PS3 Firmware 3.0 - Grief reporting, reputation system, background patches, multiple audio outputs, more [Update]

VG247 has learnt that PS3 Firmware 3.0, “a completely new system” for the console, is to release pre-Christmas with a raft of major feature updates.

The software upgrade has been described to us as “a huge overhaul”, and was compared to NXE “in some respects”.

The before-rumoured reputation system will be included. We were told that, “A reputation system in which users will be able to evaluate each other will be provided for… game applications.

“There will be a new API available to so the user can… allow users and also obtain users’ reputation.”

A “grief reporting system” will be included in the update, allowing gamers to take screens of offensive players and submit them to Sony. Apparently this is going to be similar to the LBP system, and is likely to include a text input.

Firmware 3.0 will allow patches will be downloaded in the background, meaning you’ll no longer have to sit staring at the screen while Random Shooter updates itself with a 500Mb fix.

There’s more. Simultaneous HDMI and digital optical outputting will be included in the release, a move likely to bring big smiles to the audio heads in the crowd.

We’ve been told a lot more on this, but you’ll just have to wait. Rest assured, 3.0 will be significant. Just remember where you heard it first.

Sony Ericsson Unveils PS3-compatible Cell Phone

It's not the PSP phone, but it's close. Sony Ericsson yesterday unveiled three new mobile phones including Aino, a cell phone that can sync with both your PlayStation 3 and PC. Aino also features an 8.1-megapixel camera with geotagging capability; 3G, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity; a physical keypad; and a three-inch touchscreen.

Pull From PS3

Using the Remote Play feature designed for the PSP, Aino can pull almost any content off your PS3, including music, videos, and photos. What about games, you ask? Sorry, HD video and games are not syncable, but like I said, this is not the fabled PSP phone that first hit the rumor mill in 2007; Aino is just a phone that happens to talk to your PS3.

The upside is you can use the Remote Play feature to pull files from your PS3 wherever you are in the world. Sony Ericsson didn't specify whether Remote Play will work over a 3G connection. Aino will also sync with the media files on your PC via Sony Ericsson's proprietary Media Go multimedia manager. Just drop your Aino into its charging stand and Media Go takes care of the rest via Wi-Fi. Aino users in Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and the U.K. will also be able to take advantage of the PS3's TV place-shifting and DVR feature PlayTV. Sony first unveiled PlayTV in 2007, but the feature has not yet come to North American PS3 models. PlayTV lets you use your PSP or Aino to remotely watch recorded and live television over the Internet via your PS3.

Out of the box, Aino comes with a charging stand, wireless stereo headphones, and an 8GB SD card — Aino is not compatible with Sony Memory Sticks. Aino will come in black and white, and be available in select markets this fall. Sony Ericsson did not specify when or if Aino will be coming to North America, but I'd say its arrival here is a pretty safe bet.

Other New Phones

Alongside Aino, Sony Ericsson also announced two other phones: Satio and Yari. Satio is the ultimate camera phone, including a 12.1-megapixel camera, a 3.5-inch widescreen touch display; and running the Symbian OS. Satio previously debuted as Idou at this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Sony Ericsson's Yari packs a respectable 5-megapixel camera, but is designed for the gamer with a built-in accelerometer for iPhone-style gesture and motion gaming. Satio and Yari will be available this fall; U.S. release dates were not announced.

In addition to announcing three new phones, Sony Ericsson said it will release details about its own application store during next week's JavaOne conference in San Francisco.

Size comparison of the PS3 and PS3 Slim

Anyone who has seen the leaked images of the PS3 Slim has surely wondered how the size compares to the original PS3. A new image has surfaced thanks to NeoGAF member RanoNL. The pic shows an original PS3 standing vertically, and along side it what appears to be a PS3 Slim standing vertically.

While we aren’t sure of the validity or the origin of the image, it clearly shows that the PS3 Slim (if that is the same PS3 Slim as the leaked pics) is significantly smaller than the original PS3. Taking a closer look at the image, it doesn’t appear as though it has the ‘PS3′ logo on the bottom, so there is a chance this isn’t the same PS3 Slim case as the one shown in the leaked pics (which again we believe is real).

For now all we can do is speculate until Tuesday, June 2 at 11AM when the SCEA E3 Press Conference (which we will be live-blogging as it happens) starts, and the PS3 Slim is finally revealed.

Sony PS3 Price Cut Around The Corner (SNE)

Sony's (SNE) PlayStation 3 is still getting its butt kicked by Nintendo's (NTDOY) cheaper Wii and Microsoft's (MSFT) older Xbox 360: In April, Sony sold an estimated 127,000 PS3s in the U.S., according to research firm NPD Group. That's 30% below Microsoft's Xbox sales -- and Nintendo's Wii is still outselling the PS3 almost 3-to-1.

Based on comments from Sony's earnings call yesterday, now it seems the company is preparing price cuts to make the PS3 more affordable -- and give the platform a chance. (For more context, Sony sold 35% more price-reduced PS2s last month than PS3s, according to NPD.)

Future for Sony's Playstation Network

Sony's CEO Howard Stringer has revealed that Sony will be expanding the PlayStation Network to hardware other than the PS3 console.

Stringer noted the expansion is a good idea because the number of PS3's sold puts a limit on the scale of the network possible.



To quote: Sony CEO Sir Howard Stringer has spoken on how online services have driven the expansion of the PlayStation business, and has implied that Sony is set to push the PSN service on other devices.

“We will be expanding the PlayStation Network to hardware other than the PS3,” he said in an interview with Asian news service Nikkei. He said that Sony will be expanding the PSN because the number of PS3 units sold “puts a limit on the scale of the network possible.”

“Sony has a vertical structure for each product line, an organizational structure that resists change, so it will take time to achieve this network growth. However, a large number of employees share my opinion on this,” he added.

Logitech Harmony PS3 Remote Adapter

The Gadget: An IR to Bluetooth adapter for the PS3, letting you use any Logitech Harmony universal remote to (finally) control your PlayStation 3.



The Verdict: So worth it. Not only can the adapter turn on and off the PS3 directly from your remote—it's powered from an AC outlet instead of one of the PS3's USB ports—just about every function that the PS3 can perform can be mapped onto the remote's buttons.

The remote works by first syncing, like any other standard Bluetooth PS3 remote, to your PlayStation 3. Then it takes in IR blasts from your remote and translates them to Bluetooth commands. All you have to do is re-add the PlayStation 3 to your Logitech Harmony profile and it will automatically import the correct IR codes to your remote.

In practice, it's essentially flawless. I was able to control a Blu-ray movie, a DVD and a DivX video from just the buttons on my Harmony.

SOCOM: Confrontation review by soul_eater93

This game is so realistic: 1 shot 1 kill if you get a head shot of course, if you're shooting the body then 3 shots. Second thing, very realistic weapons. When you are aming you got to be 100% sure that you will not miss because 1 second and the enemy will locate you and kill you . I found myself getting used to the controls kind of complicated but its not that hard! Customisation: you can customise everything from weapon attachments to your face body armour camouflage ! . This game is awesome but it could be better 8/10 . See online on SOCOM soon, hopefully!

Thanks to soul_eater93 (psn id), originally posted on http://ps3-gamer.forumotion.net