PS3 firmware update to add text chat
Backs up downloaded videos too
The PlayStation 3’s latest firmware update – version 2.70 - will be crammed with some juicy features for gamers, including “Text Chat” and a video backup option.
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Sony described Text Chat as a way for you to communicate online with PlayStation Network friends. Messages are typed out using a wireless keypad or the on-screen keyboard.
Text Chat can be used during gameplay and you’ll be able to simultaneously access up to three chat rooms, each of which can hold a maximum of 15 people.
The firmware update will also add a video back-up service to the PS3 that'll let video files bought from the PlayStation Store be archived onto an external hard drive.
Videos downloaded to a PlayStation Portable will also be able to be copied over to the PS3, thanks to the firmware update.
Other, but less groundbreaking, features in firmware 2.70 include the ability to sort your listing of friends according to their online status. It'll also add the option to attach files of up to 3MB, rather than just 1MB, to the messages you send to friends.
The PS3 firmware version 2.70 will be available to download soon, Sony promised.
COMMENTS
It's already out.
There are some other noticeable tweaks.
Much faster comparison of trophies, and when comparing trophies, if the other person has never played the game, it now shows - rather than 0% (meaning they are not really crap, they don't own the game!)
Downloads now show an ETA.
XMB seems to have been sped up a little ingame,
The web browser seems to have been improved again, faster it seems.
Thats all I initially noticed, i'm sure there are more, there always is loads of undocumented tweaks... The Text chat is actually very neat, it works well and does what it says on the tin, you can have upto 3 seperate chats on the go with people on your list.
Whilst it's not Voice Chat like the 360 has, it's getting there, there is hardly any difference these days to what the PS3 offers and what the 360 offers (aside from the £40 a year Xbox cost obviously..)
