From ign.com:
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Version 5.0 and Version 2.5 of their respective firmwares gave the PSP and the PS3 some much asked-for features. So what's in store for Sony's evolving wonder devices?

The column first recapped some of the major points of the recent firwmare updates, with particular attention given to the inclusion of Flash 9 support in the PS3. This was a heavily requested feature, said Matsui, with Japanese fans hoping to view videos from Nico Nico Video, a Japanese version of YouTube.

Sony has actually been working on Flash 9 support for quite some time -- as far back as late last year. To get it running on the PS3, Sony ended up customizing a separate Flash implementation that was provided to it by Adobe.

For a sense of how computationally intensive some areas of Flash 9 can be, you need only consider this little bit. According to Takase, the PS3 implementation of Flash-based playback for H.264 videos makes use of an SPU. This allows for loading up of web pages to be separate from video playback, improving framerate.

The entire web experience on the PS3 has been improved with the new firmware update. Noda cited a 2.8 times increase in Javascript speed according to Sony's own benchmarks. Takase believes PS3's Javascript performance, while not up to the level of Google Chrome, beats Internet Explorer 7.

We're going to have to leave you on a sad note here, especially if you picked up one of the early 20 gigabyte PS3 systems. Sony's new Ad-Hoc Party initiative, which allows the PSP to use the PS3 as a proxy and matching server for playing internet-based games, will, as previously announced, not be supported with the 20 gigabyte PS3 due to the lack of built-in wireless networking. Umemura added in his latest comments that it would be difficult at present to allow 20 gigabyte owners to simply attach a wireless LAN adapter via USB and use the service.
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Full Story: ign.com

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