PS3 SDK Leaked!

*Drip… Drip…* Sony has sprung another leak!

According to several anonymous tipsters, the Sony PS3 SDK has also made its way into the hands of the public. The entire SDK comprises 941 directories, 5,551 files and weighs in at an approximate 442MB. Not much else to report on this topic, not yet anyway. Use your own resources to locate the leaked SDK if you want it; due to legality issues and whatnot, we won’t be providing it. Perhaps a free [legal] version will stem from the leak.

So, together — the leaked firmware 1.80 debug build combined with the SDK could and will most likely lead to many great possibilities for us PS3 owners. Things are definitely looking up!

PSP Remote Play - Nice demo video

Replace your PS3's harddrive - Watch this video

PS3 This is Living - The ultimate Ad - Warning: contains Nuditiy

Firmware v1.80 Debug Build Leaked

Its been reported that a debug build of PS3 firmware v1.80 has been leaked to the public. What does this mean? Well, potentially it could open up the doors to many great possibilities — executing unsigned code, playing backed-up Blu-Ray games and/or movies, etc… You get the general idea.

Now — not much has stemmed from this leak just yet; however, rest assure, the great hackers are doing their thing by analyzing the bits and bytes.

HanSooloo has made some progress and is sharing the PS3 Firmware Table of Contents — the module names, addresses, and lengths. Fetch that below.

Stay tuned! We’re moving forward!

* Note: the debug version of PS3 firmware 1.80 does not install on retail consoles. It is strictly used (by us) for studying the internals of the firmware.

Download:
Leaked Firmware 1.80 Debug
PS3 v1.80 Debug ToC

PSP 3.50 firmware available: "Remote Play" over the Internet

Just released in Japan, Sony's 3.50 firmware for the PSP should making the global rounds soon enough. That, coupled with the latest PS3 firmware update, means you've just scored "Remote Play" functionality -- access to videos, music, and pictures on your home PS3 running 1.80 -- over the Internet. In other words, you can stream media but can't actually play games remotely. The update also includes an RSS Channel Guide but we know it's the remote play you want. The new firmware should already be available via your PSP's Network Update option even though many of Sony's download sites are still pegged at version 3.40.

DLNA Device support in 1.80 - Which devices work?

"Version 1.80 also allows users on a home network to seamlessly view and play rich media content such as images, music and video on their PS3, that is stored on their DLNA3 enabled devices such as PCs and laptops elsewhere in the house, reinforcing PS3's credentials as a home entertainment hub that truly deserves pride of place in the Living Room."

But it looks like not all devices that come with UPnP AV-Server Support work with the PS3. One device that was reported as not working is the D-Link DNS 323 NAS. The PS3 detects the NAS correctly but can't access it. According to D-Link support the UPnP AV-Server is not a DLNA server, and thus it's no bug.

This is a comment from jeff regarding the DNS-323:
"If TwonkyMedia (DLNA-certified media server software from www.twonkyvision.com) is installed on the DNS-323, the PS3 is able to access multimedia on the DNS-323. Currently Twonkyvision has a beta version of the software in the works addressing support for the PS3. Also keep in mind, this configuration of the DNS-323 is not supported by D-Link."

So, the question is which devices are working, and which are not.
Any comments/experiences?

TVersity - A great media center not only for PlayStation 3

Your Media on Your Devices - Anywhere Anytime,

In the Home or on the Go, Free!

New - A patch for firmware 1.8 of the Sony PS3

Rumor has it the PS3's SIXAXIS ready to rumble this year

While it's indeed completely plausible -- even likely -- that we'll see rumble in the SIXAXIS this year courtesy of Sony's new deal with Immersion, it's also important to remember there are many kinds of rumor, and the type that originates from internet message boards, well, just don't say we didn't clarify where this one came from. According to a GameFAQs posting, the new issue of PSM itself is supposedly publishing what they too identify as a rumor that Sony's set to announce SIXAXIS rumble for the PS3 at E3 in July, which will have new controllers land on November 13th. So hey take this rumor within a rumor how you will, but Sony's got to announce something at E3, don't they?

PS3 Real-time Ray-tracing

IBM Interactive Ray-tracer (iRT) using three Sony Playstation3s (PS3) to render a model that is 75x more complex then those used in today's games. Ray-tracing is the rendering technique used by the film industry and is considered too complex for today's game systems. The code was written using IBM Cell SDK 2.0 on Linux. The iRT is totally scalable and only requires one Cell SPE to run. More PS3s = More SPEs = Higher client frame rates. All images are at least 720p 4x multi-sampled, with dynamic light sources, procedurally generated atmosphere, and dynamic shadows.

Raytracing is a technique that uses algorithms to illustrate how light hits an object in real-time, very realistically. Basically, it is able to figure out how light hits an object and can generate shadows this way. Pixar uses it to achieve better looking lighting in their movies. Currently, most games use polygons and rasterize lighting effects based on their locations. This actually uses a real light source and demonstrates how light bounces off of things.

PS3 1.80 firmware is out and streaming your media

The PS3 1.8 firmware is out and making its way global in Sony's typical rolling release cycle: APAC, Europe, then the Americas. We'll be testing it ourselves later but we thought you'd like to peep the first screen shots of DLNA-enabled media sharing in the PS3's XMB interface. In this case, Hardcoreware turned on media sharing within Vista (Home Premium or Ultimate, we presume) and voila, their updated PS3 detected and played music, pictures, and video stored on their networked PC -- just like their Xbox 360. Of course, this should work on any DLNA-supported PC (yes, Macs too) or media device including PSPs when the firmware update is released next month. A nice shot in the arm for the Digital Living Network Alliance and good news for PS3 owners everywhere. Hit the read link for more pictures.

PS3 Firmware v1.80 Coming Today: DVD Upscale, Remote Play and More...

From the press release:

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) announced today availability of the latest version of the PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) firmware. Version 1.80 features upscaling of PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games, and DVD movies up to full 1080p HD resolution when viewed on a compatible HD TV set.

The capability to upscale DVDs to HD quality is a feature normally only associated with top range DVD players, and its inclusion in the latest firmware upgrade now allows PS3 owners with an existing DVD collection to dramatically enhance the viewing pleasure of their DVD collection when viewed through a compatible HD TV set1. Not only can DVD movies be enhanced to full 1080p HD quality but so too will PlayStation 2 and PlayStation games be upscaled to provide much improved gaming pleasure.

In a comprehensive update to PS3's already impressive capabilities, Version 1.80 also allows users to enjoy Remote Play on their PSP across the internet, allowing them to access their PS3 anywhere in the world where a broadband internet connection is available2.

Version 1.80 also allows users on a home network to seamlessly view and play rich media content such as images, music and video on their PS3, that is stored on their DLNA3 enabled devices such as PCs and laptops elsewhere in the house, reinforcing PS3's credentials as a home entertainment hub that truly deserves pride of place in the Living Room.

A host of other enhancements include the ability to print photo images stored on PS3's hard disk or inserted storage media to a selection of Epson printers.

PS3 owners will be able to upgrade their PS3 with the latest Version 1.80 firmware from 24th May 2007.

InFeCtuS Can Downgrade PS3 with Programmer v0.0.3.4

From infectus.biz:
[QUOTE]
INFECTUS PS3 DOUBLE NAND FLASHER IS READY!
In the video below you can watch how the PS3 can be succesfully downgraded from 1.6 to 1.5 firmware version!
Today we published online the diagrams, the tutorial and the new 0.0.3.4 PROGRAMMER.
After some tests, we can confirm that the firmwares are specific and unique for each console, and it's not possible to use a firmware from a PS3 console to antoher one.

Another great tool for the developers' community!

[/QUOTE]

PSP hardware refresh coming this year, says report

So it looks like those endless rumors of a newly-spec'ed PlayStation Portable are finally about to come true, with an analyst from Lazard Capital Markets reporting that Sony has in fact copped to just such a device (most definitively NOT pictured above) at its Gamer's Day gathering in San Diego. According to Lazard's Colin Sebastian in a briefing prepared for NPD, "the company also indicated that [in addition to new software titles best left to another fine publication], a video download service and [PSP] hardware refresh are expected later this year." While both tidbits sound like potentially big news, Sony was reluctant to give up any more info on either of these asides -- meaning that you can still let your imagination run wild with magical features before the inevitable letdown. Still, if you've got your credit card in hand and sonystyle.com open in another tab as we speak, it might pay to hold off for a bit and see how this plays out.

PS3 TV GUI Concept

Nice PS3 TV GUI demo that completely adopts the PS3 crossbar navigation.
Although it looks like the TV GUI is completely integrated into the PS3 crossbar these guys are probably implementing this stuff for Linux on PS3.
Still, a Linux Media Center with the look and feel of the PS crossbar sounds like an interesting project ;-)

Cybersex on PlayStation 3? - What a foreplay ;-)

While console manufacturers spend millions in research to develop new game controllers like the Wii-mote in the hopes that they can get girls playing games more, Jenny L. Chowdhury, an NYU engineering student, may have come up with the controller that will not only get girls to play games with their boyfriends, but also redefine the meaning of “action button.”

"My thesis work involves building game controllers into undergarments so that games are played through players physically touching one another." Chowdhury explains. "The goal of this project was to research and create objects that challenge the traditional notions and orientation of video game play."

The project began as an exercise for networked objects. I made a pong controller that was made from a bra. The mapping for the controller was simple—touching the left breast made the pong paddle go left and the right breast made the paddle go right.

Click here to view all screenshots

I then found out about a phenomenon called gamer widowhood where men essentially abandoned their wives to play video games night and day. I wanted to create a type of video game play that would center around a couple's intimacy and where two people would touch each other in order to play the game.

The movie below shows the controller in action…

Howto convert videos to full 1080p HD for PlayStation 3

PlayStation 3 is not only an expensive game console but also an excellent video player. It could play high-def Blu-ray movies in addition to standard DVDs with a Blu-ray drive, which makes it so hard to resist-even at $600. PlayStation 3 can be connected with several kinds of external devices, such as Video iPod, Sony Memory Stick, CF Card, SD Card, Mini SD Card, Hard Disk and USB Flash Drive. So you can add your favorite compatible-videos to the devices and play them on PS3.

How-to: Convert Videos to PS3 Full HD 1080p (Part1)

How-to: Convert Videos to PS3 Full HD 1080p (Part2)

Home Beta Video

Leaked PlayStation Home Beta Pictures

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PS3's WiFi Now Working In Linux (YDL)

Terrasoft Solutions has released Yellow Dog Linux v5.01 for the Sony PS3. Here are the features of this new release:

• More than 500 updated packages.
• PlayStation 3's Built-in Wi-Fi now supported.
• USB printers fixed.
• The bootloader is now included on the DVD.

Here are some HowTo's thanks to Terra Soft Solutions' Owen S.:

Installing the WiFi enabled kernel:

1. Update the firmware on your PS3. This can be achieved from GameOS with the Software Update function in settings.

2. Download the new PS3 Wi-Fi enabled kernel (if you are upgrading a prior intall). This is found via your YDL.net Enhanced account or the public mirrors. You will need kernel-ps3-2.6.16-20070425.ydl.3.ppc64.rpm or newer.

3. Install the new kernel;

rpm -ivh /path/to/kernel-ps3-2.6.16-20070425.ydl.3.ppc64.rpm [ENTER]

4. Edit /etc/kboot.conf. Copy the default kernel line in kboot.conf, then modify the original line to point to the new kernel: For example, if your default kernel line is:

ydl='/dev/sda1:/vmlinux-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.2ps3 initrd=/dev/sda1:/initrd-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.2ps3.img (wrap)
root=/dev/sda2 video=ps3fb:mode:3 rhgb'

... the modified entry would like this:

ydl='/dev/sda1:/vmlinux-2.6.16-20070425.ydl.3ps3 initrd=/dev/sda1:/initrd-2.6.16-20070425.ydl.3ps3.img (wrap)
root=/dev/sda2 init=/sbin/init video=ps3fb:mode:3 rhgb'

oldydl='/dev/sda1:/vmlinux-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.2ps3 initrd=/dev/sda1:/initrd-2.6.16-20061110.ydl.2ps3.img (wrap)
root=/dev/sda2 video=ps3fb:mode:3 rhgb'

... where 'oldydl' is your original kernel.

5. Reboot.

Configuring the PS3 WiFi

1. Unplug the ethernet cable, eth0 is both the wired and wireless Ethernet port on PS3s.

2. Launch system-config-network (Network in the Settings menu)

3. Delete the eth0 (gelic_net) interface.

4. Create a Wireless connection.

5. You may now configure that wireless connection as you would with other YDL versions. One note here that confused me when I did this was that the ESSID specified as "Auto", when I actually needed to remove that and select the Auto radio button.

6. You can now activate the interface.

Here is the full announcement from Terrasoft