Firmware updating coming January 24th!
by Nick Doerr 
{ Jan 23rd 2007 at 2:00PM }
This is for Japan only, but we can expect a North American update in a matter of days, if not the same day. Are you guys (and girls) ready for firmware version 1.5? You bet you are. This pocketful of minor updates includes some "meh" things and some "woo" things. Which do you guys want to hear first? Oh wait, we don't care... let's go for the meh and build up to the woo.First off, credit card is no longer the only form of payment to be accepted via the Playstation Store. It will soon accept... uh... "Edy" system pre-paid electronic money. Faux money, if I may. To utilize this system, those who don't have a credit card to call their own, to hug and worship, then get stabbed in the back with raised APR, you will need an IC Reader/Writer... which are available for the PC, but can be used for the PS3 as well. Secondly, support for the Korean language input via a keyboard will be supported with this update.
Keep in mind, we didn't capitalize the "woo" or give it an exclamation point because, while we're excited to hear about the increased PS-One and PS2 backwards-compatibility upgrades, we don't know what that means. Will they be less jaggy? Will the sound not cut out in certain titles? Will some titles that mysteriously didn't work at all (anyone have that issue?) now work, somewhat? We dunno, but it certainly can't be a bad thing. Anyway, keep yourself checking the system update option and we'll delve into the details once we've gotten more information.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
NATO_Duke @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:35PM
I fail to see any "woo" items mentioned above. Just speculation on some things you would like to hear.
ndoerr @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:43PM
@ NATO_Duke: Like momma always said, "if it don't make you say "boo" you may as well say "woo"..." Basically, they're not "knock your socks off" updates, but increasing backwards compatibility is better than, say, decreasing the size of the XMB icons. Know what I mean?
ndoerr @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:47PM
Hey guys, I'm having a little trouble with something and perhaps you could offer up some advice. I downloaded Heroes last night and slapped them onto my 1gig USB flash drive... memory stick... thing. Problem is, when I stick it in the PS3, it doesn't want to admit that there's a video file in it. Wrong format, or what? Any help would be appreciated!
alienclay @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:54PM
on joystiq they mention something about custom pictures for profiles, that's what i want to get out of 1.5
i would also like to get psp xmb mistakes fixed too,
wall papers, theme color selection, etc.
also, can anyone tell me if the ps3 is capable of using a camera other than the eyecam?
Kspraydad @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:57PM
Speculation?
The link to ign is lacking, gearfuse actually has screen shots..http://www.gearfuse.com/ps3-firmware-150-buy-games-on-ps-network-with-felica-phones-or-edy-contactless-electronic-money-cards/
Here is Sony's press release:
http://www.jp.playstation.com/info/release/nr_20070123_ps3_150.html
alienclay @ Jan 23rd 2007 3:57PM
yeah, and is there a way to make web pages zoom in a bit without having to change my display settings to 480p? (or at least get my font sizes bigger than +2) trying to read pages with tiny lettering on my 1080i screen sucks.
Kspraydad @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:09PM
@nick...
Has to be in a 'video' folder OR use triangle button to browse all of the drive.
Jess @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:13PM
@3
In order for your ps3 to recognize the file, it must be in a special file structure, and encoded in a format the ps3 can handle(you probably already know, but redkawa.com has a very nice encoder).
For video files, make a folder titled VIDEO, then drop your video in that, and it should work. Other folders are MUSIC, PICTURE, and PS3, which contains SAVEDATA and others, kinda like on the PSP.
Colin @ Jan 23rd 2007 4:17PM
Also remember that the PS3 won't play xvid files, and most downloaded TV shows are in that format. Gotta make sure to run it through PS3 video 9 (and hope it actually works for once).
If you're already done that, press triangle when you have the usb drive selected and select 'Display All'. Should be there.
alienclay:
Yeah, most USB webcams seem to work with the exception of the 360 camera. I don't know if there's a compatibility list out there though, so its a bit of a hit or miss.
-Colin
JimyD @ Jan 23rd 2007 5:33PM
alienclay - on your second question, does your TV support 720p? One solution is to check the 720p as the maximum resolution in your Display settings (leave 1080i unchecked) so your browser resolution looks normal (meaning you can read it). I have a native 720p HDTV and it is a huge improvement over 1080i for reading text.
The only downside is that you have to go back into the Display Settings and check 1080i if you want to run something at that resolution. Sony needs to fix this so you can select a specific resolution for browser viewing.
Kspraydad @ Jan 24th 2007 8:32AM
WOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO.
According to Kotaku:
but the most noticeable change comes in the form of fixed display of PSone and PS2 games not running in progressive scan mode. That's right. Former eye-poisoning backward compatible games are now fixed. I just popped in Okami and Metal Gear Solid 3, with both displaying on par with their original hardware platforms. In fact, they look pretty fantastic. Amen!
http://filt3r.blogspot.com/2007/01/ps1ps2-fixed-for-ps3.html
Kevin @ Jan 24th 2007 10:14AM
I like the fact that you can choose photos as your user icon
but my FAVORITE thing about 1.5 is that they fixed the jaggies
:]
games look good now.
but..
the reason why the jaggies are "fixed" is because ps2 and ps1 games now run at 480p instead of the resolution you have it set to.
I use 720p, because i prefer it to 1080i,
but when i put in FFXII it looked amazing, so I curiously pressed "info" on my hdtv remote, and it read "480" at the bottom instead of "720"
so is this a fix, or just a workaround?
:-/