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.
@301, files larger than 1MB wont go through. That is stupid, but that reason why it wont work.
if u can, put it on a computer and use a program to make the file size smaller.
but it wont be able to do it unless u put the camera in a lower quality mode or something to get the file size down under 1MB.
Thanks guys! This is an awesome looking update to the firmware!!!!
yayaayayayy thanks guys
wondering when we gonna get a flash update i hate getting on my computer to view certain things
I gotta agree with post 169. I’d like to have subfolders for my music. Artist > album > songs. If there is a way to do this already please share it with me. I would also like to drag content into already created folders without having to individually tag them.
Like I said before l, love the upgrades. Keep ’em coming. ;-)
AWSOME!!!!
This sounds like a fantastic update! I’m guessing it will go live sometime today since the SOCOM headset bundle comes out tomorrow. Good stuff SONY, keep the great updates coming!!!
@307…for the billionth time (and probably 10th just in this post)…CALL ADOBE …
Features should seriously be supported across the board. I don’t see many developers going out of their way to include screen grab (hmmmm where’s our youtube functionality?). Functions like this should be fed into the system instead of the game
Sweet!!! can’t wait I’m not going to ask for anything Becouse it will never happen…But I hope yo guys don’t run out of new 3000 PSP I plan on trading my fat one in for it this week…. Thank for update and Keep the updates coming and I hope we don’t get Version 2.51 PSP and 3.01 in a couple of day’s we will see!!!!!! ;-)
AWESOME!1
One major thing I would’ve like to see in the PS3 FW update is some kind of new received message alert feature. Either a chime or and icon that stays on the upper right corner of the screen when you have an unread messages. I just hate when I step away from the PS3 and receive a message and when I get back, I have no idea that there’s a new message from a friend.
Can we please have the option to customize our Trophy cards?
Since Socom is being release tomorrow. I’m guessing these FW updates should be up late tonight.
AWESOME! Now, when’s it coming? Keep it up!
what about the ps3’s who take so long to boot.. did you guys fix that?
Oh I forgot… one thing I really but reaaaally want is groups in the contact list. Not folder please it will ruin everything and look ugly; just dividers like any messenger application, a name and a line divider. Why? because I have family, well known friends and ps3 friends that I play online and I want to divide all in groups. Many people just want to divide it by game like some I know.
this is my list of improvements not needs but improvement also if u just go thru and make sure like ease of use is there not baby-ish but like a logical progression things ppl would naturally think of the ps3 is amazing but to find certain thing takes just random searching
• last time online
• better/ up to date flash support for ps3 web browser
• more memory dedicated to browser
• voice messages
• inter game voice chat,
• when i press x on on a psn name thes add the option to view messages
• .option for dedicated button options or combo buttons
• square equal new message when in xmb or holding l2 will be the short cut button the you press x for music triangle for messages o for ps store square for headset setup,
• option for forced ingame custom soundtracks,
• rearranges interface slicker looking designated areas for battery info for time n date and other such right now time and date overlap battery
• info option to change news bar to full length scrool
• rss reader/ music and video auto download
• easer acces to news
• word file reader for psp and ps3
• cross compatibility with aim,
• games owned / played list,
• last time on option,
• option to alert when your friend is playing the same game as you
• option for cycle ability ex; when u scroll right from friends list it goes to system settings and when u croll all the way throught videos you go back to the top
• quick tap context dependent ps3 button options: options to use one or more, settings can be changed
o will go directly into a message if a message was just received
o will go directly into new messages/ inbox when multiple new messages are received
o will go directly into trophys earned/ received screen when pressed after a new trophy is earned
o will go right into the music player when a song has just started range can be changed to be from 3 seconds to 5,10,15,or 20
• fast forward and rewind in music player at all times x2 x10 x30 x60 x120
• the ability to real time chat instead of just going back and forth message to message
• more visualization or at least options to add more via download\
• youtube psn specific channel on website with you tube features put onto psn allowing posting of videos / recording from game or eyetoy camera
• ability to attach more/ bigger files/ types in messages
• limited in game xmb for ps2 and ps1 games
• ability to limit xmb choices to certain tab
• more room / info slot for online profiles longer comments
• ability to copy media/games wirelessly to and from a psp
• increased media server functionality and codec for video
• ability to out put sound thru hdmi and other outputs
• ability to join and invite games from xmb
• xmb clan features
• self installs on firmware and games
• back ground games installation
• back ground game installation for blue ray titles
• ability to access limited browser during gameplay
• *low power standy by mode very important when not using full resources like listenin to music
• ability to leave ps3 in download mode where it downloads games and demos and suto shuts off the ps3 (also a low power mode)
• update to ram in future systems / ability to use memory card slots to updrage ram
• upgrade to blue ray drive as fast as possible in future harware
• the return of the emotion chip and memory card slot and 4 usb port maybe one in the back aswell in a special premium version
• ps3 hibernation mode where the game can be pause and the ps3 be put into sleep while a task is done and you can resume where you left off when you come back
• video play list / continuous play of video files ex goin from one file to next
• better ipod/ music player support
• the ability to network and have special network ps3 in the same house or on the same network with the ability to share media
• portable copy feature will all movies/psn games
• portable copy resoulutin would be reduce/ compress to make file size smaller for psp
• The ability to sign in multiple psn accounts for multiplayer games/ trophies/ online
• Ability to attach and easily detach a psn id to a controller (easily or never assign them )
• Controller sleep the option to make the controller sleep when inactive after 1min, 2,5,10,30
• Skpye
• Unread message icon
• And reminders that pop up every 5-10or 20 mins after initial event
• Community/ chat room/ boards and micro games that can be played bu anyone chess uno lil micro games
• Playstation calendar that you can enter you schedule in and that is updated by playstation serves with events, tournaments, release dates etc promotions so you can go over your own schedule and sony as the same time
• Music free music/ music store
• Trophies turn into eventual points for psn games n movies compete for levels for special perks but spend and give up perks for games trophies spent cannot be off set by trophies earn thro play of game purchase so if u can earn 20 trophys for a game the game should cost like a hundred trophies points
• Trophies are still kept to be viewed but u give up points and levels for them and the do not count toward trophy score(this need to be heavily revised)
• Actuall digitall locker to save stuff and retrieve it when done like when u buy a new hard drive
• Auto status update/ more status’ like if im watchin a movie itll say watchin a movie or busy automatically or idle or sleeping
• Animated back ground (very small)
• Xmb ps eye support
• Psn id password option as well as option to individualize content (but not mandatory) ex so I can make it so when some one else logs on a difff psn they cantaccess my media
• The ability to save multi different wireless configs and a wired one
• Ability to buy backward compatibility add on reasonably priced
• Ability to buy ps1 – ps1/psp converter or pay 1-2 dollars to convert them using the system and install the into ps1/psp format
WOW, thanks for the heads up :).
Can a SCEA guy confirm. How you fixed the overlapping Clock/Battery status icon problem.
Trivial, but annoying.. Don’t understand how that one slipped past QA.
@247
I had the same problem. I too call sony who told me to do things that didn’t work. finaly I reformated the system and it started working again.
Turning off after finishing a download or installation? Finally! This is the feature I’ve been begging for! Now I can download new content from PSN after the update and go to school without worry.
Megulito… my eyes are bleeding
What would be really great is an updated flash plugin and switching the browser over to using the Firefox engine. The current browser and old flash if quickly becoming obsolete and a lot of sites do not work in it.
nice updates keep the ps3 fresh
nice
Too. SWEET!
Last time online? that is pointless this is not myspace
@325
Call ADOBE..they are the ones not supporting the PS3 chipset.
@319
Wow.
Update sounds awesome, can’t wait! :)
Please Disable notifications of messages and friends signing on when watching videos!
I cant believe what I am reading! This update is tripe. Sure these updates are useful, and I’m not saying they aren’t, but come on Sony. IN GAME CHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And I’m not talking about on a game to game basis, I’m talking about through the XMB. This should have come a year ago, I am tired of having to exit my game just to see what someone wanted to talk about. It is so lame, i know the Playstation is powerfull enough. You guys have to realize that this is so big that many people I know wont buy the PS3 because of it. I am in college and the XBOX is a great way to be abel to play game with your little brother and be abel to talk, its awesome. You guys are really dropping teh ball with this one, I am a huge Playstation fan, but when someone asks me why I don’t have an XBOX because they want to play GTAIV with me and talk I cant justify it, I just cant. Help me out!!!!!!!!!!!!
People, please if you agree with me on some level just demand that they respond to this issue, we are loyal PS3 fans and we deserve to be told why this hasn’t been resolved.
Still no Flash 9 support in the web browser? This is getting annoying since most game trailers require these days Flash 9. No Hulu because of this is a biggie as well.
Also: Can you make sure that your own game microsites (like for example Little Big Planet) work in the PS3 web browser?
Great update, many thanks.
Hopefully we’ll have video playlists soon to expand this update.
Can you guys look into fixing the internet browser freezing issue. It’s been many firmware updates since this nasty bug snuck its way in.
@335
Talk to ADOBE…they are the ones not supporting the PS3 chipset.
true but it’s up to sony to make it adventagious for ADOBE to do so…. I think
All I got to say is WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?!?! It’s about time some of the features in the PS3 update were added (even though I really REALLY wanted to see RSS Channels added.) I been wanting the background downloading auto shutdown forever! And the power saving thing is freakin’ genius! And what took Scene Search so long, sometimes I would press square thinking it would come just like on the PSP. And the sleep timer on the PSP is cool too. Now I can listen to my music in bed without worrying about my leaving my PSP on and the battery going dead.
But these updates are great! I can’t wait for them. This is the best news I heard all day. This really made my day :)
Awesome!!!
oh and i just wanted to say that u guys do a great job with these updates at ur jobs and i love the produt the ps3 amazes me on the daily anyway keep up the good work and keep looking at the lists ppl send thanks
This looks like a great update!
Now when will the “auto install” feature be added so that once a game/demo finishes downloading it will automatically install itself on the HD?
Excellent. A quality update. Loads of little features that add-up to improve the PlayStation experience.
I love that the friends list will have more details, in the future I’d like to see last game/s they’ve played.
Unique Trophy symbols are great. How about including the distinctive PlayStation PS symbol with all notifications ala Xbox Live?
:)
Can we get the ability to view friends messages when we click on their avatar the same way we get to create them. This would make it easier to view the messages than having to go all the way back to the message section to view them Thank you.
PS3: stennex.
PSN CARD ACCESS NEEDS TUNING!!!
– PSN cards when selecting friends needs to be tuned; Instead of the full screen PSN card after selecting a friend pressing the X button, have it pan out to the list of messages as it used to. At the top of this list, provide a smaller version of the PSN card. If we wish to see the larger version have us select the card.
When I access my friends on the Friends List, the commonly used function is to view and send messages. Thus, it should default to the most commonly used function – not the least used. Displaying a smaller version of the card (that is gives access to the full screen PSN card) gives better ogranization visually and provides a quicker way to view both messages and the friends PSN level.
Lets not forget…
-**BIG ONE**- Music playback needs to be true playback function. Allow users to play music and utilize full PS3 functionality (with exception of games and movies/videos) I want to be able to browse the PS Store and Internet while listening to my tunes.
– Internet Browser update? Better flash support is needed!!!
– Cross-game chat would be a nice feature
Thanx for keeping the features coming Sony! Great work guys (gals)!
AMAZING! Thank you! :)
Would LOVE IT if you could improve the browser… and I’d also like to hear music while browsing and such.
Thanks again! You’re proving to us we made a perfect choice going for the PS3 and not the Xbox 360.
Cool. Still waiting on custom in-game music. The built in ones (like in super stardust) are annoying. I want to use the xmb.
PS3 (V2.50) : How about the option to create custom folders? As gamers are investing more and more into PSN games and media, we are starting to have quite a cluttered mess and a long scroll to the bottom of the XMB.
This is GREAT!!!
^^ Wow, that is some terrible grammer. I am ashamed. I really need to proof read before posting :{
OMG, AUTO OFF CONTROLLERS! ! FREAKING YESSSS! BEEN WAITING FOR THAT FEATURE FOR SO LONG. YEAH BABY!
@351
Dude, PSN cards are everywhere now. At least in NYC. I saw them at Block Buster, Circuit City, Best Buy and multiple game stores. I took pics of them but I don’t know how to post them on here.
@348
You know you can make your own folders for pics, video and games right?
If not hit triangle and then information and edit the folder.
Don’t forget to hit square to change the formatting of the media.