Joystiq

Vita firmware 2.00 makes web browser faster, usable in-game

Sinan Kubba — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST

Today's Vita firmware update is giving the system's web browser a speed boost, as well as making it usable in-game. We knew the browser's due enhancements in the 2.00 update, but Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida shed further light on Twitter today.

The browser becomes a "small app," said Yoshida, meaning it can be used without quitting a game. That's vital for when you're stuck and need a walkthrough, not that we ever have of course, cough splutter. Yoshida also noted browsing is faster in 2.00 firmware.

The biggest deal with 2.00 is the introduction of PlayStation Plus for Vita. The first batch of Instant Game Collection freebies arrives tomorrow, with six Vita games added including the likes of Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Jet Set Radio, Wipeout 2048, and Gravity Rush.

Vita firmware 2.00 makes web browser faster, usable in-game originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Internet Explorer coming to Xbox 360 this year

JC Fletcher — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 13:20:00 EST

Details are still slim (how does this relate to SmartGlass?) but, as rumored, a Kinect-enabled Internet Explorer web browser will be released on Xbox 360 this year. You'll be able to select from your favorites using voice commands.

Microsoft answered a few of our questions about the Xbox's IE integration with an official blurb after its conference:

"With Kinect and Xbox SmartGlass, Internet Explorer for Xbox will allow you to surf the internet using your voice and navigate using your mobile devices for an incredibly easy web browsing experience optimized for your TV."

Internet Explorer coming to Xbox 360 this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Jun 2012 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Kinect-enabled Internet Explorer browser coming to Xbox 360

JC Fletcher — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:20:00 EST

Good news: the Xbox 360 will finally have a web browser in the near future, according to a Verge source. Bad news: It's Internet Explorer.

The source tells The Verge that the new web browser is based on Internet Explorer 9, and features Kinect functionality, allowing users to search with voice input just like the Bing search tech used in the current dashboard. Users will also be able to browse the web without talking to it, reportedly.

Rumor: Kinect-enabled Internet Explorer browser coming to Xbox 360 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 May 2012 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vita won't support simultaneous web browsing and gameplay

Jessica Conditt — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST

The PlayStation Vita will do a lot of things besides play games, but it won't be able to operate the web browser and a game at the same time, meaning you'll have to exit out of Uncharted: Golden Abyss before searching for its Game FAQs on the same screen, Andriasang reports. Vita will allow users to access personal music, Twitter, friends lists and more while a game is running, but web browsing will not be an option, at least at launch.

Sony used the word "initially" when describing the web-browsing clause, which makes it seem like a function that will be added after Vita's release, Andriasang notes.

Vita won't support simultaneous web browsing and gameplay originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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3DS Virtual Console getting Game Gear and TurboGraphx-16 games, coming late May

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:04:00 EST

In addition to select, hand-picked Game Boy and Game Boy Color classics, the 3DS's Virtual Console will also play host to titles from two slightly surprising sources: The Sega Game Gear and TurboGraphx-16 handhelds. No specific entries from the two devices were named during Reggie Fils-Aime's presentation at Nintendo's GDC keynote today -- though we've got our fingers crossed for the speedy arrival of Sonic Chaos.

Fils-Aime also confirmed the late May arrival of the Virtual Console via a system update, which wiill also introduce a handful of the device's other online features, including: DSiWare (and the ability to transfer DSiWare games from a DSi or DSi XL), the web browser and eShop. It's likely to be the same update that will add Netflix and some 3D video features, too.

3DS Virtual Console getting Game Gear and TurboGraphx-16 games, coming late May originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Greenberg explains why 360 won't get internet browser

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:15:00 EST

Speaking to Edge, Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg helped explain just why the Xbox will never, ever get its own web browser. According to Greenberg, browsing the web on a television makes for a "poor" experience. Instead, "The real magic," said Greenberg, "is to take those web experiences and optimize them for the living room." He listed the Xbox implementation of Netflix as an example -- the Xbox also has similar Twitter, Last.fm and Facebook apps -- and said that attempting to browse the web on a PS3 is "an absolute nightmare."

Said Greenberg, "No disrespect, there's things I love about the PS3, but that's not one of them." He added that Microsoft wants the Xbox online experience "to be fun and optimized for the living room," and that the company will continue to expand on its applications in order to "get more richness."

Of course, all of this skirts the main issue: Is an Xbox web browser worth dealing with Internet Explorer?

[Via CVG]

Greenberg explains why 360 won't get internet browser originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More people web browse on PS3 than Wii

Majed Athab — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: News

In addition to PS3's recent and stunning victory over GameCube in terms of "video game console usage," the ebony mammoth also one-ups over Nintendo's current console, Wii. According to statistical data gathered by Market Share, the PS3's internal web browser accounts for 0.04 percent of all internet users while Wii (the only other current gen console to have a browser) only measures up to a 0.01 percent share.

The PS3's free browser is probably one factor which gives it an edge over the Wii's $5 Opera Internet Channel. Unfortunately, as the trifling amounts show, neither system seems to really dent PC's 88.7 percent dominance. We guess people enjoy their game blogs, lol kittehs and pRon the traditional way.

[Via Joystiq via Edge Online]

More people web browse on PS3 than Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Firmware 2.53 available now, adds full screen flash video

Jem Alexander — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:35:00 EST

Filed under: Firmware Updates

The official PlayStation website might have leaked information regarding firmware 2.53, but it was clearly very wrong about the date. The update didn't drop on November 26th, as the website suggested, but is instead available right now. Honestly, it's true. Go check for yourself.

The latest firmware adds full screen functionality to embedded Flash videos in the web browser, as well as generally "improving the way the Flash Player works with the internet browser." Meaning more websites will now work. Overall, a nice, if slightly anemic, firmware update. It's all free though, so we can't complain. Go on commenters, prove us wrong.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Firmware 2.53 available now, adds full screen flash video originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Warm Up: More Opera talk

Candace Savino — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Wii Warm Up

Those of us too cheap to buy DVRs love that most TV networks offer their programming online -- after all, we'd hate to tell our friends that we couldn't hang out on a Friday night because we had to watch BSG. Even so, we prefer to watch TV on actual televisions rather than computer screens. The Wii seems like a perfect way to compromise this, but until Adobe releases a Flash upgrade on their software development kit, it's not going to happen.

We already know that a lot of you use your Wii's Opera browser, but what do you think of it? Are there any limitations you've noticed besides the Flash issue? What other improvements do you think Opera could make? And are there any games or applications that you find perfect for Wii browsing?

Wii Warm Up: More Opera talk originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 20 Apr 2008 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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