It's that time again!

Patrick Seybold, Sony's Senior PR Manager, has said that a new firmware release will hit the PS3 next week.

Although the list of updates has not been confirmed, most people expect all or some of these to be included:

Users

• You can now password-protect user accounts.

Settings

• [Dynamic Normalizer] has been added as an option under [Sound Settings].

• [Energy Saver] has been added as an option.

• [Equalizer] has been added as a feature under [Music Settings].

• [Full] has been added as an option for [DVD Wide Display] under [BD / DVD Settings].

• [Photo Settings] has been added as an option.

• [PS / PS2 Settings] has been added as an option.

• [RSS Channel Settings] has been added as an option.

• [Sample Rate] has been added to [Audio CD Import] under [Music Settings].

• [Screen Saver] has been expanded under [Display Settings].

• The method of selecting an output resolution has been changed in [Video Output Settings] under [Display Settings].

• [Theme Settings] has been added as an option.

• [Zero Unused Disk Space] has been added as an option under [System Settings] > [Format Utility].

In addition, some people are reporting that the new firmware will include an option for Customised Soundtracks and others are reporting new features such as multiple chat windows, the XMB being available during gameplay, new slideshow visualisations and a decent CD Information update system that sends new CD details to the database.

Whatever happens, we'll get to see what is true and what is fake in the update on around 23rd July.

UPDATE: Patrick Seybold has said the Customised Soundtracks feature is fake. See his reply (reply number 69; ahem!) on the official Playstation blog.

Labels: firmware, news, PS3