PS3 2.50FW details

ongarite

Official details out now on the upcoming 2.50FW. Looks good IMO, some nice additions.

Support for the PS3 Official Bluetooth Headset - we’ve told you about the upcoming Bluetooth Headset and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation Bundle on the Blog. This latest firmware installment enables High-Quality (HQ) mode, which delivers clear and wide-band online voice chat. On top of that, an added on-screen indicator shows battery status, volume level and use of HQ mode.

PlayStation Trophies interface enhancements - I know that many of you are busy collecting trophies and raising your PlayStation Trophy level. This update makes sharing and comparing your trophies with your friends even easier. On 1st part of the profile page you’ll see a symbol under level that represents level and the actual percentage towards the next level along with the existing level meter. The level symbol carries over to the trophy comparison screen where you will now be able to see your level, your friend’s level and the percentage towards the next level for both users along with all of the game by game comparison information you see today.

Friend status – Offline friends on your Friends list will have information below their avatars that will indicate how long it has been since they were last online.

Video – This update adds the Scene Search feature similar to the feature on the PSP. Activating this feature while viewing a video on the PS3 will break the video up into scenes that you can quickly access by pressing the X button. You can break the videos into one, two or five minute intervals. In addition, you can now choose to have all of the videos under the video section of the XMB play in sequence. Go to Settings then Video Settings to turn this option on.

PlayStation Store – We’ve added a redeem codes option right on the store to make it easier to redeem your PlayStation Network Cards and promotion codes. In addition, PlayStation Network Sign Up and Account Management have been redesigned.

Power Save Settings – You can now set your PS3 and wireless controllers to turn off automatically after set periods of inactivity. Go to Settings then Power Save Settings to turn on these features.

Background Downloading - You now have the option to set the PS3 to turn off automatically after a background download or installation of content has completed. This option is available when you turn off the system from the button under [Users] while content is being downloaded or installed.

In-game Screenshots - this tool will allow everyone to capture, share and in other words, immortalize their favorite gameplay moments. This will be supported on a game by game basis. Please check back to find out which games will support this feature.

whiterebel

Sounds lie a lot of genuinely useful stuff there.

L31mr0d

finally... I'm most interested in the power save option. I tend to pause my games then get distracted with something on the TV or internet and come back to them later, only to find my controller has died on me. I have 2 controllers but only 1 of them has rumble which I like to use.

I couldn't understand before why they didn't have this feature as standard. Most other wireless devices have a built in time limit of inactivity before they power down.

Nick_oliveri

Wonder will these screenshots go over to the external or USB stick.

Polar101

I'm quite happy with the option to turn off the ps3 after a background download has finished. Now I leave it running for the night, and then in the morning I wonder if it has actually downloaded anything, or if it's still in progress..

Vendetta

Im glad they finally implemented these features. I just hope they will fix the microphone issues in some games like Bad Company with the new official headset and firmware.

Kintarō Hattori

Hmnn the only things I can see being useful there are the Power Save and Downloading features, not too bothered about the rest.

Niall0

some nice stuff there , when is this out?

steviec

The screenshot feature will be a perfect match for Little Big Planet, great for showing people youre levels so hopefully it's compatible.

ongarite

Out late tonight, tomorrow.

rizzla

steviec wrote: »

The screenshot feature will be a perfect match for Little Big Planet, great for showing people youre levels so hopefully it's compatible.

Why not just upload the level and let people play it?

The next step on from screen capture in game footage would be video capture, that would be awesome.

ongarite

rizzla wrote: »

The next step on from screen capture in game footage would be video capture, that would be awesome.

They already have that feature in FW. Only works with games that support it like Pixlejunk Eden.

Kev_ps3

ongarite wrote: »

Out late tonight, tomorrow.

Where did u hear that? I heard later this month.

311

I keep getting disconnected every twenty minutes ,I hope this update sorts things out.

Otacon

I read on Eurogamer that this FW upgrade will also allow Flash 9 support. Can't get the link cos I am at work [restricted sites]. Can anyone confirm?

ongarite

Yes it true. In an official press release from SCEE also.

Other new features delivered through PS3 2.50 will include:
• Video – Video scene search functionality will provide thumbnails to help you find a particular scene in a video more easily.
• Information Board – The Information Board will be able to include direct links to PlayStation Store, making it easier for PS3 owners to download content that they read about on the Information Board.
• Power save – PS3 owners will have the option to automatically shut-off their console or controllers after pre-selected periods of inactivity.
• Flash 9 content becomes supported on the Internet Browser.

Creamy Goodness

still need a screen saver for those with plasma tv's.

ongarite

Cremo wrote: »

still need a screen saver for those with plasma tv's.

Why? I have Plasma and have never had any retention issues. The display dims after user set time and percentage dim also.

Creamy Goodness

ongarite wrote: »

Why? I have Plasma and have never had any retention issues. The display dims after user set time and percentage dim also.

yes but the image displayed is static, which can lead to screen burn in older plasma tv's.

it's a nice feature, easy to code and it's on pretty much every sony dvd player that i have seen doesn't make sense not to have one tbh.

Riesen_Meal

Flash 9 support, thank god for small mercies!

Now I may go get my PS3 out of the boot of my car!

311

Cremo wrote: »

yes but the image displayed is static, which can lead to screen burn in older plasma tv's.

it's a nice feature, easy to code and it's on pretty much every sony dvd player that i have seen doesn't make sense not to have one tbh.

The only problem ,I might have had with my plasma is with my DVD player.
Occasionally I might fall asleep near the end of a movie and the dvd player will go back to the menu screen.
Because the menu screens are a loop ,the tv gets a signal and keeps showing a brightly coloured menu:eek:

The ps3 always sorts out the tv ,or the tv doesn't get a signal so uses it's own saver.

ongarite

Oh yeah just another heads up.
PSN is down tonight from 8pm till 2am in preparation for the new FW and new backend features.

Kintarō Hattori

ongarite wrote: »

Oh yeah just another heads up.
PSN is down tonight from 8pm till 2am in preparation for the new FW and new backend features.

OOh what backend features are these?

byte

An interesting update. Look forward to it.

DrEvil

The changes to the PSN and the store are probably more to do with the new firmware v5.0 for the PSP. The PSN will be accessible for the first time on it.

ShaneU

It's out now.

dcukhunter

ShaneU wrote: »

It's out now.

cool will download when I get home.

311

My network errors are gone now:)

The sound is perfect now when talking to people ,faster friends list recall aswell.
Seems like a nice tidy update so far.

Stuxnet

2.5 out now, includes all the above mentioned features

ongarite

Nice update. Controller turns off after 10 minutes, PS3 can turn off after 1-5 hours of inactivity (including games, videos if you want).
New PSN store & especially Account Management are a massive improvement.

Qs

Is this giving anyone else trouble with divx playback on a CRT TV?

Dickmcsavage

Yeah I'm having problems too. Seems my vids are now in black and white as if they are being played in NTFC or something.

RangeR

Dickmcsavage wrote: »

Yeah I'm having problems too. Seems my vids are now in black and white as if they are being played in NTFC or something.

Confirmed. Me to.

ongarite

There is a new setting in Video Settings to do with 50Hz playback. Try changing that setting and see what happens.

RangeR

ongarite wrote: »

There is a new setting in Video Settings to do with 50Hz playback. Try changing that setting and see what happens.

Does nothing for the colour.

Dickmcsavage

^ Yeah true. I've been trying a few things but with no luck. Hopefully a solution becomes available soon cause this is pretty annoying.

Qs

Exact same problem I'm having. Can't figure out any settings to fix the problem.

I assume this isn't causing any problems on new HD TVs.

Kintarō Hattori

Qs wrote: »

Exact same problem I'm having. Can't figure out any settings to fix the problem.

I assume this isn't causing any problems on new HD TVs.

Heh heh maybe it's a ploy by Sony to push you lot into buying HDTV's! :eek:

Nick_oliveri

Sounds gay, not updating. I have no xbox for divx so the PS3 will have to stay at its current firmware. First they giveth then they taketh aweh.

This firmware has supposedly blocked the java Blu Ray exploit.http://ps3.qj.net/BD-J-homebrew-blocked-in-PS3-FW-2-50/pg/49/aid/124951

ongarite

These black and white TV issues wouldn't happen to be of a type that an american cousin would send you recorded at 24Hz/FPS.
The issue seems to be with 24Hz to 50/60Hz conversion of video. If you have a PAL video recorded at 25Hz, it'll play fine but if its NTSC 24Hz video, PS3 will now automatically use NTSC 60HZ resolution which your SDTV may not support (which mainfests itself as B&W picture)

ongarite

Anyone with these B&W video issues; are you using the composite to scart adapter cable that comes with PS3 or a true RGB scart cable?
If you have a full 21-pin RGB scart cable this should clear the B&W video issue.

L31mr0d

don't know if this is just me but after updating I went in to my trophy manager in the games section and none of my SS HD trophies where showing up. But when I compared my trophies to a friend they where showing up again.

I went into SS HD and completed one trophy then when I came out again all of my trophies had been restored?

Also, I noticed that when I left a game last night that the sound in the manager (the clicking noise when switching between options) had disabled itself.

Seems like a pretty buggy update imo.

Chumpski

Qs wrote:

Is this giving anyone else trouble with divx playback on a CRT TV?

FFS, won't be updating so!

Holsten

Downloading it now, some nice updates indeed.

Ps3 getting better and better.

JoeyJJ

Chumpski wrote: »

FFS, won't be updating so!

I couldn't logon to PSN without downloading it...

Dirk_Diggler

Anyone having trouble with the playstation store?

JoeyJJ

Yip getting an error..

ongarite

Yes, its down for maintenance again.

Dirk_Diggler

How long does it normally take?

Nick_oliveri

Anyone get the renewed T&C's mail this morning? I ****ing hate bureaucracies!!!

Chumpski

JoeyJJ wrote:

I couldn't logon to PSN without downloading it...

Damn! I didn't think of that but its to be expected with so many backend updates.

Can anyone confirm if using the full 21 pin scart lead clears up the issue? I only use the standard connection for my SDTV.