Eric Lempel over at the PS Blog made a post this morning about the upcoming Firmware 2.60 and as I browsed down the list looking for gaming-related features, I came up empty. Hmpf. Then I looked at the summary of features which was comprised of Photo Gallery, Guest access to the PS Store, and DivX 3.11 support and was fairly nonplussed. Mr. Lempel had prepared a video for the blog post and I must say, good call on that one. It would’ve been a terribly boring post without it. After watching the video, I have a much better appreciation for what this firmware update really brings to the table.
After the initial buzzkill of not getting any new gaming-related features had worn off, I watched the video about the Photo Gallery. I’ll just say it. It looks pretty damned cool. I want you to ignore why we’re being given the Photo Gallery functionality for a minute because the first few people I discussed this with basically said “Why…” and when I pointed out what it actually did, they were pretty impressed. Sony’s been pretty coy about tucking complicated tech behind pretty innocent looking media functionality… the slideshow’s ability to recognize faces is another prime example of this. It’s not trivial tech, but it works surprisingly well.
The Photo Gallery isn’t a replacement for the slideshow functionality we’ve had to date; it’s a new item to install on the XMB that allows you to really “manage” your photo collection in new ways. As someone that’s jumped into digital photography with both feet 11,000+ photos ago, I primarily view photos digitally on my 52″ HDTV. I was wowed by some of this tech.
At CES, I saw cameras that offered “smile detection” and was impressed, but now you can sort photos into photos with smiles and those without. You can do the more traditional sorting by date, camera used for photos, events in photos (which would imply some sort of tagging functionality I’m guessing) to other more impressive tech as the number of people in the photos, the colors in the photo, and more. It looks like slideshows can now be created with specific music as well. Using the older method, you’d have to manually manage the music and slideshow functionality from the XMB each time. The Photo Gallery was completely unexpected by me but looks to be a great start for those that will find it useful.
Just wait, because there’s more, on page 2.
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I appreciate Sony’s efforts….But I would rather have updates that are tailored towards the gamers. I would love to be able to send voice messages. I miss that feature terribly.
There is a long list that gamers wish to have, I suppose we will have to wait a bit longer.
Thanks Sony for the update but make the next one for the gamers. I suggest, handle the gamers first then work on the ‘fun’ extras.
@LukeM: LOL… how is “sending voice messages” tailored toward gaming? Too funny. Yeah, you could send voice messages about playing games about as easily as I could use the Photo Gallery to arrange in-game screenshots I’ve exported from Wipeout HD and Motorstorm Pacific Rift.
I’m just having a laugh (at your expense), but you kinda asked for that one… voice messages… *giggle*
Dang, I bet the guy in your photo will be quite surprised to have his picture on the blog, and then be immediately dismayed by the caption…
The highs and lows of internet fame…
i read somewhere that this update also allows to erase saved data ingame
I think the photo album looks great. On several occasions I’ve used my PS3 to either show friends my photos or view theirs and it this looks fantastic for that.
As the for the video format, the more the merrier.
Personally, I’m pleased Sony do stuff like this. I paid a lot for my PS3 and I am happy to have as many different ways to make use of it as possible. One thing I like about Sony is that they try and appeal to a wide audience. These features may not appeal to everyone but they will to some.
Not everyone wants JUST gaming updates. I love my PS3 not only for the games, but for the multimedia features that are available. This add on is great for those who use their PS as a media hub. So, I think I speak for the tech savvy peeps when I say, “This is a cool firmware update.”
“I know there’s a significant chunk of folks out there that own “PS3 Blu-Ray Players” that have no interest in using the machine as anything but a Blu-ray player and something like this may actually broaden their horizons a bit”
Huh… chances are people in this situation don’t even have the ps3 hooked up to the Internet… And then, if they ever connect their ps3 to the Internet, they’ll have to download the new firmware which, if my experience means anything, should take around 30 to 45 minutes and, at that point, they might as well say: never mind! Good try at justifying this one though…
On the other hand, I’m quite interested in that slideshow thing…
@ kaspario :
Actually, I bet a lot of the people who own the PS3 as a blu-ray player do indeed have it connected to the internet to make use of BD-Live features. Also, most standalone blu-ray players need firmware updates from time to time as well.
This is incredibly stupid of Sony. There’s STILL no cross-game invite. STILL no cross-game chat. This is exactly why the 360 is blowing the PS3 out of the water. That’s why I plan on buying a 360 again and keeping my PS3 as a side console.
Maybe they don’t understand how big online gaming has gotten now. I’m typing on a Computer right now. I don’t need my GAMING console to be one too.
Awesome features, I’m going to load more pictures just to use these features. Thanks Sony!!!
I think that this update is good and also bad. But, I pretty much only use my ps3 as a gaming system. I really don’t see the point in using it for anything else.(to an extent) I do in fact have audio, video, and pictures on my ps3. But, I don’t feel as though I’m going to have my ps3 on long enough to show people a bunch of pictures(that they probably don’t want to see anyway), or watch a lot of movies. But, I feel as though people get different things for different reasons and I hope that this new software is fun for the people who are going to use it. I am also hoping that they make additional update aimed especially towards the gaming side…
@TexasFootball and @LukeM:
Jeff Rubenstein over at the PSB said that with respect to the features that you are asking for “these things have been heard quite clearly.” Which I take to imply that they are working on it.
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2009/01/18/playstation-around-the-web-what-we-read-31/
Funnily enough I didn’t buy my PS3 to look at photos or screenshots, so this holds very little interest for me.
I think its a good addition, especially if they are adding more divx support… mkv ftw.
Hmm…
Actually, if you analyze PS3’s update history, I think that Sony is slowly supercharging the console…Speaking from no knowledge whatsoever, I think that the photo gallery update IS an update for the gaming side as well…
Secretly expand the functionality of the hardware, and then put an app behind it to not make it seem so important, and then incorporate the ACTUAL update (not the app) in either a game or something like Home.
Sony just gave their console a multi-purpose native AI that doesn’t require external software (games); If you look back to the Pre-PS3 days, that aspect was something that they said they were working on…
I might be wrong though… Just a thought…
You are totally right when you say that when support for MKV arrives, there will definitely a very very big applause and serious reconsideration by those movie lovers who’re still undecided on buying a PS3 or are not using the PS3 as much for anything other than gaming.
Personally, i have a really huge collection of DVDs and i have found that if i wanted to backup my movies and keep the highest quality, and it’s no secret really, just convert to MKV using the H.264 codec, which is also supported by DivX7, which will be integrated in some future PS3 firmware, hopefully not before too long!
Updating the PS3 for gaming is always welcome, but i think Sony knows that it needs to exploit more than just the gaming side of its powerful and media versatile console. And i think it is definitely on the right track by updating its compatibility with DivX and bring support to the ever increasing and vastly popular MKV format.
We will all be very earnestly looking forward to that day when we won’t need switch from the PS3 in order to play MKV files.
Firmware 2.60. should be good news for gamers.