PS3 Firmware v3.0 Detailed

[lost]

Sony has outlined and demonstrated some of the improvements you'll see to the XMB come the release of firmware v3.0.

* “What’s New” – The “Information Board” will be replaced with a “What’s New” section, which allows you to enjoy interactive PlayStation news every time you start the PS3 system. Located under the PlayStation Network icon, “What’s New” displays the latest and greatest game, video, PlayStation Network and PlayStation news and releases, as well as your recently played games, in a sleek, new animated format.
* Status Indicator – In the top right corner we’ve added an indicator bar, which displays your user icon, friend icon, the number of friends you have online and a small message icon to let you know if you have any new messages. The indicator also includes a scrolling ticker that features the latest news from PlayStation Network. In addition, when you press the PS button, the battery life indicator will no longer cover up the clock.
* Friends List – Now your PlayStation Network friends will appear in a slightly redesigned format on your Friends List. Also, messages will now be viewable from each of your friends’ respective profiles.
* PlayStation Store Shortcuts – We’ve added a handy shortcut icon to the PlayStation Store under both the Game and Video categories so you can access the latest content quickly and easily.
* Personalization – Personalize your PS3 with new dynamic custom themes and avatars. Dynamic themes as well as free and premium avatars will be available through PlayStation Store. A dynamic theme takes your screen to a whole new level as it incorporates animated objects into the background.
* Trophies – Showcasing your hard earned trophies just got better. Update 3.00 gives game developers the ability to modify how they display trophies for add-on content. Base and add-on game trophies will continue to be combined into a single list so you can see where you stand in a game as a whole. Within that list, trophies will be broken out into subcategories—base trophies and add-on trophies—that way, you can easily view the percentage of your base game trophy collection, and separately track your trophy progress in add-on packs. Look for this enhancement to be included in upcoming games.


More, including the demo video, at the PlayStation Blog. (http://blog.us.playstation.com/)

[wastedyears]

Too bad they didn't add the feature where they force users to play dress up with stupid little cartoon people.

[Franjo]

why is there no party system? lol. Looks like when firing up NHL my buddy and I will still use our 360's to chat.

[lost]

Too bad they didn't add the feature where they force users to play dress up with stupid little cartoon people.

Shit. I watched the demo video and found the changes pleasing - especially the new What's New being added to the best console dash. I forgot about the dollies though.

Dude, you just spoiled it for me.

[BlueBomber]

While it's a welcome update, I was certainly wishing for AT LEAST cross-game chat as well as a universal game invite solution...

I mean, it's a little underwhelming for a full version update.

[BlueBomber]

Bah, that video didn't even touch on the new friends list features. I have always been hoping for grouping capabilities, with custom notification options by group.

[Ph00p]

Awesome they made the upper right hand corner annoying and they've added ads for their psn games all in the XMB guess 360 isn't the only thing that is cluttered. LOL at their catchup game. Pretty dull useless XMB cluttering update, WAY TO GO SONY WOO!

[lost]

Awesome they made the upper right hand corner annoying and they've added ads for their psn games all in the XMB guess 360 isn't the only thing that is cluttered. LOL at their catchup game. Pretty dull useless XMB cluttering update, WAY TO GO SONY WOO!

Troll.

There has been a scrolling message bar for some time. The ads are neatly displayed and hidden when you look elsewhere and even adding the time to the XMB is a useful update people have been hassling for.

An aside from responding to this post the store integration is interesting. I really think they need to shift to more regular updates rather than just weekly. The LBP theme was awesome.

[DeluxE]

Shit. I watched the demo video and found the changes pleasing - especially the new What's New being added to the best console dash. I forgot about the dollies though.

Dude, you just spoiled it for me.

Guess you missed the part where they mention "Dynamic themes as well as free and premium avatars" under personalization, huh?

So... just like XBOX Live! you'll have lots of oppertunities to play with, (and pay for), dollies.

There. Unspoiled it for ya!;)

[lost]

See I found that bit a little weird given that they have premium themes, some of which are animated.

The new feature is 'more animation' as far as I can tell. Avatars are just gamerpics - weirdo beardo.

[Ph00p]

Troll.

There has been a scrolling message bar for some time. The ads are neatly displayed and hidden when you look elsewhere and even adding the time to the XMB is a useful update people have been hassling for.

An aside from responding to this post the store integration is interesting. I really think they need to shift to more regular updates rather than just weekly. The LBP theme was awesome.

Ah good call! You didn't notice that the annoying bar can be TURNED OFF although this scrolling info you probably won't be able to stop. Sony had a very clean and refined GUI with the XMB and now they've gone and cluttered it. Alot of users were looking forward to some GUI refinement or changes with an update but not a cluttering, the great thing was you'd only see the store in the PSN section where it belonged now its EVERYWHERE making it redundant. They're trying to copy some things from the dashboard but keep the old mixed with the new, usually works except when you've got a super clean looking GUI to start with. 360 has always had a cluttered GUI so no matter what you do to it you can't really hurt it, its a MESS your just making it MESSIER but when you take something CLEAN and add MESS then you've just made a mess that really stands out.
More animation n the background will make those premium themes maybe worth purchasing.

[Mr.Green]

Shit. I watched the demo video and found the changes pleasing - especially the new What's New being added to the best console dash. I forgot about the dollies though.

Dude, you just spoiled it for me.

Troll.

It is indeed the best console dash though. As long as you ignore functionality, that is. ;)

[Mr. Crowley]

Looks like PS3 slim was announced, $299.

[bowie]

Ah good call! You didn't notice that the annoying bar can be TURNED OFF although this scrolling info you probably won't be able to stop.

I assume by "this scrolling info" you mean the scrolling ticker in the bar in the top right corner just underneath the clock. You may be relieved to know that it can be disabled. In the video at about 2:15 there is a shot of the screen and the scrolling ticker thing is not present. It may be possible to disable the whole bar. Hard to say until we get our hands on it.

[oldjadedgamer]

Too bad they didn't add the feature where they force users to play dress up with stupid little cartoon people.

That feature was added a long time ago:

http://www.killzoneunit.com/kz/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/killzone2_exclusive_600.jpg

[lost]

Hah I forgot Sony had brought the doll-house too. At least the Avatars are memorable.

[lallous]

Pretty nice stuff for a change. I just hope the update is not a big chunk of megabytes.

[Nainz]

You didn't notice that the annoying bar can be TURNED OFF although this scrolling info you probably won't be able to stop. Sony had a very clean and refined GUI with the XMB and now they've gone and cluttered it.

I'm pretty sure at some point in the video he says that if you don't like any of the changes you have the option to make your XMB look like it used to.


Too bad they didn't add the feature where they force users to play dress up with stupid little cartoon people.

That feature was added a long time ago:

The keyword here is FORCE. Home is 100% optional, which is good because it is a complete waste of time.

[boneyardweller89]

Sony had a very clean and refined GUI with the XMB and now they've gone and cluttered it.

Personally I like having all my info where I can see it. And I think calling it cluttered would imply that it was messy. It's really not at all.

On a similar note, I still think the old 360 dashboard was better than the NXE.

[bowie]

Personally I like having all my info where I can see it. And I think calling it cluttered would imply that it was messy. It's really not at all.

Therein lies the hard part of user interface design. People have different and conflicting preferences about how they like to interact with software.

[oldjadedgamer]

The keyword here is FORCE. Home is 100% optional, which is good because it is a complete waste of time.

Since when are you FORCED to play dress up on the Dashboard? No one is holding a gun to your head to change the Avatar's clothes. Maybe you need to look up the definition of the word "forced".

[Bishop76]

"when you press the PS button, the battery life indicator will no longer cover up the clock."
I don't have a PS3, what battery are they talking about?

[Mysterio]

"when you press the PS button, the battery life indicator will no longer cover up the clock."
I don't have a PS3, what battery are they talking about?

The battery in the wireless controller whose PS button you just pressed.

[boneyardweller89]

Therein lies the hard part of user interface design. People have different and conflicting preferences about how they like to interact with software.

Idea for firmware 12.00: Fully customizable XMB! :)

Personally the only thing I ever thought was messy about it was the whole clock/battery indicator situation which is resolved now. I like the new XMB. It's more just just scrollable text now. There's more pictures and animations. It feels alive.

[boneyardweller89]

It's more just just scrollable text now.

I meant "It's more THAN just scrollable text now." Sorry.

[boneyardweller89]

I would really like to know... If the PS3 Slims (which have already been manufactured, packaged, and shipped) have the 3.00 firmware on them out of the box, why do the rest of us have to wait until the day they come out to get the firmware. It's obviously all done already if it's on the Slim PS3s. Why the wait for the PS3 Fat owners???

[TRiLoGY]

I would really like to know... If the PS3 Slims (which have already been manufactured, packaged, and shipped) have the 3.00 firmware on them out of the box, why do the rest of us have to wait until the day they come out to get the firmware. It's obviously all done already if it's on the Slim PS3s. Why the wait for the PS3 Fat owners???

As far as i'm aware, the slims do not have 3.00 as they have probably been sat in a warehouse for the last x months. They will most likely have to update the firmware the first time they are switched on.

[boneyardweller89]

As far as i'm aware, the slims do not have 3.00 as they have probably been sat in a warehouse for the last x months. They will most likely have to update the firmware the first time they are switched on.

Didn't Sony say that they would ship with the new firmware?

[boneyardweller89]

http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Sony_announces_PS3_Slim_for_299/551-105648-585.html

This says that the firmware comes on the new PS3s.

[Samstag]

http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Sony_announces_PS3_Slim_for_299/551-105648-585.html

This says that the firmware comes on the new PS3s.


That's incorrect. They're shipping with 2.76 at the moment.

[boneyardweller89]

That's incorrect. They're shipping with 2.76 at the moment.

Thank you for clearing this up :)

Regardless, I'm excited for it.