Yeah, that's right -- you can get it right now. In game XMB, trophies... the whole nine. Why are you still reading this?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

It's been a long time coming, but in-game XMB will arrive on your PS3 tomorrow. That's right, Wednesday July 2nd and likely kicking off as a rolling, firmware 2.40, network update just as soon as the clock ticks over the top in Japan. You know, for those of you looking to get a jump on your Trophy collection.

[Via Joystiq]

Say hello to this year's warmed-over line of Sony's ES 7.1 channel audio/video receivers. Now-standard features in the line include a PS3/PSP-style xross media bar interface, 1080p Faroudja DCDi upconversion, a slew of audio codec support (Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, dts High Resolution Audio and dts HD Master Audio) plus Digital Media Port connectivity to hook up iPod or Bluetooth adapters or satellite radio. The higher end STR-DA4400ES (above) packs a 120-watt amplifier, six HDMI inputs, HD video output to two zones and audio to three zones for $1,500 when it debuts this August. The STR-DA3400ES and STR-DA2400ES both include a 100-watt amp, four HDMI jacks, the 3400 includes an IR repeater and support for a second video zone with its $1,000 price tag, while the 2400 drops those features and includes a basic interface for $800 next month. Take a peek at both after the break, then check your wallet to see where you fit in.

Sony's firmware development for its game consoles is bearing fruit on two fronts today. First, the PSP firmware 4.00 network update is up and dancing for your XMB Googling pleasure. Next, and more importantly, Sony has confirmed in-game XMB and trophies in PS3 firmware 2.40 -- details promised shortly. Tap tap tap... ok, not that shortly.

[Thanks, 94 taurus owner]

Read -- PSP 4.00
Read -- PS3 2.40

It's not confirmed by Sony just yet, but Videogaming247 says it has it on "good authority" that the upcoming version 2.40 firmware update for the PS3 will at long last bring with it in-game XMB, as well as the slightly less-anticipated trophy support. If those sources are to be believed, the update will be dropping sometime in June, with some speculation further pointing to a release in advance of Metal Gear Solid 4's June 12th launch. There's apparently still some testing to be done to ensure that the in-game XMB will work with all titles, however, and it seems like features like trophies and user-music via XMB will only be supported in games created with the new developers tools that have apparently already been released in advance of the firmware update.

[Via PS3 Fanboy, thanks John]

Sure, 2.00 might sound like a magical milestone, but in reality there's not a whole lot here that's going to revolutionize your gaming experience, and sadly nothing yet to bring online communication and play to parity with Xbox Live and Xbox's handy dandy dashboard. That said, Sony is strengthening some of the PS3's unique features, like the new Remote Start function that lets you fire up your PS3 remotely when you're accessing it with your PSP, and playlists for music and photos. One of the biggest "additions" is DualShock 3 support, but that's so laughably last-gen that it's hardly worth noting. Sony is also packing in the ability to create and share your own Themes for XMB, and a news ticker that will eventually make way for the importing of your own RSS feeds. Sony also added a new XMB group to the main menu to pave the way for Home and other internets-friendly features, and -- oddly enough -- Canon printer support to really round out the package. The update will be available in the States tomorrow, November 8th.

Update: PS3 Fanboy has some exclusive screenshots of the new interface.

[Via Joystiq]

Brace yourselves PS3 jockeys, a 2.00 firmware update is rumored for release. The full details were apparently inadvertently posted on Sony's PS3 press site (and subsequently removed) but not before being snagged and then posted to the official PlayStation user forums by a veteran contributer. While we have no way of validating the source, regular contributers to the forum are in a tizzy since the person behind the original post has gotten it right before. So what's in store? Well, we're talkin' 34 new features or enhancements including XMB access during gameplay. Yeah, thought you'd like that one. Other notables include RSS channel support, new photo effects and custom wallpapers, and enhancements for PS1 and PS2 compatibility. Sorry, still no DVD upscaling but who knows, it's only a rumor for now which unfortunately lacks any mention of availability.

[Via Next-Gen Gamer, thanks cloudstrife13]

Update: Ruh roh, looks like the post has been pulled and this called a hoax. Thanks for riding the rumor-go-round with us, everybody. See you next time. [Via GearFuse]

In addition to new micro-displays and the Internet Video Link streaming device, Sony also announced seven BRAVIA LCD sets today. There are two 1080p-capable displays in 40- and 46-inch sizes (KDL-46V3000 and KDL-40V3000), three 720p sets in 26, 40, and 46 inches (KDL-26S3000, KDL-40S3000, and KDL-46S3000), and a pair of 32-inch models (KDL-32S3000 and KDL-32XBR4). The V-series 1080p sets can accept 1080/60p and 24p signals via their HDMI or component inputs, and have the advanced Bravia EX engine for higher-quality upconversion. The 32-inch XBR model has three of the 1080/60p/24p HDMI inputs, and uses Sony's Motionflow 120Hz motion compensation, which creates unique frames to help eliminate blurring and motion artifacts. All the sets have 10-bit color for more capable color gradients, Bravia's video processing engine, and Theatre Sync for control connection between compatible devices. The displays also utilize Sony's XMB Xross Media Bar interface. The XBR and S-series models will be available this spring, while the other sets will come out in the summer -- pricing has not been announced for any of these models.

In the second part of our pre-release PlayStation 3 videos, we've got a full walkthrough of the XMB menus and user interface of the console. No, sorry, no gameplay -- why bother when our video camera wouldn't show the graphic subtleties anyway? -- but we've got the A-Z on almost everything in the console, including the new and improved Sony browser, the Folding@Home client, and even a tiny preview of the PlayStation Network's friends and messaging features. Check it out!

P.S. -Our flash video isn't the highest quality / res. If you want the best looking video, check out the VGA h.264 file below.

Download video
MOV (h.264) - VGA, QVGA
AVI (DivX) - VGA, QVGA

Music: Christopher Willits - Orange Lit Space, Colors Shifting, Finding Ground (Ghostly International)

Sony has dropped two new 1080p A/V receivers, which should go well with the new Bravia LCDs that the company also announced today. First up is the STR-DA5200ES (pictured), a 1080p upscaling 7.1 channel receiver with 120 watts of power per channel which is coming this October for $1,500. Thanks to a Cortez Advanced controller chip the 5200ES can upscale any source connected via HDMI or component inputs: the chip also supports on-the-fly color correction, picture-in-picture, and second room video sources. The other feature that Sony is keen to promote is the new menu system inspired by the Cross Media Bar (XMB) used on the company's PlayStation 2 and PSP game consoles, but the 5200ES also comes with a 30-second auto speaker calibration system and a USB port for hooking up your flash-based PMP for some spontaneous tunes. Sony has also revealed that it is shipping the $900 STR-DA3200ES this month, a receiver capable of passing-through (not upscaling) 1080p signals via the HDMI and component inputs. Like its bigger brother, the 3200ES will also pump out 120 watts over each of the 7.1 channels, although it doesn't come with the 5200ES's funky XMB-inspired menu system. Peep the STR-DA3200ES and the menu system after the break.