Sony released their PS3 firmware 3.30 mid last week that added new trophy features and began to get the console ready for its 3D premiere. However, as I had mentioned, it seemed too large of an update (size-wise) and that there had to be more to it. Well, it seems like we weren’t too far off with our analysis. First come unconfirmed reports that there is a Flash enhancement for the web browser, and if true, this should be welcomed by those who are big into flash games or media content. Now your PS3 can better accommodate you. Also unconfirmed is enhanced region-free Blu-ray playback.

Now for the confirmed features.  For you audiophiles out there, there is a toggle for Bitstream Direct (output audio with the original digital signal prioritized) or Mix (mixed with sound effects such as button sounds and then converted to bitstream format) on Blu-ray movies. For those who like to play PS3 games remotely, currently, only the PSP and PSPgo exist as your option. However, with this update, future Vaio owners can also get in on the remote play action as well. We’re not clearly sure what this means. Will this be something future Vaio’s can do? Or will current Vaio’s get access to the PS3 and its content via software update? Nobody is currently sure about this since Sony hasn’t announced any particular detail about it.

This presents an interesting concept and something that I’ve been a staunch supporter for. Sony as a company has a lot of leverage. They produce movies, music and games. They have cameras, camcorders, computers and TVs. The PS3 really needs to be the hub of all of these units with PSN at its core to deliver the content. From there, they need to leverage their other units to feed off of this base. If you have a PS3 with your movies, games and music, and a PSN account that gives you access to all forms of content, and you’re ready for your next computer purchase, are you more likely to purchase a Vaio or an HP if you know that your Vaio or Sony Ericsson has access to the PS3 and PSN? This of course can be one further step to justify a premium price that Sony rightly charges for its products. For a lot of people sometimes hardware quality is not enough to see the difference. Media and software are king and the PS3 and PSN can help to deliver this.

[Via PlayStation UK]