Overnight we posted about the then upcoming PlayStation 3 Firmware update, 3.70. That update has now been released for everyone to download, and presumably if you’re on PlayStation Plus you’ll have the notification that your PS3 has already downloaded it ready for you to install.
[drop2]One of the key features was what Sony were calling ‘Automatic Trophy Syncing’, a feature exclusive to PlayStation Plus. However, this isn’t what we expected – it basically just runs a full Trophy sync when the system’s off. Sure, this keeps your account a little more up to date than manually doing it, but it’s still nothing like the truly automatic nature of 360 Achievements.It’s odd why they haven’t really pursued this method – it’s much cleaner and quicker and means that your mates can instantly see which Trophies you’ve got. Presumably it’s a bandwidth issue rather than anything technical, but this new ‘auto sync’ really isn’t that impressive.
Of more use is the automatic save game upload for Plus subscribers, which will ensure that – once you’ve selected them – your save games will be pushed to the cloud in case you ever need to restore them, which is handy.
Apparently (the options are only available to Japanese owners just now so we can’t verify) 3.70 also includes menu options for PSP Remasters, the high def updates of classic PSP titles. The options include the ability to switch from ‘normal’ to full screen (presumably some scaling), 3D on/off (with 1-7 depth adjustment) and Ad-hoc functionality.
Other features, available to all users, include the ability to send PSN Store recommendations to friends over PSN and a tweak to the US XMB layout to include the same ‘TV/Video’ column that European users will be used to. Other tweaks are rather techy – 3D support for Blu-ray 3D Java features and the ability to play back high-def audio like DTS-HD MA when viewing a 3D film.
Finally, 3D photos (in .MPO format) are viewable on the XMB and the Photo Gallery application, and they’ve reverted the Friends list back to proper alphabetical order.
Sympozium Pawa
Woo… remastered PSP games released in 2012 for SCEE terrioties.
tom_lord
While I’m on a role…………..the automatic save game upload to the cloud is a far more interesting and useful feature that is pushing things forward. In the fairness of the article surely it should say “but that Xbox can’t do this” ;)
Youles
Not going to start an arguement about XBox but you are right, this is an excellent feature! Especially when consoles have a tendancy to overheat and die unexpectidly, with no time to grab your save files!
tom_lord
ha yes, it sounds really a great feature! Can’t wait to try it out! Regards the XBox, I meant the article says that the new trophy sync is poor compared the the Xbox yet fails to point out that in other areas the PS3 has more features.
Youles
Fair enough, forgot it mentioned XBox in the article. I never mention it as it can spark console wars! :)
Tuffcub
Why is it “Poor” trophy synching? I’d much rather do it when im not there than jam my PS3 up for 5 minutes when im using it.
tom_lord
agree
SpikeyMikey23
Hopefully, as the article says, Autoupdate should be working as we speak! Nice!
MegaBonez
Well, Trophy Sync is part of the Auto Download service, which I don’t use anyway because the PS£ always signs straight into my account, which would potentially annoy my wife! So, for me, another rather pointless update. :/
Deathbrin
Wait, wait – 3.70? Wasn’t that supposed to be the fw update that brings the PS3 Surround headset support? Any info on that?
Youles
Can’t see anywhere taking preorders for the PS headset due out in September :(
cnutard
Wasn’t it 3.71 for the headset?
DrNate86
Quick question, how do you set up saves to synch automatically?
teflon
Highlight the game in the XMB (if downloaded, find it, if a disc, insert it and stop the game’s auto-load by viewing a friends profile or something), hit triangle, then it should be clear to you from there.
tom_lord
..[or just not have auto-disc enabled….;)]
TSBonyman
With the problems i’ve had recently syncing my trophies (although it’s been ok for the last week or so), i wouldn’t like to wake up in the morning and find my ps3 got stuck at 12% and then stayed powered-on all night doing nothing.
Also i’m not that bothered about cloud saving as it still seems a hassle to set up for each individual save. Plus there’s the fact that you can’t access the saves after your subscription ends.
I only signed up for PS+ a few weeks ago and i’ll wait to see how it pans out for me before i know if i’ll subscribe again. But if i don’t, those cloud saves will be useless to me..
.. Which just raises more questions for me about cloud services in general. Will cloud services be able to keep your data after you stop subscribing or will they be required to delete it automatically, or will you have the option to request that everything be deleted once you no longer have access to your cloud account? Do you have the option to back up all that data offline to your own Hard drive once your subscription ends(should you have been foolish enough to rely so much on the cloud that you made no offline back-up)?
Youles
I think Sony hold your Saves for 6 months after your subscription ends. If you rejoin within the 6 months you can access them again. So if you want them, just subscribe once every 6-month
TSBonyman
Thanks for the info, i’m guessing it might work similarly for the wider world of cloud services.
teflon
Once your sub ends, just go back to copying files to USB stick again… Y’know, how you did before. You can’t access whats in the cloud, but those saves are still on your PS3 anyway, right?
TSBonyman
Actually i was thinking about deleting saves for old games from my ps3 hdd once i had uploaded them to the cloud, games i haven’t played in over a year but might like to again someday. I’ll avail of the cloud saving but i’ll continue to rely on my own back-ups.
phantom5813
i have a 60gb machine so i back up all my saves (those not locked anyway) to a memory stick. i have all my saved games on there and dont really use cloud that much. i do for locked saves but nothing else.
JesseDeya
@teflon: Except games that use ‘protected’ saves can’t be backed up to USB whereas they can be saved to the cloud.
teflon
Trophy syncing is fine every other day. I rarely sync my trophies anyway, so now I’ll never sync my trophies, because it’ll be done itself.
The method of electing game saves to be synced automatically is totally clunky, though. For disc based games, you have to have the disc in the drive to be able to hit triangle and select it for the service. A much better route would be to maintain this, but ALSO have the ability to go and find the game save in the Save Data Utility, and add it to the service there.
Still, a bit of automation is always good, and I’ll be turning the saves on for the next game I play.
Awayze
Sony, just give us a proper in game XMB, I dont need the whole thing to load up, just the Friends List and maybe some settings.
e8
& ingame browsing, it shouldn’t be a given everyone has laptops &or pcs.