183 replies to this topic

[GTA3Fan]

Mike if you could Pin this.


4/20/2007

Version 1.60 was released. Here are the full specs.



Featured Content
Folding@home connectivity, background downloading of content from the PLAYSTATION®Store, support for Bluetooth® keyboards and mice, and an optional full QWERTY on-screen keyboard for text entry.

Folding@home

The Folding@home project allows PS3 owners to connect to Stanford University’s Folding@home program, a distributed computing project aimed at understanding protein folding, misfolding, and related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and many cancers. Using the power of the Cell Broadband Engine™, PS3 system can perform computer simulations for the Folding@home program ten times faster than your average home PC. Once PS3 system is updated to version 1.60, users can easily sign up to join the Folding@home program by clicking on the appropriate logo on the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) under the Network icon. Then, when the PS3 system is left on and reaches idle mode, it will automatically begin a simulation and, once completed, send information back to a central computer. Additional details about Folding@home are available at http://www.scei.co.jp/folding/en/.

Enhanced Downloading

Firmware Version 1.60 also delivers a more convenient process for downloading content to the PS3 from the PLAYSTATION Store. Up to 6 pieces of content from the PlayStation store can be queued up for download while the user enjoys other functions of the PS3 system, including playing games, browsing the web, using media functions including photo browsing, video and music playback. Progress of downloads can be easily tracked under a new Download Management menu under the XMB’s Network icon.
A background download will be temporarily stopped when any of the following operations are performed. The download will be restarted automatically once the operation has completed.

When playing a Blu-ray Disc or DVD
When using network features of online games *
When starting PlayStation®2 format software
When starting  (Folding@homeâ„¢)
When using voice / video chat
When performing a system update
When adjusting setting items under  (Settings)

Remote Play by way of the access point

This feature, enabling you to access photos, videos, andmusic on your PS3 system's hard drive from a nearby PSP® (PlayStation®Portable), will be available for the 20GB configuration, when utilizing an external Wi-Fi router or local wireless access point.

Bluetooth keyboard and mouse support / Full size keyboard

Support for keyboards and mice enabled with Bluetooth wireless technology has been added. Text entry is further expanded with the option to use a full QWERTY on-screen keyboard, in addition to the existing single tap keyboard. PS3’s built-in Web browser is also enhanced with the ability to zoom in to the optimal viewing size for the selected area of a Web page at the press of a button, as well as an optional tool for reducing flicker when the PS3 system is using interlaced video out (480i or 1080i).

Disc Auto-Start

This new option under System Settings allows you to choose whether or not a disc should start automatically upon inserting the disc or turning on your PS3 system.

Blu-ray Disc Rewriteable (BD-RE) Support

PS3 system can now playback BD-RE discs (version 3.0).

Other new or revised features in version 1.60:

Overall

The PS3â„¢ system can now automatically detect an HDMI connection to a TV. If the PS3â„¢ system is turned on with an HDMI cable connected, the screen for switching video output settings will be displayed automatically.*
* Does not function unless the TV that is connected by the HDMI cable is turned on.

Settings
Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, Swedish, Chinese (Simplified) and Chinese (Traditional) have been added as options in [System Language] under [System Settings].
You can now select the character set to be used for file names under [System Settings] > [Character Set].
[Enable WMA Playback] has been added as an option under [System Settings].
[Disc Auto-Start] has been added as an option under [System Settings].
You can now restore backed up data to another PS3â„¢ system under [System Settings] > [Backup Utility].
You can now register a keyboard and a mouse under [Accessory Settings] > [Register Bluetooth® Device].
[Remote Play Settings] has been added as an option.

Music
Support for playback of DSD (Direct Stream Digital) discs has been added. *
* These discs are music discs created using SonicStage Mastering Studio Version 2.1 or later or DSD Direct Version 2.0 or later (both Sony products, sold separately).

Video
Motion JPEG and AVCHD (.m2ts) have been added as playable formats.

Network
[Download Management] has been added as a feature.

Friends
[Start New Chat] has been added as an option.

Edited by GTA3Fan, 29 April 2007 - 04:49 PM.

[Edgeworth]

Pinned. You like your PS3 then?

[Sean]

I seen the graphics on one of them today while I was out shopping... I don't really play games any more but I thought it might be worth a gander. I'll buy one when Grand Theft Auto is out on it

The graphics are amazing. I actually thought they were showing a movie until I took a second glance

Edited by Sean, 30 April 2007 - 08:34 PM.

[Edgeworth]

I'll buy one when Grand Theft Auto is out on it

Or you could get it for the 360 and save yourself about £100.

[GTA3Fan]

This is a week old but its still new.



PLAYSTATION®Eye Brings Next-Generation Communication to PLAYSTATION®3

Intelligent Camera and Noise-Cancelling Microphone in One Sleek Package Offering Expands Gaming and Communication Options
FOSTER CITY, Calif., April 26, 2007 – Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced the arrival of the next-generation PLAYSTATION®Eye camera. Scheduled for a Summer release, PLAYSTATION Eye is an essential accessory for voice, video chat and online gaming that will enable gamers to enjoy their PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) Computer Entertainment System experiences like never before.

Designed specifically for PS3 and featuring huge advances in USB camera and microphone technology, PLAYSTATION Eye is set to revolutionize the experience of both interactive gaming and online communication on the PLAYSTATION®Network. Expanding on the market-leading heritage of EyeToy® USB camera for PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the sophistication of PLAYSTATION Eye naturally complements the advanced features and capabilities of PS3 – all in one intelligently designed, unobtrusive unit.

Designed specifically to work with the next generation of social gaming titles and new services being developed for PS3, key features of the PLAYSTATION Eye include:

A sophisticated microphone with the ability to reduce background noise and focus on spoken word for smoother, more accurate speech recognition
Engineered to perform in low-light conditions
Faster frame rate for improved tracking, responsiveness and smoothness
Two position zoom lens for close-up and full body options
Free EyeCreateâ„¢ editing software, which allows users to save, edit and add cool visual effects to photos, video and audio clips
EyeCreate also enables user to capture videos and audio clips directly to your PS3’s hard disk drive and access a range of different capturing modes, including slow
motion and time-lapse.
“With the release of PLAYSTATION Eye we will be able to dramatically enhance the consumer’s PS3 experience,� said Richard Marks, research and development at Sony Computer Entertainment America. “Beyond audio/video chat and the ability to save videos to your PS3 hard drive, PLAYSTATION Eye opens up a whole new world of entertainment options and adds a new dimensions to games across multiple genres.�

EyeCreate software

The free EyeCreate editing software, allows you to save photos, video and audio clips to your PS3 hard disk drive and apply eye-catching visual effects to your images. Different
capture modes like time-lapse and slow motion open up a world of possibilities to be explored further in EyeCreate’s editing suite, where you can turn your media into professional-looking movies.

New microphone functions

An all-new four microphone array, incorporating multidirectional voice location tracking, enhanced echo cancelling and background noise suppression allows for clear audio chat in even the most noisy of environments, without the need to hold or wear a headset.

Next-generation camera features

A frame rate of up to 120 frames per second allows for super-smooth video and sophisticated low-light operation means that the room doesn’t have to be brightly lit for the camera to deliver crisp, perfectly exposed video. The adjustable zoom lens features a 56º field of view to capture head and shoulders action for close-in audio-visual chat, and a 75º field of view to capture the whole body for a fully physical gaming experience.

Technical Specifications:

4 channel audio input:16 bits/channel, 48kHz, SNR 90db
56º or 75º Field of View zoom lens
2.1 F-stop, <1% distortion, fixed focus (25cm to 8 at 75º FOV)
640 x 480 at 60 frames/second
320 x 240 at 120 frames/second
USB2 high-speed data transfer
Uncompressed video or optional JPEG compression





PLAYSTATION3 Users Significantly Contribute to the Folding@Homeâ„¢ Program, Making it One of the Most Powerful Distributed Computing Networks in the World

TOKYO and FOSTER CITY, Calif., April 26, 2007 – Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced that great progress has been made in the one month since PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment systems became part of Stanford University’s Folding@home™ program, a distributed computing project aimed at understanding protein folding, misfolding and related diseases. Since the program launched in March, participation by the PS3 user community has been phenomenal, providing Folding@home with immense computing power that is helping to fast forward its research. Furthermore, thanks to PS3’s powerful Cell Broadband Engine™ (Cell/B.E.), the Folding@home program has become one of the most powerful distributed computing networks in the world and is quickly approaching a level of
computing power that is of historical proportions.

Exhibiting its continued commitment to the program, SCE also announced that it is providing a Folding@home application update that will further enhance the user experience. The updated software features an improvement in folding calculation speeds, increased visibility of user location (*1) on the globe and the ability for users to create longer donor or team names.

“The PS3 turnout has been amazing, greatly exceeding our expectations and allowing us to push our work dramatically forward,� said Vijay Pande, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Stanford University and Folding@home program lead.“Thanks to PS3, we have performed simulations in the first few weeks that would normally take us more than a year to calculate. We are now gearing up for new simulations that will continue our current studies of Alzheimer’s and other diseases.�

Some of the key accomplishments made since the Folding@home program launched on PS3 include:

More than 250,000 unique PS3 users have registered to the program in just one month
PS3 users are delivering nearly 400 teraflops, achieving a total computing power of over 700 teraflops at a single moment. This is more than double the computing capacity of the network before PS3 joined the program (*2)
The “halo-effect� of PS3 has been evident as the number of active PCs has increased by 20 percent in the last month
“We continue to be thrilled with the ongoing contributions of the PS3 user community in helping the Folding@home program study the causes of many different diseases that afflict our society,� said Masayuki Chatani, Corporate Executive and CTO Computer, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. “As we move forward, we are issuing a call to action for all PS3 owners around the world to download the Folding@home application and help this cause. These PS3 fans can also be part of history as the Folding@home distributed computing program inches closer to achieving a petaflop – a measure of computing power that has never before been reached.�

PS3 users can download a new updated version of the application (v1.1) by restarting the Folding@home application. New Folding@home users can join the program by simply clicking on the Folding@home icon within the Network menu of the XMBâ„¢ (XrossMediaBar) or can optionally set the application to run automatically whenever the PS3 is idle (*3).

Starting with Folding@home, SCE will continue to support distributed computing projects in a wide variety of academic fields such as medical and social sciences and environmental studies through the use of PS3 and hopes to contribute to the advancement of science.

About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation® and PS one® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and the ground-breaking PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and develops, publishes, markets, and distributes software for the PS one game console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the PSP system and the PS3 system for the North American market.  Based in Foster City, Calif. Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. serves as headquarters for all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

(*1) User location by IP address.
(*2) Based on Stanford University’s Folding@home internal data, collected at the end of April.
(*3) To run the application automatically in idle state, PS3 must be connected to the network with both the main power
switch and power button turned on. Option setting must also be changed as this automatic feature is off at default.

[GTA3Fan]

Just came across this, I'm sure some have seen this but I don't have a PS3 so its really neat.  So you think that Xbox Live is cool, lets see if Microsoft can top this.  PS3 Home

[Sean]

I'll buy one when Grand Theft Auto is out on it

Or you could get it for the 360 and save yourself about £100.

I've always been a Playstation man It's all about the PS3 for GTA.

[GTA3Fan]

Yup I agree with you there, Platstation is still my favorite console. And there is no comparison to GTA on the PS3 vs. the 360. Of course everyonr knows the PS3 version is going to have alot more stuff in it, or just more features, because of the additional 20GB the Blu-Ray has ove the HD DVD of the 360. MWAHAHAHA  

[Edgeworth]

Yup I agree with you there, Platstation is still my favorite console. And there is no comparison to GTA on the PS3 vs. the 360. Of course everyonr knows the PS3 version is going to have alot more stuff in it, or just more features, because of the additional 20GB the Blu-Ray has ove the HD DVD of the 360. MWAHAHAHA  

Not strictly true. Yeah, the PS3 has Blu-ray vs the 360s DVDs (HD-DVD isnt used for games, only for films) but it doesnt mean it'll have any more features. From experience we know multiformat releases are usally much the same. Although this might be of interest to you though, LINK. It would seem that Microsoft have already secured exclusive features fot the 360 version.
As for another multiformat release, take Oblivion for example, the only difference is that they included some of the expansions for the PS3 version. It still hasnt solved the pop up issue, or the occasional slowdown.
   Also, devil may cry 4 is also going to the 360, and it looks exactly the same as the ps3 version.
   Interestingly, according to IGN the framerate for Spiderman 3 is actually better on the 360.

  I'll get a PS3 eventually, but only if they can hang on to the last 2 exclusives that interest me. Final Fantasy XIII and Metal gear sold 4.

Edited by Elven, 07 May 2007 - 11:45 AM.

[GTA3Fan]

Well I can say at least they are going to hold onto SOCOM and Gran Turismo, but it would be nice to have MGS and FF as Playstation exclusives also. After looking at the article you supplied I noticed this one.LINK, Not saying anything is wrong with it or anything, there is that point too. Plus I dont want to start up a big argument over pitty things like this, we both agree that either one is fine, right? It just personal opion.  ::cough:: Playstation ::cough::  

[Edgeworth]

I'm dont want to argue either, just pointing out a couple of things.

Oh, and from the same article that you posted the link to....

The difficulties aren't limited to working on Microsoft's box, as Houser explains that "both have enormous challenges" and that "both have their own particular pleasures and pains

[GTA3Fan]

NEW UPDATE (NOW WITH PICS!!!!), Version 1.80  


The PLAYSTATION®3 system software version 1.80 update includes the following:


Upscaling game or DVD output



You can now upscale the video content of PlayStation® format software, PlayStation®2 format software, and DVDs to HD resolution. > See Details



Copying saved data to a memory card



You can now copy saved data from PlayStation® format software and PlayStation®2 format software to a memory card or a memory card (8MB) (for PlayStation®2). > See Details



Using the DLNA client feature



You can now display images or play music or video files that are stored on a personal computer or digital video recorder with DLNA Media Server functionality over a network.> See Details



Printing Images



You can now connect a USB printer to print images.> See Details



Using remote play outside the home (via the Internet)
You can now use remote play over the Internet.> See Details


Other new or revised features in version 1.80:


Settings

• [BD 1080p 24 Hz Output (HDMI)] has been added as an option under [BD/DVD Settings].
• [RGB Full Range (HDMI)] has been added as an option under [Display Settings].
• [Y Pb/Cb Pr/Cr Super-White (HDMI)] has been added as an option under [Display Settings].
• [Bitmapping (Super Audio CD)] has been added as an option under [Music Settings].
• The [Test Camera] option under [Accessory Settings] has been changed to [Camera Device Settings].
• [Printer Settings] has been added.
• [Media Server Connection] has been added as an option under [Network Settings]

Music

• You can now edit CD information.

Photo

• A new type of slideshow display pattern has been added.
• You can now use zoom display for images.
• You can now trim images.

Video

• Super-White and x.v.Color output are now supported.
• Downscaled output of Blu-ray Discs is now supported. When 720p is selected as the video output setting of the PS3â„¢ system, Blu-ray Discs that were recorded in 1080p or 1080i resolution can be played in 720p resolution.

Game

• You can now move copy-prohibited saved data for PlayStation® format software and PlayStation®2 format software to a PS3â„¢ system.

Network

• The options menu items under [Download Management] have been changed.

Friends

• [Display Photo] has been added to the voice / video chat options menu.

[Aureole]

Resistance 2 was just announced, they call it Resistance 2 : Fall of Sony, it looks decent but I'd rather play Halo 3.

Sorry I'm a 360 owner/Halo lover, it just had to be said.

[Edgeworth]

Resistance 2 was just announced, they call it Resistance 2 : Fall of Sony

  

Made me chuckle.

[GTA3Fan]

There has been a new release (1.81) it only has 2 little things (That I could see)

Settings

• The method of setting [RGB Full Range (HDMI)] under [Display Settings] has been improved

Other

• New for 1.81: The stability of the network connection used during gameplay has been improved for some PlayStation®2 format software titles that support online gaming

So stayed tuned for more updates

[GTA3Fan]

New Update (1.92)

Sorry I was late on the 1.90 update, So I added in the ones for both.



Customizing wallpaper (Theme Settings)

You can now display an image as the background of XMBâ„¢ (XrossMediaBar).


Using emoticons

You can now use emoticons when creating messages under [Friends].


Entering text in the Internet browser

You can now enter text directly into text entry fields of Web pages using a USB keyboard.


Upsampling audio CD output

Upsampled output of audio CDs is now supported.




Other new or revised features in version 1.92 (with 1.90):


Settings

• [44.1/88.2/176.4 kHz] has been added as an option in [Audio CD Output Frequency] under [Music Settings].
• [Type 2] has been added as an option in [Bitmapping] under [Music Settings].
• [On] has been added as an option in [BD 1080p 24 Hz Output (HDMI)] under [BD/DVD Settings].

Video

• The [Image Quality Adjustment] option in the control panel has been changed to [AV Settings].
• You can now play AVCHD-format video files that are saved on Memory Stickâ„¢ media or on the hard disk of a video camera.
• You can now operate the (Slow (Back)) and (Frame Reverse) functions when playing video files saved on storage media or on the hard disk.

Game

• New for 1.92: Playability status with the PS3â„¢ system has changed for some PlayStation®2 format titles. To check on the latest status, visit the search site for compatible titles (coming soon).
• You can now adjust screen display settings while playing PlayStation® and PlayStation®2 format software.
• You can now sort games that are saved on the hard disk.

Network

• [Add to Bookmarks] has been added as an option in the [File] menu of the Internet browser.

Friends

• When an avatar is displayed during a voice / video chat, the avatar now moves in response to audio.
• Overall
• [Eject Disc] has been added in the options menu for discs.
• You can now select [Group Content] when changing a file or folder icon.

[GTA3Fan]

There has been another small update (1.93)

This update fixes the issues that 1.92 caused with the network.

[Iced]

I can't wait for HOME to come out i think it will come out when 2.0 firmware is released

[Edgeworth]

PS3 has had a price cut. New £299 model avaliable in Britain with a smaller hard drive and no backwards compatability. The regular model is still avaliable for around £350.

  Does this tempt anyone to get one now? Personally there still arent enough games that catch my attention.

[Martin]

I bought my PS3 a week before the price cut. That was kind of sad, but you wont get no where in life if you go aound and waiting for a product to fall in price.
"Naah, I wont buy it, it may fall in price in summer 2009".