Sony quiet on PS3 update

By Robert Purchese Published 14 May, 2007

Version 2.0 rumoured.

Sony has today dismissed reports of a new PS3 firmware update as "speculation".

Version 2.0 will apparently add a host of tweaks to media settings, on top of password-protected user accounts and an RSS reader. If the information is indeed true, users will be able to bring up the XrossMediaBar when in-game, and take part in multiple chat sessions at once.

The full list of proposed fixes follows:

  • You can now password-protect user accounts.

Settings

  • Dynamic Normalizer has been added as an option under Sound Settings.
  • Energy Saver has been added as an option.
  • Equalizer has been added as a feature under Music Settings.
  • Full has been added as an option for DVD Wide Display under BD / DVD Settings.
  • Photo Settings has been added as an option.
  • PS / PS2 Settings has been added as an option.
  • RSS Channel Settings has been added as an option.
  • Sample Rate has been added to Audio CD Import under Music Settings.
  • Screen Saver has been expanded under Display Settings.
  • The method of selecting an output resolution has been changed in VideOutput Settings under Display Settings.
  • Theme Settings has been added as an option.
  • Zero Unused Disk Space has been added as an option under System Settings - Format Utility.

Photo

  • Additional slideshows have been added.
  • Photo Effects have been added as a feature.
  • Wallpaper feature has been added.
  • Zoom has been added as a feature.

Music

  • Additional visualizations have been added.
  • CD information can now be entered.
  • Three-speed fast forward and fast reverse has been added as a feature.

Video

  • Files can now be played sequentially.
  • Three-speed fast forward and fast reverse has been added as a feature.
  • You can now select Zoom under Screen Mode when playing videfiles saved on the hard disk or storage media.
  • An appropriate USB adapter (not included) is required to use storage media with some models.

Game

  • Support for PlayStation 3 format software titles has been expanded.
  • XMB (XrossMediaBar) is now accessible during gameplay.

Network

  • RSS Channel has been added as a feature.

Friends

  • You can now have multiple chat sessions.
  • You can now select an image to use as your Avatar from Photo.

Other

  • Date & Time is now shown when the PS button is pressed.
  • File sorting has been changed.
  • Help has been added as a feature.
  • Playability status with the PS3 system has changed for some PlayStation and PlayStation 2 format titles.
  • To check on the latest status, visit the search site for compatible titles.
  • Secure Delete has been added as an option.
  • Some PlayStation Network features have been revised.
Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (46) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • JediMasterMalik #1 5 years ago

    It sounds like a great update if it's true. I hope it is.

  • attep #2 5 years ago

    XMB has been added ingame - good, just need cross game invites now and better voice communication. At least you're on the right track =)

  • AcidSnake #3 5 years ago

    Pretty damn specific for a rumour I'd say...

  • gizmo #4 5 years ago

    Has the hardware scaling been sorted yet?

  • thepark3r #5 5 years ago

    Wheres the rumour coming from? Sounds like a great update, best feature being the time when you press the PS button. Simple but great addition!

  • Darren #6 5 years ago

    I hope the next updare adds DVD upscaling plus BD movie playback at 720p 'cos it sucks particularly that the latter is still not included when I can watch 1080p movie trailers at 720p! Sort it Sony!

    Otherwise that list does read more like someone's wishlist to be honest but it would be great if it turned out to be geniune. Fingers crossed, eh?

  • Xerx3s #7 5 years ago

    Support for PlayStation 3 format software titles has been expanded.

    What does this mean?

  • Darren #8 5 years ago

    It means that more PS3 games are compatible with the... erm... PS3! ;)

    Nah, seriously, it likely means that they've maybe improved something that wasn't working as well before... maybe some rare glitches and stuff like that have been fixed, not that I've come across anything like that in the nine PS3 games I own.

  • JediMasterMalik #9 5 years ago

    I think it has to do with peripheral games like Eye of Judgement and SingStar, maybe they needed firmware updates for them to work properly. Could mean anything really.

  • macksed #10 5 years ago

    "Support for PlayStation 3 format software titles has been expanded.

    What does this mean"

    theyre gonna release more games?

  • bonker #11 5 years ago

    "Support for PlayStation 3 format software titles has been expanded.

    What does this mean? "

    Beat me to it :)

    Yeah, like WTF???!!!

  • Schiraman #12 5 years ago

    Sounds great, hope it's true.

  • Machetazo #13 5 years ago

    Network

    * RSS Channel has been added as a feature.

    Now, that is going to be very useful indeed. A great addition to the browser, hopefully the info here is correct.

  • Gurgeh #14 5 years ago

    From arsTechnica:

    "the story is that Sony put these up on the press site and then pulled it down, but not before some clever people grabbed the information and splashed it around the Internet."


  • lennon #15 5 years ago

    Yay - Now I can personalise the background.

    Now I just need something decent to play! ;)

  • Jaded #16 5 years ago

    If copying and pasting makes you clever, I'm a farking GENIOUS!

  • Darren #17 5 years ago

    I wish Sony would confirm it... what's the big secret anyway, it's only a bloody firmware update? Their denial of it seems to suggest it isn't true to me... I hope I'm so utterly and completely wrong though because it sounds like this is the update we've been waiting for. I hope the bit about the resolutions means we can set separate ones for BD movies and games, that would be just dandy! :)

  • brooza #18 5 years ago

    "Support for PlayStation 3 format software titles has been expanded." Don't they all work already?

  • tonynibbles #19 5 years ago

    It all sounds genuine. Complete with slightly awkwardly written descriptions...
    Edited by 1 at 14/05/07 @ 16:58

  • Darren #20 5 years ago

    Just realised that Sony might be denying this update at the moment because it's months away... I mean won't we be getting the v1.8 and v1.9 firmware updates first?

  • Beano #21 5 years ago

    "It all sounds genuine. Complete with slightly awkwardly written descriptions... "

    Excatly... sound guite genuene to me.

    Reg. "in-game XMB access"... I only expect limited access since access to all XMB features would require a big memory footprint. But I would be quite happy with access to some XMB features like friends-list, messages, chat, etc.
    Edited by 1 at 14/05/07 @ 17:05

  • old_man #22 5 years ago

    Will it make it any good ?

    Will it make Casino Royale Blu-Ray look better than the standard DVD version on a 1080i TV?

    Will it sort out the lack of upscalling for standard DVD's.

    Will it sort out the popping sounds between functions.

    Will it make it worth switching the dam thing on.

    Yes I still think mine it s big piece of turd.

  • bonker #23 5 years ago

    Shiny tho :)

  • Aretak #24 5 years ago

    "Will it make Casino Royale Blu-Ray look better than the standard DVD version on a 1080i TV?"

    As a blind man, do you feel Sony have catered to your needs?

  • Beano #25 5 years ago

    "As a blind man, do you feel Sony have catered to your needs? "

    LOL!!!

  • JediMasterMalik #26 5 years ago

    What popping sounds? I think the man's a bit mental tbh.

  • TheJanitor #27 5 years ago

    wtf. casino royale blu ray looks amazing in a 1080i tv.

    and it already upscales dvds, why do people keep asking this. have you even tried it these last few weeks? it's done that since i got my pal ps3 at launch.

  • kangarootoo #28 5 years ago

    @old_man

    "Will it make Casino Royale Blu-Ray look better than the standard DVD version on a 1080i TV?"

    Are you using HDMI? And do you have the PS3 display output set to 1080i also? You are the first person I've heard from that has been anything less than impressed with the picture quality. Maybe just your setup?

  • EvilSpaceMonkey #29 5 years ago

    to @old_man:

    Popping sounds? You're not talking about the click as you move around the XMB are you? If so, turn keytone to off in sound settings. Otherwise I haven't the foggiest idea what you are talking about.

    As for Casino Royale DVD looking as good as the BluRay version, well I think you need your eyes testing. Sure the colour saturation is a bit iffy (it's all a bit Katie Boyle / Dale Winton orange on a calibrated set) but the resolution is far greater. I think your 1080i setup is wrong.

  • Salvia #30 5 years ago

    "Support for PlayStation 3 format software titles has been expanded"
    A friend at Sony suggested that this may refer to support for the new eyetoy...

  • Feagle #31 5 years ago

    Now let us change our bloody handle.
    I just pressed a load of buttons for mine.

    Now i regret it.

    "Faar" hehe.

  • Ryze #32 5 years ago

    Game

    * Support for PlayStation 3 format software titles has been expanded.


    It's about time they did that! :-D



    (maybe it's meant to say PlayStation 2)

  • DocTep #33 5 years ago

    720p Blu-ray output would be very welcome Sony (indeed, it should have been there from the start).

  • #34 5 years ago

    I'd love to see this update asap.

    @old_man: I think the Wii and a 100 inch screen is probably the way to go for you old man.

  • old_man #35 5 years ago

    To answer some questions. (with bad grammar and spelling)

    My TV is a Panasonic LCD 32” HD 1080i connected to my PS3 via official HDMI cable.

    The PS3 system is set to 1080i.

    Viewing a standard DVD on the Xbox 360 HD add-on, and then viewing the same DVD on the PS3 was a revelation. The menu text on the PS3 was unreadable and blurred. The Xbox 360 HD DVD version was up-scaled, sharp and perfectly readable.

    I’m a photographer by trade so I’m used to dealing with detail while photo editing. Basically I’ve a good eye for detail and I’m not yet blind.

    If the PS3 is up scaling DVD’s then it is doing a dreadfully poor job.

    I wanted more than anyone to see the amazing detail the 50GB Blu-ray version of Casino Royale was going to give against the 9GB standard version. I just can’t see it.

    I can see a difference between the standard DVD of Basic Instinct and the HD-DVD version played through the Xbox 360 HD player.

    As for the popping noises. I first thought a cable was loose, but it’s not. Changing between functions, ie starting a game, starting a DVD always results in a mild popping sound. Not the end of the world, but it gets on my nerves and adds to the unfinished feel on the Shiny overpriced turd.

    If anyone can shed light on why my PS3 does not upscale standard DVD’s, or make a 50GB Blu-Ray movie look better than a 9GB Version** (Played through Xbox 360 HD add on) I’d be grateful of help. I love Casino Royale and would love for it to look as good as the HD DVD’s do on the Xbox 360 HD Drive.

    I fully appreciate I may have some settings wrong somewhere.

    Thanks

  • Salvia #36 5 years ago

    "* Support for PlayStation 3 format software titles has been expanded.
    (maybe it's meant to say PlayStation 2)"

    Nope, as later on it says;

    "Playability status with the PS3 system has changed for some PlayStation and PlayStation 2 format titles"

  • Psychotext #37 5 years ago

    Last time I checked the PS3 doesn't upscale normal dvds... which would be why so many people keep asking for the functionality. You sure it's not your TV doing the scaling?

  • ShadowDancer #38 5 years ago

    @thepark3r

    "Wheres the rumour coming from? Sounds like a great update, best feature being the time when you press the PS button. Simple but great addition!"

    It was taken from the US Playstation forum. The poster said it came from the Playstation Press Centre website (where you have to log in).

    It sounds very detailed to be a fake.
    Edited by 1 at 15/05/07 @ 06:10

  • 3william56 #39 5 years ago

    @OldMan

    One thing a lot of folks forget in the upscaling debate is that a decent telly will do upscaling for you, and do a lot better job than any console, so doesn't matter what the PS3 does. Your Panny (if it's recent) should have hardware upscaling built in on the hi def inputs. I've got a 50" viera, and it does a great job, so doesn't matter what the upscale is done. Are you using the same AV input for the PS3 and 360? You should have individual settings per input - and if you've set heavy error correction, smoothing or a bad colour temp etc. on one input, it'll naturally stuff the pic. Or you might have a borked cable.

    Back on topic, and now my chance to look like a mug: where's the playlist support for music files? Or is there already one hidden away I haven't sussed? I can play albums fine, and could theoretically change genre tags to make a playlist, but seems a strange omission. Or I'm blind. Could be either.

    @Sony: Scheduled downloads as well please - it's a pain having to wake up at 2am to set the beast downloading once I've used up my peak time download allowance.
    Edited by 1 at 15/05/07 @ 06:36

  • #40 5 years ago

    @Old_man

    Are you absolutley sure that your LCD is showing 1080i when playing back Casino?
    This just to make sure that your PS3 is outputing 1080i and your LCD is displaying 1080i. Your PS3 doesn't show 720p so if there is a problem with your settings the PS3 will kick back to 576p or 480p, that would make your movie look like a DVD.

    I have a 40" Sony Bravia that displays 1080p native, Casino looks amazing on it. Animated movies like Happy Feet and Wild Animals look even better, you'l never ever wanna see a DVD after this.

    The PS3 doesn't upscale DVDs. You get 480p or 576p.


    edit: Just for the record: I've played around with 1080i and 1080p and I'm hard pressed to find any big difference. 1080i looks just as amazing as 1080p. I don't have any fotball movies with fast left right panning so I wouldn't know if 1080i falls short here.
    Edited by 1 at 15/05/07 @ 06:37

  • spongebob #41 5 years ago

    How about a DivX/XviD support and some other formats as well?

  • Les #42 5 years ago

    "I wanted more than anyone to see the amazing detail the 50GB Blu-ray version of Casino Royale was going to give against the 9GB standard version. I just can’t see it.

    I can see a difference between the standard DVD of Basic Instinct and the HD-DVD version played through the Xbox 360 HD player."

    "I wanted more than anyone to see the amazing detail the 50GB Blu-ray version of Casino Royale was going to give against the 9GB standard version. I just can’t see it.

    I can see a difference between the standard DVD of Basic Instinct and the HD-DVD version played through the Xbox 360 HD player."

    That’s quite amazing. Especially given the fact that the HD-DVD add-on is a relatively poor HD-DVD drive (compared to standalone versions) while the PS3 matches the quality of standalone BluRay players. There’s probably something wrong with your configuration.

    But what I really don’t understand is why you would buy the 360 HD-DVD add-on if you also have (or planned to get) a PS3.

  • lennon #43 5 years ago

    I too dont think that CR on Blu Ray is all that great to be honest. It looks ok and although I havent seen the DVD version I was expecting better. I have MI3 on BR and that looks excellent.

    In terms of upscaling I have a pretty good TV and was pretty disapointed with PS3 DVD playback and when compared to playback via my 360 over VGA there is no contest in picture quality. The 360 wins by a mile.

    However the 360 is let down by the noise it makes which means I have to turn the sound right up which isnt great when you have a small child asleep in the house. So on balance what I want is some fusion of the two system. :)

  • andyk #44 5 years ago

    @oldman
    "I can see a difference between the standard DVD of Basic Instinct and the HD-DVD version played through the Xbox 360 HD player."

    /basic instinct in HD - giggles immaturely

  • TheJanitor #45 5 years ago

    fanboy eyes @_@

  • oreillymj #46 5 years ago

    I would make the same comments as other posters regarding the lack of significant difference between regular DVD9 and Blu-Ray/HD-DVD formats.

    Whereas there's a noticeable increase in quality when going from VHS to DVD, there just isn't the same increase when I play a Blu-Ray disc.

    I have a Philps HD-Ready set, so the best I get is 1080i, but there aren't actually 1080 vertical pixels on the screen so there is some scaling going on within the set to display a 1080i image.

    Of those apparent 1080 lines, 1/3rd is filled by black bars on the titles I've seen. On a plasma, I'd prefer to stretch the image at the expense of having the correct aspect ration, than have permanent marks on the screen. But niether the PS3 or TV will fill the screen for me.

    A lot of the more recent movies are film on digital video so the transfer to DVD is excellent will very few compression artifacts. Older movies will lots of film grain and noise will not benefit from transfer to a hi def format.