SCEA
announced the complete details for the Playstation 3's upcoming
firmware update today. Firmware version 1.60 will release March 22nd
and will add Folding@home connectivity, improved downloading for the
Playstation Store, an on-screen QWERTY keyboard, support for
Bluetooth enabled keyboards and mice, and more. The complete update
details are available below, direct from Sony:
Folding@home
Beginning
Thursday, PS3 users will be able to connect to Stanford University’s
Folding@home program, a distributed computing project aimed at
understanding protein folding, misfolding, and related diseases, such
as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and many cancers. Using the power of
the Cell Broadband Engine, the PS3 system can perform computer
simulations for the Folding@home program 20-30 times faster than the
average home PC. Once a PS3 system is updated to version 1.60, users
can easily sign up to join the Folding@home program by clicking on
the associated logo on the XMB
(XrossMediaBar)
under the Network icon. The user is then able to link to a
distributed network of PS3s, conducting simulations and sending them
back to a central computer at Stanford University for compilation and
analysis. Additional details about Folding@home are available at
http://www.scei.co.jp/folding/en/
.
Enhanced
Downloading
Firmware
version 1.60 delivers a more convenient process for downloading
content to the PS3 from the PLAYSTATION Store. PS3 users will now be
able to queue up to six downloads at one time. Progress of downloads
can be easily tracked under a new Download Management menu under the
XMB’s Network icon. In addition, content will be able to be
downloaded in the background while using some PS3 system features,
such as accessing the XMB to display videos and photos from the
system’s hard drive, playing music, and browsing the Web. Please
refer to
http://www.us.playstation.com/ps3/network/updates
for full information on this feature.
Text
Entry and Web Browsing
Firmware
1.60 also will support keyboards and mice enabled with Bluetooth
wireless technology. Text entry is further expanded with the option
to use a full QWERTY on-screen keyboard, in addition to the existing
single tap keyboard. PS3 system’s built-in Web browser will also be
enhanced with the ability to zoom in to the optimal viewing size for
the selected area of a Web page at the press of a button, as well as
an optional tool for reducing flicker when the PS3 system is using
interlaced video out (480i or 1080i).
Other
Feature Upgrades
Remote
Play – This feature, enabling you to access photos, videos, and
music on your PS3 system’s hard drive from a nearby PSP
(PlayStationPortable) system, will be available for the 20GB
configuration, when utilizing an external Wi-Fi router or local
wireless access point.
Disc
Auto-Start – This new option under System Settings allows you to
choose whether or not a disc should start automatically upon
inserting the disc or turning on your PS3 system.
Blu-ray
Disc Rewriteable (BD-RE) – PS3 system can now playback BD-RE discs
(version 3.0).
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