According to issa3032: Install the optional Firmware 2.43 update, and the system actually seems more resposive. Anyway, I booted up Gran Turismo 5 and was browsing around the options when I noticed something interesting: When you uncheck the "Disable Advanced Downloading" it asks you to "accept" or "decline".
In the past you used to get a warning message saying this feature would be enabled in a future firmware update. Well this message no longer pops up. I guess now we know what the firmware update did in addition to speeding up the XMB.
Note to others: "Unlike previous updates, firmware v2.43 is specific to the Japan region, and only PS3 users there will be required to install the update."
Video can be seen below.. Enjoy!
To quote Al De Leon (PR Manager, SCEA) via PS Blog:
Hi, everyone, I wanted to give you a heads up about PS3 firmware update (v2.43). Unlike previous updates, firmware v2.43 is specific to the Japan region, and only PS3 users there will be required to install the update. PS3 users in all other regions will not be prompted to download v2.43. However, if you manually initiate a firmware update by clicking on “System Update” under the XMB’s Settings icon, the v2.43 update will be available, regardless of where you are located.
Download: PS3 Firmware 2.43 (US) / PS3 Firmware 2.43 (EU)
Users outside of Japan do not need to perform this update if your PS3 system software is on version v2.41 o... More »
(0) 
