Remember that dateless firmware update that was announced a few days ago? I just booted up my PS3. It’s live. That is all.

Just received word in my inbox that something special is coming down the pipeline from Sony this month.  Not one but two firmware updates are on the way. and both offer some new features that I’m genuinely pretty excited about.

PS3 firmware 2.50 will feature the oft-rumored screen capture ability, support for the new PlayStation Bluetooth Headset, and enhancements to the Trophy system.  A few smaller features round things out — but the biggest draw of 2.5?  There’s going to be a power save mode for both console and controller.  Now if my system is unattended for a pre-determined length of time, it’s going to boot down.  I don’t mind so much if the console is on when I’m not there (Life With PlayStation still include Folding@Home, and I’m a sucker for curing cancer), but my damned wiener kids always turn the controllers on, and I’m left with zero battery whenever I want to fire up some PixelJunk/Wipeout/Buzz goodness.

PSP firmware 5.00 will include an on-screen QWERTY keyboard and provide fullscreen TV-out support for PSOne games.

You’ve only read the highlights.  Hit the jump for the full presser;

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Um, yeah. It’s in Network Update on yer PS3.

I think I’ll wait and see what others say; my 2.40 install is working fine.

As reported in on Kotaku and Joystiq, and decried across the Playstation community forums – Sony seems to have pulled the (in?)famous 2.40 firmware update. It is no longer available through the PS3 System Update, nor on the usual web links at Sony’s sites. No one is quite sure why yet; reports range from PS3s being stuck at the “waves” on boot, and not seeing any icons, to controller issues.

Joystiq managed to get a “we’re working on it” comment from SCEA just before the update was pulled.

If you’ve already installed it, and not experienced any issues, there doesn’t seem to be anything to worry about…. we’ll update you as the drama unfolds.

Cue your pining for the good ol’ days of non-flashable consoles.

Want the full deets on how the long-awaited in-game XMB is going to work? Check out this video for a complete accounting. Hint: it includes streaming music into games. Joy!

Let’s hope 2.4 hits during E3 like everybody’s expecting. Between this and trophies I may need a clean pair of shorts.

UPDATE: 2.4 now confirmed for July 2.

[vis Playstation.Blog]

While we’re all sitting around waiting for the mythical PS3 firmware update with in-game XMB and 2D trophies that is rumored to be hitting this month, Sony has decided to tease us by putting the words “firmware” and “XMB” in a completely unrelated press release. Later this week PSP firmware 4.0 will be releasing, and it’s going to include Google Search right in the XMB. Definitely a really good idea — it’s bound to get people not using the browser (like myself) to give it a whirl again. Here’s the official word;

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced that the next system software update for PSP®(PlayStation®Portable) will be available this week. PSP system will be upgraded to firmware 4.00, which adds the Google™ search engine directly to the XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) user interface, making Web searches easier and more convenient on PSP.

The Google search engine will be accessible under the XMB’s “Network” category through a new “Internet Search” icon. The new feature will deliver the same Google search results as when searching on www.google.com. The functionality also has an input history recall of up to 20 items for more efficient browsing. Working with Google to offer its superior search technology demonstrates SCEA’s commitment to further enhance the mobile entertainment experience on PSP system.

Fantastic — now where’s my damned PS3 update?