PlayStation 3 Firmware 2.42 is now available to download. The official announcement states that the update “improves the playback quality of some PlayStation 3 and PlayStation format software.” The official changelog states the same things, though users have been reporting that Life With PlayStation is now available too. Needless to say, some of you may decide to hold off updating your consoles to avoid the problems that firmware 2.40 caused.

We have yet to update our console, but once we do we will report any additional changed to the system software. If you decide to update your console, we recommend backing up your console before hand (just in case).

UPDATE:

PlayStation With Life was announced at E3 to be launching by the end of July, but was not included with PS3 firmware v2.42. Over at the PlayStation.Blog, Noam Rimon, Senior Development Manager for SCEA, has said that PlayStation With Life will be released in August. The delay is due to “a few procedural matters”.

PlayStation Home Manager, TedTheDog, has announced that Home Beta will be updated to version 0.96.3 this week bring Home closer to the the open beta release later this year. TedTheDog revealed that the update will be available to download on Thursday, July 31st 2008. Existing beta testers will receive a new beta code via email which they will need to enter on the Account Management screen. This will allow them to download the new patch.

The update fixes a few bugs in the software and moves the Home icon from the Games menu to the Network menu. The beta will be extended once current beta testers have had time to play with the new version.

As announced at E3 earlier this month, some of the PlayStation 3’s top titles have been re-launched as "Greatest Hits". The line-up of games retail at a much lower price of $29.99 so now there is no excuse for not owning some of the best selling games on the PS3. The current list of titles include Warhawk, Resistance: Fall of Man and Assassins Creed, just to name a few (see full list below). The packaging has also changed from Blue to Red so the titles are even easier to notice.

Greatest Hits line-up:

• Warhawk
• MotorStorm
• Resistance: Fall of Man
• Call of Duty 3
• Fight Night Round 3
• Need for Speed: Carbon
• Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas
• Assassins’ Creed
• The Elders Scroll IV: Oblivion
• Ninja Gaiden Sigma

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A big PlayStation Store update for both Europe and the US this week. Both stores now have Siren: Blood Curse available for purchase. Both stores have also received a variety of new game add-on content including Siren chapter add-ons, Guitar Hero tracks, and Rock Band tracks. Europe now has Gangs of London for the PSP available to purchase and both stores have a number of new wallpapers, and videos. Check out the complete list below.

European Additions:

• Playable demos
  • EchoChrome PSN Demo
• Downloadable Game
  • Siren Blood Curse Full Game (£19.99)
• Game add-on content
  • Guitar Hero III – Guitar Virtuoso Track (£3.99)
  • Siren Blood Curse Chapter One – The Siren’s Call (£6.99)
  • Siren Blood Curse Chapter Two – No refuge (£6.99)
  • Siren Blood Curse Chapter Three – Nest of Devils (£6.99)
  • Siren Blood Curse Chapter Four – The End is the Beginning (£6.99)
• Video
• PixelJunk Eden Trailer
• Linger in the Shadows Trailer
• Resistance 2 Announcement Trailer
• E3 2008 PSN Compilation Trail
• E3 2008 Compilation Trailer
• E3 family Compilation Trailer
• Wallpapers
• PixelJunk Eden wallpaper – red
• PixelJunk Eden wallpaper – black
• Siren Blood Curse Wallpaper – Characters
• Siren Blood Curse Wallpaper – Hanuda
• PSP Games
  • Gangs of London Platinum (£14.99)

US Additions:

• Game Demos
  • PixelJunk Eden Demo
• Downloadable Games
  • Siren: Blood Curse (3 bundles of 4 episodes @ $14.99/ea & full game SKU for $39.99)
  • 1942: Joint Strike ($9.99)
• Add-on Game Content
  • Guitar Hero III: Guitar Virtuoso Pack ($6.25)
  • Rock Band Add-ons
    • Devour – Shinedown ($1.99)
    • Junkies for Fame – Shinedown ($1.99)
    • Nine Inch Nails Track Pack 02 ($5.49 includes songs below or songs available individually)
      • Last – Nine Inch Nails ($1.99)
      • Burn – Nine Inch Nails ($1.99)
      • Capital G – Nine Inch Nails ($1.99
• Game Videos
  • PixelJunk Eden Trailer
  • Street Fighter IV: E3 2008 Gameplay Trailer
  • Street Fighter IV: PS3 Special Trailer
  • Bionic Commando Rearmed The Making of Part 1
• PS3 Themes
  • Street Fighter IV Summer 08 PS3 Theme
  • Siren: Blood Curse PS3 Theme
• PS3 Wallpaper
  • Killzone 2 Wallpapers (2 for PS3 & 2 for PSP)
  • PixelJunk Eden Wallpaper
  • Fracture Wallpapers (x4)
  • Siren Wallpapers (x5)

David Reeves, President of SCEE, has revealed some new information about PlayTV, the PVR for the PlayStation 3, including details of when it will launch and what the device can do. Speaking to Eurogamer, Reeves said that PlayTV will be released in Europe on Septermber 10th 2008, and will allow gamers to record television shows even while playing games.

New Zealand and Australia will get PlayTV early next year due to differences in the digital terrestrial standards. Compatibility for the device was added in Firmware 2.41. PlayTV will retail for £99.

According to SCEE boss David Reeves, the PlayStation Home will be launched simultaneously in the United States and Europe and it will have the same specification and same support. Reeves also mentioned that an SCEE announcement on when exactly this fall it will come "very shortly." In related news, PlayStation Home’s public areas will be region locked so if you want to catch up with friends from other countries, you will have to invite them back to your Home Space.

Please check back soon for the official announcement of Home. Currently, Home is expected to be release in October or November this year, almost a year after the original launch date. The press release will hopefully put gamers’ minds at ease knowing that Home will not be delayed again. We will being you more information as it becomes available.

With two other PlayStation Store updates this week, the actual weekly update is very small for Europe and normal for the US. Both the Euro and US stores have received the new PSN Title Elefunk as well as the NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Storm demo that was an exclusive download in Qore Episode 2. Part 2 and 3 of the Sony E3 Press Conference are now available to download from the US Store as well as some more game trailers and videos. Check out the list below.

European Additions:

• Demo
  
  • Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm
• Downloadable Games
  
  • Elefunk (£4.99)
• Video
  
  • E3 – Ragdoll Kung Fu Trailer
  • Siren Blood Curse E3 2008 Trailer
  • Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Body E3 2008 Trailer

US Additions:

• Playable Demos
  • NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Storm Playable Demo
  • Elefunk Demo
• Downloadable Games
  • Elefunk ($4.99)
• PS One Games:
  • Rayman ($5.99)
• Game Videos
  • Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution Behind the Scenes Trailer
• PS3 Themes
  • Elefunk Theme
• E3 Videos and Trailers
  • PlayStation E3 2008 Press Conference – Part 2
  • PlayStation E3 2008 Press Conference – Part 3
  • PURE Trailer
  • Project Origin Trailer
  • Rag Doll Kung Fu Fists of Plastic Trailer
  • Brother in Arms: Hell’s Highway Tank Mayhem Trailer
  • Prince of Persia Trailer
  • Mercenaries 2: World in Flames E3 Trailer
• Movie and Blu-ray Trailers
• Starship Troopers 3: Marauder Trailer

If you are looking to buy a PS3, you may want to hold off for a little longer. SCEE has confirmed that the 80GB PlayStation 3 model will be heading to Europe on August 27th 2008, with the same specification as the current 40GB model, but with more hard disk space. David Reeves, President of SCEE, has confirmed that the new model will cost £299/€399, and will come with the DualShock 3 controller.

Stocks of the current 40GB are expected to run out just and the new model arrives. In other news, Reeves confirmed that the PS3 Platinum Games range will roll out on August 1st and will retail for £19.99/€29.99 each. Confirmed titles currently include Assassins’ Creed, Warhawk, Resistance: FoM, MotorStorm, Heavenly Sword, Ratchet and Clank: ToD and Drake’s Fortune.