140w ago - Update: According to ConnectedConsoles.com, Sony's Japanese Web site reveals the additional PS3 Firmware 3.50 features as follows, to quote:

"Facebook connectivity will increase and will allow users (at least from what we can gather from the translation) to post what game they're playing on the social networking site.

Moreover, you can now report messages from the XMB which will be a much-welcomed feature for those of you who recieved spam over PSN."

Additionally, Made2Game.com now lists the rest, as follows:

• Support for Blu-ray 3D
• 'Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity' - New icon [Music]. Although this service is not yet available, the icon will be shown in this section.
• Control 'Direct Pointer' in the browser via PlayStation Move.
• PlayStation Plus User Interface in the PlayStation Store updated.
• 3D Display to warn of 3D content.
• Calibration of PlayStation Move motion control will be possible the menu [Game]
• Reports about users may...

150w ago - In a recent interview with CVG, SCEE's Mick Hocking confirmed previous reports that 3D Blu-ray movie support will indeed be coming to the PlayStation 3 this year along with support for 3D Photos via two PS3 3D Firmware updates.

The first PlayStation 3 3D Firmware update will arrive in September, while the second doesn't have a date set yet.

To quote: "In September this year, we're launching another Firmware upgrade - and this one is going to upgrade the PS3 to support Blu-ray movies in 3D," said Hocking.

"Again, you won't have to do anything - just connect your PS3. For the film market that's a very significant event. Then later in the year - we're not going to date it yet - the PS3 is going to support 3D photos.

Of course the popularity of 3D isn't just going to come from movies and games. There's 3D cameras on the market, there's 3D camcorders coming on the market in the next 12 months as well, and 3D broadcasts."

182w ago - Sony's Senior Vice President of Marketing & PlayStation Network Peter Dille has unveiled a new video from PS3's ad campaign today entitled 'It Only Does Blu-ray Movies.'

To quote: Next week's Thanksgiving holiday marks the kick-off to the traditional retail holiday selling season. It's a key part of our year as many people who may not be hardcore gamers begin their research for the hottest gift items. Naturally, we expect the PS3 to be on a lot of those lists this year.

This holiday's PS3 campaign marks one of our most aggressive approaches in terms of our advertising reach and frequency, so we hope you've seen the new commercials while watching your favorite TV programs.

I've been receiving a lot of emails from friends and family and hearing from a lot of you who are catching the commercials regularly and laughing even after the third or fourth helping.

We couldn't be more pleased by the overwhelming response, not just to the ads, but also evidenced by the sheer momentum behind our recent sales numbers. I'd like to personally welcome all of the new PS3 owners to what will be one of our best years ahead.

Beyond the amazing line up of Blu-ray games hitting this holiday, we're also expecting some blockbuster Blu-ray movie releases, including...

202w ago - According to the Entertainment Merchant's Association 2008 Annual Report, the Home Entertainment Industry holds survey results showing 87% of PS3 owners reported they watch Blu-ray movies on their console... essentially concluding that the PS3 saved Blu-ray.

The study also found the average gamer to be 33-years old with 24% that are older than 50.

To quote: The EMA feels Blu-ray was the losing format in 2006, but thanks to the PS3, it rebounded in 2007 to become the de facto winner. Their prediction is the PS3 will be "the main force behind Blu-ray disc sales until 2009, when standalone Blu-ray players are expected to outpace the sales volume of the PS3."

We think this report raises a number of questions:

Is the PS3 really the driving force behind Blu-ray? Or is Blu-ray the driving force behind the PS3? Did Sony take too much of a gamble with a new format and didn't invest enough into the games? If so, will that improve now that Blu-ray has won?

269w ago - According to PC World, PS3 Firmware update v2.20 that is expected to be released in late March will expose the ability to "Portable Copy."

The say that "Portable Copy" will enable PS3 users to copy a standard-definition version of a Blu-ray movie to a PlayStation Portable (PSP).

However, this is not mentioned in the Firmware update v2.20 Press Release (below), only that you can you can transfer music and photo playlists from the PS3 to the PSP.

Press Release

PS3(TM) Owners Will Soon Enjoy Downloadable Movie Content, Games And More With Blu-ray Disc(TM) Profile 2.0; PS3's Interoperability With PSP(R) Will Also Be Enhanced

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced that the next system software update for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system, slated for release in late March, will add Blu-ray Disc(TM) (BD) Profile 2.0 or BD-LIVE, enabling PS3 owners to experience interactive features, such as downloadable video content, ringtones, games, and more. In addition to BD-LIVE, the system software update (v. 2.20) will enable photo and music playlists on PS3 to be copied to PSP®(PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, among other new features. These updates demonstrate how PS3 continues to evolve as a home entertainment hub...