If you owned a PS3 or a PSP you probably spent a bit of time upgrading your machine's firmware. And then updating it some more.
The promise of the ever-evolving console was realized in 2007 by Sony, with mandatory firmware upgrades to the company's gaming machines adding customizable themes to the PS3, an online store for the PSP, a popular folding@home cancer research initiative, rumble support for PS3 controllers that aren't even sold in the U.S. yet, and a bevy of other security and functionality tweaks (alas, no "Home" service -- not yet.)
How many times has the firmware been upgraded in PlayStation platforms this year?
I count 25 occasions and list them all below.
I pulled the list together using Sony's official U.S. PlayStation blog, the Joystiq-affiliated PSP Fanboy and PS3 Fanboy sites and the handy dated forum posts on NeoGAF from users who reported downloading the firmware.
I have not noted how the PSP's functionality improved each time, but I have mentioned one or two facets of each PS3 firmware upgrade.
Take a look at the list below. PlayStation fans, did you like your year in firmware?
January 24, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware 1.50
Included: Addition of auto-sign-in to PlayStation Network
January 30, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.10
February 5, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware 1.51
Included: Improved support for PS2 titles
February 7, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.11
February 24, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware 1.54
Included: Improved USB camera support
March 22, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware 1.60
Included: Folding@Home; addition of full-size keyboard
March 28, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.30
April 19, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware 1.70
Included: PS1 downloadable titles playable on PS3; PS2 controller rumble enabled
April 19, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.40
May 23, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware 1.80
Included: PSP-PS3 Internet-based Remote Play enabled; adition of 1080p upscaling
May 31, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.50
June 15, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware: 1.81
Included: Correction of color-setting issue
June 28, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware: 1.82
Included: Addition of compatibility with AVC High Profile movie files
June 29, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.51
July 24, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware: 1.90
Included: Support for customizable backgrounds; added emoticons in personal messages
July 24, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.52
September 4, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware: 1.92
Included: PS3 software compatibility improvements
September 11, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.70
September 12, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware: 1.93
Included: Addressed "Warhawk" incompatibility issues introduced by 1.92
September 13, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.71
October 23, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware: 1.94
Included: Support for rumble-enabled DualShock 3 controllers
October 30, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.72
November 7, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware: 2.0
Included: Ability to set customizable visual themes; Added PlayStation news-ticker
November 18, 2007
PlayStation 3 Firmware: 2.01
Included: Improved stability
November 29, 2007
PSP Firmware: 3.73
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