The PS Vita has just got a major firmware update, taking it to version 1.80. It brings the ability to use the Vita as a PS3 controller (like with LittleBigPlanet 2), you can now control the Vita’s home screen with the standard (non-touch controlls) and the Photos, Videos, Music and Web Browser applications have been updated considerably.
Playlists, video thumbnails, and a series of changes to the core UI make using the Vita a much smoother experience. Moving around the menu without tapping is nice, but being able to quit back from a LiveArea with Circle is so obvious it’s strange it wasn’t there before.
Even Near has had a few tweaks, and the smaller notifications are lovely. A nice new feature is that you can also control PSP games with the touch screen! Of course, 1.80 also brings PSone playback – we’ll wait and see which games SCEE offer for sale in this week’s Store Update.
You now get notifications when a friend comments on your activities, making that whole social system actually worthwhile.
Very happy overall. Most of my issues with the Vita’s operating system are now sorted – it even reconnects much quicker to the PSN inbetween those times when the Vita decides to kill its Wi-fi link. The web browser still lacks some basic stuff but it’s better, and the rear touchscreen options are handy.
It does now appear that memory cards are 100% locked to a single account now though – switch profiles and you’ll need to format it. If you run multiple profiles from the same cards, this might well be the end of that.
KeRaSh
Got all the games I wanted in that list of compatible PS1 games:
Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee and Exodus, Final Fantasy V-IX and Rayman.
I just hope I downloaded all my PS1 games from the German PSN otherwise they probably won’t transfer to my Vita that is linked to the German PSN account… damnit…
sparkyscrum
Few games I have but not most of them sadly.
Glad they brought PS1 games as its another string to Vita’s now. However I wonder how bad they will look.
Gadbury
Does the web browser load quicker now? I use it a lot but get so frustrated with the loading speed… damn those grey and white chequers!
Nice round-up of updates.
FluBBa
The grey checkers are mostly gone, the web browser is far better to use now.
Gadbury
Jst tried it myself. It is slightly faster but I still find it painful and too slow.
Bodachi
It is great to be able to finally get play these games on Vita. Don’t need to wait for the update on the store. :)
Tanzil
Nice update. Pretty much cant complain about getting fingerprints on The screen now. I’d like to see how the browser’s been updated cos I use that a hell of a lot.
gaffers101
Some nice features added there, great update.
lotrek
Fantastic update!…..that is all.
RudeAwakening
Does anyone know if Sony are rectifying the HTML5 and Adobe flash player when you try to click any video in the browser?
colmshan1990
I don’t know about HTML5, but I can tell you we won’t ever be getting Flash.
Adobe have discontinued mobile flash, it’s dead. Apple killed it by not having it in iOS.
RudeAwakening
S***! So what does this mean for watching videos in the vita browser?
marcobrien
Does it still lose all icon placement & home screen customisations every time you switch memory cards? If so.. MEH!!
Sympozium
MEHHH!!!!