Sony PSP 5.00 and PS3 2.50 firmware updates available soon-ish

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) has put the word out on those PS3 and PSP updates we hepped you to yesterday. The big news is that the PS3 browser now supports Flash 9. Otherwise, things are pretty much as we thought: support for your SOCOM Bluetooth Headset's High Quality mode, advanced voice chat features, screen capture (for future titles), a video scene search, power save mode and changes to the Trophy system and Information Board. The PSP 5.00 firmware gives the handheld WiFi access to the PlayStation store, a full size on-screen keyboard and a sleep timer (just like your old clock radio). According to SCEE, the updates should see the light of day on October 15 (at least in Europe) but there's no word yet on a Stateside release. You'll know as soon as we do.

[AP @ Oct 14th 2008 5:30PM]

Finally the PS3 browser has updated flash! I've been waiting a while for that.

[Chace @ Oct 14th 2008 5:33PM]

Flash 9? aawweessoommee

[Chace @ Oct 14th 2008 5:41PM]

btw, doesn't this make Play-on obsolete?

[sracer @ Oct 14th 2008 5:43PM]

It might. Flash 9 is a required component but it may not be the only component necessary. We'll find out soon enough. But if sites like hulu.com become usable due to the update, it will be HUGE.

[Temple @ Oct 14th 2008 6:27PM]

Play-On allows for NetFlix movies, but Flash will allow for all those videos sites. Great news nonetheless.

[Hife @ Oct 14th 2008 7:10PM]

Hmmm, I for one would rather use Hulu directly from my XMB than have to pull up the browser. I'm sure a few others feel the same, so I don't see it making PlayOn obsolete.

[Goldaar @ Oct 14th 2008 5:46PM]

If Hulu is usable on the new Firmware, I will go out and buy another PSP today! That would be so frickin sweet.

[farfisa @ Oct 14th 2008 5:50PM]

Sadly, it looks as though only the PS3 is getting Flash 9--PSP is stuck at Flash 6.

[Goldaar @ Oct 14th 2008 5:58PM]

I meant to say ps3, but no psp love makes me a sad panda :-(

[lorderk @ Oct 14th 2008 6:08PM]

You could use your psp if you wanted though, hook it up through remote play then use the ps3 browser to watch hulu. :)

[required @ Oct 14th 2008 6:10PM]

The PSP can operate the PS3 remotely so if you have both systems and you can get hulu.com working on the PS3 then you can via the PSP.

[Kit @ Oct 14th 2008 6:50PM]

I've never seen remote play working, but it sounds like it would be extremely tedious, is it?

[Rahul @ Oct 14th 2008 8:03PM]

oooooh, that would be awesome if i could watch videos on hulu through my ps3, last time i tried that the system ran out of memory when loading the hulu main page...i hope that stops happening with the new update =/

[rudefyet @ Oct 14th 2008 5:50PM]

Account management is down for maintenance.

*Squeals*

I love it when anything gets a firmware update.

[required @ Oct 14th 2008 6:12PM]

Especially with new features and for free. Some companies (Apple for example) charge for this sort of thing.

[kyle @ Oct 14th 2008 9:55PM]

i don't. i just bought a PS3 today, totally ignorant of any planned outages. now i have a new toy, and i can't sign up for PSN, can't download wip3out, and can't multiplay.

[rudefyet @ Oct 14th 2008 10:40PM]

That's actually how I noticed it, I just restored my PS3 today to wipe it clean and I haven't been able to re-enter my account login info since it's been under maintenance.

Although doesn't keep me from doing much but seeing what movies were added to the PlayStation Store today.

[JoeNES @ Oct 14th 2008 5:51PM]

My favorite new feature is the auto-shutdown after a download is complete. That means I can set the PS3 to download 20 demos and go to sleep, knowing I won't wake up to a $500 electric bill. Although I was planning on using overnight downloads as my primary heater this winter...

[sua @ Oct 14th 2008 6:43PM]

That's not very cost effective JoeNES, this isn't an Xbox 360!

[MemoryLeak @ Oct 14th 2008 6:05PM]

I look forward to the flash9 update, but the biggest problem I've had with PS3 as browser using flash is that it runs out of memory!

Ever notice the "playstation theme" stutters when you load the web browser?
Even the "flickr" link from the main browser page will seize after you run a slide show for a few seconds.

I hope Sony can fix the memory issues, but I'm not holding my breath.

[required @ Oct 14th 2008 6:14PM]

Yes I've noticed that too and I hope they fix it.

[Alan @ Oct 14th 2008 6:34PM]

Now if they could only let you charge the controllers without the PS3 being turned on.
Maybe the PS4 will have that feature...Oh wait that would be mind controlled right?

[Valicore @ Oct 14th 2008 6:37PM]

Unfortunately I don't anticipate the PS4 until well after we've abandoned Earth and evolved into talking mushrooms.

[hopefully @ Oct 14th 2008 6:50PM]

One word.... Pandora... Sans any memory problems

[Kit @ Oct 14th 2008 6:55PM]

I'm a bit of a Microsoft fanboy, but I have to admit that would be perfect all the time. Especially if you could stream that while playing games.

Another reason Microsoft needs to suck it up and put a browser into the 360 already.

[Daniel @ Oct 14th 2008 6:55PM]

A sleep timer but no alarm clock function ? Sony reall has lost touch to the consumer.

[Ward2South @ Oct 14th 2008 9:05PM]

I think its a fair bet that if they're setting it free in Europe on the 15th then they'll release in the state the same day.

[Gold Teef for Errbody! @ Oct 14th 2008 10:01PM]

Great News! Now how about that second analog joystick...

Let the PSP die, already.

[Justin @ Oct 14th 2008 10:08PM]

NICE! I've been saying it for the past 8 months... Sony just keeps getting better and better. I'm planning on being the first person in my state (Connecticut) to get Killzone 2. Yes, it's ambitious, but I will try

[sam moye @ Oct 14th 2008 11:29PM]

its up now

[Luke @ Oct 15th 2008 3:22AM]

I just downloaded the new firmware for PS3 so I can confirm that it's avail to the US.

[BzowK @ Oct 15th 2008 9:31AM]

Are they ever going to implement WPA or WPA2 in the PSP...Ever???

[John @ Oct 15th 2008 9:24PM]

Yes, they have implemented WPA. I use it now.

[lance @ Oct 15th 2008 2:04PM]

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keep going
have a look at ma blogs..
lance and dude

[Flintr @ Oct 25th 2008 5:40PM]

I have a PSP and have used remote play. It works well: streams the video to the PSP screen, streams the button presses to the PS3. Everything runs off of the PS3 so processing power isn't an issue. My only complaint is that every once in a while it boots me off and I have to manually restart my PS3, which kills the "anywhere any time" aspect. I hope to be able to use flash 9 on my PSP that way soon!

-- I think that the PS3 is so ahead of it's time hardware wise that for the next 5 years sony could sell major software upgrades instead of hardware (PS4)

Peace

[Ward2South @ Oct 14th 2008 9:05PM]

That may be the plan.

http://www.videogamer.com/news/01-10-2008-9523.html