Firmware 2.0?

[Lenny]

I've probably said something similar in an old thread, but I'm going to say it again.

Sony have three stages of updates:

0.01 increment - fairly minor. Maybe a fix for a setting that doesn't work fully.

0.10 increment - a couple of features. An extra item on a menu (Blu-ray settings under System, for example)

1.00 increment - MAJOR. Lots of new features, big changes to this, that and t'other.

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The last firmware update was 1.93 in the middle of September. In March, when the PS3 was released in Europe, Firmware 1.61 was released. On the 30th October, it is rumoured that Sony will release Firmware 2.0.

And just look at what's to be expected!

- Users

* You can now password-protect user accounts.

- Settings

* [Dynamic Normalizer] has been added as an option under [Sound Settings].
* [Energy Saver] has been added as an option.
* [Equalizer] has been added as a feature under [Music Settings].
* [Full] has been added as an option for [DVD Wide Display] under [BD / DVD Settings].
* [Photo Settings] has been added as an option.
* [PS/PS2 Settings] has been added as an option.
* [RSS Channel Settings] has been added as an option.
* [Sample Rate] has been added to [Audio CD Import] under [Music Settings].
* [Screen Saver] has been expanded under [Display Settings].
* The method of selecting an output resolution has been changed in [Video Output Settings] under [Display Settings].
* [Theme Settings] has been added as an option.
* [Zero Unused Disk Space] has been added as an option under [System Settings] > [Format Utility].

- Photo

* Additional slideshows have been added.
* [Photo Effects] have been added as a feature.
* Wallpaper feature has been added.
* [Zoom] has been added as a feature.

- Music

* Additional visualizations have been added.
* CD information can now be entered.
* Three-speed fast forward and fast reverse has been added as a feature.

- Video

* Files can now be played sequentially.
* Three-speed fast forward and fast reverse has been added as a feature.
* You can now select [Zoom] under [Screen Mode] when playing video files saved on the hard disk or storage media.
*An appropriate USB adapter (not included) is required to use storage media with some models.

- Game

* Support for PlayStation 3 format software titles has been expanded (PS3 will support more PS3 titles? An engineering marvel!)
* XMB (XrossMediaBar) is now accessible during gameplay.
- Network

* [RSS Channel] has been added as a feature.

- Friends

* You can now have multiple chat sessions.
* You can now select an image to use as your Avatar from [Photo].

- Other

* Date & Time is now shown when the PS button is pressed.
* File sorting has been changed.
* [Help] has been added as a feature.
* Playability status with the PS3 system has changed for some PlayStation and PlayStation 2 format titles.
* [Secure Delete] has been added as an option.
* Some PlayStation Network features have been revised.

Not to be sniffed at, I tell thee that for nowt.

http://www.psu.com/PS3-firmware-update-20-dated-News--a0001519-p0.php

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The reason the date October 30th is widely predicted, is because from the 1st November, all Blu-ray players from that date will ship with the latest firmware (and all current ones will download it), Profile 1.1, to allow interactivity with Blu-ray films. This is supposed to be included in the 2.0 update, too.

http://www.psu.com/PS3-firmware-update-to-boost-Blu-ray-interactivity-News--a0001518-p0.php

Whatever the date, 2.0 has been coming for a long time, and it's been predicted for the September-November time period, so we should get it soon!

[WetWired]

I got a PSN usage agreement change notice in the e-mail just recently; not sure if it's related to new features with the firmware, but I think it said it would be 60 days untill it goes into effect.

[Lenny]

That's interesting.

Was there anything about sticking to your own regional store - ie, Americans to American, Europeans to Europe and what not?

I wonder what's happening in 60 days, then. Maybe Sony will be redesigning bits and bobs (possibly the store, too).

[Lenny]

And a quick update about this, no oun intended:

http://www.thesixthaxis.com/fw_200__two_weeks_away_news_387_tsa.aspx

The latest blog (http://threespeech.com/blog/?p=685) on ThreeSpeech has a list of all the PSN goodies coming our way for the remainder of the year, a list we've seen before here on TSA, but is now clearly missing Wipeout HD, although there does appear to be a trailer there.

Anyway, aside from that, within the comments is a reply to someone asking when the next firmware will be, and the representative from ThreeSpeech says there'll be something on that tomorrow, and the release will be within the next two weeks.

http://www.thesixthaxis.com/images/uploads/44.jpg

[Lenny]

It's being released tomorrow (8th November).

I haven't a clue about the majority of the rumoured list I posted, but I can say that there is no in-game XMB. However, it is in the works.

One interesting thing about 2.0 is the ability to customise the XMB:

http://www.ps3fanboy.com/gallery/ps3-firmware-2-00/477300/ (http://www.ps3fanboy.com/gallery/ps3-firmware-2-00/477300/)


What has been confirmed, though:


the update will allow PS3 owners to remotely turn on or off their console by using the PSP, in addition to enhancing user customisation for the system.

Gamers will now be able to create personalised photo and music playlists, as well as customize the Cross Media Bar (XMB) menu by applying custom themes or adjusting the setting.

Furthermore, the update will also introduce an information board to the XMB to channel all the latest PlayStation-related news to users, as well as offering a new PlayStation Network category and logo to facilitate navigation. A security system, Trend Micro Web Security, will also be made available.


http://www.psu.com/Sony-reveals-Firmware-200-details-News--a0001803-p0.php (http://www.psu.com/Sony-reveals-Firmware-200-details-News--a0001803-p0.php)