The latest update for Sony’s PlayStation 3 has gone live. Firmware 3.50 brings the promised support for 3D Blu-ray movies. The PS3 now supports both 3D movies and games. Along with the update, the PS3 has jumped on the social network bandwagon, with Facebook integration being put in place for supported games and a “grief reporting function”.
Facebook Integration: Developers will be able to create PS3 games that have more interaction with Facebook. Once compatible PS3 titles are available, PS3 users can choose to access public information on Facebook – including user name, profile, uploaded photos and friends list – to enhance their gameplay experience.
Grief Reporting Function: Users can send claim reports directly from the XMB for any inappropriate messages they receive from other PlayStation Network users. This feature is accessible from the option menu of the messages list in the FRIENDS category.
Sony UK has started promoting the new Bravia which comes with 3D technology with an interesting and unorthodox commercial. The ad is just a blur as it is entirely in 3D. The new 3D glasses which use advanced Active Shutter technology are needed to view the commercial.
The commercial features football star Kaka and runs in a fake 3D style. The ad shows shots of a teams training session which goes all wrong , scenes of excited women running, a grimacing bodybuilder, a sports car doing a burnout and a shattering trophy cabinet. This is then followed by a shot which shows Kaka shooting into an empty goal which explodes.
With this ad, the electronic giants are promoting their 3D technology which will feature in both, the Bravia as well as the PS 3.
“Do not adjust your set. Maybe it’s time to get a 3D TV.”
There is great news for all football lovers since Sony has inked deal with FIFA to relive top 20 spectacular moments over a span of 76 years of FIFA world cup. This will enable all people to view this action via Internet protocol (IP) enabled Bravia television sets and Blu Ray discs. Several player’s profile and films will also be screened to provide wonderful entertainment. The internet video platform of Bravia will showcase these wonderful events from mid may.
Sony has also made arrangements to screen 25 FIFA world cup 2010 with 3D technology. Football lovers will surely be treated with great fun due to availability of games in three dimensional modes. Several sophisticated cameras will be used to make this broadcast possible.
* View top 20 golden moments of FIFA world cup using IP enabled Bravia television sets
* Filming of 25 FIFA world cup 2010 games in 3D mode
* Service to start from mid may
Sony are releasing a new TV in Japan, which comes equipped with a 500GB hard drive. Like the other TVs being released there, the BX30H will offer up 3D. It will be available in both white and black, along with a choice of 22 inch, 26 inch or 32 inch display. Pricing is currently unknown. While over in the US, Sony will be releasing the Bravia TV as the BX300. In the US it will only be available with a 22 inch or 32 inch display and only come in black. The US will also miss out on the integrated HDD. Pricing for the US will be $280 for the 22 inch model, or $420 for the 32 inch model. Other specs of both of the TVs are:
* 720p HD resolution
* 100,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio
* CCFL back lighting
* 5.1 channel audio output
* 24p True Cinema
* BRAVIA Engine 2
* BRAVIA Sync
Sony have announced that the company plan to release 3D TVs in Japan starting from June 10th with the rest of the world, also to receive the 3D TV sets around the same time. Initially, Sony will release two TVs, a 40 inch model and a 46 inch model, which will retail for 290,000 Yen ($3215) and 350,000 Yen ($3898) respectively. Each TV will include two pairs of 3D glasses.
From July, 6 more models will be released. One will be a 40 inch set and another a 46 inch model. The other four, will not include the 3D glasses or 3D emitter and must be purchased separately. The cheapest of these models, will be a 40 inch display set, which will retail for 220,000 and glasses will cost 12,000 Yen, while the 3D infrared emitter is priced at 5,000 Yen.
A firmware update for the PS3 will also come out around the same time, adding 3D support.
