UPDATE: Thanks for all of the feedback. Just a quick update, 3.40 has been released. In addition, PlayStation Plus is now available in the PlayStation Store.
We’re thrilled to hear that many of you are excited about the five star rating feature. This feature is retroactive for all of your PlayStation Store activity, so you can jump into the store right now and start rating all of your past purchases. Look for a “Rate” button on the product pages.
The PSN App on Facebook is also live. You can find it here: http://apps.facebook.com/playstation.
Hi everyone, once again we’re adding new features to the PlayStation 3 (PS3) system via firmware update to ensure we’re bringing you the best, most comprehensive entertainment experience possible. PS3 system software update (v3.40) will be available soon, adding the PlayStation Plus subscription, enhancements to the connection between your PlayStation Network and Facebook accounts and more. Additionally, we’ll be launching system software update (v6.30) for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system simultaneously with PS3 system software update (v3.40), adding PlayStation Plus compatibility as well as other new features.
We’ve gone ahead and provided a few highlights from PS3 firmware update (v3.40) below:
- PlayStation Plus: PlayStation Network users will be able to purchase membership to PlayStation Plus; a new subscription service on the PlayStation Network that provides you with new options to expand and enhance your gaming experience and enable you to gain an exclusive set of features and content. Friendly reminder, all of you PlayStation Network users will continue to have free access to PlayStation Network’s unmatched and expanding suite of new and exclusive features while PlayStation Plus subscribers will gain access to an exclusive and expanding set of gaming features, content and functionality.
- Photo Gallery: A new network based photo sharing feature is now available on the Photo Gallery. The enhancement allows you to upload, browse and comment on photos on Facebook and Picasa Web Album. You can also opt to share your photos between your PlayStation Network friends as well as print photos from Photo Gallery.
- Video Editor & Uploader: Video Editor and Uploader is a new function found on the XrossMediaBar (XMB), which enables you to edit, save and upload video files stored on the PS3 system to sites such as Facebook or YouTube.
- Five Star Rating Support: Users can rate the PlayStation Store content they have purchased with one to five star ratings.
- Power Save Settings: The default setting for PS3 System Auto-Off will be set at 2 hours, providing you with additional power save options and further improving power save features on the PS3 system.
In addition to the latest features introduced in PS3 system software update (v3.40), a separate, new PlayStation Network application on Facebook.com will be made available. This builds upon what was previously launched with Trophies and the ability to publish purchases from the PlayStation Store. Now you can further integrate your PlayStation Network and Facebook accounts with this new application. The application allows you to display your PlayStation Network profile on your Facebook account, find out which of your Facebook friends have a PSN account and send them a PlayStation Network friend request, view your PSN friends’ online status and add the PlayStation Network application tab to your Facebook user profile.
We’re very excited to be able to provide you with continued system software upgrades, which ensure your PS3 and PSP systems remain compelling offerings for years to come. For more details and instructions on how to update the system software for the PS3 and PSP systems, please visit http://www.us.playstation.com/PS3/Features/SystemUpdate and http://us.playstation.com/support/systemupdates/psp/.
Let us know your thoughts. Enjoy!
Nice update! can’t wait, sure would like to see cross platform Home/Game/Blu-ray/DVD etc. XMB party voice chat, and a better internet browser.
THERE ALOT OF DUMBASS PEOPLE ONLINE SAY WHAT YOU WILL ABOUT SONY THEY DONT CARE ABOUT LITTLE KIDS TALKING ABOUT SONY NOT GIVING PEOPLE XG TALK AND HOW THEY FAIL AT EVERYTHING THEY WANT POSITIVE INPUT BUT NO IF YOU DONT GET WHAT YOU WANT YOU BITCH LIKE A GIRL GROW UP AND SEE IF XG CHAT WAS THAT IMPORTANT IT WOULD BE DONE ALREADY YOU GUYS WANT TO FULL THE BLOG WITH DUMBASS BANTTER LIKE ITS GONNA CHANGE THE WAY SONY WORKS JUST TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND RELAX AND REMEMBER YOU DONT ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT JUST ANOTHER PERSON SPEAKING THE TRUTH ON SONYS BEHALF
Undead_Reapers, your a tool bag.
Sigh, so many people complaining about a update they claim to be useless so you have 2-3 choices neither is hard.
1. You don’t play online or visit the store, don’t update. no loss to you as you think it’s useless.
2. You do play online or visit the store. Download the quick update and continue on like nothing happened. Hell you can even update during a time when you wouldn’t be playing anyways. this might take a little bit of time out of your life but I’m sure this won’t be the last useless thing you will have to do.
Anyways I’m happy, the update doesn’t do much for me but it’s nice to see that sony cares about us as they are adding stuff that will help some people.
as for cross-game chat, Pick up a telephone, get ventrillo, send text messages, use email, whatever. Chances are the people you are talking to are nothing more than a distraction as otherwise they would be playing with you.
nice update. The photo editing tools and facebook connectivity remind me of the photo gallery on wii and facebook through xbox 360. but its still nice to see here. and a rating system for store content was long overdue. I’m still not sold on PSN plus. but its there for those who wants it. and who knows, it may surprise a month or two down the road with some awesome feature. Are there still things i want? yes. PS2 compatibility, cross game chat, and the like, but oh well, cant do much about this update by complaining.
@345, however the idea of PSN+ isn’t that you get PSN+ for one month to pick up that one game and get rid of it. It’s a loyalty bonus kind of thing. someone who has had PSN+ for 5 years will have almost 60x as much content than those who have only showed their loyalty for 1 month.
what about Hulu?
Not a bad update at all, I like it, one thing I would like improved though is the web browser, its not very good and its pretty outdated and cant play some videos. This update is a nice addition though, looking forward to it.
PlayStation Plus: I don’t like it. i want to have control over what i want to play.
Photo Gallery: Never used it and never will.
Video Editor & Uploader: Sounds interesting, i’ll know once i get my hands on it.
Five Star Rating Support: Cool, but Why not have just a recommendation button? and have a list off the top recommended ones. people tend to either give 5 stars to what they like and 1 star to what they don’t.
Power Save Settings: Ok.
Facebook stuff: Meh…i would have to get paid to use that.
how come you can send friend request to psn on facebook but not from the official PS site? also the interface seems a bit better,you can see when someone last logged on which was there before but taken out ever since they did the redesign.
Firstly, these features look pretty nice. Uploading videos to Youtube and sharing pictures on Picasa is very nice and much appreciated. The rating feature is very nice, too.
Secondly, please Sony, just give us a peep about how XGC is coming along. Many people really want this feature and it would be very nice if you gave it to them.
What Sony is going for is a wider audience here right? Get Mom & Pop on board with the PS3 and get more units in more houses right? You’ve already got all the hardcore gamers…that’s us btw.
Note: Fix the browser, support email on the PS3 (Wha?), keep moving forward on the “Move” controller and you’ll get each and every one of ’em! Done, done & done!
i just updated and now something just got f up
I’m soooo sick of people crying about Cross-game chat. The feature isn’t THAT good to demand it constantly. Let’s say sony DID add it as a feature, i bet almost 70% of the PSN users would rarly use it, and the other 30% won’t even use it as much as people cry for it. This is why Sony probably isn’t adding it, Not many people even use their mics anyway so i have no clue as to why this feature is a big deal. I will NEVER back Cross-game chat up because i see it as a waist of time. Sony wants to make features most of the Ps3 fanbase will use, that doesnt include Cross-game chat. Even though its the highest voted for on Share means nothing because thats only 14,000 people out of 50million user’s….Even the people crying for it won’t even use it as much so i guess in other words SHUT THE F*** UP ABOUT IT. Anyways Sony Very good job, looking forward to the update.
if sony can’t do cross game chat on the ps3 than why don’t they just come out and say it. cross game chat is probley the most talked about thing on this website and sony just don’t care what we thing. JUST ADMIT THAT YOUR NOT WORKING ON IT.
Nice update Sony XD
what are the new psp features you guys adding? PSN friend list ? better online ?
@310. I totally agree. Some people may find it useful, but I’d rather focus on the game I’m playing.
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This will be really cool if we could somehow be able to upload screenshots and gameplay footage through the photo/facebook/video aps.
Picasa albums? Nice! That option to upload videos sounds very good, thanks.
If I may request somethings
1. could you change the way PS3 (and PSP) themes are browsed? Become they are shown in a list format sometimes you have to browse too much to find the one you want. Use the entire screen to display themes available, and use R1/L1 to browse through pages of themes if you have more that do not fit in one page.
2. Please, make some patch for copy-protected file so that you are able to back them up, add some sort of layer that so that if you copy the file and put them on a PS3, it should recognize your PSN ID and work fine. Copy-protected save files are a no no.
Thanks for listening.
i just can’t believe that you have to pay for background downloading
This makes me happy.
Maybe in the next update, you guys should add a rating system for other players. It’s one of the few XBox Live features that actually worth paying for and would be a great addition on PS3.
Oh and all the other stuff we’ve been pestering you guys about forever. (cross-game chat, PS2 BC, etc…)
@AriesWarlock
you are right for Copy-protected save files.
It should auto,atically recognize your PSN ID.
Its all good but just dont make any features mandatory i’m only referring to facebook, twitter, myspace. some people do use but, “some don’t” (like myself i don’t). The power save option, photo, video editor and five star rating sounds awesome. the plus wont work for me but i’m sure many people will like. Thanks eric :)
when is the update going live?
@Obiwan6170
i dont know :P
but i’m eager to see it!
im on both psn and xbl and sony isnt that far behind micro.
Please add support for Flash 10.1! It would smooth out the PS3s flash support big time! The RSX would be much better to use for flash then the old CPU system that all PCs have now left, both Nvidia, and ATI users have used the new Flash 10.1 set up and we all love it so much.
Streaming is ten times better, and so is HD videos. Plus think of it this way if we can upload HD vids of our games, why not add in support for Flash 10.1 to make it even smoother? But On topic great list of features! I will use the auto shutdown feature, and PSN ratings system for content for sure! I can’t wait to finally know whats hot on PSN based on it’s 5 star rating instead of taking the chance and DLing crap I may not like.
i’m on both too…
and i still prefer my ps3.
i wasn’t sure if i was gonna get ps+ now im defiantly am
im getting to love my ps3 more every day
Seems like a nice update
I like this update :).
@Cyb3rfr34k-iso
r u gonna get ps+
When am I going to be able to play a 3D BR DVD from the PS3 to my new Sony 3D TV?
am gonna sign up for a year
We need a new browser please. Its OBSELETE now. Youtubes broken on PS3 browser. Most flash vids now require FireFox to play. Photo Album isnt used by many ppl. We should be able to record vids of gameplay str8 from the ps3
i agree we need a new browser
@379
September, from what i’ve seen on a few sites.
wow all this Facebook talk yet the PS3 STILL has no functional Facebook application……and trying to get on facebook using the PS3’s crap browser isn’t even worth the time….
:) Nice to see some new stuff added in an update :)
Did Jack Tretton say that every one would get free three months of PlayStation Plus?
prefer the look and its piano black finish 160gb.
prefer the games case size.
prefer free online gaming.
prefer playstation controller shape.
prefer bluetooth accessories.
prefer the way i “flirt” my Power button.
prefer the way it eject disc.
prefer PSN+ for greater sales, promotions and free DLC.
prefer kevin butler VS bill gates lol.
if you buy a year yes
3rd photo on right is exactly what i was dreaming of in playstationblog.share. I CANNOT WAIT!
Please push this to the website smultaneous with PSN so I may download to a thumb drive-its an ordeal to connect psn directly to internet. I will do that 2 days from now, hope to get updated tomorrow!
Please don’t get me wrong, but the option to auto-shutdown the system after two hours doesn’t seem to be a good thing. I’m writing this based on my recent YLOD on my CECHA01 (original 60GB model), which lead me to believe that the solders on the board received most damage from using this feature because the console was still too hot to be shut down. Might be coincidence, still it’s a plausible option.
I know, sooner or later you will have to shutdown the console, but after playing with it for hours on an intensive processing game or operation of any kind, it might be sane to let the console resting idle for a while before shutting it down so it might stabilize the working temperature of the whole system. I might be wrong but that’s what I believe at the moment.
Yet, the new features seem cool, but I can’t help the disappointment of having my precious PS3 that I’ve taken good care turned to brick, losing everything and the PS2 retrocompatibility, I have a big collection of PS2 games and I won’t accept a factory refurbished console in exchange.
@pacman_90
Jack Tretton said: If you buy a One Years subscription at 50$ PLUS TAX later this 3 august. you’ll automatically have 3 free month for PSN+.
so you have 5 day to buy it if you want the 3 “extra month”
Nice list of new FREE features.
I think the five star rating system is REALLY nice and adds a much needed “community” feel to PSN as a whole.
Thanks for these features, they might not have been the most asked for, but they are always welcome.
I hate Facebook.
i cant wait for this update
Nothing useful here for me except for PSN +. You guys should webkit the browser and add support for MKV video.
This is the best update I’ve seen in a while! With features like these, I could care less about the cross…um what was it called again? LOL! Heck, if Skype was intergrate to the PS3, it would crush the cross chat feature on the 360. I mean think about it. You could talk to your PSN friends and/or Skype friends while playing a game.