PS Vita Firmware 1.80 Coming Late August – PSOne Classic Support

One of the more casual announcements made during Sony’s Gamescom press show was the arrival of PSOne Classics to the PlayStation Vita. That addition, long overdue, will require a firmware update. All of the tiles they showed seemed to be identical to the PSOne Classics they talked about at E3 so we’re still unsure if all PSOne classics will be playable on Vita or if it will only be a select few but it’s progress and that shouldn’t be discouraged.

Along with the new firmware update, due at the end of August, some other new features will be implemented. The inclusion of Cross Controller functionality to facilitate the LittleBigPlanet 2 DLC that’s coming will hopefully pave the way for plenty more second-screen goodness in Sony titles.

We’ll also see added functionality to control options in the system, with button support on menus and rear touch panel support for web page navigation both being added. We’ll see playlist support for the music app, including the ability to transfer over iTunes M3U lists using the PS3 or PC Content Manager.

The Video app will get playback speed and repeat functions and the Photos app will be able to display MPO format files (used by the PlayMemories app on PS3) from the PS3, although not 3D or multi-angle ones. You’ll also be able to take photos to add to your group messages as attachments.

You’ll be able to add your own flags to the Maps app by holding on screen and they’re adding a button to switch between searching for directions and searching for a location. They’re also adding some functions to the Near app which will allow it to gather information from WiFi cells and use that to update your location later – that bit’s a little vague but then, the whole of Near is still something of a mystery to me.

Source: US PS Blog