PS3 Firmware Update v3.40 Adds PlayStation Plus Service, Video Editing and More

June 28, 2010 3:20 PM

The upcoming firmware update for the PlayStation 3 is set to include a slew of new features for owners of the console, including the PlayStation Plus subscription service. The long rumored and recently announced premium tier of the service, which is slated to go live tomorrow, will give players access to multiple features and special offers for a fee of $17.99 for three months or $49.99 for one year. Users who select the one year option are automatically given an additional three months of the service at no extra charge.

Firmware v3.40 also adds the ability to edit video from the PlayStation 3 console and upload it to sites such as YouTube and Facebook, a PSN Store five-star rating system, enhancements "to the connection between users' PlayStation Network and Facebook accounts," and a new "network based photo sharing feature."

Additionally, a firmware update for the PSP handheld will be released simultaneously with the PS3 update, adding the PlayStation Plus subscription package and other "minor features," which Sony did not list in the press release sent earlier today.

In a post on the official PlayStation Blog, PSN senior director Susan Panico clarified the launch features of the PlayStation Plus, which also includes a free copy of WipEout HD and access to the digital "magazine" Qore:

Access to a rotating set of free PSP Minis and PSone Classics
Exclusive access to select demos, betas, and early purchases
"First hour" demo access to full titles
PlayStation Store discounts
Automatic downloads

The detailed breakdown of firmware v3.40 additions, include:

Network-based photo sharing, allowing users to upload, browse and comment on photos on sites such as Facebook and Picasa Web Album. PS3 users can also share photos with PSN friends.
Video Editor and Uploader, which enables users to edit, save and upload "certain types of videos" stored on the PS3 system to sites such as Facebook or YouTube.
A five star rating system for PSN Store content.
Default setting for PS3 System Auto-Off will be set at two hours, providing users with additional power save options.
A "separate, new PlayStation Network application" available on the Facebook Platform. Allowing users to display status, view Facebook friends with PSN accounts, send PSN requests and view friend online status.

Xav de Matos

Xav de Matos was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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the archvile

 reply
June 28, 2010 3:28 PM

..but still no "other OS." The downlevel PS3 computing clusters trudge on, eroding away, node failure by node failure.
- dalmiroy2k
  
   reply
  June 28, 2010 3:51 PM
  
  Fuck them.
  That's what happens when you invest in gaming consoles instead of real servers.
  - the archvile
    
     reply
    June 28, 2010 3:58 PM
    
    Yeah, fuck the United States Air Force, UMass Dartmouth, and other various institutions who trusted Sony!
    - WilliamDecker
      
       reply
      June 28, 2010 6:47 PM
      
      Trusted? They sold them a product that worked as advertised. If they fail under warranty they're replaced.
      
      They're meant (and provided a warranty) to be used as gaming consoles, not for large server computations. The PS3 "does everything", but not for forever.