Latest PS3 Firmware adds Flash 9 support and screenshots

Sony has now released the latest PS3 Firmware update, version 2.50. As usual, there are a number of minor tweaks and upgrades on offer, but the highlight this time is the addition of Flash 9 support for the PS3 web browser and the option to take screenshots in-game.

The inclusion of Flash 9 means console owners have greater access to a multitude of video streaming websites and view them on a proper sized screen. We take no responsibility for you getting caught trying to watch certain Adult themed YouTube clones on your giant Plasma.

Sony has now launched its own PlayStation Channel on YouTube, which is preumably where you’re meant to be pointing the enhanced browser. Obviously, it’ll have much of the same content that Sony already distributes in high quality over the PlayStation Network Store, but now that the PS3 can be used to upload game videos to YouTube, it could be connected to some very interesting user-generated content.

Sony has also added a screenshot function. Hitting a button in-game will take a snap of your current screen. It should be great for preserving online triumphs and more amusing physics glitches. The problem is that Sony has merely implented the function - it is up to the games designers to decide whether to bother using it or not.

Other updates include an enhancement to the PS3 Trophies system to make it easier to compare your stats with your friends. You can also navigate through video files a bit easier thanks to a new Scene Search function.

A new Power Save mode will automatically shutdown any unused controllers after a certain amount of time and the background download function has been enhanced to let you shutdown the system automatically when the download has finished.

Out now | Free | PlayStation

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