Tag archive: firmware

As Windows 8 gets closer to reality, more details of Microsoft's make-it-or-break-it effort to translate its desktop computing success to ARM-driven tablets are emerging. First, Microsoft revealed that ARM-based Windows 8 devices won”t be able to run legacy Windows software—it'll be the Metro way, or the highway. Now, Microsoft's Windows 8 hardware certification requirements reveal another restriction: Microsoft… Read More

Mentioned two weeks ago by Amazon officials, the Internet company has started rolling out version 6.2.1 of the Kindle Fire software. Much of the user interface has been tweaked to become more responsive to screen tapping and navigation of content is much more fluid. The Silk browser is also smoother when moving through different Web pages and loading content. The update brings customization to the tablet allowing users to hide items that appear… Read More

Announced within a press release yesterday, Boingo Wireless and Nintendo has entered into a partnership to bring free Wi-Fi access on the 3DS handheld gaming device. Any 3DS owner that's traveling through the 42 North American airports that utilize Boingo for Wi-Fi service will be able to connect and utilize Nintendo's Wi-Fi enabled features on the 3DS. Some of the more notable airports include the Houston George Bush… Read More

Released within a firmware update earlier today for Europe and Asia, Sony added widgets that enable Bravia TV owners to check updates on Twitter and Facebook as well as improve the quality of YouTube videos. With the new Facebook widget, Bravia owners can log into an active Facebook account and pull up a feed similar to the design of Facebook Mobile on a smartphone or other mobile device. Besides scrolling through various status updates from… Read More

Microsoft's latest firmware for its Xbox 360 gaming console adds support for the new XGD3 DVD disc format that can support an additional gigabyte of data—which means game developers can pack more content on each disc. However, reports have some older Xbox 360 consoles unable to play games after applying the update—and Microsoft is replacing those consoles with new Xbox 360 Slim units (with a 250 GB hard drive) and a free year of Xbox… Read More

Sony has released a new firmware update for its PlayStation 3 gaming console, version 3.60. It's so shiny and new that the tech company's system updates webpage hasn't even been updated with a link and release notes at the time of this writing. You can download it directly to your console though (confirmed), and it brings a couple of new features to the party. The big one, as Sony announced yesterday on PlayStation Blog, is… Read More

Sony Computer Entertainment has shipped firmware version 2.5 for its PlayStation 3 console and firmware version 5.0 for its PlayStation Portable (PSP), adding new capabilities to each device. The PS3 firmware update adds support for Sony's official Bluetooth headset and Flash 9 video support, while the PSP firmware update adds the PlayStation Store, enabling users to download games whenever they're at a Wi-Fi hotspot.… Read More

Last week, Sony was forced to pull version 2.40 of its PlayStation 3 firmware after receiving reports that, in some instances, the update was “bricking” PS3 consoles, making them inoperable after users applied the update. Now, Sony has posted version 2.41 of its PlayStation 3 firmware, claiming to have solved the problem. Sony describes problems with the 2.40 firmware as impacting a “limited number of users;”… Read More

Sony has released verison 1.8 of its PlayStation 3 firmware, adding the capability to upscale PlayStation 3 games, older PS2 and PSOne titles, and standard DVDs to 1080p resolution. The idea is to enable PS3 owners with high definition displays to apply the added resolution and display capabilities to their standard-definition games and content: to be sure, upscaling doesn't magically convert standard-definition video into a high-def… Read More

Sony has released firmware version 2.80 for its PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld entertainment device, adding the ability for the units to download video podcasts via RSS feeds posted on blogs and other Web sites. The firmware update also enables support for 3GP audio and expanded access to data stories on Memory Stick cards. Users can download the update using the PSP's built-in Network Update feature, or (soon) download the… Read More

The firmware upgrade will be available in two releases. Release 1.04 is available today on Plextor's website http://www.plextor.com. This firmware supports 2X DVD-R DL and 6X DVD+R DL on 8.5 GB DVD DL media, along with 8X DVD+RW and 16X DVD+/-R on recommended single-layer DVD media with Plextor's AUTOSTRATEGY(R) recording optimization feature. Release 1.05, available March 31, 2005, supports 6X DVD-R on DL DVD media.… Read More

Users can download the free firmware upgrade from Sony's Storage Support Web site at: http://sony.storagesupport.com/dvdrw/dru530adwn.htm Directions can be found at: http://sony.storagesupport.com/dvdrw/downloads/530FW20a/530update.htm

From Sony's press release: Sony Electronics is rewarding owners of its 530 series of dual format DVD/CD-recordable drives with a free firmware upgrade that will allow them to achieve up to 8X DVD-R and 4X DVD-RW recording speeds. Owners of the internal DRU-530A or external DRX-530UL Dual RW drive will be able to download the free firmware upgrade from Sony's Storage Support Web site at… Read More