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PS3 Firmware 3.40 now available
Initially given an uncertain release date of "soon," PS3 firmware 3.40 is live in North America as of last night, enabling PlayStation Plus subscription, video editing and more. The new PSN Facebook application is also now available, allowing you to make new PSN friends and show off your trophies.
PS3 firmware 3.40 update adds enhanced Facebook integration, video editing 'soon'
PS3 firmware update 3.40 is on the way "soon," according to Sony, but since it adds the framework for PlayStation Plus, which launches tomorrow, we think it's safe to expect the update to arrive today or early tomorrow. In addition to support for the new subscription service, firmware 3.40 adds a few new features to the XMB. The photo gallery is now enhanced with sharing capabilities, allowing users to upload to Facebook and Picasa, browse and comment on photos, and share photos with PSN friends. And strangely enough, you'll now be able to edit video on the PS3 through the new "Video Editor and Uploader" function. Those videos can then be put on Facebook or YouTube directly from the PS3. In addition to these new media sharing options, users can now rate PlayStation Store purchases with up to five stars (which was a totally original idea when a certain website started doing it), and have access to more power-saving settings, including a default automatic-turnoff time of two hours. The most interesting new PS3 user experience upgrade is actually totally separate from the PS3. Sony is introducing a PSN application for Facebook, allowing users to display their PSN profiles directly into their Facebook accounts, view friends' profiles, and send PSN friend requests through Facebook. Yes, you'll be able to use one social networking service to invite your friends to connect with you on another.
PS3 firmware update 3.30 makes PC remote play VAIO-ble
Most folks don't know that PS3 Firmware Update 3.30 didn't just prep the system for 3D support, renovate the Trophy section, and totally crash user's lengthy Dragon Age: Origins sessions. It also added a tab under the "Remote Play" section of the XMB – an unassuming option simply labeled "PC." The notes accompanying the update confirm that "future models of the VAIO PC" will be able to access certain titles on the PSN, though the full capacity of said access is unknown. The notes mentioned that further details on the VAIO's Remote Playability will be announced on Sony's website next month. Until then, you can keep on playing your PSN games on your PS3, just like you always have, since the dawn of time, you caveman. [Via Videogamer]
PS3 Firmware 3.30 available now
According to the PlayStation.Blog, PS3 firmware 3.30 "preps" the system for the forthcoming implementation of 3D gaming. (3D Blu-ray movie support will also be added in a future update.) In addition, everyone will be able to enjoy an enhanced Trophy collection, featuring new sorting methods to help better organize your PS3 achievements. The update is mandatory, so you should download and install the update if you plan on using any PSN functionality. (ProTip: Your download may be faster if you visit the PlayStation website and save the update to a memory card.) [Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
PlayStation 3.30 firmware is a go, 3D games support 'prepped'
When the PlayStation blog said firmware 3.30 -- you know, the one that "preps" the console for added 3D support (games for now, not movies) -- was "coming soon," we figured that meant some indeterminate day or week ahead. Not so; we just turned on our Sony consoles and, lo and behold, we got a new update sent our way. There's nothing you can do with the third dimension at this point, but take solace in a handful of Trophy enhancements. And Linux support? Don't be silly, it's not coming back.
PS3's summer 3D firmware is all fun and games... and no Blu-ray movie support?
If you want you and your loved ones looking like the family pictured alongside this text, sitting in front of the TV gazing at 3D dolphins emanating from a PlayStation 3 through your television console, your best bet is to envision Ecco, not Flipper.* According to TechRadar, Sony has clarified that the summer firmware update to enable 3D applies to games only, and that 3D Blu-ray movie support will come with a second update due out later this year. We haven't been able to confirm the announcement ourselves, but suddenly, that freebie copy of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 3D isn't looking so tantalizing. * Hypothetically speaking, of course. We have no confirmation on a 3D version of Sega's Ecco the Dolphin or Season 3 of Flipper, featuring "The Most Expensive Sardine in the World."
LGJ: Does PS3 Firmware 3.21 come with a refund?
Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq ("LGJ"), a column on legal issues as they relate to video games: [Flickr: DeclanTM] By now you've installed the PS3 Firmware 3.21 update that removes the "Other OS" option (more or less) from your console. (You've at least read about it.) Besides angering the PS3 users who had been enjoying the Other OS feature, this incident has had some unintended consequences in the realm of consumer protection and warranty laws, both in the US and abroad. It's certainly a bit of an unusual situation, but hopefully this column will provide you a bit of an explanation on a global scale, and answer the question, can I get a refund? For anyone who's not clear on what laws are involved, the broad areas of consumer protection and warranties both deal with protecting the purchasers of products from those who make or sell those products. The idea being that you should be entitled to purchase and own the product that you intended to buy, rather than something that's misleading, fraudulent, likely to break on its own, or broken. This is to help ensure the integrity of the marketplace, which helps secure consumer confidence. After all, aren't you more likely to buy a game console when you know it's a game console and (if new) covered by a warranty against defects, rather than an empty case or a box with bricks in it?
Bypass PS3 firmware 3.21 in seconds -- at your own risk (update: defunct)
Face it: Sony's backed you into a corner. You can't play PS3 online without downloading the 3.21 firmware update, but if you download, your precious 'Other OS' is forfeit -- and there may be side effects. You could wait it out, hoping Geohot comes through with a workaround. You could even sue Sony for a refund if you live in Europe. Or, if you're not terribly worried about the security of your PSN account and personal information, you could instead input just ten digits into your PS3 and magically bypass the entire issue. Though technically minded individuals have been skirting Sony's firmware checks for years now using private proxies, homebrew developer Aaron Lindsay decided to set up a public server at 67.202.81.137, which allows anyone to piggyback on his success in mere seconds -- we tried it ourselves, and it worked like a charm. By doing so, you run the risk of giving Aaron all your credentials... but if the odd identity theft doesn't break your stride, you can jump right back into that Uncharted 2 session by entering the above number into Internet Connection Settings > DNS Setting > Primary DNS. Update: As of April 13, the proxy DNS trick no longer works. We're not sure why, but considering how long the hacking community holds a grudge, we expect a workaround in due time.
PS3 hacker claims custom firmware revives 'Other OS' in 3.21, provides video proof
What the PS3 homebrew community hoped was an April Fool's joke by Sony turned out not to be, as the latest system update for the console (3.21) axed the ability to install another operating system, i.e. Linux, on it. The feature has been absent from the PS3 "Slim" since its release, but owners of the original form factor probably never expected to lose the functionality. Enter Geohot, the person who in January claimed to have "hacked the PS3." He now claims to have created a custom firmware update that not only reintroduces the Other OS feature to original PS3 units, but potentially the Slim systems as well. Geohot writes on his blog that "this can be installed without having to open up your PS3, just by restoring a custom generated PUP file, but only from 3.15 or previous. It's possible this CFW will also work on the slim to actually *enable* OtherOS." He also takes Sony to task for removing the feature in the first place, saying it is "potentially turning 100000+ legit users into 'hackers.'" The YouTube video we've embedded after the break purports to show Geohot's PS3 booting Linux thanks to his custom v3.21 firmware. He hasn't put a firm date on the release of the hack, but simply divulging its existence was probably more than enough to get Sony's lawyers drawing up the paperwork for a cease and desist. [Via Engadget]
PS3 firmware 3.21 locking out more than just other operating systems?
Sony already irked a few people by removing the "install other OS" with its PS3 firmware 3.21 update, and it looks like it may have also inadvertently drawn the ire of quite a few other users. Judging from reports on the official PlayStation forums, a sizable number of PS3 users have run into an array of different problems after installing the update, which range from folks not being able to log into PSN or load a disc after the update, to users not being able to turn on their PS3 at all -- some have even reported freezing during the update process. Of course, there's also lots of users that have updated without any issues whatsoever, and the problems don't seem to have yet drawn an official response from Sony. Let us know how things worked out for you in the comments below. [Thanks, MeowMix]
PSA: PS3 Firmware Update 3.21 available now
As promised, PS3 firmware update 3.21 has gone live -- and no, it's not some kind of elaborate April Fool's joke crafted by Sony. Yes, the update removes Linux support from Phat PS3 systems. And yes, the update makes it explicitly clear that this update will remove a feature (and corresponding menu options) from your system. This is a mandatory update, meaning you won't be able to log on to the PlayStation Network without it. So, might as well get it out of your way as soon as possible. You can use either System Update from the XMB, or download the update from PlayStation.com to a USB stick. [Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]
PS3 firmware 3.21 is out: say goodbye to 'install other OS'
Just a tad ahead of schedules -- perhaps as a macabre assurance this isn't some April 1st joke -- firmware 3.21 for the PS3 is now being seeded to anyone who tries to log onto the PlayStation Network. As far as we can tell, all the update seems to do is remove the "install other OS" option and kill access to anyone who does have another platform dual-booted. Just a friendly reminder, if you fall into that category, be sure to either backup your partition or wait for Geohot to find a workaround. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Linux support dropped from PS3 Firmware 3.21
It's rare for a company to announce a firmware update that removes functionality from a product, but that's exactly what Sony is doing with the upcoming release of PS3 firmware update 3.21 on April 1st. The rarely utilized, but nonetheless useful, ability to install another operating system (Linux) on the PS3 will be removed in the upcoming system software revision, a feature that was already removed in the PS3 Slim. SCEA's Patrick Seybold explains that the removal of said functionality is necessary "due to security concerns ... [and] will help ensure that PS3 owners will continue to have access to the broad range of gaming and entertainment content from SCE and its content partners on a more secure system." This move may be a response to recent claims that the PS3 has been "hacked." The language used in Seybold's post reminds us of another Sony platform that's been plagued by rampant piracy: the PSP. While the move seems to be a preventative measure on Sony's part, the early response to the removal of Linux support has been passionately negative. Undoubtedly, there will be few that will be genuinely inconvenienced by this decision. However, the rest of us have good reason for some dread: who can look forward to the prospect of downloading and installing a firmware update that offers no added functionality? [Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]
Older PS3s losing 'install other OS' option in Thursday's firmware 3.21 update
Bad news, Linux fans. The older PlayStation 3 consoles are losing one of the features they could tout over their Slim successor. Firmware 3.21 is coming out this Thursday, April 1st, and its major raison d'être is to kill the "install other OS" option. (This is "not an April fools joke," as the PlayStation Europe blog clarifies.) "Security concerns" is the cited reason, although we're sure that doesn't make you feel much better -- no one likes the loss of a feature, even if it wasn't being used. Those who wish to keep Yellow Dog or Fedora running can opt to not upgrade, but skipping out means losing the ability to access PlayStation Network and play games online, among other things. DARPA enthusiasts notwithstanding, we can't say we know many people still running Linux on their console, but if you count yourself among the few and proud, our condolences. Them's the breaks, but hey, at least some of you still have PS2 compatibility.
PS3 3D video output turns up in 3.20 debug firmware
We'd already heard that the PS3 wouldn't need anything more than a simple firmware update to make the jump to 3D, and it looks like we now have the first evidence of that very firmware update. It's obviously not ready for public consumption just yet, but a debug build of the 3.20 firmware is apparently now making the rounds among developers, and it quite clearly includes a "3D Video Output" option in the settings -- as evidenced by this image courtesy of VG247. Still no word of an exact release date for the firmware, unfortunately, although it should be out sometime this summer. [Thanks, Richard]
PS3 Firmware 3.15 becomes mandatory, fixes minor Trophy glitch
Many readers have been sending tips to Joystiq about a new PS3 firmware update. In actuality, this is not a new update at all. Firmware 3.15 was released on December 9th and introduced the ability to play PSP Minis on the PS3. While this update was originally optional, the powers-that-be at Sony are now making it a mandatory update. "We have found out that users will not be able to acquire trophies on some game titles," we were told by a SCEE representative. "Users can avoid this problem by updating the PS3 system to firmware 3.15 and therefore we've made it a mandatory update. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate for your understanding and continued support." If you haven't updated your PS3 yet, make sure to allocate some time before attempting to jump online to install this mandatory update. You don't want to be late to your MW2 party, do you? [ProTip: Save yourself some time by downloading the update now on a USB flash drive.]
PSA: PS3 Firmware Update 3.15 available now
Looking to try out that PSP Mini on your preposterously sized high definition television? Though we can't promise the results will be particularly gorgeous, we're pleased to announce that the option is now available to you. Sony just launched PS3 Firmware Update 3.15, which allows you to play PSP Minis on your decidedly un-Mini console. In addition, the patch makes it easier to transfer files between PS3s using only a LAN cable. Read here to learn more about this functionality, and simply go to the System Update option on the XMB to get the patch!
PSP Minis playable on PS3 with firmware update 3.15
PS3 is getting yet another firmware update -- this time optional -- "very soon" according to a post on the European PlayStation.Blog. The pre-Christmas update brings a feature we reported on earlier: support for PSP Minis on the PS3. Like PSone classics, a single purchase from the PlayStation Store will work on both platforms. If you've bought a Mini and want to play it on your PS3, you'll be able to access it from the Store's archived Download List. In addition to adding Minis support, update 3.15 will simplify the process of moving data from one PS3 to another. For example, if you own both a PS3 Phat and Slim, you'll be able to connect the two systems via a LAN cable and transfer data from one system to the next. For more details on how to do just that, visit the PlayStation.Blog.
PSA: PS3 firmware 3.10 now available
As promised, firmware 3.10 is now available to download for your PS3. Navigate to System Update from the XMB to download this update. Included in this package:System changes Added the ability to access some Facebook features from the XMB. The [Friends] list has been redesigned. The user is now able to change the color of their [Profile]. Media changes Expanded [Photo] folders and playlists are now displayed in a grid, rather than a list. Added various TV website shortcuts for users in Europe under [TV]. (For more details, visit PlayStation.Blog.Europe) We'll be testing the Facebook integration later tonight. Stay tuned.[Thanks, Levi!]
Rumor: Sony leaks screens of next PS3 firmware, Facebook integration
Click to enlarge Earlier today, website Scrawl stumbled upon what appears to be an unintentional first glimpse at a major PS3 firmware update. The somewhat tiny images Scrawl found buried, yet publicly accessible on Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's website, seem to hint at native Facebook integration on the console, along with the ability to change "gamer card" colors (as if the current friends list wasn't obnoxious enough) and view thumbnails of photos in a grid layout.The images are still up as of this posting, but we'd imagine Sony will be pulling them before too long -- legit or not. After all, these could simply be mock-ups of design ideas meant for internal eyes only, just ... bungled. The one element that isn't design-related, the Facebook settings subsection of User Accounts, has us thinking there's a higher than average chance these aren't simple mock-ups, but rather the result on a Sony slip-up. We contacted SCEE regarding the images and were told by a spokesperson that the company "doesn't comment on rumor or speculation."[Thanks Alex!]
