PSP 5.50 Firmware Update Released Now

PSP fans can be excited about the new PSP 5.50 firmware update which is ready to download now (official site download link below).

Some of the new features updates for the new PSP 5.50 firmware version include:

Information Board XMB Interface, which was already seen on the PS3 2.70 firmware update. This new addition lets users receive updated information, PSP news, and other details about the Playstation Network including updates of Playstation Home. In order to stay current with all the information you can simply log on with your PSP using a local WiFi connection. Moreover, you could also search for PSP games right from the XMB using the Internet.

In addition, the Memory Stick now has added options, such as creation of new folders and sub categories, so you can organize all your PSP videos, games, music and images you have been storing.

There are also added security features in the new PSP 5.50 firmware…as a trial. These include protection of personal details or lock areas from children access.

Playstation promises great new features will continually be added, but in the meantime, you can download the PSP 5.50 firmware update from the link below.

Download link:

http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/SystemUpdates/PSP

PS3 Firmware Update 2.76 Released Now

Until the new PS3 Slim is made official, the new PS3 Firmware Update version 2.76 is now ready for download at the official PlayStation site (download link below). This new update for the PlayStation 3 has a few minor additions since the previous 2.70 Firmware Update.

Based on PlayStation support, the new PS3 features (which include the previous firmware update) are:

[Dynamic Normalizer] has been added as an option under [Music]

You can now back up content (file type MNV) that was downloaded from the Video Store of PlayStation®Store and you can restore files that you backed up to the same PS3™ system. You can use this feature to back up both SD (standard definition) and HD (high definition) resolution content.

Game

New for 2.76: The playback quality of some PLAYSTATION®3 format software has been improved.

You can now easily search the Internet for information about your PLAYSTATION®3 format software, as well as for games you purchased from PlayStation®Store. Choose the icon for the game, and then choose [Internet Search] from the options menu to get search results based on the game title.

Network

You can now copy and paste text from a Web page viewed in the Internet browser.

[Copy Address of This Page] and [Copy Address of This Link] have been added as options under [File] in the browse mode menu of the Internet browser.

[Browser Security] has been added as an option to the browse mode menu of the Internet browser. The websites for the Web filtering services that used to be listed under [Bookmarks] have been moved under this new option.

Friends

The order in which Friends are listed in the Friends list has been changed. You can now sort by name (alphabetical order) and by status, listing both online and offline Friends by the last time online. When you have pending requests to add Users as Friends, the icons for these Users are now displayed at the top of the Friends list.

The maximum size for files that can be attached to messages has been increased to 3 MB.

There may not be too many changes and additions in this new PS3 firmware version, but for many gamers, any update is desired. You can download the new PS3 2.76 Firmware Update at the below Download Link.

Download link:

http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/SystemUpdates/PS3

Playstation 3 Cell Processor

he setup of the Cell processor is like having a team of processors all working together on one chip to handle the large computational workload needed to run next-generation video games. In order to understand how the Cell processor works, it helps to look at each of the major parts that comprise this processor.

The "Processing Element" of the Cell is a 3.2-GHz PowerPC core equipped with 512 KB of L2 cache. The PowerPC core is a type of microprocessor similar to the one you would find running the Apple G5. It's a powerful processor on its own and could easily run a computer by itself; but in the Cell, the PowerPC core is not the sole processor. Instead, it's more of a "managing processor." It delegates processing to the eight other processors on the chip, the Synergistic Processing Elements.

The computational workload comes in through the PowerPC core. The core then assesses the work that needs to be done, looks at what the SPEs are currently processing and decides how to best dole out the workload to achieve maximum efficiency.
The SPEs used in the Cell processor are each SIMD (Single Instruction, Multiple Data), 128-bit vector processors. Vector processors are designed to quickly process several pieces of data at once. They were commonly used in the 1980s in large, powerful, scientific supercomputers and were created as a faster alternative to the more common scalar processor. Scalar processors can only work one data element at a time. Despite this limitation, advances in scalar design and performance have made the use of vector processors very rare these days in most computers. However, because of the vector processor's ability to handle several data elements at once, IBM resurrected this design for the Cell. There are eight SPEs on the chip, but only seven of them handle processing. The eighth SPE is built in as redundancy in case one of the other seven fails.

The SPEs each come loaded with 256 KB SRAM. This high-speed memory helps each SPE crunch numbers quickly. The SPE memory is also visible to the main Processing Element. This allows the PowerPC Core to utilize the resources of each SPE in the most efficient way possible. All of this amounts to unprecedented power for a piece of consumer electronics.

How PlayStation 3 Works

The Sony PlayStation dynasty has ruled the console market since the introduction of the original Pl­ayStation in 1994. There are 13,000 video game titles available worldwide for PlayStation products, and more are released monthly. Sony plans to continue its market dominance with the latest version of its successful console, the PlayStation 3.

In this article, we'll take an in-depth look at the PlayStation 3. We'll learn about the ground-breaking new microprocessor at the heart of the PS3, the powerful graphics processor that supports hi-def graphics at unprecedented resolutions and the console's controller makeover, among other things.

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­ Sony designed the PlayStation 3 to be more than just a video game console. It supports all kinds of digital entertainment and is basically a home-entertainment computer. This computer sports a specially designed CPU called the Cell processor. Sony, Toshiba and IBM worked together to develop the Cell processor. It's their answer to the growing trend toward multi-core processing, in which manufacturers place as many processors as possible onto one chip. The Cell processor is scalable for different performance needs. The one used in the PlayStation 3 crams 234 million transistors onto a single die. For comparison, one of the most powerful desktop PC CPUs available in 2005, the $1,000, dual-core Pentium Processor Extreme Edition, just barely breaks the 200-million-transistor mark.

The Latest Information on Play Station 3

Playstation 3, the third in the Playstation series, is Sony’s seventh generation era game console.

Users of Playstation in Japan and the United States will not have to wait much as the Playstation 3 will be released on November 2006. However, for those in Europe and Australasia, they have to wait until March 2007 for the release of the PS3. Reports say that this has been so because of the scarcity in the production of diodes which are used in Blu-ray optical drives.

The Playstation 3 will be released in two types of configurations. The first type includes a 60-GB internal hard disk, memory card readers, and Wi-Fi support. The second version does not have the Wi-Fi feature and memory card, and is designed only with a 20-GB hard drive.

Aside from the 20-GB or 60-GB console, a PS3 package contains the following units: 1 controller, 1 Ethernet cable, 1 power cable, and 1 USB cable.

Sony has announced in their news that Playstation 3 will be supporting a mouse and keyboard play — something PC gamers will surely welcome. The mouse and keyboard shall be connected to the PS3 console via the USB. However, it is still not clear whether any USB mouse or keyboard can connect to the unit console, or if only selected peripherals will be allowed. Moreover, Sony posted that Playstation Portables shall connect to PS3 by means of Bluetooth. The PSP may act as remote controls for the console. With that, PS3 gamers can browse folders and files without having to leave their seats. In addition, films and photos can be transferred between the two gadgets. However, the PSP cannot operate as a PS3 controller.

Game enthusiasts and Playstation lovers have always wanted to be up-to-date with the latest stories, particularly with the Playstation 3.

Recently, the Sony Corporation warned the public of potential scams for the just upcoming game console. Sony told the public to be careful with pre-orders using the internet.


The report of Sony stated that various web sites make use of discounts and other promotional offers as their bait to possible customers.

Sony, however, did not specify which web sites participate in such scams. They advised the possible buyers to be careful when pre-ordering online and to buy online from registered and authorized sellers.

On other news, Sony has released a record of its window game titles. The games listed are expected to be launched within the first six months. Some of these titles include:

* Fight Night Round 3
* Full Auto 2: Battlelines
* Call of Duty 3
* NBA 2k7
* Genji: Days of the Blade
* Resistance: Fall of Man
* Sonic the Hedgehog
* F.E.A.R.
* Marvel: Ultimate Allliance
* Blazing Angels Squadrons of WWII
* Untold Legends of Dark Kingdom
* Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07
* Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire
* Tom Hawk’s Project 8

Another recent story reports that Sony disclosed that the SIXAXIS, PS3’s wireless controller, would come with non-removable batteries. This means that when the batteries are depleted, the users would have to buy another. Of course, this has raised controversies since the controllers are expansive.

In defense, a spokesman of Sony stated that their controllers are equipped with the most advanced Lithium Polymer batteries. As such, the battery life is projected to last many years. They guaranteed that in case of failure of their items, Sony will provide service for the items.