Sony has released a firmware update for the PS3 but users are reporting that none of the major issues they faced with their console have been addressed. Instead, firmware version 1.11 seems to have introduced some minor fixes.
The full list of features introduced by the update can be found at the bottom of this page.
What PS3 users seem most upset about seems to be the lack of information coming from Sony regarding the PS3. Many have complained about the sluggish browser, the odd Blu-Ray playback, the lack of background downloading and some have experienced online disconnection issues. This update fails to react to user complaints and instead introduces an account management tab which allows users to access their wallets a lot faster.
Expecting Sony to introduce fixes to the, many, PS3 problems this quickly is unfair as the console has not been around for that long. Sony however, has to confront its consumers at some point and explain why it chose to release a very expensive product when it was not quite ready for the public. The update does however, introduce support for the use of both the HDMI and Optical outputs.
This is what the Sony website has to say about firmware update 1.11:
General
- You can now use PLAYSTATION Network services.
- You can now use the single tap text entry method on the on-screen keyboard for English and other European languages.
Settings
- [Audio CD Output Frequency] has been added as a feature under [Music Settings].
- [Enable ATRAC] has been added as a feature under [System Settings].
- [Cross Color Reduction Filter] has been added as a feature under [Display Settings].
- [After 5 Minutes] has been added as an option to [Screensaver] under [Display Settings].
Video
- You can now select [Full Screen] under [Screen Mode] when playing video files saved on the hard disk or storage media.*
-An appropriate USB adaptor (not included) is required to use storage media with some models.
Network
- You can now download and save music and video files on the hard disk under [Internet Browser].
- You can now download the following types of content under [PLAYSTATION Store].
− PLAYSTATION 3 format software
- PLAYSTATION Network titles*
- The term "PLAYSTATION Network titles" refers to PlayStation format games (PS one) downloaded from PLAYSTATION Store and PSP format games distributed electronically.
- Simplified and traditional Chinese characters can now be displayed under [Internet Browser].
- [Online Instruction Manuals] has been added as a feature.
- Friends
- New for 1.11: [Account Management] has been added.
Other
- The method of calculating hard disk capacity has been changed.
- Free space on the hard disk is calculated as 1 GB (1024 x 1024 x 1024) = approx. 1,073,740,000 bytes. As a result, the free space value displayed may be less than the value that is mentioned under specifications in the product documentation. You can check hard disk free space under [Settings] > [System Settings] > [System Information].
- Playability status with the PS3 system has changed for some PlayStation and PlayStation®2 format titles. To check on the latest status, visit the search site for compatible titles.
- New for 1.11: Some PLAYSTATION Network features have been revised.