Firmware 1.90 is already available to download in Japan, and there is are a number of significant additions. Included in the update is the ability to use wallpaper on the XMB, eject discs by pressing triangle on the XMB as well as others. Another improvement is you can now type into the Web Browser without the use of the pop-up keyboard is you are using a USB keyboard. A preliminary list of features has been included below.

Preliminary Changelog:

• Ability to rearrange games on the XMB
• Option menu now includes “eject disk”
• Press triangle to eject games/CDs/movies in the XMB
• XMB backgrounds
• Change the folder classification
• Emoticons
• Change CD output to 44.1/88.2/176.4kHz
• Force 24Hz output for Blu-ray over HDMI
• Change PS3 video settings in-game
• “Bit Mapping” in the “Music Setting”
• Save AVCHD type animations from a Memory Stick
• Change settings like upscaling while playing PS and PS2 games
• Add bookmarks
• Web browser security function in the browser’s tool section
• Avatar moves during audio visual chat

Screenshots

Unfortunately, the in-game music options doesn’t seem to be included as the rumors suggested. The regional websites have not been updated yet, but we will bring you an update soon.

UPDATE (23rd July 2007 at 15:07):

According to a post on the PlayStation Blog by Eric Lempel, Director of PlayStation Network Operations, firmware 1.90 should be available to download in North America within the next few days.The features included in the update have been reiterated within the post. Hopefully we will have a more conclusive list of features soon.

“A quick update: we have a new firmware upgrade in the works for PS3, it will be available for download in the next few days. Firmware 1.90 brings with it several new features, many of which readers of this blog have requested – I’m happy to report.”

UPDATE 2 (24th July 2007 at 05:36):

PS3 Firmware 1.90 is now available to download in North America and Europe. A full changelog hasn’t been posted up yet, and the US and EU PlayStation websites have not been updated with the new firmware yet. You can download the new firmware via the PS3 Network Update menu.

UPDATE 3 (24th July 2007 at 19:00):

The changelog has now been posted on the European PlayStation website, the North American website still has not been updated. We have included the complete changelog below.

• Overall
  • [Eject Disc] has been added as an option in the options menu for discs.
  • You can now select [Group Content] when changing a file or folder icon
• Settings
  • [On] has been added as an option in [BD 1080p 24Hz Output (HDMI)] under [BD/DVD Settings].
  • [44.1 kHz / 88.2 kHz / 176.4 kHz] has been added as an option in [Audio CD Output Frequency] under [Music Settings].
  • [Type 2] has been added as an option in [Bitmapping] under [Music Settings].
  • [Theme Settings] has been added under [Settings]
• Photo
  • You can now display an image as the background of the PS3 Home Menu.
• Music
  • Upscaled output of audio CDs is now supported.
• Video
  • The [Image Quality Adjustment] option in the control panel has been changed to [AV Settings].
  • You can now play AVCHD-format video files that are saved on Memory Stick media or on the hard disk of a digital video camera.
• Game
  • You can now adjust screen display settings while playing PlayStation and PlayStation 2 format software.
  • You can now sort games that are saved on the hard disk.
  • You can now operate the [Slow (Back)] and [Frame Reverse] functions when playing video files saved on storage media or on the hard disk.
• Network
  • [Add to Bookmarks] has been added as an option in the [File] menu of the Internet browser.
  • You can now enter text directly into text entry fields of Web pages using a USB keyboard.
• Friends
  • When an avatar is displayed during a voice / video chat, the avatar now moves in response to audio.
  • You can now use emoticons when creating messages under [Friends].

A screenshot surfaced soon after E3 claiming that PS3 Firmware 1.90 will have a in-game music playback feature. According to a post by Patrick Seybold, Sr. Manager of PR, on the PlayStation Blog, the screenshot is fake and probably an “artists creative expression for what they want”.

“I can’t verify that the ‘your music’ screen is real. It’s obviously not a great shot, and I was at just about every kiosk during E3 and didn’t see anything like that on any unit we had there, and yes, I helped set them up, so I would definitely have seen it. I think it is an artists creative expression for what they want..We will definitley have more info on the firmware updates here very soon.”

[Via: PlayStation.Blog]

UPDATE (21st July 2007 at 18:30):

According to another post over at the PlayStation Blog, Patric Seybold has said that more information on the next firmware update will be revealed next week.

“Early next week, we’ll have something on the firmware.”

Kikizo has learned that the second-generation PlayStation 3 controller is in the works, and is set to offer more than just rumble feedback. In a recent interview, Sony Computer Entertainment’s global President Kaz Hirai said that rumble is “obviously” being looked at now that legal issues with Immersion are out of the way, and then added: “We’re also looking at a variety of other things that we can incorporate with the controller, and we’ll come out with announcements when we think we have the right mix of features.”

Hirai pointed out that the PlayStation controller has always been an evolving peripheral, citing the original no-frills PS1 controller. “It’s come all the way to this point… it’s not the final model for a PS3 controller.”

[Via: Kikizo]

The US PlayStation Network Store has been updated with a number of new items, including new movie trailers, game trailers and a new PSOne title. Castlevania: SotN has been added to the lineup of classic PSOne titles and two trailers of Gran Turismo Prologue have been uploaded. See the full list of additions below.

• PSOne Games
  • Castlevania: SotN
• Game Trailers
  • Gran Turismo Prologue Trailer 1
  • Gran Turismo Prologue Trailer 2
  • Ratchet and Clank Future: ToD Trailer 2
  • InFamous E3 Trailer
  • Heavenly Sword “Making of” Video
• Movie Trailers
  • The Brothers Solomon
  • Resident Evil Extinction
  • I am Legend
  • Underdog
  • The Brave One

The UK PlayStation Network Store has been updated with new trailers and a new demo. Included in the update is The Darkness playable demo and trailer, a few other game trailers and a movie trailer. See the full list of additions below.

• Game Demos
  
  • The Darkness
• Game Trailers
  • GTA IV Trailer 2
  • Rainbow Six Vegas Trailer
  • The Darkness Trailer
• Movie Trailers
  
  • Ratatouille

Rumor has it that a PlayStation 3 was stopped at E3 running Firmware 1.90, with in-game options to play music. A unconfirmed screenshot has been included below for you to judge for yourself. Of course this feature could very well make it to the PS3 in the next update, but for now, we are waiting for Sony to confirm it.

According to the virtual PSP in Home, the in-depth news section states that the open beta of Home is to start on July 20th 2007. Whether or not this is actually true remains to be seen. Sony initially stated that the closed beta would be held from April to Augsust, meaning the open beta would be held from August to its release in October. Check out the screen shot below.

According to Impress Watch, Bandai Namco announced today at PlayStation Premier that Tekken 6 will, like Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection Online, feature online combat. The online play will be just part of a variety of new modes that will feature in the home version.

And when will that home version arrive? The arcade version isn’t due until later this year, but once that’s out, PS3 owners will have to wait less than a year for the home version, Bandai Namco confirmed.

Most people would be happy enough to hear that a Metal Gear Solid game was on the way to the PS3, however, following a short demo play session of MGS4 at PlayStation Premier, Kojima announced that Kojima Productions is currently preparing a PlayStation 3 version of Metal Gear Online, the online battle game that appeared in MGS3 Subsistence. It is currently unclear as to whether

Famitsu.com reports that Kojima will play the game live at next week’s Metal Gear 20th Anniversary Party event in Tokyo and will share specifics on what players can expect.