PS3 Firmware 4.20's Hidden Secret Is Web Browser Related

TSA: "Every time there's a firmware update for the PS3, the list of changes and fixes seems to skip a couple of features. With the latest system software - 4.20 - going live last night we've been looking to see what's new in there."

[sinncross]

its more user friendly, I will give Sony that.

Still need to update the whole browser though...

[nukeitall]

LOL!

"Sony have finally removed the pop-up that asks you about plug-ins multiple times per session and in some cases multiple times per page."

but, but, but a browser has been available on PS3 all this time! If it only was useful and didn't crash every time I tried to use it and bug the shit out of me.

Even the Wii browser is better. The WII! Seriously, the WII!!!

[gaden_malak]

No console browser is useful.

[FunAndGun]

@ gaden_malak

I use Pandora on my PS3 all the time, it is very useful.

[InactiveUser]

Another 'hidden' change / possible improvement:

PMs now read out in full instead of just the title when you go into Received Messages.

[kudakadere]

can that watch HD video o.O ?

[tawak]

"Even the Wii browser is better. The WII! Seriously, the WII!!!"

- you got to be kidding me.

[homer]

He's right. It loads much faster too. I don't know why the ps3's browser is so bad. I wish the rumors about chrome were true.

[3GenGames]

He is right, Opera on Wii beats the crap out of the PS3's browser, it has 10x better script execution and rendering at minimum. Until, that is, Sony adopts Chrome as its browser. Then it's over and there won't be any "better browser" controversy as nothing will be better...for a while.

[akaakaaka]

ps3 browser does not frezz, since long time ago.

you mr. trroll! "nukeitall" fail

[MaxXAttaxX]

Seriously, the Wii browser isn't much better. It's harder to navigate and a bit more limiting.

Shouldn't you be in more 360 related articles instead? I'm sure you'll find something useful to talk about.... maybe

[nukeitall]

@NathanExplosion:

I will do you the honor of a response. Enjoy!

"Seriously, the Wii browser isn't much better. It's harder to navigate and a bit more limiting."

The Wii browser doesn't crash and ask me gazillion times about a plug-in I already said no to.

The use of a Wii mote with the browser makes it very easy to navigate and the browser doesn't crash! Far easier than using a DualShock controller with a browser that crashes if you sneeze.

It is what it is, and the PS3 browser really sucks! It's not even worth having.

"Anybody wanna count how many Sony related articles 'nukeitall' has trolled so far?"

Are you angry I'm speaking the truth?

Looking at your comments dating back almost 4-years ago, it's clear, you are a Sony fanboy!

http://n4g.com/news/217615/...

http://n4g.com/news/216900/...

"Shouldn't you be in more 360 related articles instead?"

I like the 360, but it's Nintendo Wii U and PC where the shit is happening right now, so no not the 360!

[MaxXAttaxX]

The PS3's browser hasn't crashed on me in a long time. I honestly can't remember the last time it did. The plug-in thing was addressed.
It's been useful to me many times, so yeah, I think it's worth having.

And no, are you kidding? Using the Wii remote as a pointer is one of the most tiring things. It has nothing on a mouse or even analog sticks.
For example, Kirby's Epic Yarn was a fun game but being forced to use it a a pointer for the train sections sucked all the fun out of it. It's just annoying at times.

""it's Nintendo Wii U and PC where the shit is happening right now""

Riiiight, cause the Wii U has proven itself to be where it's at right now lol. Surprising, coming from someone who supports Kinect so much.
But anyway, if you really think so, then what are you doing here in the first place?

You try too hard. And it shows in all of your recent comments.

[MysticStrummer]

I'd say it's amazing you have so many bubbles, but considering the way this cesspool works I guess it's really not. I use the PS3 web browser literally all day long, and no it's not as terrible as you try to make it out to be. I have a new iMac sitting next to me and I still use my PS3 browser all day on the TV instead.

[ziggurcat]

while it may be nice to have for some people, i've been on record several times saying that i believe they should just get rid of the browser altogether.

yes, i know not everyone has a computer, but that browser is such a useless, inefficient piece of crap...

[CaptainSheep]

That's a good thing. It gets really annoying when I'm asked about that over and over again. But I'm still waiting for a complete new browser.

[WeskerChildReborned]

Don't count on it until the next gen Playstation come's out.

[Telepot]

The PS3 browser is death!

[BlackTar187]

my x rated videos work great on it.

[Telepot]

I was actually going to comment something like that, that it's only good use is for porn.

[MaxXAttaxX]

Considering how porn makes up like 90% of the internet, I'd say the PS3 browser does a good job LOL. I kid of course.

[black911]

I was waiting for the Google Chrome Logo to appear on stage at Sony's E3 Conference.

[sikbeta]

PS4 with 8GB of RAM confirmed! lol Chrome is nice, but it'd crash the s#*t out the system with only one tab XD hope PS4 can handle enough apps and gets its own version of different kinds of SW

[3GenGames]

Chrome will Crash? Apparently you've never heard the horror stories of FireFox memory leaks that will take down your whole system. Chrome runs tabs in about 100MB chunks each on my 4GB RAM x64 Win7 computer. Same ammount when running Ubuntu too. But when you run it on a computer with low RAM available the usage shrinks down to just a few MB per page. It only take 100MB RAM for speed, not necessity, and it lets it go when the OS starts taking chunks for other programs. One way Sony can work around that and give it about 100MB per page is to save the session for each tab on your HDD with the RAM it needs. That's not a wanted solution since it can take up lots of HDD, but it can work if they want it to.

[Godmars290]

Still no BlipTV :(

[LOGICWINS]

It's a little off topic, but is anyone else having downloading issues with this new firmware? I just bought the GTA4 Complete Edition around 6pm. I started downloading it, but upon realizing that it would take more than a day to fully install, I decided to wait till I got back home to start downloading again...so I cancelled the download(since I don't like leaving my PS3 on when I'm out of the house due to possible fire concerns. I have a 60GB and it runs VERY hot.)

At 2am, I'm back home and surprise surprise, a new firmware has popped up. I download it. After downloading it, I attempt to download GTA4 once again...and I'm told that I don't have enough free space on my hardrive(even though it worked the first time). Here's the kicker. According to my system settings, I have 20GB of free space...yet GTA4 is only 11GB.

Either its the firmware or my hardrive(after SIX years) is beginning to have issues coincidentally right after I downloaded the new firmware.

EDIT:

As it turns out, I'm not the only one having issues with this firmware.

http://www.ign.com/blogs/xi...

http://forums.trendyent.com...

[LOGICWINS]

Works now! I deleted more stuff and managed to get one more gig of free space off my PS3...thus giving me enough space to download GTA4. But I'm now realizing that all these firmwares I've downloaded over the past couple of years have been eating up my hardrive space, which is bull since most of it is crap that I don't even use such as the video editor.

[room414]

nah, they don't eat up your hard drive space, the updates overwrite each other

[LOGICWINS]

Thats good to know, but it still doesn't explain why I needed to delete more files off my PS3 for the download to work after FW 4.20. Either way, the problems solved now.

[KevPC]

just upgrade your hard drive :) i had an 80 gb for 4 years now its 500gb, yay :D (I had to do it after all the free games sony gave ps plus members after E3)

[InactiveUser]

May not be what you're talking about, but.. You're most likely filling up your hard drive with Game Data. Like MGS install 5GB, GT5 install another 5GB, etc.

Making up numbers a little bit there, but delete Game Data that you don't play anymore. You can still keep your Save Data.

[tack129]

If the game was 11gb download, wouldn't it need 22gb of free space to install or download?

[GameSpawn]

Yes tack129. In fact it might need more than double the space (at least temporarily). The download is a compressed installer package that essentially must first be decompressed and then installed.

The only reason I think they cannot do both at the same time is the PS3's method of encrypting data on the hard drive. Every PS3's data is uniquely encrypted so that you cannot just swap drives between two different PS3s and still access the data (so one PS3's data is essentially garbage and looked at as an unformatted drive to another PS3). Also the package is universally encrypted so that all PS3s (with the proper firmware) can decrypt and then re-encrypt (to their unique encryption) the game data (this probably occurs during the decompression process in one action).

[Non_sequitur]

go to safe mode and choose the restore file system option and it should give you a few gigs back.

[Diver]

you can't download an update on a ps3 you dont have. nobody thinks for a second you got one. your post was about trying to find something negative.

[Fixlarz]

You need to have DOUBLE the space per download. The way the PS3's downloadable games work is that first, you download the game, then install and copy it to your HD and then your PS3 deletes the download. So for a 11Gb download, you need 22Gb to actually download and install the game. Kind of a stupid system but it works and I personally rarely download stuff that's over 5Gb per item so I'm ok with it. And no, new firmware doesn't stack up on your HD and even if it does, it's automatically rewrited whenever you download/install something new.

[BlackTar187]

thats not true i dl stuff all the time check my open space and i have like 1000kb left. So it doesn't need double the space to dl.

[Fixlarz]

@BlackTar187 You don't need double space to download, you need double to download AND install. You can't install a game that you've downloaded unless you have the same (or more) amount of free space on your PS3. I should've said that right in the beginning, mah bad.

[neogeo]

It unlocked a hidden 4gigs of RAM that's been hidden so deep no body ever knew it was there.

[MasterCornholio]

Not to mention an update that causes the cell to clone itself making the PS3 4 times as powerful and beating Microsoft and Nintendo to the next gen.

LOL

Seriously wheres my damn PSX classics for the Vita Sony?

[andibandit]

FINALLY Sony has unlocked the remaining 19 SPU's of the CELL

MOAR SUPERCOMPUTER!!

[baodeus]

yeah after the update, mine turn into a rocket and flew off into space....dam...hope it comeback soon.

[mrmancs]

any high res video play back in browser yet? What a joke that you can only watch the lowest settings on videos..

[InactiveUser]

Agreed, YouTube looks like ass and I hate that it looks like a mobile site or an app instead of the real site.

[black911]

Ps3youtube.com it also lets you download any youtube video to your PS3.

[linko18-1990]

I have a solution to that go to ps3youtube.com you can watch youtube videos in HD and it makes a world of a difference.

[Nutsack]

Slowny just releases everything in Beta and leaves it there while its starving.

Its sad really, happens to:

- Browser
- Home
- Move

And probably some more stuff I forget about now. I bet when MS bring their browser to the 360 at least instantly it'll work. Even though I don't care for a browser on any console, I have a netbook or tablet to use besides the normal computers.

Sony should just focus on some stuff really well and stop doing 'it all' but then just at 50% or less.

[Silly gameAr]

Man you guys are coming out of the woodwork. Almost like your anticipating something.

[banjadude]

Well to be fair, Home was, and is still an ambitious project; if you were an actual Home user like myself, you would notice they made a lot of progress with what was originally presented to the community.

[black911]

Luckily I have the new Samsung Smart TV with apps and an amazing web browser.

[morkendo23]

still cant log in yahoo on the ps3 browser

[Bowzabub]

Use yahoo mobile.. m.yahoo.com. Problem solved.

[TheKayle]

.ps3 browser is a joke...

waiting explorer for the 360!

[Lulz_Boat]

LOL, IE.... LOL

[holdmyown83]

AS IF!!!!

[1Victor]

You mean 360 exploder everyone know that exploder needs 1 gig or more of ram for all the warnings to load

JK

[TheKayle]

i know that ps3 browser go out of memory with some flash loaded..crash every 5 mins...and u need to LEARN how to dont make it crash (i got the ps3 eh!)...i didnt seen the xplorer for the xbox and also if it will need 1 gig...what?..u wanna play games during browsing? do multitasking like pcs? haahha lol...i hope that just dont crash.. and let me say...ms have a little bit more experience in browser than sony

[ExCest]

Still doesn't explain why IE sucks ass. More experience in browsers? HAH! Firefox and Chrome isn't MS and they do a better job.

[Azmatik]

TheKayle u need gramar skills barly understand what ur saying, i believe ur trying to diss ps3? im writing this on my ps3 browser use all the time sure its a lil slow but whatever. U just mad ps3 been web browsing since launch haha. Also im prety sure u can have what 6 browser tabs open at once on ps3 which is actually really good for a system with 512mb RAM sony is really good at what they do, my ps3 slim is even what half the size of ur xbox lol

[Jihaad_cpt]

you mean the IE browser for Xbox with no flash support? Why the hell would you wait for that?

[kingPoS]

There are times when sometimes you just want to browse while on the couch. Of course you can always bother with finding a platform for you mouse to rest on.
But couch browsing with a keyboard & mouse usually doesn't leave much in the way of comfort. Enter the PS3. While it may not be the most capable, it makes up for it's lack of function through ease of use.
Booksmarks: the most used are on top.
Convenience: zoom, lack of pc vulnerabilities, direct control of javascript.
I'm not saying the ps3 has the best browser, but I can say that I've taken the zoom feature for granted.
I sorely miss it on pc

[MySwordIsHeavenly]

There is always a zoom plug-in on web browsers. Not to take away from your statement, but I just wanted to tell you. I use mousezoom on Firefox and zoomWheel on Chrome. I highly recommend both.

[swat_teem]

could't you just bring a laptop to the couch with you? :P

[holdmyown83]

works great for me to watch my tv shows on watchseries.eu

[DivineAssault]

I know sony underestimated microsoft when designing ps3 with such little ram for media features so i forgive them for not being as easy & smooth as xbl.. I have a vita & i know which direction theyre taking psn.. Im going to fight my urges to buy a Wii U & wait til PS4 is released before buying a new console.. They have the best games & thats what a system is for right? I will still buy a Wii U but only when the games i like release & so far, they are nowhere in sight...

[mochachino]

It ridiculous that a multibillion dollar technology company has a worse browser than 4 years old phones.

[ash_divine]

The PS3 was released almost 6 years ago. (Which means the tech is even older.)

Math fail.

[TheFirstClassic]

You're talking to a monkey with glasses. What do you expect?

[1Victor]

Well its even worse than a multi billions software company console don't have one. Not a flame but my opinion and as such subject to disagree

[Snarkasaur]

I've never once opened a browser on my ps3. Why is this important?

[Godmars290]

Its not realy. Just so you can watch Youtube, Crackle or even Youporn - don't ask - on a TV instead of a PC w/o needing something like a Slingbox.

Edit: Really shouldn't be seeing it on a 20" or smaller screen for that matter. Especially in a public location, say like the floor of Congress or a State senate as it has been discovered.

Not that I have a thing against watching porn where it should be watched - in private.

[Snarkasaur]

Yikes. I have no desire to see close ups of genetalia on a 42 inch screen.

[mushroomwig]

It's important depending on your situation, when my laptop charger broke it was a god send.

[akaakaaka]

Well I have,
I have watch so many live sport games on it, even ppv for free and many soccer games every weekend and now enjoying the EURO Futbol"soccer" on it and will be using it to watch the copa libertadores finals this wensday, thanks to ps3 browser!
I also have watch many movie, download movies direct to the ps3 hd many times.
without the browser, ps3 will have been very VERY different, it make me sad to think about it lol...

[Ace_Man_6]

Minor changes to the Message Box as well

[andron]

The multiple save copy feature is very welcome. It was a chore copying one by one. And backing up your saves is wise, saved my ass when my PS3 died a couple months ago...

[Tunerboy8732]

I'm glad to see the annoying flash plugin message be removed plus the headset improvements are very welcomed.

[OMEGAXS1]

Sucks for checking out porn...er...wait...I do not look at porn on my PS3...I do not look at porn on my PS3 :)

[Aceluffy]

The virtual surround sound for the wireless headphone while watching Bluray/DVD is a very welcomed addition

[Hanif-876]

They should of released that from launch. Too bad i sold mine to buy a Tritton AX Pro because i loved the bass on that headset. It made me feel like i was actually at a movie theater. However, my tritton gives me a lot better sense of direction though.

[SuMtOnE]

i hate it when im playing a PS1 classic game and when someone send me a msg. i have to completely exit out the game inorder for me to read the msg =(

[swat_teem]

play offline? so you don't have to quit because no messages will come :D

[Smashbro29]

Just use a computer. That browser is less advanced than the one on my phone.

MY PHONE! That's truly ridiculous.

[PastyGangster]

The web browser hasn't crashed on me in ages, so I don't know what you're talking about, nukeitall. Go back to your dungeon, troll.

[DJ]

Web browser on it still sucks. PS4's better be as good as Google Chrome.

[JKelloggs]

Where's the one that Google and Sony were working on for the PS3?