161w ago - Update: TheSixthAxis.com has confirmed that the Flash version used in the PS3's browser has also been updated alongside some region-free Blu-ray disc issues (such as BBC's Life), and badcrumble of NeoGAF speculates that the PS3 Blu-ray profile has been updated in preparation for 3D support.

PlayStation Network Operations Director Eric Lempel has announced details today of the mandatory PS3 Firmware 3.30 System Update.

Download: PS3 Firmware 3.30 (US) / PS3 Firmware 3.30 (EU)

To quote: Hi everyone, in our continued effort to provide the best, most comprehensive entertainment experience possible, we'll be adding a few new features to PlayStation 3 (PS3) via the latest system software update, which is a mandatory update and will be available shortly.

Most notably, you'll see some new sorting options within Trophies that make it easier to claim bragging...

161w ago - Sony's Senior Vice President of Marketing & PlayStation Network Peter Dille has shared the next in the series of "It Only Does Everything" PlayStation 3 videos featuring Kevin Butler today.

To quote: Last year at E3, we unveiled our next installment of the "Play, Create, Share" movement which has been a runaway success since LittleBigPlanet branded a new standard for user-generated gaming.

This time we've taken the genre-creating formula to the race tracks. We're putting the power of creation back into your hands to redefine kart racing as we know it today.

Launching on May 25th for the PS3 and PSP, ModNation Racers will fill millions of living rooms with next gen kart racing with crazy obstacles, weapons, and a whole host of new characters to race along with you. You'll be able to play single player or challenge your friends to compete on race tracks that come built in with the game.

But imagine being able to customize your characters, your karts, and your very own tracks with your personal flare. We know our users are extremely creative as we already have more than 2 million user generated levels for LittleBigPlanet. Imagine what we'll see when you all start making amazing race tracks.

We know...

161w ago - Sony recently stated that it will not compensate retailers who refund customers because of a PS3 Firmware update to its PlayStation 3 entertainment system.

The change prevents the machine from using alternative operating systems, which it was previously able to do. Some owners installed the Linux operating system, allowing them to use their consoles as desktop computers as well as games machines.

Consumer law protects the buyers of goods if their functions change, but retailers generally cannot pass those claims on to the device makers who made the change, according to Richard Parkinson, a technology lawyer with Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind OUT-LAW.COM.

To quote: Press reports indicate that one consumer received a refund for his console from online retailer Amazon. Sony itself has said that it will not reimburse retailers who do so.

The company told reporters that the machine's main function was as a gaming console, and that an ability to run the Linux operating system is not explicitly mentioned on its packaging. Others have claimed, though, that a feature called "Install Other OS" was listed in Sony's promotional material.

"The retailer has...

162w ago - Update: As over 60 users are reporting below, it appears Sony has finally added a version check blocking PS3 Proxy methods for PSN. Additionally, 8002A212 is an error returned by the PSN servers during authentication (invalid version) and 8002A227 means your console is banned (OpenPSID = blacklisted).

A few weeks back we posted several methods to Bypass PS3 Firmware 3.21 and Connect to PSN, and today dc740 has updated his PS3 Firmware check remover dubbed PS3NoUpdate to version 3.0 with a guide while jabberosx has coded up an installer and FAQ for the tool.

Download: PS3NoUpdate v3.0 With SRC / PS3NoUpdate Installer

To quote: I wrote a simple program that uses the known DNS method to bypass the firmware check... but with one difference... you only have to configure...

163w ago - Here is a video demoing my "custom firmware". I would have added something showing off the new features of 3.21, but oh wait, there aren't any.

This can be installed without having to open up your PS3, just by restoring a custom generated PUP file.

It's possible this CFW will also work on the slim to actually *enable* OtherOS; I'll know when my infectus gets here.

No release date yet, use the proxy hack to play online with 3.15

Note to the people who removed OtherOS, you are potentially turning 100000+ legit users into "hackers."