Hi everyone! As we are continuously working toward providing the best gaming and entertainment experience on PlayStation 3, I wanted to give you all a heads up on the following new features and changes coming with the next system software update (v.3.70).

To make things easier for PlayStation Plus subscribers, we’ve added the option to automate two existing features. The [Automatic Download] feature will now be called [Automatic Update] as a result of these new options.

• A new auto upload function for online save data back-up will be added to make it easier to back-up your game save data. Under (Game), select the game for which you want to automatically upload saved data, and then press the Triangle button.
• Also, Trophies will now sync automatically at the timing of Auto Download.

A new recommendation function will be added that enables you to share your recommendations for PlayStation Storeitems, such as games and videos, with PlayStation Network friends. You will be able to send messages with a store link from the product pages within the PlayStation Store.

Due to the increase in video applications being offered on PS3, we are adding a new category on the XMB called TV/Video Services. This category will include video applications such as Netflix, Hulu PLUS, and VUDU.

• You’ll be able to find and download all of the video applications available on PS3 directly from this new XMB category.
• A folder labeled “My Channels” within this category will allow you to easily access your downloaded applications.
• Any videos downloaded from the PlayStation store will continue to be placed in the existing Video category on the XMB

Two updates for all of you enjoying Blu-ray 3D movies on PS3:

• 3D support will now be available when accessing Java-based special features on Blu-Ray
• DTS-HD MA, DTS-HD HR decoding/bit stream output (or lossless audio) will be supported while playing Blu-ray 3D movies.
• 3D digital photos in MPO format can now be viewed in 3D on the XMB and in the Photo Gallery app.

The 3.70 update will be available soon; additional details will be available after the firmware goes live here. Separately, there will also be a minor PSP system software update (v. 6.60) launching soon.

As always the ps3 scene always recommends you DON’T update until more is learned about the firmware. Also expect a new TOS.

As if GameFly’s current offerings weren’t enough to satisfy gamers needs already, GameFly could be adding an online based PC game rental component soon. It seems the service will be launched some time this holiday season which will be incorporated in a new online client. The program will include over 100 titles, with more soon to come following it’s release according to GameFly’s co-founder Sean Spector. Spector says “Now GameFly subscribers will have access to a library of PC catalog titles to play as often as they want and as long as they are a member,” as well as “It’s kind of like a Spotify or Rhapsody or a Napster… You have access to the content as long as you are a subscriber, but when you are no longer a member, the content then disappears.“

It seems Spector will also want to include games that are more family friendly, so that the service will appeal to a more wider audience while maintaining it’s current offerings for the 18-35 aged male group. The service will also include a social networking aspect to it that will allow users to “…follow other subscribers’ comments and what games they are playing” among other features. I can’t say that I didn’t see that coming with everyone trying to develop their own “Facebook”. It seems like this could be a great success if GameFly can convince enough publishers to go along with the idea, and of course that DRM doesn’t get in the way either.

Source: USA Today

Wal-Mart isn’t waiting around for August 12. Despite Nintendo’s official date for the Nintendo 3DS price drop being this Friday, one of America’s largest retailers is jumping the gun, slashing in-store prices of the portable to $169.99 now.

Curiously, Wal-Mart has yet to do this for its online store, and has apparently made no official announcement to this effect. Still, we’ve heard from several IGN readers that they’ve been able to pick up a system from their local shop. Apparently not all stores have implemented the new price.

This has a number of implications, the most obvious being that consumers buying the system today are still technically eligible for Nintendo’s “ambassador program”. By signing online before August 12, these fans, who already bought a 3DS at discount, will be able to receive the 20 free NES and GBA titles that are being distributed throughout the rest of the year.

There are potential implications for Nintendo as well. Hardware agreements can require the publisher to compensate retailers for price cuts to maintain sales margins. (Nintendo president Satoru Iwata just acknowledged this point in his latest investor Q&A.) Will Nintendo have to pay Wal-Mart for the discount in addition to giving away free games?

We’ve reached out to Nintendo for comment on the situation, particularly to find out if it sanctioned Wal-Mart’s premature price drop. Technically retailers In the meantime, let us know if you have any luck getting a cheap 3DS!

If there was ever going to be a chance that we see a slimmed down 4G LTE Samsung Galaxy S II here in the states on Verizon, we needed to see something like this leak overseas. This is a very good sign, folks. According to Korean site IT Tong, an SGS2 variant is headed to one of their carriers in the very near future sporting a 4.5″ Super AMOLED Plus screen, 16GB of internal storage, 8MP rear and 2MP front cameras, Gingerbread, and a whopping 1.5GHz dual-core Snapdragon APQ8060 processor. If you didn’t just get excited about that…
There is one problem though – this specific phone will run on an 800MHz LTE frequency, when we know Verizon’s is 700MHz. I would hope (at least assume) that could be changed pretty easily and will still stay positive that we may see this device some time in the near future.
So this phone looks and has similar specs to the T-Mobile version we saw yesterday; here’s to hoping we aren’t stuck with a slideout Galaxy S2 like many of us have a feeling is coming. Oh, and I would assume that the physical home button would disappear once it hit the states too…hopefully.

Here are the full rumored specs:

We knew that the DROID Bionic would be the world’s first dual-core 4G LTE device, but we had yet to really see it show off the download speeds that it was capable of. Thanks to another tester in the wild, we get just that today. And this is exactly why this phone has been talked about for 8 months now – because it’ll have power, style, and run on Big Red’s shiny new network.
The leaker (Yoda) has also mentioned that he is seeing 15 hours of battery life with moderate usage, something that no other LTE device can really say at this time. We had been hearing from our sources that Moto reps couldn’t stop raving about the massive battery and how long it lasts, so to get confirmation from a tester is a nice add-on.
And is it just me, or have the pics from the last two days that we’ve seen with the screen on, look much less PenTile-y than the DROIDX2 and DROID3? I know, I know, it’s almost impossible to tell from these quick ninja-shots, but they definitely aren’t looking awful.
With the LTE Galaxy S II news from this morning followed by these Bionic speed tests, it’s probably safe to say that DL readers are officially torn between the two. We 100% know that the Bionic is coming in September – the SGS2, is still a mystery.

With still no official confirmation on different variants of the Galaxy S II by either Samsung or carriers, it’s been one big guessing game for most of us. You can now scratch the T-Mobile version off of the list though, as a couple of sites released photos of its SGS2 over the weekend. The Samsung Hercules (codename) (SGH-T989) was willing to show both its front and backsides, making tech enthusiasts drool their Sundays away. With a 4.5″ Super AMOLED Plus display, dual-core 1.2GHz processor, and the removal of that god-awful physical home button, how can you not get a little giddy when looking at these pics. This new U.S. version looks a lot less iPhoney and a lot more Nexus S-y – something you won’t find us complaining about.
This device will more-than-likely run on T-Mo’s HSPA+ 42Mbps network, but just remember, that doesn’t mean for one second that the Verizon version will. We would certainly hope that Verizon wouldn’t leave us without their super fast new network, but the current batch of LTE phones are all thick, hefty tanks. So the SGS2 variant for Big Red better have new LTE tech in it that’s ultra-slim, or we’re probably not getting 4G. (Just my two thoughts.)

Now if only this exact version would make its way onto Big Red…thoughts?

Source: Droid-Life

If you’re a media junkie, and are always in need of converting files on the go, then check out MediaConverter. The developer isn’t lying when he states, “Convert Anything”. I was converting 3GP into MP4, pics, and docs into PDFs like nobody’s business. Besides being able to convert and then instantly upload to Dropbox, you can then share it through email and other outlets right through the app.
We didn’t run into any instances of not being able to convert anything, so if you’re in the market for a mobile converter, give it a shot. Let us know how you like it, and more importantly, if you do find something you can’t convert, email the developer so it can be added to the list. The app runs at a more than reasonable $2.99 on the Android Market. Happy converting.

Market Link

So we’ve finally had some time to really dig through the FCC filing of the DROID Bionic that went live today and just wanted to point some things out.  First, is the inductive battery charging which we talked about on Friday when we first saw under the hood of this beast.  There were prongs beneath the battery cover that led us to believe we would have wireless charging, and we are getting pictures of the cover today.  While it looks to add some thickness (as all inductive covers do), it also looks like it will even out the hump – leaving you with a perfectly flat back to the phone.  Got to love that.

Next, we took a deeper look at the user manual and found some confirmations on things like the screen (4.3″) and also the fact that it could be a global device.  The manual talks about roaming in 200+ countries using GSM radios, so unless they pulled that section from the DROID3, DROID2 Global or Pro (SEE UPDATE BELOW), you can tack on another plus to the DROID Bionic.  Dual-core, 4G LTE and a global roamer?  Sign me up.

Here is a look at the top and bottom of the phone. Not too thick and not too thin. We get a solid view of that bottom sloping chin that sort of matches the DROID3. We’re definitely hoping that the lock switch has moved on the final version though. Top left would not be the easiest thing to hit for those of us that talk with our right hands:

We should also point out that the manual appears to be a bunch of filler pulled from previous devices, so by no means is all of this official. The screen and global capabilities more than likely are, but the version of Blur you are seeing and some of the other OS details could differ when this phone is finally released on September 8 (rumor). Also, we’re pulling for a September 1 pre-order to go live – would certainly make sense if the device was going to hit stores on the 8th.
Update: It’s definitely looking like this WON’T be a global device after all. The filing itself makes no mention of the device having GSM radios in it. Like we said above, this manual was patched together from a variety of devices and should not be taken as gospel. The actual tests performed on the device should be and they say LTE/CDMA/Bluetooth/WiFi:

The Bionic, unlike the HTC Thunderbolt, will NOT be able to do 3G voice and data simultaneously either:

Source Droid-Life

Who doesn’t love a good info-graphic from time to time? The newest graph, released by Jumptap, shows 48 U.S. States and how they rank up against each other in overall OS domination. Within their report, spanning 38 million users, Android ranked 1st at a cool 38%. While iOS wasn’t too far behind at an impressive 33%.
They entitled the top graph, “United States of Android”. Suiting, don’t you think? Other data recorded was Android users likely to interact with advertising depending on which which carrier (of the US’s main four) they were on. Verizon, T-mo, and Sprint all sat around 20%, while AT&T users only showed that 17% were interested in interacting with ads.
We can only imagine that these numbers will continue to grow in the same rate, and that the map will be covered in mostly yellow in just a few years. Hard to believe my state of Oregon is dominated by Blackberry. Ay caramba.

Source Droid-Life

The folks at Gitbrew received enough donations such that they released the docs for the PS3′s RSX “Reality Synthesizer”. Up until now there hasn’t been a lacking in documentation for this particular topic.

If you are a developer or just want see how the RSX works. Take a look!

Download here

Source: Gitbrew Twitter