As promised, version 1.8 firmware for the PlayStation 3 is now available for download through the System Update. Here's some of the highlights:

DVD Upscaling- when pl;aying PlayStation 2 games, PSOne games or DVD movies the PS3 can now upscale them to high-def, up to 1080p (if supported by your television). The options for this can be found in BD/DVD Settings.

Copy game saves back to memory cards- Yep, the memory card adapter is no longer a one way street. If you want to take a PS2/ PSOne game save with you to a friend just plug in the adapter with the card and transfer it over. This is something that should have been thought of the first time but at least they fixed it quick.

DLNA Client- If you have a computer set up with DLNA media Server functionality on your network the PS3 can now access the pictures, videos and music files on that computer. This will not work for anything with copyright protection.

Photo Printing- Have an Epson brand computer printer? Have photos on the PS3 hard drive or a memory stick? Now you can hook that printer up to the PS3 and print those photos off.

Various other additions/ changes were made:

* Settings

o [BD 1080p 24 Hz Output (HDMI)] has been added as an option under [BD/DVD Settings].

o [RGB Full Range (HDMI)] has been added as an option under [Display Settings].

o [Y Pb/Cb Pr/Cr Super-White (HDMI)] has been added as an option under [Display Settings].

o [Bitmapping (Super Audio CD)] has been added as an option under [Music Settings].

o The [Test Camera] option under [Accessory Settings] has been changed to [Camera Device Settings].

o [Printer Settings] has been added.

o [Media Server Connection] has been added as an option under [Network Settings]

* Music

o You can now edit CD information.

* Photo

o A new type of slideshow display pattern has been added.

o You can now use zoom display for images.

o You can now trim images.

* Video

o Super-White and x.v.Color output are now supported.

o Downscaled output of Blu-ray Discs is now supported. When 720p is selected as the video output setting of the PS3™ system, Blu-ray Discs that were recorded in 1080p or 1080i resolution can be played in 720p resolution.

* Game

o You can now move copy-prohibited saved data for PlayStation® format software and PlayStation®2 format software to a PS3™ system.

* Network

o The options menu items under [Download Management] have been changed.

* Friends

o [Display Photo] has been added to the voice / video chat options menu.

Does anyone understand these new video options?

I'm talking pretty much everything Sony added in the update

Particularly, I do not understand the DVD upscaling part... is Double Scale better than Full Screen? Which are we supposed to pick (If we have an HDTV).

What the heck is Y Pb/Cb Pr/Cr Super-White (HDMI)? On the firmware page it says that <- but, I thought that pb/cb blah blah was for Component cables. Isn't it?

And how am I supposed to know if my tv supports "RGB Full Range (HDMI)"?

They went way over my head with this firmware update. I want to watch a DVD to see how it looks, so I wanted to get my settings correct...

Congratulations to Sony, this is a brilliant playstation3 firmware update.

I LOVE the fact that my PS3 console can now play all of the MP3 music files that are stored on my PC by streaming them over my home network. Playing movies works great too, but if Sony would allow us to play DIVX movies, rather than just MP4 (which are very similar formats), then the PS3 would be even closer to becoming the perfect media station.

The web browser is much improved with this update too, the up-scaling feature allows you to watch YouTube and Google videos FULL SCREEN on my 32 inch HDTV at amazing quality - when you consider how small they look on my monitor. I now prefer surfing the net on my PlayStation 3 rather than the PC !




MCW, Check your HDTV manual to see if it includes 24-bit color support. For me difference was HUGE, the blacks were significantly blacker and colour balance became far more realistic.

HDMI version 1.3 supports up to 46-bit color, which is more colours than the human eye can actually recognise... happy days !