The latest official PS3 firmware, 3.60, is now out and about. The firmware update introduces the a new online storage feature that lets PS3 owners make backups of their save games and put them in Sony's own PlayStation cloud service. Here's a more in-depth explanation from Sony:
"The new online storage feature allows gamers to store up to 150MB of game save data and a maximum of 1000 data files per PSN account. Users also have the ability to back-up “copy-prohibited save data,” and all previously saved data may be restored once per 24 hour period. When the new feature launches, most PS3 titles will be compatible with online storage for game saves, and moving forward, all new titles will have the capability to offer the storage option. Additionally, users who save their files to the cloud can access their data on any PS3, using their PSN sign-in ID. "
The update also lets players set the amount of time before a controller turns off after they have stopped using it. This can be done by going to [Settings] > [Power Save Settings] > [Controller Auto-Off].
Of course, those new features aren't the only thing the firmware update adds. Sony has also thrown in additional security precautions that according to PS3 hacker KaKaRoToKS seems to have plugged up the console's security holes. "For now," the dev posted on Twitter, "it looks to me (at first glance) that the ps3 has been resecured, but it doesn't mean it can't be broken again from scratch.."
He explains further in a series of Tweets: "Wow, in 3.60, Sony removed all the loaders, no more isoldr/lv1ldr/lv2ldr/appldr.. but they added lv0.2! Seems they found a way to secure PS3... We already have the metldr key, the thing is that they don't use metldr anymore, at all!... They can't update or remove it, but very surprisingly, they just bypassed it, it's there but unused..."
Those expecting KaKaRoToKS to come out with an exploit for the new firmware shouldn't hold their breath, though. KaKaRoToKS has made it clear on Twitter that he has no plans of messing about with firmware 3.60.
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