Hi everyone. We’ve been listening to all of your feedback about the PS3 and PSP, and with these next firmware updates (coming soon), we’ve added a number of new features and improved some existing functionality to make your PS3/PSP experience even better.
PSP (v5.00) update
Let’s start with the v5.00 update for PSP. In this version, you’ll notice the addition of the PlayStation Network icon on the XMB. You can now sign up for PlayStation Network, manage your account and access PlayStation Store directly from your PSP – meaning you can download games directly to your PSP while connected via Wi-Fi. Getting games, demos and trailers while on-the-go has never been easier! Check out the screen below.
The current PlayStation Store on the PC will be down in the interim as we take some time to revamp. Don’t worry, it will re-launch soon after we’ve made some tweaks. Please keep in mind, if you already have a PlayStation Network account, simply sign in on your PSP using your existing information. The same account and wallet can be used on PS3 and PSP. You will be able to check out the PlayStation Store on the PSP soon, as we’ll have a video demo featuring Grace Chen posted soon on the Blog.
Update v5.00 adds a sleep timer option that can be used while you are playing music on your PSP. In addition, we’ve added a full screen keyboard option for text entry and have redesigned the background of the XMB. You’ll be able to find all of the information on Firmware v5.00 here once it goes live.
PS3 (v2.50) update
Now on to the PS3 v2.50 update. The latest features/enhancements include:
- Support for the PS3 Official Bluetooth Headset – we’ve told you about the upcoming Bluetooth Headset and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation Bundle on the Blog. This latest firmware installment enables High-Quality (HQ) mode, which delivers clear and wide-band online voice chat. On top of that, an added on-screen indicator shows battery status, volume level and use of HQ mode.
- PlayStation Trophies interface enhancements – I know that many of you are busy collecting trophies and raising your PlayStation Trophy level. This update makes sharing and comparing your trophies with your friends even easier. On 1st part of the profile page you’ll see a symbol under level that represents level and the actual percentage towards the next level along with the existing level meter. The level symbol carries over to the trophy comparison screen where you will now be able to see your level, your friend’s level and the percentage towards the next level for both users along with all of the game by game comparison information you see today.
- Friend status – Offline friends on your Friends list will have information below their avatars that will indicate how long it has been since they were last online.
- Video – This update adds the Scene Search feature similar to the feature on the PSP. Activating this feature while viewing a video on the PS3 will break the video up into scenes that you can quickly access by pressing the X button. You can break the videos into one, two or five minute intervals. In addition, you can now choose to have all of the videos under the video section of the XMB play in sequence. Go to Settings then Video Settings to turn this option on.
- PlayStation Store – We’ve added a redeem codes option right on the store to make it easier to redeem your PlayStation Network Cards and promotion codes. In addition, PlayStation Network Sign Up and Account Management have been redesigned.
- Power Save Settings – You can now set your PS3 and wireless controllers to turn off automatically after set periods of inactivity. Go to Settings then Power Save Settings to turn on these features.
- Background Downloading – You now have the option to set the PS3 to turn off automatically after a background download or installation of content has completed. This option is available when you turn off the system from the button under [Users] while content is being downloaded or installed.
- In-game Screenshots – this tool will allow everyone to capture, share and in other words, immortalize their favorite gameplay moments. This will be supported on a game by game basis. Please check back to find out which games will support this feature.
- In addition to all of the features above there are some additional features and enhancements included in 2.50. Once the update launches, you can read all of the details here.
The support for the Bluetooth Headset will be of particular interest to all of you SOCOM fans. With the “Proximity Chat” feature, SOCOM: Confrontation gameplay is intensified as it allows you to experience high-quality voice playback in full surround sound. Whether the action is near or far, Proximity Chat clearly matches distance to sound effects and voiceovers within the game, putting you in the heart of the action.
Enjoy and please share your thoughts with us.
Why Oh Why don’t you look at the strengths of the PS3.
It’s an entertainment system for God’s Sake. By focusing on just games it has a limited life span. Sony – you should be building a large “entertainment” community – not just a “gaming” community as gamers are fickle.
An update for Flash Player is a must have for the PS3 to work as an entertainment system and would appeal to a broader spectrum of people.
So please – focus on the broader spectrum. Linking in with the PSP is all very well, but to be honest over here in the UK they have lost there appeal.
Upgrade Flash and give us fathers something to cheer about!!! Thanks for listening.
When is Sony going to release an update for the PS3 that will provide a means of Upscaling games to 1080p/i?
When the PS3 was first released this issue was addressed and we were told a fix would be coming soon. We’re still waiting for said fix.
This isn’t to change the Native resolution on any game.
Right now, games that are made to support 720p are downscaled to 480p if your HDTV does not support 720p. If these same games would actually use Upscaling, we could play them in the format our HDTV support (ie. 1080i/p)
Seriously Sony, get the game developers to make their games in all HDTV resolutions, and for the games already released, lets ensure they can be played in 1080i/p as well. There is a large population of PS3 owners who bought their TV’s a couple/few years ago that do not support 720p, some of them, such as myself, own a Sony HDTV, and yet we’re stuck some playing games in 480p. There are half a dozen or more games I have not purchased because they only support 720p.
WE NEED, nay, DEMAND 1080i and 1080p resolutions. If not, then I’ll purchase games for the “other console” *cough*Xbox 360*cough* instead of my PS3.
As far as I know the mkv container is free and legal. It`s very good for hd video. I think it`s the only container you can put whatever video and audio you want, more than one audios and several subtitles. In avi you can put only one audio and one subtitle. So, mkv is perfect for backing up your dvds and blurays. The h264 is a lot better than xvid and divx. Most high definition material available is in mkv format – x264 content, and of course not all is piracy content.
Most software players support mkv and of course they are legal, I haven`t heard the opposite and you must have noticed those hard drives media players with the sigma chip that are getting very popular because they are cheap and play mkv without problems, some with hdmi etc. Those are legal, too, right ? What about PS3? It`s about time for PS3 to completely replace a HTPC. Maximize its potentials, stop giving its buyers a hard time and prove that sony is client friendly.
If sony wants to discourage piracy, first make psn avalaible to all countries and second lower the prices in blurays and include more subtitles.
How come at some point all dvd players supported avi? Mkv should be the bluray`s avi.
@32 You people make me laught here is what you said with responses that are the same that sony would give you.
“A home beta tester told me that this update is putting more “ROOMS” in home. Is this true?”
NO!!! Firmware updates update the Firmware not game data.
“Also a great feature for the ps3 that you keep forgetting would be the ability to charge your sixaxis or DS3 while the ps3 is in stand by mode.”
One thing I agree with.
“This would be a great convenience please put that in the next one. Also when are we to get new visualizers in the ps3s music player??”
I’m sure they will over time.
“As for the psp 5.00 update, can we have video chat on the psp using the go cam? I have one and would like to have that feature be it on the psp itself or through remote play.”
It would be nice also. With remote play you can already access your PS3 eye if you didn’t know not like it helps except as a security cam.
“Also maybe remote play needs to be updated to INCLUDE EVERY GAME that only uses the left analogue stick(lbp anyone) lbp in remote play would be awesome.”
Pointless for alot of games. Sony doesn’t make every game on the PS3 or PSP so they don’t have say in games they don’t make weather or not they will have remote play.
” When I first read about RP about 4 years ago, it was implied that every game would work with it and that locally(in your own home) that you would be able to use a ds3/sixAXIS kinda like R2’s psp plus mode.”
PSP Plus mode from what I’ve read isn’t exclusive to Resistance Retribution they will use it in other game just the first game to use it will be Resistance Retribution.
“Please make that for every game on the ps3/psp or atleast make it capable.”
Once again game developers call not Sony’s unless its a Sony made title.
Alot of people ask questions like this and have no clue how things work.
2.50?! Thank you, Jebus!!!
And since everyone else is posting their tedious concerns:
I would really like to see password protection for seperate users, badly.
In addition, it would be great of you guys at Sony to augment the use of seperate user accounts by making various user settings sensitive to a User-by-User Basis. What I mean by this is saving Language, BD/DVD, settings and whatnot based on User preference.
I’m the master account of my system, but 3 other people have accounts on my PS3, and it’s a little tedious changing the language setting back to Japanese every time I log-on.
I’m sure you guys at Sony are very tired of hearing this one, too, but as the masses all tend to agree, something must be done about the Music issue. Too few games support the function that allows personal playlists to be run durring gameplay. I could reason for this – that some developers want to make the musice that is already in the game an intergral part of gameplay. However, I doubt if this could be true for all developers, and even if it were true, eventually the pre-provided soundtracks get old overtime. As PS3 is even capable of letting Users apply their own music pretty much demands that it should be accessible in nearly every game that is released for the system.
Voice Chat mid-game across different titles seems to be a big request, too. Albeit a bit difficult, it would make any game far more interactive. Are there any plans for this in the near future?
Also, I’ve noticed that when reviewing the news on Life With PlayStation that there is no zoom feature for the text. Can you please also consider that in future updates?
So far as the general XMB goes, it’d be really nice to finally see the in-game program applied to PS, PS2, and if possible, even BD/DVD play. I just believe… this function is very limited when we can only use it in PS3 games and progams (especially when half the games I play are PSX/PS2 titles). Still, will or nill, the XMB is the best interface across all the 7th gen systems, hands down.
I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE 2.50 UPDATE, NEVERTHELESS. SO DON’T GET ME WRONG. It shows me that beyond the shadow of a doubt Sony takes heed to the wants of the consumers. Surely and soon(ly) enough the PS3 User interface will be the format by which all others console interfacesare compared to.
However. Some of the requests and demands set by other posts seem a bit odd to me.
And I can’t help but wonder why anyone would really need to see the time in which I last signed onto the network (not that I mind. If I’m online, I’m online… and if I’m not, I’m just not… and that’s what messages are for).
For that matter, I have also have no idea why anyone would need to access the PSN Store while in the middle of a game.
Not that I’m knocking these requests, because I’m sure those who asked for them might have good reason to. I just wish to understand.
But I digress. THANK YOU SONY… MUCHLY. I don’t own a Wii or 360, but the more time goes by the more i come to realise that I probably won’t even need them. You guys are doing very well at keeping me glued to my 60 Gig model.
Keep up the good work, but PLEASE give us some announcements on PlayStation Home soon! You’re killing us with that one… and you know it!
Love the blog, and the PS3 as well. One BIG disappointment, however. I have an older HDTV that only supports 480i, 480p, and 1080i. I was EXTREMELY disappointed that the PS3 does not upscale games that are 720p to 1080.
I am asking… no… begging Sony to please add upscaling support to all titles that do not support 1080 resolution! I would love to have an official explanation from Sony as to why the PS3 will not upscale all titles to 1080 like the competitor’s system will.
There is currently a 450+ page thread on the Playstation Forums about this issue. Here is the link:
http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ps3&thread.id=1543693&view=by_date_ascending&page=1
Any help in this regard will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Is that Flash9 Support rumor true? or was it a misunderstanding?
@757
No, The Flash support announcement is totally true. Finally, eh?
The PS3 browser was kinda’ worthless without it.
is skype comming out on ps3 or should i buy a phone?
when is the update released in the uk??
Add support for your PSN friends list on the PSP. That would be awesome!
Yea we need Skype for the PS3 please!!
Wow these new updates for the PS3 & PSP are going to be awesome. Can’t wait for the Playstation Store on the psp. coincidentally, I just bought a PSN card today. (looks like I’m buying some more psp games)
If only you guy’s could add the ability to check your online friends and messages from your PS3 on your PSP without remote play… That would be amazing!!!
Hopefully I’ll see that in a later update.
Anyway,
Thank you for the new update.
It just keeps getting better and better!!
I agree with the list by lifeRPGs dated October 13th, 2008 at 5:45 am. There are a lot of great ideas here and another one (a big one in my opinion)would be to develop a UNIVERSAL REMOTE so that the PS3 and all of the other components in my home theater can be operated from a single remote (without the use of some IR usb component). Ideally something similar to what Logitech makes with their Harmony remotes but with Blutooth support for the PS3 as well. It has been extremely annoying that I have an awesome gaming system with the ability to play bluray movies but have to switch between remotes to operate the different components of my home theater. You’ve already made a bluray remote that costs about $25 so I see no reason why you couldn’t make a good Universal one for around $100. I would easily pay that amount. Oh, and make it rechargeable with illuminated buttons, too.
Out of the stuff mentioned in lifeRPGs list, the ones that I would like to see implemented sooner rather than later are:
1. Playstation movie store (more specifically cheaper HD rentals. I can go to a local movie rental place and get a bluray rental for $2 which happens to be the same price as their DVD rentals!!!) Until this happens or you release a reasonably priced monthly all access pass, you won’t catch me spending $4.50 per movie rental on the PSN. Sorry but I don’t understand why every little aspect of HD has to be more expensive. Isn’t it enough that we are spending as much money as we are on the TV and player that we shouldn’t have to pay a luxury charge to utilize the them for what they are built for.
2. Sound notification when receiving a message, friend signed in, chat invitation,…etc. and have the notification be displayed by the clock of the XMB whether in game or not.
3. Ability to continue a download while watching a bluray movie / playing a game / playing a ps2 game / ps3 is on standby mode
4. PERFORM DOWNLOAD AS BACKGROUND for every single download, from firmwares to game patches and auto install downloaded game demos
5. Screen and video capture that can be done to anything that you have on the screen. Whether it be the XMB, movie, game, etc.
6. A BETTER WEB BROWSING EXPERIENCE!!! Let’s face it. There are cell phones that do this better than the PS3 does!!! If anything, ask Mozilla to make a Firefox version for you. Since the PS3 is a linux based system, it probably wouldn’t be too hard.
7. Game Cutscenes accessible anytime. It would be nice to be able to get a story refresh of a previous game by popping in the disc and watching the scenes like a movie before the sequel comes out(such as God Of War!!!). In other words, this would ideally include PS2/PS1 games.
8. PSN Game Reviews. This would also be set up so that the only people that can give reviews for a game are the ones that OWN it as well.
Thanks, hope you look into getting these things done next, I’m looking forward to the update, and keep up the good work. :)
How about ingame xmb and trophies for the psp?
make it REALLY tempting for everyone to get a psp
Can you make an update that allows us to organize our friends into folders?
This would be great because I have friends from certain leagues and websites that would be easier to find and organize if we had folders.
Also (sorry for double comment) when can we expect the movie store in Canada, this sounds like a great feature and would love to have access to it here in Canada.
Great work and can’t wait for the updates. One thing I have noticed is the information or feedback given when a user receives an error…when technically it isn’t an error. For instance, if you try to enter the PSStore while it might be down for maintenance, you get the “ERROR 8002301”. For those who don’t log into the playstation website and go through a bunch of links, they are left with a got wrenching feeling that something is “wrong” with either the unit itself or the PSN. Instead of giving the user an error code, why dont you see if you can integrate a reason feedback. For instance you could display “The Playstation Network or PS Store is down for maintenance.” Much more pleasant then “ERROR 80023017”. Just a thought! Keep us rockin sony!
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fix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problemfix msg problem plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
were do i download it?
GPU aided flash.
It’s nice that they made the PSN cards easier to redeem, but to bad they aren’t even out barely anywhere. Where are my PSN Cards!
MKV Support
Ability to challenge friends online
Question…
Bluetooth support…does this mean A2DP support?
Please say yes.
I’m sure other people have suggested this….but we need NOTIFICATION SOUNDS for when you get new messages, friends sign off/on, etc………
Next firmware update, please include NOTIFICATION SOUNDS. :)
And fix the controller charge icon from overlapping the clock/date.
=)
something i would like to see for the PS4 controller is, and i think this would be great for FPS, is a trackball, i think it would be more accurate to aim with a trackball instead of an analog stick, if you guys decide to use my idea, send the check to my PSN ID mailing address
;)
can’t wait for the new firmware
thanks SONY!
PS3 Firmware 2.50 is now released!! Go get it!! ^_^
Got it. Anyone notice the DivX VOD now found alongside System Settings and that jargon. Any word on this? I use TVersity fairly regularly already so – just doing some basic reading – I’m not sure how this would directly benefit me.
Here’s to hoping that we finally have all support for DivX/Xvid codecs.
Dude, this update is all forms of truth and awesome, it’s going to be even harder to turn my PS3 off now. Thanks Sony for listening to the users and keep up the good work.
Wow this is one hell of a update!!!
heres what we need for update how about wireless printer connection,
HOW DO I DOWNLOAD I NEED THAT LIKE RIGHT RIGHT NOW IF U KNOW WHERE I KAN GET IT AT EMAIL MEE
CJWEST91@YAHOO.COM
THANX
oh great now just lets wait for incognito so we can take screenshots on warhawk…i wanted to do it right away but looks like its gonna take some time..
thanks for all of your hard work. can you make it possible to delete trophies?
@728 gate1975mlm
The ps3 is a game machine first. It is a media/entertainment machine second. IT IS NOT A FREAKIN OFFICE TERMINAL! Why on earth should sony or anyone waste time trying to get M$ file viewers working natively on the ps3? If you want to (mis)use the ps3 as a desktop computer, install a linux distro on it.
@766 lannelso
The ps3 is not a linux-based device. It has the capability of running linux, but that doesn’t mean the native firmware is linux. Despite how much better FF is than the ps3 browser, it would not be a simple cake walk getting it to work like you think it should work. Besides, it would be very difficult to navigate all the menus and features of FF with a 6axis controller.
What !
Just got it and it´s all very sweet ??
But half my DivX are gone MAD (grey fuzzy)
Something to do with VOD ?
I’m liking how the new Account Management interface looks. Well done SONY. Keep it up.
Whoot! I got my wish! Go sequential playback!
AWESOME update guys! Flash 9 was desperately needed. Now improve the java and the browser will be perfect…almost.
Hey Sony,
i am a very proud of my psp, but some important features are missing:
please give us:
– FLASH9 SUPPORT FOR the PSP
– A bigger CACHE for the PSP-Browser. 2MB are not enough for the most websites! We need minimum 50MB. The memory stick of the PSP could be use for the cache!!! The cache should be flexible!
Please,
allow us to acces to ps3 voice chat with psp remote control.
to speak with our ps3 friends over the world with psp remote control.
thank you
how do you log off without turning off the system now, that option is not available under the username on the friends list.
Hey guys, I was just wondering… With all these firmware updates that add new icons to the XMB (fw 2.5 added the power save), the themes on the PS Store (free and premium) are missing those new icons, any chance we will see them updated with them? The premium ones at the very least…
WARNING!!!!, i have been reading in the playstation forum that this UPDATE 2.5 is giving some people problems on some video file, something about going black and white and fuzziness. check the link to the forum,
http://boardsus.playstation.com/playstation/board/message?board.id=ps3media&thread.id=133007
WARNING!!!!, i have been reading in the playstation forum that this UPDATE 2.5 is giving some people problems on some video file, something about going black and white and fuzziness.
THE UPDATES ARE LIVE!!! Woohoo!
My PSP is ahead 20% to 16%… big race!
Soon I’ll be able to browse ESPN and Yahoo for fantasy football with my PS3 while my wife is using the laptop. Score! 37% PSP to 21% PS3