PlayStation 3 Firmware Update 2.50 Detailed
Direct PSP access to PlayStation Store confirmed for US
Sony Computer Entertainment America has dished up some details for the next PS3 update, as well as confirming that direct access to the PlayStation store is coming soon for PSP owners over there.
First up, support for upcoming SCEA Bluetooth headset. We'll let Sony give you the meat - included will be options "such as an on-screen indicator that shows volume, battery charge, and mute functions, as well as a High Quality (HQ) mode, which utilizes advanced wireless technologies and the Headset's dual-microphone design to enable clear and wide-band wireless voice communication with PS3 system."
Also in there will be functionality that will enable PS3 users to grab screens in titles that support the mode then share them with the world. Expect details of which games soon...
The Trophy system is also getting a touch up. Sony states, "When players acquire a Trophy, the in-game notification will now include the specific Trophy icon created by the developer, while more intuitive options for comparing Trophies with friends have been added, including an icon to represent the Trophy level."
Other features include thumbnails for videos to make scene searching easier, direct linking from the information board to the PlayStation Store and power saving options to make your PS3 automatically shut down when it's been inactive for a while.
Aside from direct access to the PlayStation Store (which SPOnG told you about last week), PSP owners will get a new QWERTY on-screen keyboard to make web browsing easier and a sleep timer for music playback (which will turn the PSP off after a set amount of time). Also included will be increased video out functionality, of which Sony tells us, "The PSP-2000's video-out feature will be able to display classic PlayStation(R) format titles at the full-screen size of the TV that the PSP is connected to; the feature also will support interlace displays."
Sony isn't saying exactly when the updates are coming either in the States or over here, but don't expect them to take too long.
First up, support for upcoming SCEA Bluetooth headset. We'll let Sony give you the meat - included will be options "such as an on-screen indicator that shows volume, battery charge, and mute functions, as well as a High Quality (HQ) mode, which utilizes advanced wireless technologies and the Headset's dual-microphone design to enable clear and wide-band wireless voice communication with PS3 system."
Also in there will be functionality that will enable PS3 users to grab screens in titles that support the mode then share them with the world. Expect details of which games soon...
The Trophy system is also getting a touch up. Sony states, "When players acquire a Trophy, the in-game notification will now include the specific Trophy icon created by the developer, while more intuitive options for comparing Trophies with friends have been added, including an icon to represent the Trophy level."
Other features include thumbnails for videos to make scene searching easier, direct linking from the information board to the PlayStation Store and power saving options to make your PS3 automatically shut down when it's been inactive for a while.
Aside from direct access to the PlayStation Store (which SPOnG told you about last week), PSP owners will get a new QWERTY on-screen keyboard to make web browsing easier and a sleep timer for music playback (which will turn the PSP off after a set amount of time). Also included will be increased video out functionality, of which Sony tells us, "The PSP-2000's video-out feature will be able to display classic PlayStation(R) format titles at the full-screen size of the TV that the PSP is connected to; the feature also will support interlace displays."
Sony isn't saying exactly when the updates are coming either in the States or over here, but don't expect them to take too long.
Companies:
SCEA
Read More Like This
Comments
SuperSaiyan4 13 Oct 2008 15:46
1/5
I really think Sony should bring out a touch screen PSP, the iPod Touch is perfect for gaming as its touch screen as is the DS Lite.
Rutabaga 13 Oct 2008 15:57
2/5
I agree. In fact they should of had a touchscreen at launch as it would of negated the USP of the DS. Which would of led to inventive PSP games that weren't rehashes of old games.
more comments below our sponsor's message
PreciousRoi 13 Oct 2008 16:03
3/5
I think rehashing old games on the PSP was sort of the idea anyway wasn't it? They were planning on trading on the vast library of PS2 games and IP.
Rutabaga 13 Oct 2008 23:59
4/5
Most probably, but when a competitor is launching with something that you've not got. And when it wouldn't of been too much trouble to incorporate into it without compromising the design. It would seem that an obvious opportunity was missed.
Daz 14 Oct 2008 12:08
5/5
Rutabaga wrote:
Most probably, but when a competitor is launching with something that you've not got. And when it wouldn't of been too much trouble to incorporate into it without compromising the design. It would seem that an obvious opportunity was missed.
yeah then everyone could have been like "oh look Sony's copying again, how original"