Take a device, and if we're not talking about a hammer or an anvil, they're nothing without the software driving them. When talking about game consoles, the firmware is that software layer that brings constant improvements to your old console, helping it remain useful... at least for a while, of course!

Today, the news is about Sony firmware - PS3 and the PSP got both updates, and since Sony wrote a lot of things in the press release, I'll give you only the important part. After all, it's just Sony firmware, PS3 and PSP gamers need to know what's new for them, and not the usual "improves the gaming experience" or "increases compatibility with..." mumbo-jumbo.

According to Peter Dille, senior vice president of marketing, "These firmware updates keep both PS3 and PSP in lockstep with consumer expectations for gaming and entertainment, particularly the ability to download PSP games on-the-go, which is a functionality we know consumers can't wait to get their hands on. As we approach our second anniversary with PLAYSTATION 3, <-125x125 Button - right->it's remarkable to look back at how much the system has evolved and improved, including its critical link to PSP that effectively extends these entertainment capabilities beyond the home."

The latest Sony firmware PS3 version is 2.50, and its new features include the following:

- Video -- A video scene search functionality will provide thumbnails to help you find a particular scene in a video more easily.
- Information Board -- The Information Board will be able to include direct links to PlayStation Store, making it easier for PS3 owners to download content that they read about on the Information Board.
- Power save -- PS3 owners will have the option to automatically shut-off their console or controllers after pre-selected periods of inactivity.

The PSP firmware reached a more mature version, 5.00, and this one finally comes with...

- On-screen keyboard -- A full-size, QWERTY on-screen keyboard will be added to make text entry during Web browsing easier and more convenient.
- Sleep timer -- During music playback, a sleep timer will enable users to shut off their PSP system after a specified amount of time.
- Video-out -- The PSP-2000's video-out feature will be able to display classic PlayStation(R) format titles at the full-screen size of the TV that the PSP is connected to; the feature also will support interlace displays.

This is it, folks! I hope you'll enjoy your "new" PS3 and PSP from now on. Shoot'em up!

StarCraft was one of those games that simply won't allow you to go to sleep, and it still is, for a lot of people. I have friends that used to play a full day, the night after it, and stop playing during next afternoon. Fortunately, none of them died because of that, but I don't know how one feels after more than 24 hours of gaming, only with 30-50 minutes breaks... If you ask me, no matter how great can be one game, I always put sleep on first place, and those few situations when I find myself gaming at 4AM are not including StarCraft, anyway.

Oh, wait! I can even tell you when this happened last time - it was when I played Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and if you missed that game so far, I strongly suggest that you grab it and give it a spin, it simply can't disappoint you - maybe only because it's going to end sooner than expected... but only because of that, since everything else is simply amazing!<-125x125 Button - right->

Now, we all know StarCraft 2 is coming out, nothing new with that, but did you have any idea that Blizzard is splitting StarCraft II into three? I bet you haven't, so let's see what has been revealed about the next title to kill the nights of entire generations, shall we?

At Blizzcon 2008, StarCraft 2 arrived with a new build , and the decision to create a trilogy raised a lot of eyebrows. After all, if they come up with a new part every decade...you do the math!

Now, Blizzard wants to get much deeper into the StarCraft universe, although this idea of splitting it into three parts doesn't sound too good, as I said. I know this will be more about the story, but what about OUR WAIT??? We had a decade to hope to live and see StarCraft 2 coming out, and now?? So, what do you think - do you think that having StarCraft 2 as a trilogy is a good idea, or not?

No matter how strange it may seem, sometimes your enemy could also be your best friend, as long as this serves its purpose. That doesn't quite have a meaning, don't you think? I agree, it doesn't, so let's add the spices to create a story - it's about Microsoft and Sony! To be more accurate, we're talking about the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation, and their battle for Japan...
I won't keep you long from your gaming tasks, but there are two interesting things to know. First, it seems Microsoft raised its Xbox 360 forecast for Japan. At the Tokyo Game Show, John Schappert, apart from inflating Microsoft's contribution to the industry, said "We've done better than we forecast. We are finding that we have a shortage of hardware."<-125x125 Button - right->

Next, there's Sony's president of Worldwide Studios, Shuhei Yoshida, who says he wants to see the Xbox 360 succeeding in Japan to help making HD gaming more popular to local consumers. No need to say it, but I will - the Nintendo Wii is the most popular console in Japan.

"In terms of realistic-looking graphics and smarter AI, they haven't really shown the appetite for what this generation of gaming can offer. I'd really like to see both PS3 and 360 succeed here.

What Microsoft is offering and what we are offering are closer, compared to what other platforms are offering. Because of that commonality, the new games coming out on 360 and PS3 help to get consumers more interested in this generation of gaming," said Yoshida, and this only makes me wonder about one fact - could we ever see a joint effort in the console world from Microsoft and Sony? I know it sounds crazy for now, but... one day, who knows?