Sony prepares PS3 firmware 2.80 for release

[admin]

PlayStation 3 users everywhere, get ready for an update tomorrow following Sony's announcement of a new firmware for your console. Firmware version 2.80 brings with it a short list of improvements and fixes for the platform, along with an allegedly big new feature the company offered no details about.

http://www.techspot.com/news/35202-Sony-prepares-PS3-firmware-280-for-release.html

[drfsupercenter]

I'm still on like 2.5 or something... I should probably check that update out sometime.

It flashes a message saying my firmware is outdated and needs to be updated... but yet I can still play my DVDs and Blu-Rays just fine. Would it have disabled my BD-Live?

[admin]

You only need the latest firmware to access the PlayStation Network (for example, the PS store, or to play multiplayer). The other functions are unaffected.

[drfsupercenter]

Oh. Well should I leave my outdated firmware or would it be worth upgrading?

[admin]

Is your PS3 still under warranty?

[drfsupercenter]

That depends, how long do the warranties last?

Though didn't I hear something about Sony not honoring warranties for systems bricked for uploading? Warranties aren't really worth more than the paper they're written on these days...

[admin]

The warranty lasts a year.

The problem I had (and many have had) was that after the update, everything worked fine for a while, and then the Blu-ray drive refuses to read discs anymore. So it's not a firmware bricking issue, but it is related to firmware updates.

If your PS3 still has 3 or 4 months left on the warranty, then I would go ahead and get the update. If you're out of warranty or close to being out, then Sony will charge you $200 to repair the drive.

[drfsupercenter]

I think we only bought it about 3 months ago.

So I should be fine.

[admin]

Yes, go ahead with the update. The worst it happens is that you need to get it serviced (although this means you get a refurbished PS3 back). It usually won't happen again if it has been serviced, and it happens more with older PS3s as opposed to one that was sold only 3 months ago.

Nobody knows why this happens, but I think it's more likely some kind of low level controller software for the drive that is updated during each firmware, but it doesn't go well with certain older drive models, which causes them to stop reading any discs - in fact, the drive simply disappears from the PS3 interface, as if it doesn't even have a drive. But as I said before, older PS3s are more prone to this - newer ones are better.