Background downloading while playing games CONFIRMED!

by Ed Stasick { Mar 21st 2007 at 12:00AM }

Though there were some pretty legitimate rumors to the contrary, our good friends at 1up have unearthed an official confirmation on what we've all been keeping our fingers crossed for. Background dowloading is indeed alive and well in the upcoming firmware update:

"Up to 6 pieces of content from the PlayStation store can be queued up for download while the user enjoys other functions of the PS3 system, including playing games, browsing the web, using media functions including photo browsing, video and music playback. Progress of downloads can be easily tracked under a new Download Management menu under the XBM's network icon."
'
1.6 is turning out to be the PS3's biggest and best update so far. Keep it coming, Sony.

[Via 1up. Thanks Hiroken.]

Tags: ps3

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Colin @ Mar 21st 2007 12:10AM

As sad as I am to say this, I'm betting this is a typo by SCEE. I guess we'll find out for sure come Thursday. Either way I'm excited!

-Colin

Colin @ Mar 21st 2007 12:15AM

I spoke too soon!

IGN was contacted by Sony and confirmed it!

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/774/774165p1.html

Woot!

-Colin

mccomber @ Mar 21st 2007 12:49AM

Very nice. It's great to see that Europe is going to get a system that's hitting the ground running. It's definitely going to be interesting to see how this launch goes for them.

AL7AIR @ Mar 21st 2007 12:50AM

You could've posted this info two days earlier ...

http://playstation.joystiq.com/2007/03/19/the-ps3-firmware-updates-keep-on-coming/#c4042539

Sayonara mina-san ^_^

Ripcord83 @ Mar 21st 2007 2:03AM

YAY! for auto start option!
that alone makes me happy. :)

nice job about the bg d/ling though.

joel @ Mar 21st 2007 3:09AM

will the european PS3 ship with this?

Raein @ Mar 21st 2007 3:19AM

Wow Awesome...only 1 and half years behind 360 now. Why did Sony rush so many damn things with this console?

Colin @ Mar 21st 2007 4:03AM

Joel:
No, but it will be available for download on day one (okay so they gotta do ONE download the hard way). It's part of the big software emulation update they're getting.

Raein:
Actually, Microsoft didn't add Background downloading until the June 6th, 2006 update. That means that Sony actually added the functionality almost 3 months earlier in the product cycle than Microsoft did. And only 9 months after microsoft did historically. Not a year and a half. ;)

-Colin

Extinction @ Mar 21st 2007 4:07AM

"Wow Awesome...only 1 and half years behind 360 now. Why did Sony rush so many damn things with this console?"

What's funny is 360 still lacks some features PS3 has (like looking up CD data ONLINE, copying save games/MP3s/Videos to and from USB devices and STANDARD flash cards, etc. a backup/restore data feature, LINUX, acting as a media SERVER rather than an extender, a webbrowser, animated thumbnails, selecting the codec and bit rate to rip music too, the list goes on) hell they only let you play videos off CD/USB/PC what, a week before PS3 launched? A feature PS3 came with (Yes you can play videos off your PC)

Why was the 360 rushed?

Luigi @ Mar 21st 2007 4:52AM

Does anyone know what time exactly the update comes out? Ed? Anyone at PS3 Fanboy? Anyoneee? I almost creamed my pants (lol, not really) when it was allegedly coming out on 3/8.

humpty @ Mar 21st 2007 5:35AM

YAY!

Background and qeueing.. this is going to be a good update.. and its not even 2.0!

Virtua Fanboy @ Mar 21st 2007 9:51AM

@"7. Wow Awesome...only 1 and half years behind 360 now. Why did Sony rush so many damn things with this console?

Posted at 3:19AM on Mar 21st 2007 by Raein"

@"9. "Wow Awesome...only 1 and half years behind 360 now. Why did Sony rush so many damn things with this console?"

What's funny is 360 still lacks some features PS3 has (like looking up CD data ONLINE, copying save games/MP3s/Videos to and from USB devices and STANDARD flash cards, etc. a backup/restore data feature, LINUX, acting as a media SERVER rather than an extender, a webbrowser, animated thumbnails, selecting the codec and bit rate to rip music too, the list goes on) hell they only let you play videos off CD/USB/PC what, a week before PS3 launched? A feature PS3 came with (Yes you can play videos off your PC)

Why was the 360 rushed?

Posted at 4:07AM on Mar 21st 2007 by Extinction"

Shut up guys, seriously. Anyway, I remember when this feature came available for 360 and it really kicked ass. It was like taking a ball and chain off the system or something, lol. You know since the PS3 has a bigger ethernet port (per say) maybe you can still download during online play too (unlike the 360) who knows?

gutter2d @ Mar 21st 2007 10:17AM

i dont think im going to download this update or any future ones because it is going to disable the emotion engine chip, which means instead of being able to play 99% of PS2 games perfectly I can only play 72% of games, some of which have "noticeable issues" (TMB which I still play).

Ill only download a future update if it has a HD upscaler for PS1/PS2 games and DVD movies.

Yah...itsaPS3..sowhat @ Mar 21st 2007 10:22AM

Why is this "CONFIRMED" and "dug up"?

It was in the freaking press release from Sony yesterday...no 'digging' necessary:

See press release below for details of the compatibility site and 1.60 Firmware upgrade:

European PLAYSTATION 3 Compatibility Site Launches Early

Firmware upgrade at launch to implement connectivity to Folding@home, background downloading and internet browser enhancements

London, 20 March 2007 – Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today launched the web site that will allow prospective PLAYSTATION®3 owners to see which of their PlayStation®2 titles are playable on the new European PS 3 hardware model.

The web site at http://faq.eu.playstation.com/bc lists those titles from the portfolio of PS2 titles available in the SCEE PAL territories that are playable on PS3.

“Our engineers have been working overtime, and have succeeded in delivering a significant number of playable PS2 titles for the European launch”, said David Reeves, President of SCEE. “We will be adding additional titles to this list in future firmware upgrades, but as we have made clear before, in the future our resources will be increasingly focused on developing new services and entertainment features exclusively for PS3, rather than on delivering PS2 backwards compatibility.”

New owners of a European PS3 will need to install the latest firmware upgrade to play the PS2 titles listed on the web site. The upgrade will be available at launch from midnight on 22nd March through the PLAYSTATION®Network, from www.PlayStation.com or, for those unable to access the internet, on a disc obtained from local Customer Services.

The latest system software upgrade (Version 1.60) will deliver features such as Folding@home connectivity, background downloading of content from the PLAYSTATION®Store, support for Bluetooth® keyboards and mice, and an optional full QWERTY on-screen keyboard for text entry.

The Folding@home project allows PS3 owners to connect to Stanford University’s Folding@home program, a distributed computing project aimed at understanding protein folding, misfolding, and related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and many cancers. Using the power of the Cell Broadband Engine™, PS3 system can perform computer simulations for the Folding@home program ten times faster than your average home PC. Once PS3 system is updated to version 1.60, users can easily sign up to join the Folding@home program by clicking on the appropriate logo on the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) under the Network icon. Then, when the PS3 system is left on and reaches idle mode, it will automatically begin a simulation and, once completed, send information back to a central computer(*1). Additional details about Folding@home are available at http://www.scei.co.jp/folding/en/.

Firmware Version 1.60 also delivers a more convenient process for downloading content to the PS3 from the PLAYSTATION Store. Up to 6 pieces of content from the PlayStation store can be queued up for download while the user enjoys other functions of the PS3 system, including playing games, browsing the web, using media functions including photo browsing, video and music playback. Progress of downloads can be easily tracked under a new Download Management menu under the XMB’s Network icon(2).

James @ Mar 21st 2007 11:21AM

gutter2d,

I don't see anywhere in any of hte press releases or press articles that the emotion chip will be disabled in North America. Where did you get this?

aka Bitter @ Mar 21st 2007 11:25AM

But does it work for EVERY game(PS1/2, DL titles) and will it work on US consoles? Hopefully we'll find out tomorrow! ;)

RatBoy @ Mar 21st 2007 12:43PM

Now the real question is what kind of effect background downloading will have on online play. But I guess that answer will come in time.

Tyler @ Mar 21st 2007 12:48PM

@12 bigger ethernet port? wha?

CJ @ Mar 21st 2007 12:47PM

WOOOOOOW! So exciting zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

mookmookie @ Mar 21st 2007 2:32PM

@19 - he is refering to the PS3 being equiped with a gigabit lan ether port

ITA_Mafia_Boy @ Mar 21st 2007 4:05PM

These new features really elevate the PS3 to the status of excellent gaming machine that it is. I do make great use of it as a multimedia hub and it works perfectly. I would have bought it (as I did) even if it wouldn't have had background downloads and other new amenities. HOME will make the whole experience stellar .. looking forward to create some user generated content to sell on HOME.
PS3 is the new rising sun!!

CJ @ Mar 21st 2007 4:59PM

@21 - The new rising sun? LMAO. Sure whatever you say. Do you know how I know you're gay? Because you think Home is something to be excited about. You guys are pathetic. Getting all giddy over the gayest crap like background downloading. Meanwhile, Sony is losing exclusives, the Wii is out selling everybody, the 360 is over 10 million units while snatching 'exclusives' left and right. And the PS3 is getting bashed every where you turn. So you still think the PS3 is the new rising sun? I think it forgot where the horizon was because there isnt anything rising about the PS3 except for the odds against it.

Wintermuted @ Mar 22nd 2007 11:18AM

@9 "What's funny is 360 still lacks some features PS3 has (like looking up CD data ONLINE, copying save games/MP3s/Videos to and from USB devices and STANDARD flash cards, etc. a backup/restore data feature, LINUX, acting as a media SERVER rather than an extender, a webbrowser, animated thumbnails, selecting the codec and bit rate to rip music too, the list goes on) hell they only let you play videos off CD/USB/PC what, a week before PS3 launched? A feature PS3 came with (Yes you can play videos off your PC)"

Seriously, you are the epitome of fanboi. Looking up CD data online? You have got to be kidding me. That is a 'feature' you point out? Who the hell uses their console to listen to CD's anyhow? Copying to USB, LINUX, animated thumbnails, and selecting codec to rip to? Again, who the hell cares?! Same goes with the web browser. Acting as a media 'server'? Yeah, that whopping 60 gig drive is really media server material.
The only point you made that has any substance is a backup/restore feature, which would be nice on the 360. But, as it is, has a 'restore to default' configuration, which works for what it was created for. And, BTW, you have been able to stream music and video from your PC to the 360 since the day it launched.

Joey_Numbers @ Mar 22nd 2007 1:51AM

Background DL is cool. I remember when my 360 didn't have it... then again i remember when my 360 was working and under warranty. sigh.

PS3>all

charles @ Mar 22nd 2007 5:31AM

great update, everything works perfect!!

kopyright76 @ Mar 22nd 2007 8:08AM

well ive got the update....its okay, yup just okay, no gushing or creaming. I do however have to say that the Folding program is wonderful for the PS3!!! I also run it on my othe 7 pcs and 2 laptops, hell now it it would only run on my htc 6700ppc! As for the background down loading while playing on line , it works! im downloading that lil Geji demo, while playing resistance all on my G-type wifi connection, i dont use ethernet because wires are just plain tacky!