Thanks to forum regular robcoxy for pointing this one out. The Folding@Home application on the PlayStation 3 has received an update today. There have been a number of improvements made in the latest version. They are:

* Improvement: Visibility of Donor Locations on the Globe
o The markers indicating PS3 system donor locations on the globe have been improved to differentiate between daytime and nighttime areas.
* Improvement: Support for Additional Protein Simulations
o Additional computation cores are now supported. This allows Folding@homefor PS3 to support a wider range of protein-folding simulations.
* Improvement: Advanced Participation Mode
o An advanced participation mode has been added to Folding@home for PS3. This mode allows Stanford to send simulations of varying computational lengths to users of Folding@home for PS3.
o Because the simulations in this mode can take significantly longer, Advanced Mode is only recommended for contributors who run Folding@home for PS3 for at least eight (8) hours per day.
+ Note: In Advanced Mode, an energy graph during the simulation will also be displayed. In this graph, the blue line represents the total energy level of the protein over time. The red line represents the average temperature level at which the current simulation is run.
* Improvement: Screensaver Mode
o A screensaver mode can now be activated via the Settings menu. After no controller input has been detected for three (3) minutes, the screen will go blank except for a logo that periodically moves to avoid screen burn-in. Any controller input will exit the screensaver mode.
o This feature allows your PS3 system to consume slightly less power and to increase performance of protein-folding simulations.
* Improvement: Link to Project Description
o A link has been added to the Information menu that allows you to quickly obtain additional information about the specific research project that you're currently contributing to.
* Improvement: Protein Visualization Enhancements
o All visualization modes have been enhanced with improved shading, highlighting, and focus effects. In addition, four new visualization modes have been added:
+ Tapioca Displays the protein as a smooth surface with improved shading and depth. (Tapioca replaces the "ISO Surface" visualization that was available in earlier versions.)
+ Caviar Displays the protein as a smooth surface with defined edges.
+ Licorice Displays only the protein's bonds.
+ Backbone Emphasizes specific sections of the protein that are of the most scientific interest to researchers.
o Note: The Backbone visualization is not available for all proteins.

To update the program simply exit it and restart it (or start it if you don't have it running). The update should be automatically detected, downloaded and installed. After that you will get prompted to restart Folding@Home. The update is a bit slow in getting spread around so if you can't get it yet try again later on.

Folding@Home is a project of the medical research division of Stanford University. It uses "distributed computing" to send packets of data called Work Units over the internet to be processed by PS3's and computers running the client. Once the simulation is completed results are sent back and the next unit gets downloaded. The goal of this project is to find breakthroughs toward cures for several diseases including Parkinson's, Alzeimer's and several forms of cancer.

I would like to take this opportunity to invite the members of Absolute PlayStation to consider joining the Folding team set up for the site. Team folding allows for more units to be completed, thereby speeding up research. To join team Absolute PlayStation on the PS3 hit the triangle button to bring up the options menu and select "Identity". From here select "Join an existing team" and put in the team number 54263. Hit the start button to confirm and you are done. Those of you using folding clients on your computers may also join by entering the team number in the appropriate space found in the options.

I was without stable internet for a day, so I couldn't check out the new folding software yesterday. I've got it up and running now though. I love getting new visuals to view, for the most part. It is very interesting to watch, and while you are still doing something worthwhile, you at least have a cool screensaver going on the TV at the same time. I like the Caviar visual.

It is reassuring that Sony is going to update the software this often, and makes me think that they really do care It's the first thing I start up when I get home.