Item description:

Well, now it's crossed the Pacific. We also have the PS3 FW1.11 available from Sony, available for download, unless you've already gotten your update via hooking up to the PlayStation Network. Which leads to a Google video by Flareworks Productions who was severely pissed that he was forced to update the firmware in order to access his PS Net friends list.

His feathers are ruffled because it was sort of out of the blue for him, and that "they (Sony) did not tell me what the changes were in version 1.11 before, during or after the update." Well, whoever capped that Google video, now that Sony has added the details of firmware 1.11 on their website, and we are copying it here for the benefit of our QJ readers, we hope that answers all your questions and concerns.

It would be nice of Sony to include at least a cover page before each FW update via Network, telling you what's going to be changed, at least for disclosure reasons. (And it would be nice to elaborate on some of the "new features" they add with each update). Until then, that's why we exist, you see.

From this point on, all text comes from SCEA web.

The PLAYSTATION 3 system software version 1.11 update includes the following:

* General
o You can now use PLAYSTATION Network services.
o You can now use the single tap text entry method on the on-screen keyboard for English and other European languages.
* Settings
o [Audio CD Output Frequency] has been added as a feature under [Music Settings].
o [Enable ATRAC] has been added as a feature under [System Settings].
o [Cross Color Reduction Filter] has been added as a feature under [Display Settings].
o [After 5 Minutes] has been added as an option to [Screensaver] under [Display Settings].
* Video
o You can now select [Full Screen] under [Screen Mode] when playing video files saved on the hard disk or storage media.*
*An appropriate USB adaptor (not included) is required to use storage media with some models.
* Network
o You can now download and save music and video files on the hard disk under [Internet Browser].
o You can now download the following types of content under [PLAYSTATION®Store].
- PLAYSTATION 3 format software
- PLAYSTATION Network titles
* The term "PLAYSTATION Network titles" refers to PlayStation format games (PS one) downloaded from PLAYSTATION Store and PSP format games distributed electronically.
o Simplified and traditional Chinese characters can now be displayed under [Internet Browser].
o [Online Instruction Manuals] has been added as a feature.
* Friends
o New for 1.11: [Account Management] has been added.
* Other
o The method of calculating hard disk capacity has been changed.
* Free space on the hard disk is calculated as 1 GB (1024 x 1024 x 1024) = approx. 1,073,740,000 bytes. As a result, the free space value displayed may be less than the value that is mentioned under specifications in the product documentation. You can check hard disk free space under [Settings] > [System Settings] > [System Information].
o Playability status with the PS3™ system has changed for some PlayStation and PlayStation2 format titles. To check on the latest status, visit the search site for compatible titles.
o New for 1.11: Some PLAYSTATION Network features have been revised.