Sony quiet on PS3 update

Sony has today dismissed reports of a new PS3 firmware update as "speculation".

Version 2.0 will apparently add a host of tweaks to media settings, on top of password-protected user accounts and an RSS reader. If the information is indeed true, users will be able to bring up the XrossMediaBar when in-game, and take part in multiple chat sessions at once.

The full list of proposed fixes follows:

• You can now password-protect user accounts.

Settings

• Dynamic Normalizer has been added as an option under Sound Settings.
• Energy Saver has been added as an option.
• Equalizer has been added as a feature under Music Settings.
• Full has been added as an option for DVD Wide Display under BD / DVD Settings.
• Photo Settings has been added as an option.
• PS / PS2 Settings has been added as an option.
• RSS Channel Settings has been added as an option.
• Sample Rate has been added to Audio CD Import under Music Settings.
• Screen Saver has been expanded under Display Settings.
• The method of selecting an output resolution has been changed in VideOutput Settings under Display Settings.
• Theme Settings has been added as an option.
• Zero Unused Disk Space has been added as an option under System Settings - Format Utility.

Photo

• Additional slideshows have been added.
• Photo Effects have been added as a feature.
• Wallpaper feature has been added.
• Zoom has been added as a feature.

Music

• Additional visualizations have been added.
• CD information can now be entered.
• Three-speed fast forward and fast reverse has been added as a feature.

Video

• Files can now be played sequentially.
• Three-speed fast forward and fast reverse has been added as a feature.
• You can now select Zoom under Screen Mode when playing videfiles saved on the hard disk or storage media.
• An appropriate USB adapter (not included) is required to use storage media with some models.

Game

• Support for PlayStation 3 format software titles has been expanded.
• XMB (XrossMediaBar) is now accessible during gameplay.

Network

• RSS Channel has been added as a feature.

Friends

• You can now have multiple chat sessions.
• You can now select an image to use as your Avatar from Photo.

Other

• Date & Time is now shown when the PS button is pressed.
• File sorting has been changed.
• Help has been added as a feature.
• Playability status with the PS3 system has changed for some PlayStation and PlayStation 2 format titles.
• To check on the latest status, visit the search site for compatible titles.
• Secure Delete has been added as an option.
• Some PlayStation Network features have been revised.