There is a new version of the PS3 firmware out, and some of the new features are actually pretty cool. They include:
- PlayStation Plus
Before you get all apathetic about PlayStation Plus, you should maybe check it out. PlayStation Plus is Sony’s answer to Xbox Live Gold and costs the same $50 a year. It has the standard exclusive demos and voice chats XBL Gold has, plus discounts or free downloads for several PSN games. If Sony makes the online infrastructure equal to that of Live, PSN will easily be the superior service thanks to the added value of the discounts.
- Photo Gallery:
Now you can upload, browse and comment on photos on Facebook and Picasa Web Album. You can also share your photos between your PSN friends, and even print photos from Photo Gallery. Handy features, but not game changers.
- Video Editor & Uploader
You can edit, save and upload video files stored on the PS3 system to sites like Facebook or YouTube. Could be interesting when the Move comes out.
- Five Star Rating Support
You can rate something from one to five stars now, though I doubt many people will use it. A cool but pretty useless feature.
- Power Save Settings
The default setting for PS3 System Auto-Off will be set at 2 hours which is less than the 6 hours it was previously.
All in all, there are some cool features in the new update. PSN is on the cusp of being a better service than Live. They just need to add some more things and it will be a real home-run.
As of right now, free content includes Wipeout HD (Regularly $19.99), Rally Cross PS1 Classic ($5.99), Age of Zombies mini ($4.99), Warhawk Fallen Star Pack ($1.99), Collision PS3 Premium Theme, and Fat Princess Red and Blue Premium Avatars.
Discounted for PSN software includes Fat Princess: Fat Roles Expansion Pack (PlayStation Plus price $3.99, original price $4.99), Gauntlet II (PlayStation Plus price $2.50, original price $4.99), Mortal Kombat II (PlayStation Plus price $2.50, original price $4.99), Rampage (PlayStation Plus price $2.50, original price $4.99), Rampart (PlayStation Plus price $2.50, original price $4.99), Cuboid (PlayStation Plus price $7.99, original price $9.99), Cuboid Booster Pack (PlayStation Plus price FREE, original price $2.99), Cuboid Bundle Pack (PlayStation Plus price FREE, original price $4.99), Cuboid Level Editor (PlayStation Plus price FREE, original price $3.99), Hamsterball (PlayStation Plus price $7.99, original price $9.99), Interpol: The Trail of Dr. Chaos (PlayStation Plus price $7.99, original price $9.99), Magic Orbz (PlayStation Plus price $7.99, original price $9.99), Magic Orbz Booster Pack (PlayStation Plus price FREE, original price $2.99), Magic Orbz Jungle Pack (PlayStation Plus price FREE, original price $2.99), Magic Orbz Winter Pack (PlayStation Plus price FREE, original price $2.99), Mahjong Tales: Ancient Wisdom (PlayStation Plus price $7.99, original price $9.99), Mahjong Tales: Ancient Wisdom Booster Pack (PlayStation Plus price FREE, original price $4.99), Smash Cars (PlayStation Plus price $11.99, original price $14.99), Smash Cars: Virus Run (PlayStation Plus price FREE, original price $2.99), Wakeboarding HD (PlayStation Plus price $11.99, original price $14.99).
