Firmware 1.90 brings dashboard backgrounds, changing scaling and video settings in-game
Sony’s Three Speech blog has confirmed that the latest PS3 firmware update, 1.90, is now available in Japan, and will hit Europe tomorrow (July 24th).

Chief amongst the new features is the ability to display custom backgrounds on the machine’s XMB, or dashboard, and the fact that the machine’s video and scaling settings are now available either in-game or when watching a movie.

The features in full:

• Ability to rearrange games on the XMB
• Option menu now includes “eject disk”
• Press triangle to eject games/CDs/movies in the XMB
• XMB backgrounds
• Change the folder classification
• Emoticons
• Change CD output to 44.1/88.2/176.4kHz
• Force 24Hz output for Blu-ray over HDMI
• Change PS3 video settings in-game
• “Bit Mapping” in the “Music Setting”
• Save AVCHD type animations from a Memory Stick
• Change settings like upscaling while playing PS and PS2 games
• Add bookmarks
• Web browser security function in the browser’s tool section
• Avatar moves during audio visual chat

Highly anticipated PS3 taster hitting PlayStation Network later this week
It’s one of the most anticipated games for Sony’s PlayStation 3, and the Japanese platform holder has confirmed that a playable demo of Ninja Theory’s Heavenly Sword will arrive on the European PlayStation Store this Thursday.

CVG reports that the demo will only last around ten minutes, but will give gamers a taste of the multiple-style fighting mechanic, interactive cutscenes and advanced physics engine.


Gamers wanting to access the demo need simply to log onto the PlayStation Store through their PS3s this Thursday.