond 1.2miles. Co-founder of RB Concepts Clive Banks added: “There's no mind control or tracking, they are just for fun. There might be some faulty units going off."

     

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    Is this happening to you? (please don't lose any sleep over it though...)

     

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    Don't forget to check out your tour discussion thread if you are getting Coldplay tickets or just getting excited for the European & North American 2012 shows and other forthcoming appearances:

     

    FEBRUARY 2012

    8 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia (iHeartRadio) [discussion]

    9 Los Angeles, CA @ Jimmy Kimmel Live [discussion]

    10 Los Angeles, CA @ GRAMMY Week MusiCares Person of the Year tribute [discussion]

    12 Los Angeles, CA @ 54th Grammy Awards, Staples Center [discussion]

    16 Sydney, Australia @ 2DayFM, Mobile Live Set (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

    17 Sydney, Australia @ Sunrise (intimate show) [discussion] [CANCELLED]

    21 London @ Brit Awards 2012, O2 Arena [discussion]

     

    MARCH 2012

    2 New York, NY @ Good Morning America [discussion]

    4 New York, NY @ The Secret Policeman's Ball, Radio City Music Hall (Amnesty International) [discussion]

     

    APRIL 2012

    17 Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place [discussion]

    18 Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome [discussion]

    20 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

    21 Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena [discussion]

    24 Portland, OR @ Rose Garden Arena [discussion]

    25 Seattle, WA @ KeyArena [discussion]

    27 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

    28 San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion At San Jose [discussion]

     

    MAY 2012

    1 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

    2 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

    3 Los Angeles, CA @ American Idol show [discussion] [NEW!]

    4 Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Bowl [discussion]

    5 Los Angeles, CA @ KROQ's Weenie Roast y Fiesta [discussion] [NEW!]

    18 Porto, Portugal @ Dragao Stadium [discussion]

    20 Madrid, Spain @ Estadio Vicente Calderón [discussion]

    22 Nice, France @ Stade Charles Herman / Nikaia [discussion]

    24 Turin, Italy @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

    26 Zurich, Switzerland @ Letzigrund [discussion]

    29 Coventry, UK @ Ricoh Stadium [discussion]

     

    JUNE 2012

    1 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

    2 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

    4 London, UK @ the Emirates Stadium [discussion]

    7 Sunderland, UK @ the Stadium of Light [discussion]

    9 London, UK @ Wembley Stadium (Capital FM's Summertime Ball 2012) [discussion] [NEW!]

    9 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

    10 Manchester, UK @ the Etihad Stadium [discussion]

    22 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

    23 Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center [discussion]

    25 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

    26 Houston, TX @ Toyota Center [discussion]

    28 Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum [discussion]

    29 Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena [discussion]

     

    JULY 2012

    2 Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena [discussion]

    3 Charlotte, NC @ Time Warner Cable Arena [discussion]

    5 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

    6 Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center [discussion]

    8 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

    9 Washington, DC @ Verizon Center [discussion]

    23 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

    24 Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre [discussion]

    26 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

    27 Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre [discussion]

    29 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

    30 Boston, MA @ TD Garden [discussion]

     

    AUGUST 2012

    1 Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills [discussion]

    3 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

    4 East Rutherford, NJ @ Izod Center [discussion]

    7 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

    8 Chicago, IL @ United Center [discussion]

    11 St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center [discussion]

    28 Copenhagen, Denmark @ Parken Stadium [discussion]

    30 Stockholm, Sweden @ Olympic Stadium [discussion]

     

    SEPTEMBER 2012

    2 Paris, France @ Stade de France [discussion]

    4 Cologne, Germany @ Rheinenergie Stadium [discussion]

    6 The Hague, Netherlands @ Malieveld [discussion]

    9 London, UK @ Paralympics Closing Ceremony [discussion]

    12 Munich, Germany @ Olympiastadion [discussion]

    14 Leipzig, Germany @ Red Bull Stadium [discussion]

    16 Prague, Czech Republic @ Slavia Eden Stadium [discussion]

    19 Warsaw, Poland @ National Stadium [discussion]

    22 Hannover, Germany @ AWD Arena [discussion]

     

    NOVEMBER 2012

    10 Auckland, New Zealand @ Mt Smart Stadium [discussion]

    13 Melbourne, Australia @ Etihad Stadium [discussion]

    17 Sydney, Australia @ Allianz Stadium [discussion]

    18 Sydney, Australia @ Allianz Stadium [discussion] [NEW!]

    21 Brisbane, Australia @ Suncorp Stadium [discussion]

     

    Read also: European Stadium Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the Europe tour)

    Read also: North America Tour announced! (general discussion thread for the US/Canada tour)

    Read also: 2012: Live Appearances - Easy Thread Finder (last updated - 12th January 2012)

    Read also: 2012 tour date rumours (please post dates for ALL countries in here)

     

    Kit yourself up for the forthcoming MX tour and get spotted with Coldplaying's new range of merchandise! [click on the items for the full shop]

     

    cpingshopdesigns1.png cpingshopdesigns2.png cpingshopdesigns3.png cpingshopdesigns4.png cpingshopdesigns5.png

     

    The new range of Coldplaying merchanise (unofficial of course to the official shop) has hit our stores, with our biggest range of goods so far. Prices are as low as they can be for a Cafepress shop so more people will be able to afford them. We don't take any profits for the sale of the merchandise as a result. Take a browse in one of the online stores nearest to you: UK | US | Canada | Australia | European (shipping is worldwide, but you can choose what currency to pay in) - simply alter the country dropdown menu at the top of the shop page. [thanks to TracieMorgan and zzz]

     




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