The mysteries of firmware

Is anyone else confused by the current constant rumour and speculation of the arrival of firmware 2.4 for the PS3. I originally heard that it should be out already, then next week and now in three weeks, just in time for Sony's E3 conference surprise surprise. I think this has to be the proper firmware update, the big one, the one that gives us everything that playstation users have wanted for quite some time.

I was recently listening to a podcast, where one of the panel said that they are now ready to actually start using the PS3 more. They said that the XMB is a much cleaner,  faster interface than the 360 dashboard and if the improvements that they are promising are included, it should be getting towards matching it in terms of features.

CVG recently reported the total list of things you should be able to access with the in-game XMB, these have not been confirmed by Sony:

• Friend category
• View, send, receive messages
• Manage downloads
• Set the vibration feature of the controller
• Sign in to PlayStation Network
• Register friends
• Manage Bluetooth devices
• Terminate the game
• Music category
• Use the system BGM
• Work the system BGM operation panel
• Settings category
• Assign controllers
• View profiles
• Game category
• Set audio devices
• Use the voice changer

Not a bad load of features. Also, trophies, which I thought we'd have to wait for Home to appear to actually see, are included, with Bronze, Silver and Gold, with Platinum given for getting all the trophies, no points are involved. However, I hope I don't have to replay games to get trophies for them, and that it can simply look at my saves and know what I have done and haven't done, otherwise, that will be a complete pain.

A source has also said that it won't be completely hobbled version of the system such as background music. Apparently it promises to allow the user to use their media server and external devices to play music in game and that they can navigate tracks etc the same way then can whilst not in a game.

While I'm not sure about how Sony can afford to keep doing this to their system, and most of this should of been their at launch, hopefully, it should allow them to make the system more stable. Although this information apparently comes from a source at Sony and is not being dismissed by the gaming press, I'm waiting to see what else changes by the release.

Here's a video (not by a hacker, it appears to be a dev kit version) of the 'beta' in game XMB, its pretty slow tester, but does show the basics