PS3 Gets Updated to Firmware 2.53
It’s that time of year again. No, I’m not talking about the holidays, Santa, riots in shopping malls, or anything of that sort. I’m talking about time for PlayStation 3 owners to, yet again, turn on their consoles and grab another firmware update for the system. This time around, we’re moving on up to version 2.53, which adds a gaggle of tweaks to the system, including full screen Flash support, DivX Video On Demand support, video noise reduction, and some playback improvements for certain PS3 software.
Want to see the complete list of improvements? Keep reading after the jump.
Read the rest of this entry »
Sony Slips in an Election Day PS3 Update
It’s Super Tuesday today, and while most of the country is content to sit back and just watch electoral vote roll in on the tube, the folks at Sony have been keeping busy making sure our PS3 systems are ready and polished for our next
President of the United States … whoever that may be.
According to a post on the official PlayStation blog, Sony is releasing a minor update to the PS3 firmware, taking it up to version 2.52. For those thinking this update could be something major to compete with Microsoft’s upcoming New Xbox Experience, don’t get your hopes up.
The new PS3 firmware update addresses a couple of issues, tweaking the overall performance. The first change will improve the playback quality of certain PS3 format software (no specific titles were mentioned). The second issue fixes a text entry issue that occurs when using the on-screen keyboard, USB keyboard, or Bluetooth keyboard with some PS3 format software has been addressed.
Sony Details New PS3 and PSP Firmware
Early this morning, Sony Computer Entertainment America clued gamers in on the details of the next firmware updates to the PS3 and PSP systems, adding new features to both. The PS3 firmware update (v. 2.50) will add advanced voice chat features for the PS3 Bluetooth headset, the ability to capture screenshots in-game with supporting titles in the future, and changes to the PlayStation Trophy system. The PSP firmware update (v. 5.00) will add direct access to PlayStation Store on the PSP, allowing PSP owners to browse the store and download games whenever they’re at a Wi-Fi hotspot. Both system software updates will be released later this month.
Sony’s details of the firmware updates after the jump:
Read the rest of this entry »
PSP Firmware 4.05 Soon
Sony Computer Entertainment’s Director of PlayStation Network Operations, Eric Lempel, revealed that a new firmware update is on the way to the PlayStation Portable “soon.” The new PSP firmware update, v4.05, offers new visualizers for music playback, along with some other minor undisclosed features. Yeah, I know its not flashy, but its something.
Read the short blog post on PlayStation Blog.
PS3 Firmware 2.41 Released
Sony has released the 2.41 firmware update to the PS3 this morning, after a false start last week with the 2.40 firmware. The update adds the in-game XMB and trophies for games that support the rewards system, among other things. For a look at how the trophy system works, check out this video from Sony.
PSP Firmware Hits 3.90
Remember back when the PSP was really only capable of playing games and watching UMD movies? Well, those days have long since passed, as Sony’’s trendy little handheld has slowly evolved into a veritable Swiss Army knife of gadgetry. PSP owners can surf the Web, listen to Internet radio, catch their favorite podcasts, watch television, and as of today, make phone calls to friends.
That’’s right. In the wee hours of the morning today, Sony set the latest firmware update, version 3.90, out into the wild. With the new update, the PSP is now capable of making Voice over IP (VoIP) calls via the popular Skype program. Announced at this year’’s CES, the PSP Skype will allow players to make free calls over the Internet to other Skype users anywhere in the world, while also having the ability to make calls to traditional landline and mobile phones using credits purchased from the Skype Web site. Skype also gives PSP owners the ability to send and receive voicemail to over 200 million Skype users worldwide. The downside of the new service? Due to memory and processor requirements, it’’s only available to those of you who own the more recent slimmer model (PSP 2000 series). However, those of you with the older model PSPs aren”t being left out in the cold.
The new firmware also adds an icon for Sony’’s own Go!Messenger service, which is set to go live sometime in February. This service will be available to all PSP owners, regardless of which model of the device they have, and will offer theability to send and receive video and voice chat, as well as numerous other features that will be available at the end of February. The new Go!Messenger icon not only serves as a placeholder for the pending service, but also allows users to obtain more information about the feature from a dedicated Web site, accessed via clicking on the icon. Sony promises more information about the release of Go!Messenger will be announced soon.
