Firmware 2.53 available now, adds full screen flash video

by Jem Alexander { Dec 1st 2008 at 9:35PM }

The official PlayStation website might have leaked information regarding firmware 2.53, but it was clearly very wrong about the date. The update didn't drop on November 26th, as the website suggested, but is instead available right now. Honestly, it's true. Go check for yourself.

The latest firmware adds full screen functionality to embedded Flash videos in the web browser, as well as generally "improving the way the Flash Player works with the internet browser." Meaning more websites will now work. Overall, a nice, if slightly anemic, firmware update. It's all free though, so we can't complain. Go on commenters, prove us wrong.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Tags: 2.53, firmware, flash, web-browser

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

X,L113TFD @ Dec 1st 2008 9:41PM

I can't complain, but I also can't bring myself to care. Seriously, if web-browsing on my PS3 was that important to me, I would just install Linux on the darn thing.

Devin @ Dec 1st 2008 10:36PM

Is that right? And how much space/time would you like to waste doing that? The PS3's internet browser is more than capable believe me. I have YDL6.0 on mine and it was more pain than it was worth. You will also have to have a keyboard/mouse hooked up to use the Linux OS's browser rather than just using the DS3....again I see where you're coming from, but realistically it isn't worth losing 10GB and tons of time installing and adding plug-ins like Flash/Java/etc....

MakaiOokami @ Dec 1st 2008 11:36PM

It's about doing stuff like watching Youtube on a big screen t.v., watching Hulu, playing porn games for the lulz... Playing some decent flash games for the fun... wishing people would develop fully functional flash games for the PS3 to utilize... Searching for hints/tips to get past a certain part cause you know there's another way programmed into it to get a cinematic and you want to know how to do it before you load up the game and play that save file... To get a screen shot of where that last piece is of the items you're collecting so you can finally have completed the collection...

Also a lot of questions would be answered if people would just use the internet features on the PS3... I'm sorry but if you can type "upgrade PS3 hard drive" into the "Search" option right on the XMB and get a step by step guide WITH pictures AND warnings in less than 10 seconds... then why the heck would you go to the forums on a computer, sign in, go to the right section, type in the question, type in some other useless info that no one cares about, and then wait for someone to reply with a less detailed answer than the 10 second google search would have supplied...

Just because you don't know how awesomely your PS3 can be utilized doesn't mean the rest of us don't care either.

Ayman @ Dec 2nd 2008 12:22AM

hmm.. you dont care to watch full screen flash videos on a 32,42,46,... 103 inch screen?

Jack @ Dec 2nd 2008 12:36PM

Well for someone who doesn't own a pc, (I'm at work) this is welcome news for me. I like browsing a few sites while downloading demos. Or showing a friend a funny video, badass trailer, or check movie times without getting up from my couch.

RICKDOEZ @ Dec 1st 2008 9:41PM

i have a xbox...but sony we luv u the most!!!

Devin @ Dec 1st 2008 10:37PM

Oops, wrong person....meant for the first post

MakaiOokami @ Dec 1st 2008 11:37PM

WTF is wrong with the commenting system? I wasn't replying to RickDoez O_o

benny boy @ Dec 2nd 2008 6:10AM

I don't understand why someone can't fix this terrible commenting system.

Abysmal @ Dec 1st 2008 9:48PM

All I want is for my PS3 to be able to play MKVs.

travi @ Dec 1st 2008 10:03PM

Would be nice, but use GOTsent in the meanwhile. .mkv => .mp4

hurricane @ Dec 1st 2008 10:13PM

Or you could use mkv2vob which converts mkvs with the PS3 in mind.

Game_playa @ Dec 1st 2008 10:24PM

i use mkv2vob, that trucking owns!!

Erroneus @ Dec 2nd 2008 2:54AM

mvk2vob is pretty nice yeah, to bad the PS3 doesn't have support for included subs. Which means if I want subs on my mvk(vob) file, I has to reencode the file, which takes ages, when we are dealing with HD :(

TheMaxDaddy @ Dec 2nd 2008 12:57PM

use Tversity with matroska installed too. playing mkvs streaming to PS3. didnt require any effort. just a lot of yes and confirms.

Lucas @ Dec 1st 2008 9:51PM

I totaly agree with "Abysmal" please Sony MKVVVVVVSSSS

Sad-Me @ Dec 1st 2008 9:54PM

MKV, MKV! WE WANT MKV! that would be the best.

unfortunately, my ps3 died a few days ago. and its out of warrenty. darn yellow light of death! life...

JerJerBinks @ Dec 1st 2008 11:42PM

Finally got my 60 GB refurb back after the dreaded yellow light of death. While I wasn't happy paying $150, it beats paying $400 for a PS3 with no BC.

Gaucho @ Dec 2nd 2008 1:37AM

Maybe I'm out of the loop here, but what is the yellow light of death?

The Aggie CEO @ Dec 2nd 2008 7:48AM

its when you turn on your PS3 and the light turns yellow instead of Green..........

DUH

and when that happens your PS3 is DONE

Sten @ Dec 1st 2008 9:53PM

This could have waited to be honest unless there where more pressing bug fixes included in the firmware software as well which I am sure is the case!

Still they added RTMP which apparently does a lot for flash sites so good on them!

Thanks for the heads up!

saito ps3 @ Dec 1st 2008 9:54PM

i love ps3, but i just want some more jrpgs/rpgs. how bout throwing some money to start the last remnant on ps3 now sony? and start making eight days again, that game looked drool worthy

FeaturePreacher @ Dec 1st 2008 11:22PM

That game was canceled in order to make the, I presume, downloadable game, EyePet. Maybe if Little Big Planet doesn't perform as Sony expected, they might wake up to importance of good action titles.

Tygan @ Dec 31st 2008 8:05PM

Fullscreen Hulu is funky. It goes fullscreen 4:3 and gives 16:9 screen Extra Side Bars

kazimiriez @ Dec 1st 2008 10:55PM

16x9 shows up better on hulu if you use the popout command. then it becomes a browser window with just the video in it. R3 will zoom the screen to the width. ta daa.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Dec 2nd 2008 1:01AM

i was just havin that problem. i was testing out the new feature with The Office on Hulu and i noticed that the control bar in full screen looks to be 4:3 but it's actually 16:9, so the pointer doesnt match up to what you are actually graphically pointing at. kind of annoying. im almost certain we'll get ANOTHER 150MB update to fix THIS next week.....

(my connection is slow, these constant big updates are killing me. takes like an hour+.)

anyway, i'll try the pop out option.

-slycooper_rocker- (lorddshadow the amazing) psn: shahanasalam @ Dec 1st 2008 10:02PM

dammit! i was playing a great match on cod5 and i got signed out of the psn. i was like ugh! then when i signed back in, it said i had to download this. now i'm 23% through...dammit!

Roto13 @ Dec 1st 2008 10:15PM

Yeah, I was playing LBP when the same thing happened. And I don't want to update my firmware right away because firmware is dangerous sometimes. :P

What an annoyance, though. This really didn't need it's own update. It should have just been included in the next bigger update.

RockinOscar @ Dec 1st 2008 10:12PM

nice attempt to please us who do use the browser to watch hulu from the comfort form our beds/couches on their ps3s... but when i click on the fullscreen button it takes me fullscreen in a 4:3 format on my widescreen tv so i have a huge picture frame effect on my hands now, it was a nice touch but like everything on the ps3 is a slow process to move on to the perfect experience.

Paul from NYC @ Dec 1st 2008 10:30PM

you know, i kept searching the net on the 28th and 29th for news about this update and nooooo one brought it up. Finally, it gets mentioned on ps3fanboy. anywho, im downloading it now. we'll wait and see. BTW- I use Playon media to stream my watchnow netflix and Hulu to my HDTV . Im also surprised Playon media doesnt get attention on this site. Heres the link. www.themediamall.com. Have fun

Neon @ Dec 2nd 2008 9:00AM

Yeah, PlayOn totally rocks. We watch Hulu every day on the PS3. I went ahead and purchased a license to encourage development.

Popfrogs @ Dec 2nd 2008 8:54AM

I used PlayOn for a little while but the beta is over and they're charging money for it now. I don't really like it enough to pay $30 for the privilege. I'll just snag torrents via rss feeds and stream with TVersity instead.

Game_playa @ Dec 1st 2008 10:29PM

PS3Fanboy, can you guys give the download in your webiste? The sony one isn't updated, and it takes forever on my PS3. It's like 5-6 times faster on my P.C

Game_playa @ Dec 1st 2008 10:46PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDUIKIsEN0U&fmt=18
Best video ever?

Deathrace King @ Dec 1st 2008 10:32PM

Anybody see if pandora.com works yet?

IcerC @ Dec 1st 2008 11:13PM

Yes it works... would be nice to have pandora and sony to work out a program for the ps3 or a more ps3 friendly site but this works at least.

FeaturePreacher @ Dec 1st 2008 10:34PM

Still no multiple data album editing. Still no in-game access to music for all ps3 games. I guess simple things are too hard for the ps3.

maidsandharem @ Dec 1st 2008 11:47PM

It's call "patent/copyright" :P the only loophole is patch from developer

Popfrogs @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:04AM

For the 8 millionth time, custom soundtracks in every game is impossible. Sony gives devs the freedom to implement audio however they want. This is a drawback as there is no specific audio channel that the firmware can override with your custom music.

That's why devs have to create their games with this feature in mind. I'm sure the SDK that devs use has a specific channel to leave open or toggle for custom music. Warhawk and a few other games have supported this for awhile.

Bottom line, it's completely impossible for Sony to implement this across the board for all games.

brampf @ Dec 2nd 2008 3:53AM

I wish people that screamed patent/copyright for in game music would take the time to actually read the scope of the microsoft patent.
Its so specific in its scope that its almost pointless because there are so many ways to have in game music without infringing on that patent.
Sonys' system of developer implementation is necessary not only because it was implemented after games were released on the system but its also preferable to developers and publishers who have the option of choosing the soundtrack that we listen to when gaming. Something which they often spend a lot of time and money on.

Fane @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:31PM

Do you not have a stereo or ipod or something?

If you're not going to listen to the game soundtrack, turn down the soundtrack volume and turn on your music.

Why do you think this is a big deal?

adr525 @ Dec 1st 2008 10:37PM

nice update, but i still can't see some videos on youtube.

RidgeRich79 @ Dec 1st 2008 10:42PM

Good job Sony. Hulu now fully works. Full screen support. You can log into your queue on Hulu, and you can turn on the 480p option for better video quality. You are my hero right now Sony.

Fane @ Dec 3rd 2008 6:33PM

Now just waiting for hulu.ca.

Attimus @ Dec 1st 2008 10:45PM

Great update Sony! Gaming on my PS3 has been awesome every since the launch of MGS4 and this holiday season has been non-stop. I now find myself utilizing my browser all the time. From gaming to surfing the web, Sony is making it harder and harder for me to use my PC for internet usage.

paul from nyc @ Dec 1st 2008 10:56PM

Pandora works but whats the deal with that site? any catch?

Deathrace King @ Dec 1st 2008 11:02PM

Nope, no catch. Start a station with a band you like and it will play similar sounding stuff. You can either thumbs up or thumbs down songs it picks. I have the Pandora iPhone app and it's like having free satellite radio in my car or wherever I go. I've been waiting for the PS3 browser to be able to handle the site. Thanks for checking!