PS3 official firmware 1.31 released

Posted by multippt

Last week, the PS3 (in US) received firmware update 1.30, which actually added several new features. Of course, we earlier said that you should expect more of these updates. Sony sure is quick this time. You can get this update through system update on the PS3.

Here are the details (courtesy of google translator):
-Increased compatibility for PlayStation 2 games that require the hard disk
-PlayStation of the part in PS3 and operational status of the PlayStation®2 standard software were renewed. You can verify up-to-date operational status with the private search sight.

Via PS3 Japan Official site (in Japanese)

Is this Sony’s attempt at viral marketing? - Creating a blog

Posted by multippt

Wow, about time Sony realized the power of blogging. Wow it is genuinely creative, no the blog (all i want for xmas is a psp) does not tell the tale of a real person.

I must say, the site does look like a real blog, with limited hints that it comes from Sony (marketing department?). The blog details on how the author have a PSP, while his friend doesn’t. His friend badly wanted a PSP for christmas (hence the domain for the blog). So, he tries to help his friend. Of course, there are “hints” of requests that you get a PSP to help his very friend of his.

The blog also consist of a youtube video (congrats again, Sony, you finally realized the power of youtube) that shows a person who says something about wanting a PSP (and he even got a PSP face plate for it too). The blog also consist of several PSP related stuff such as a card, a PSP iron on pattern sheet (for T-shirt), and an unusual “all i want for xmas is a PSP” $249 note.

While the posts have different timestamps (to make it more real), any blog can specially assign custom timestamps to their posts. In addition, how many blog owners can sustain the cost of a “.com” together with a web host that offers asp.net when there are actually lower cost alternatives? Also, wouldn’t the blog owner be alerted by Sony for copyright infringement for using the iconic symbols (that is, the circle, triangle, square and cross forund on the controller) from Sony game consoles? While it is possible that one can be trully raving for a PSP or is a fan of the PSP, how many would actually make urber professional (as if made by a marketing company or a skilled professional) (however though, the ad does not seem to do much influence though) downloadable freebies from their blog? Lastly, a check on the domain revealed it to be from Zipatoni. Zipatoni is a marketing company.

Well, its up to you to think if it is an actual blog or it is part of Sony’s effort at advertising the PSP.

Via Digg, “all i want for xmas is a psp”

PS3 red light problem - Possible fix

Posted by multippt

I’m sure there are some reports of PS3’s not turning on properly, but instead end up with the known flashing red light. Apparently, MXACE encountered this flashing red light problem, and managed to fix the problem after doing a simple fix (however though, this may not necessarily mean that it fixes all similar problems on the PS3).

The fix was to remove the hard drive from the PS3.

However, note that the flashing red light problem may be due to the hard drive being damaged, or it being poorly connected to the system. This relation is also noticed in several PS3 forums.

Via Qj.net

What if you leave a xbox 360 near a dog…

Posted by multippt

Who would have known that animals like gaming too… enough to make them chew on bits and pieces of it! Here’s the story:

Ben Ackerman auctioned off a xbox 360 on ebay. Apparently, after the auction, the buyer sent him an email, stating an incident relating to his xbox 360. It seems that the UPS delivery man (oh dear… bad publicity for UPS) left the package (containing the xbox 360) in the buyer’s back porch, where the seller’s dog suddenly start attacking the contents in that box.

The damage? Well, miraculously the xbox 360 survived the ordeal… without a single scratch! Unfortunately, the rest of the contents are not spared. The power brick sustained damage at the cable, and definitely needs replacing. The wireless controller has a chuck of it ripped off froom the main body (where the left trigger button used to reside). The wired controller only had slight damage to the cable. The dog also have an apetite for nice looking video game boxes (if you’re wondering, the game box which suffered the most damage was “Call of Duty 2″. Wow, the dog have good taste!). Fortunately, the game discs were spared from any damage.

Well, the seller has the UPS insurence, the buyer gets paid for (by the seller during the auction) and managed to improvise ways to substitute for broken parts.

Via Ben Ackerman

Wiimotes might get an upgrade soon

Posted by multippt

Now then, you have heard stories (and news reports) of the wiimote (the thing you use with the nintendo wii) breaking stuff here and there. Seriously, the wiimote (or the user) possesses a potential threat to the surroundings if the user of the wii becomes over enthusiastic and decided to go beyond the line. A flying wii (resulting from broken wii straps) can cause windows to be smashed, or worse, your TV (wow… you would need to pay more than just that broken strap)! Of course, the wiimote (strangely) does not sustain much damage (well done Nintendo!). These events might be linked to the pulling out of wii demostration units in walmarts over USA.

Now then, after all these rumbling about the wiimote doing some damage and something like that, I still haven’t said anything about the upgrade yet. Well, the truth is… wiimotes are going to have thicker straps (sorry if I made you read too much). Anyways, the thicker straps will lower the chances of your wiimote fling out of your frantically waving hands, meaning, less damage done by flying wiimotes!

Via Shacknews, Qj.net

Netnoob admits that burning PS3 was a hoax

Posted by multippt

A few days ago, netnoob claimed that his PS3 overheated and burned down half of his house. Of course, there were some who did not believe his tale, while many others began to question Sony of the likelihood of the PS3 becoming too overheated.

This controversal scenario led Sony to take action against him, since this meant bad publicity to Sony (they received 200 calls from worried consumers).

The fact is, Netnoob does not own a PS3 (and neither a house). He probably did this to gain as much publicity (and traffic) to his blog. However though, Netnoob was in the process of making it real, by buying a new PS3… and setting fire to it (wow, he must be rich…), and take photos of the PS3 burning away. He also intended to claim that Sony gave him a replacement, at the same time include pictures of the burning PS3 in his blog.

The scam/hoax did not go according to plan, and most likely his reputation on the net would go down with him and his white lies.

Via Netnoob

PS3 official firmware 1.30 released

Posted by multippt

Sony is dishing yet another update, this time for the PS3 (us only, if your PS3 comes from Japan, please update to version 1.11 instead), shortly after releasing an update for the PSP. With this update, the PS3 will be updated to firmware version 1.30. The update can be obtained through the network update feature on the PS3. 

The added features are outlined below:
-Support for several other usb devices
-Support for a bluetooth device (a remote control)
-DVD video output (for HDMI) is added as an option under DVD settings
-Backup utility is added as an feature under system settings
-Ability to select hard disk format in format utility and restore PS3 settings under system settings
-The method for selecting output resolution has been changed in videeo output settings

Expect more of these updates since its likely that they will come out on a monthly basis.

Via Kotaku