Gearfuse

Speed, speed, speed. Check out these three videos to see the major speed boost firmware version 3.0 provides for the PS3, even for Blu Ray discs. Not to mention, it’s much prettier.

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Web searches on your PSP just got a whole lot easier with the upcoming v4.00 firmware update. Now the Google Toolbar is available for any Wi-Fi connected PSP, bringing you loads of internet meme fun. Another feature coming to the PSP via v4.00 is the ability to change viewing speed during playback of videos stored on your memory.

While the PSP could already do practically anything, it was lacking the Google Toolbar it needed to make Googling anything on the go an ease. Vince is hoping they include the “I’m Feeling Lucky” feature; his personal favorite.
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So for you few but growing number of Sony PSP owners, you are probably used to the flow up firmware upgrades. While constant firmware upgrades usually seem to signify a progression in usability, in this case it seems to be more about the fixing of hacks and workarounds.

Nothing new with version 3.1 of PSP firmware which has been released. There are two main feature upgrades/addons though. When you are viewing a webpage, the browser will now use up less memory than it previously did. And when you listen to your massive audio collection on your PSP, the volume will now be automatically adjusted to a constant volume. As stated before, this firmware is mainly about the ongoing battle against hacks to play “backup” games… — Nik Gomez

PSP Firmware 3.1 Hits [Kotaku]

SCEJ announces the PS3 firmware version 1.50 today adding an electronic money payment system, so you don’t always need a credit card to buy games online anymore. First, pick up the electronic money PaSoRi reader/writerfor your PS3, connect it via the USB port on the console, update the firmware to version 1.50, then you are all set to add money to your Network Wallet and buy games on Playstation Network with your Felica phone or Edy money card. Felica phones are phones with built-in a contactless electronic money chip, these phones are able to show on the screen the balance on your money chip, record of latest transactions, the stations you passed by, your flight boarding pass, movie tickets, Tokyo Disneyland queue reserve ticket and purchase coupons.

The Edy card only does the e-money storing but it’s a separate “touch-and-go” card like the Oyster Card in the UK or the Octopus in Hong Kong, but those started out as stored value tickets for trains. Apart from the new electronic money support, firmware version 1.50 also improves the AOSS W-LAN security with the choice of 128bit WEP, WPA-PSK(TKIP/AES) protocols. Minor updates such as the ability to save log-in password for PS Network login and the support for Korean Hangul keyboard are also introduced. The firmware 1.50 will be available on Jan24 and it is for PS3 in Japan only, there is no word on upcoming updates for the American consoles as we are writing. — Sam Chan

Press Release [SCEJ]

If you happen to be the proud owner of a registered Zune (as I am), then you received an odd email in your inbox today. Why was it odd? Because it was so plain. It seemed like it was just a thank you letter from Microsoft for registering your Zune. Titled “Welcome to the Social” it seems like just any other advertisement you might receive from Microsoft. OK, now to go the Zune site and you’ll notice that in the upper left hand corner it says that the site was updated today (1/16/07). If you are able to find the Zune PassItOn site, you will notice something new. There is word of podcasts! With a nice large rectangle featuring the set of NPR podcast, it looks like we are turning a new page with Microsoft. Podcasts are amazing, if you haven’t been exposed to the world of podcasting, google it now and be amazed. So what does podcast support mean for the Zune? Probably not too much in terms of sales. Apart from sales, it does mean a whole bunch of very happy early adopters (who aren’t exactly early anymore). Customer satisfaction is what firmware updates are all about, and Microsoft needs to get this podcast support out ASAP! — Nik Gomez

Zune PassItOn

This just might be the feature that saves the PS3: the firmware updates. Sony has just released the update version 1.32, which doesn’t do anything really radical, but keeps moving forward with bugs and problems. As Sony has said, the updates improves the network performance of the system software. Browser updates? WiFi faster? Not very specific Sony. So as these small updates continue to roll out, the PS3 will get better and better. Hopefully, after the bugs are ironed out, Sony will be able to add new features to the PS3. It has so much potential hardware-wise, it only makes sense that as time passes the PS3 will only get better. Games get better graphics, the Sixaxis get better integration, and Blu-Ray takes off. Too bad it takes time. — Nik Gomez

New Sony PS3 Firmware 1.32 [I4U]

To all of you soon-to-be-parents: that pretty silver rattle isn’t going to cut it anymore. Your newborn is quickly going to be begging for their own limited edition Samsung YP-Z5 which will soon be auctioned off. Why you might ask? Well, this MP3 player is made of 18 karat gold and only 10 have been made. Samsung is currently expecting them to go for 120,000 won each (only about $130, maybe something is lost in translation). The YP-Z5 model has been out for almost a year now, but even for its nice-looking design and helpful firmware updates, it really hasn’t won many users over.

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