2.80 included some updates after all [UPDATE]
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![2.80 included some updates after all [UPDATE]](http://www.ps3attitude.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/SONY-FWU.JPG "SONY-FWU")
The latest firmware to hit the PlayStation 3, v2.80, seems to have created somewhat of a stir on the Internet.
Not because it included any groundbreaking changes. No. In fact all the talk has been about what wasn’t included, and why Sony felt the need to make this a ‘point release’ (a 0.1 increase in the version number) instead of a minor update (to 2.71, for example).
The firmware update has also created a flow of anti-SCE commentary as people wonder why Sony don’t just come clean with every update and publish the full changelog.
But after much searching and a handy news tip from one of our readers, we can reveal the extent of the actual changes to your XMB.
The first change comes via the new Text Chat feature that launched with the last upgrade. Instead of a meagre 32 character limit for each line of text, you can now type – wait for it – 64 whole characters on every line!
Twitter users are clearly feeling jealous at this point.
The only other change we could find that didn’t involve some kind of unconfirmed anecdotal evidence, such as the unfounded rumour that trophy cards load quicker (they don’t) and the fact there may be some new avatars (possible), is in the volume options.
When using the official Sony Bluetooth Headset, it appears the microphone volume has been fixed at level 3, with no opportunity to change. This is such an innocuous upgrade that it may well have been that way all along, so don’t crucify us in the comments if this isn’t a new development!
Who knows why these minor changes warranted a point release from Sony. All we know is that firmware upgrades will always be a source of much discussion as long as the PS3 is around…
[UPDATE] The Text Chat feature has also been improved further with 2.80. As you can see in the video produced and provided by our reader, Delriach, below, you can now switch to and from your game whilst the keypad is open during Text Chat.
[Many thanks to Delriach for the news tip and video]
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Supposedly it also disabled a recent hack (Open Remote Play) which allowed Remote Play access to the PS3 through a cell phone, laptop, or desktop.
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Yeh, most probably… Its a PSP hack if im correct? Not upto date with that stuff atm, Someone threw my PSP down the stairs
. I can only use it with my PC using a different type of remote play that puts the screen on my desktop 
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Cool, i still haven’t updated my PS3 yet i might do inabit.
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Here is a video that shows a slight but significant difference in text chat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXYxEIU5e_M
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Yep, they have locked it at 3 for headset mic volume. It’s at 5 at the moment for me, because I had it at 5 a few firmwares back. I remember being able to change freely through 5 different volume levels.. Maybe the one of the firmwares released this year has locked it. I’m not going to test it by changing it to 3, because then I won’t be able to change back!
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[...] Source [...]
[...] how Sony never releases a full change log. ps3attitude.com found out one new thing. The first change comes via the new Text Chat feature that launched with [...]
[...] That’s right; gamers who decided to skip the update – after all, it was just backstage stuff, wasn’t it? – were still able to access the PSN Store and go online without being forced to update the [...]