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10 Things We Still Want in PlayStation 3 Firmware (i.e. NOT In-Game XMB)

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Sony's latest PlayStation 3 firmware update 2.4 brought what the fanboys have been crying about since the console's inception-in-game access to the console's Cross Media Bar (XMB). In-game XMB is fine and dandy, yes, but there were more pressing issues that Sony should have fixed first. Here are 10 of them.
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gizmodo.com
kalistyles - contributor
Published: 545 days 9 hours ago | Article | PlayStation 3
 
 

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Jamie Foxx - 545 days 9 hours ago
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1 - ONLY AGREE WITH A COUPLE POINTS
the rest are just silly and being overly picky

background folding at home is a really smart idea though
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Lifendz - 545 days 9 hours ago
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1.1 - I want custom avatars for PSN
but having in-game xmb was my major concern. Everything else is icing on the cake.
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xhairs9 - 545 days 8 hours ago
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1.2 - Very Lame.
None of those points (including the background folding at home) was more needed than In-Game XMB. Though the folding at home background would be sweet, I have yet to even use it once.
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boodybandit - 545 days 8 hours ago
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1.3 - Agreed.
These are lame.
The only thing I want for PSN is in game private chat. I prefer private chat to the open mic. Cross game invites would be nice as well but private chat is a real need for me personally.
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Jack Meahoffer - 545 days 8 hours ago
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1.4 - No question real universal voice chat has to be #1 feature needed
Next would be auto shutdown after downloads completed or game controlers charge.

Those and the already announced video store and HOME. Then the PS3 will be complete.
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AceLuby - 545 days 7 hours ago
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1.5 - Private voice chat... really?
I personally hate (absolutely hate) private voice chat. It's on the 360 and is one of the reasons I don't play on live anymore. You join a team game where your team consists of private chats so you can't communicate w/ your teammates... Might as well not have mics. I also had a couple times where I only heard one half of the conversation. It was incredibly annoying.

Why not use mics for what they are used for (communicating w/ teammates) and PHONES for what they are intended for. Hell you could have one bluetooth for your PS3 and another for your phone... problem solved... though you may look like a cyborg ;)
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instantstupor - 545 days 7 hours ago
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1.6 - I think points are valid...But can someone tell me if I'm misreading here...
"The PS3's primary standby mode is super low energy. But if you want to access Remote Play (XMB, pictures, etc) through the PSP, it's suddenly sucking as much power as five refrigerators just sitting there."

If you turn on the wake-on-lan ability it's not just sitting on and it's not in the full blown, energy bill dominating fridge killer mode either. It's not as super low energy as primary standby, but it isn't *that* much more to have the wifi running.

Now, what I agree with is auto-install, controller charge w/o PS3 having to be completely on, and that account access should be moved to (or at least accessable in) the Store. It is annoying to go buy something, get to checkout and realize that your a buck short or something and then have to leave the store, open up another page, scroll to the option to add funds, leave, go back to store and then get your content. Just throw the ability to add funds to your wallet from the store and I'm set.

Everything else he brought up was pretty lame. In game access to the web? Yeah, it'd be nice but that takes a lot of memory man. Nor is that something I want them to waste time on. If you really need a walkthrough just get out your laptop/desktop and print something if necessary (heck, PSP even works for that if you've got one since most walkthroughs are just text documents).

Honestly, this isn't constructive, it's just a list comprised mostly of unnecessary niceties. Instead focus other things. Focus on Home. Heck, focus on improving the dev kits to make devs lives easier and our games better. I'd say that I could use the majority of these suggestions to make a "Sony, focus your energy on areas OTHER than these" list.
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iamtehpwn - 545 days 6 hours ago
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1.7 - Most of that stuff isn't even possible.
Due to RAM constraints. Consoles(360/Ps3) don't have enough RAM to support Web browsing and gaming at the same time. Or other In-game features, all difficult to do, due to small amount of RAM.
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aebriscoejr - 545 days 5 hours ago
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1.8 -
I agree we don't NEED any of this, but it would be nice to have.
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Kareem - 545 days 9 hours ago
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2 -
Some points are understandable, but the rest are just plain stupid, like for example "real keyboard support" for titles. There are 3rd party peripherals and ok, suits some titles, but if you want that, go play games on the PC instead.
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Panthers - 545 days 9 hours ago
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2.1 -
Yup. Plus it could unbalace online games.
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whoelse - 545 days 9 hours ago
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3 -
The problem with articles like these are that it makes you appreciate the current firmware less.
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The Wood - 545 days 9 hours ago
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4 - i would like
auto shutdown for pads and download in standby mode and if that isnt possible an auto shutdown after downloads are completed and maybe a expandable xmb similar to windows start menu where only the most used lines in the xmb are shown but the others can be brought up with some kinda prompt
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PikkonX - 545 days 9 hours ago
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4.1 -
I also would like an auto shutdown for the system itself after a certain timeframe. That way I can put in a Blu-ray movie while I'm going to sleep and doze off comfortably, knowing that my room won't transform into a sauna by morning time.
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jamesrocks3147 - 545 days 9 hours ago
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5 - those points are lame
1. voice chat over all games....... i mean come on sony
2. video store
3. screenshot/record video in game (youtube)
4. improve the look of the trophie cards a bit maybe
5. not FW related but... sony should push developers for trophies and music in game off the XMB and also sony needs to advertise PSN more also with a PS3 price drop and to explain why ps3 is more expensive then xbox they need to stress out ps3 comes with blu-ray ,wifi, bigger hard drive and free PSN bulit in.

if these are done with action sooner better then later ps3 is going to rock who agrees?
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Rich1631 - 545 days 9 hours ago
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5.1 -
Yeah, I want your point 1 so bad. My friend and I like to chit chat while playing different games.
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AllroundGamer - 545 days 8 hours ago
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5.2 -
yeah voice chat is pretty much the top priority for many PS3 owners (and i hope for Sony too), it should work just like the private chat functionality on Xbox360, you send chat request, and then it doesn't matter what you are doing on the console, you will stay connected to that person till someone ends the Chat. That is the one feature i really like on the xbox360.
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Jack Meahoffer - 545 days 8 hours ago
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5.3 - Spot on. Bubbles
Nice list. No question real voice chat is number 1.
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rucky - 545 days 8 hours ago
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5.4 -
Sony has implemented Skype on the PSP, I don't see why they can't use their program here.
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Action Bastard - 545 days 9 hours ago
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6 -
I'm shocked that the listed features actually make sense. It's apparent Sony is listening and I'm willing to be patient.
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PimpHandHappy - 545 days 9 hours ago
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6.1 -
i was going to type something but Action Bastard sums up my feelings on what 2.40 has done

I dont have to quit my game anymore to respond or get a response

On a scale from 1 to 10 on how i feel about 2.40

9.5 all day
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Nitrowolf2 - 545 days 8 hours ago
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6.2 -
@6.1
i agree it gets pretty annoying wen you wait for a friend to come into a game and then they send you a message and you quit and it says wait a while.
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Nitrowolf2 - 545 days 9 hours ago
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7 -
some of those things are rediculas
but what i would like are
1 Flash upgrade for web browser
2.video store
3.auto shut down when download is complete
5. In-game: unlcok more option to use online and in-games like see saved game data and utitly
wat if i have 4GB on my HDD and a game requires 4.5GB i have to quit and exit and then relaunch the games i know it isnt much but it would still be useful
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PimpHandHappy - 545 days 8 hours ago
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8 - i would like a sleep timer
that would be nice
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PimpHandHappy - 545 days 8 hours ago
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9 - take things out of it?
if your waiting on them to just allow friends list and music your wasting your time..

Sony wants all those icons to work online! Its why its a work in progess!
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Nitrowolf2 - 545 days 8 hours ago
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9.1 -
?.
is it true that this is a 3 part installment thing with the in-game?
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doG beLIEfs - 545 days 7 hours ago
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9.2 -
Yes, si, hi, da, affirmative. 2.4 is indeed phase 1 of 3 with the in-game XMB. I would say by the end of the year most of the XMB functionality will be available in-game.

First things first though....they need to get 2.4 back up for those of us who did not DL 2.4. I have, and in the words of that McDogfood commercial....I'm luvin' it
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bcash23 - 545 days 8 hours ago
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10 - Top 10
As I read that i was wondering what he meant by the title. But I get it and I agree. These are defiantly things Sony can do to improve there product and should be looked at and I'm sure they are in a cost vs value kinda way. In Game browsing, DS3 charging while in Stby, screen grabs, are nice features that i would make use of. I don't know how much time id save on a first play thru if i could just pause pop the browser and go to the faq for how the rob the bank with packie in gta 4.
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BloodSpillXXT - 545 days 8 hours ago
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11 - -
-Smarter/easier Firmware Updates? - how easy can it get! seriously?!

-Automatic Downloaded-Game Installation - yeah, i can definitely se why the 30 clicks and 15 minute installs it takes do install a demo can be a.. oh, wait... scratch that one out.

-Real Keyboard Support - I don't even get this point.. i mean, come on..

-In-Game Web Browsing - this can easily be done with a pc, no reason to use excessive memory on web browsing..

-Controllers Don't Charge Without PS3 "On" - buy a wall-charger, or simply just have 2 controllers so one is charging while the other one is being used.

-PS Home - SURE lets push sony until they finally release it with major bugs! that worked ever so perfectly last time (2.40 drawback anyone?)

-Account Management - Why would i want all my account information in the store? The store is for purchases, not for changes in your account!

-Screengrabs - This is the one and >only< feature that might be of some use in this crappy article..

and finally, Background Folding@Home + Lower Power Standby Folding@home uses more power, doesnt it? so you want to both lower the power in the PS3, and use more at the same time? wait.. wtf?
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Lumbo - 545 days 8 hours ago
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11.1 -
oops, i accidentally clicked disagree, ill compensate with a bubble
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AllroundGamer - 545 days 8 hours ago
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11.2 - Lumbo
lol i accidentally took a bubble from you, ill compensate with an agree ;) /joking
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Mikelarry - 545 days 8 hours ago
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12 - the only
thing i want now is for sony to implement a way of muting players. i mean like muting them so that you dont have to hear from them again. yes i know i know you can mute them now. but at the end of the match they come back louder than ever
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snappywave - 545 days 8 hours ago
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13 - media shuffle
PSP already has it.. why not PS3? For media users.. this is an awesome feature.
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Peow - 545 days 8 hours ago
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14 -
I don't care! I Have a clock now and that makes me happy! ^_^
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kingme71 - 545 days 8 hours ago
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14.1 -
Was that clock new? I saw it and couldn't remember if it had always been there or if it was new with the latest update. In any case, mine is off an hour :(
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instantstupor - 545 days 7 hours ago
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14.2 - kingme, you can change the time in the XMB
Go under Settings and there is a Time and Date option where you can either change it manually, update via the web, or (and this is my guess) go to the last setting under Time and Date which should say Daylight Savings. I assume yours says Standard. Switch it to the other option and your clock should be right.
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alphabet - 545 days 8 hours ago
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15 - Some People
Are never happy.
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Fisher339 - 545 days 8 hours ago
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15.1 -
i know man i got my ps3 in march 2007, i had no games besides, resistance until warhawk came out in late august...
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okcomputer - 545 days 7 hours ago
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15.2 -
Yea really, with the type of obscure and unnecessary crap requests this article listed, even if sony did add all of it he'd probably put out another article later on asking why his ps3 can't do his taxes for him or make a perfect espresso.
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axeblade1 - 545 days 8 hours ago
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16 - multiple PSN Id's in multiplayer games
Come on Sony. The Xbox has this. Let's stop sharing one ID in multiplayer online games and allow more than one account to be signed in at the same time. Especially with trophies and levels out now. No one wants to do good in a multiplayer game just so one person gets the credit for it. Then sign out sign in with thier account and do it all over again. Joy...
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netherbound - 545 days 7 hours ago
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17 -
Here is my list...
1. Bring back h.264/.mp4 video support for video's that used to play back just fine in older FW's and now show as being corrupt or unsupported. Also fix the stuttering play back issue with the ones that do work.
2. Enable the ability for your PS3 controller to automatically shutoff after a period of no activity to save battery life.
3. Offer Black as one of the color background options (for the nitpicks. Yes, I know black is the absence of color so don't start).
4. Voice support in all multi-player games and Voice messaging support.
5. As stated above, allow for our PS3 controllers to be charged while the system is off/standby mode.
6. More downloadable games added to the PSN Store (ie PSone, PS2, and new games). I mean come on! Flood us Sony!!!
7. PSN Video Store (but we know this one is coming).
8. Check sum for FW downloads that have been done over your PS3 before install of that FW update to make sure that nothing happens to people like what happen to some 2.4 FW updaters (The 360 needs this too).
9. Sony likes Google and Skype so much, so they should add GTalk and Skype support to the PS3 (shoot, the PSP has Skype why don't we? We paid more for our units ;) .)
10. This one is a long shot but... why jump through the Linux hoops, just give us MAME right from the XMB. :D
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lovedaddy - 545 days 7 hours ago
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17.1 - yep
2 things I really want (but I'll be stunned if we ever get).

- MKV support. We already have the hard part taken care of (the 264 video decoding, and ac3 is also in there) - just need to handle getting stuff out the mkv container

- Gtalk / jabber support.
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netherbound - 545 days 6 hours ago
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17.2 -
lovedaddy: I agree 100% with both.
But just having proper h.264/mp4 support to start will help out big time.
I had no problems with older FW's (I can not remember which one broke it off the top of my head) and it's said that I can play back almost everything under the sun (with the exception of MKV) on my 360 but not my PS3. Especially when it was able to do so at one time just fine. I think the main reason I complain so much about it is because playback looks so much better on my PS3 when it does/did work.
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BIGELLOW - 545 days 7 hours ago
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18 - My Two Cents
The first comment about "Smarter Firmware Updates" isn't likely going to happen. My take is that a firmware update is a touchy thing. You'd never want the PS3 to be turned off, the power strip it is plugged into to be switched off, etc, etc... So, I think Sony really wants someone "at the controls" at the very moment of a firmware update being installed, to be sure the person is aware of exactly what moment this is. This is why it makes sense to require user input at that moment.

I agree a little with the web browsing comment... in PAIN, for instance, at the menu screen you can hop into a web browser mode then right back to the menu screen. So, presumably, there should be support to do this more manually, by choosing the web browser on the in-game XMB. I'm sure the problem comes down to managing memory and/or output (such as sound.)

As for the other issues, to me they are minimal. I use a keyboard for typing. I prefer the controller for playing games. I plug my PS3 controllers into a USB device that is always plugged in and supplying power. The rest are trivial and nit-picky.
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Wolf873 - 545 days 7 hours ago
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19 - Well about his charging the controller....
one can always hook up the controller to a PC USB port. If battery is running low and PS3 is off, I usually just hook it up to my PC that is usually running.
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titntin - 545 days 7 hours ago
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20 -
Pretty picky points to be honest - you could come up with more desirable features that actually possible much easier!

Web browsing won't happen - there simply won't be enough memory available to do it whilst the game is still loaded.

I like the idea of the controller automatically turning off - a pretty simple code fix I'm sure.

Maybe voice messaging and a few more codec's, but to be honest I'm pretty happy with what we got!
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bcash23 - 545 days 7 hours ago
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21 - Tech
Well thanks for the tech help in understanding that part if the browsing in game technically can't work then ok. I'll live and i also understand the download issue now thanks big E. But the controller charging thing if it can b addressed it only make sense. I'm lazy what if my laptop is on my bed and i'm working now i gotta have a ps3 controller on the bed with me to charge it. cause i stayed up all night playing gta4 and needed to get some work done before i went back to playing gta4 and not doing work. Nah man just have my ps3 do all the work.
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Awesomeo3000 - 545 days 6 hours ago
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22 -
man all i hear is crying on n4g its ridcioulous its a video game console it plays the games we want and free online play everything else is just bonus
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devilhunterx - 545 days 3 hours ago
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23 -
When will all these "smart" people realise that HOME has nothing to do with Firmwares
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Gantrfaxx - 544 days 15 hours ago
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24 - Nonsense, this article is complete pedantry.
-"Automatic Downloaded-Game Installation"
Whats the big deal? It's so difficult to press x button once more. Are you that fat?

-"Real Keyboard Support"
You must be joking, it's up to game developers to implement that into their games, UT has it, why don't other game have it?! Yeah, Sony is to blame.

-"In-Game Web Browsing"
Yeah right, how about playing games while watching Blu Ray movie? Now wouldn't that be nice?! LOL

-"Background Folding@Home"
Same thing, how about Folding while surfing, and playing a game in a small window. I f.... want that!!!

-"Screengrabs
...and it'd be nice to have for showing everyone how awesome I am all the time."
You're not awesome, you're anoying.

Enough of the nonsense...
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