One change that will please a lot of users is the improvements to the web browser. According to an article on the sixthaxis the new browser now optimizes the display with increased accuracy of page layouts. Before now certain websites were not displayed correctly that included interactive pages, but are now supported with the latest software.

Tests have found the system to be much better and a quick HTML5 run brought a score of 80 compared to 0 before. An ACID3 test scored the PS3 99 compared to the PS Vita that scores 53. Twitter and YouTube now work perfectly on the console as well.

The latest firmware also brings the PSN rebranding that we reported about recently, and now users can get the correct time and date automatically every time you sign into the network, but if you don’t need this you can simply adjust the date and time settings to automatically off. The update is now available to users as is the firmware update for PS Vita users as well.

Many of our readers are happy with the changes to the PS3 web browser but there are some who are reporting there is no difference. Some users have reported that after downloading the update they tried using websites that froze and didn’t work properly before, only to be met with the same issues.

Hopefully the firmware update will also address the issues that arose for some users after the last round of PSN maintenance. Some PS3 owners were reporting they were receiving the error code 80023102, and that their download list had disappeared. Sony did say though once the error had been fixed all content will be available again. Below you can see a video of a PS3 receiving the firmware update.

Have you updated your PlayStation 3 yet? How did the update go for you and do you notice improvements with the web browser?

It has been known for a while now that id Software is currently developing Doom 4, and since Rage is now out of the way and available, the company are concentrating everything on the new Doom game. An article over at Gamingbolt is reporting that John Carmack was recently being interviewed by Merlininkazani.

He briefly touched on the Doom 4 game and commented what can be expected by the different versions. Carmack stated that id Software were likely to add more content for the PS3 version compared to the Xbox 360 and PC versions, and this was because the consoles Blu-ray player and the extra storage the discs can hold.

Recently there has been talk that the next version of the Xbox may have a Blu-ray player mainly because of the extra storage space. Carmack stated that the “videos are just using the normal game data” when he was asked if the videos on Rage were using the Super Texture Pack. He also said that the same would be used in the Doom 4 game.

He confirmed that the PS3 Blu-ray discs may get filled with more data for Doom 4 than what will eventually get put on the DVDS for the game. Carmack did say though it depends on how difficult it will having “two different builds of data”.

There was also talk of some unique streaming tech for the PC that may provide more detail, but there may be too many risks associated with it. This would mean much more server bandwidth requirements and id Software are having second thoughts committing to it.

For now there is no specific release date for the game but Carmack said that it should be available within the next couple of years, “considering that it’s been in development for a long time now”. Are you looking forward to Doom 4?

You may have liked the thought of the Sony 3D display but believed it to be out of your reach financially. VideoGameWriters are reporting that the price of the unit has recently dropped from $499 to $399, which may bring it into the reach of more gamers.

It was first noticed that Best Buy had dropped the price by $100 for the 3D display, which was quickly matched by Amazon and then the Sony Style store. It wasn’t originally known if this was just a case of price matching or an official drop by Sony. After contacting Sony about the price change the company released a statement.

They said the drop in price was part of a scheduled program in the unit’s lifecycle. Sony added “As we’ve seen more consumers become interested in 3D, we wanted to open the monitor up to a larger demographic at a lower price point as the holidays draw near.”

The comments from Sony doesn’t commit to a permanent drop in the pricing for the 3D display, but look to be trying to tempt as many gamers as possible to take up the 3D experience. It can be also used by Xbox 360 users or anything that supports component or HDMI video output. It may be too small for some though, but you do get an HDMI cable, Active Shutter 3D glasses and Motorstorm Apocalypse included for the price.

Would this lower price be enough to tempt you with the PlayStation 3D display? Update: Sony has now dropped the display down to $299.

It has been just over a year since Gran Turismo 5 was released to the public, after many delays and issues affected the titles release. Now according to an article over at T3.com Sony has announced it is to release a follow up title called Gran Turismo 5 Spec II. Before you get excited it is not a brand new Gran Turismo title that has escaped the rumor mill.

The release will see the original Gran Turismo 5 game with a selection of various post release add-ons all on a single disc. Basically gamers will get the full GT5 game along with the version 2.00 update that was first released back in October. It was also feature the Complete Pack DLC that was also released in October of this year.

At the moment the only release date information that Sony have revealed is for Japan, which will see the title arrive in the country on February 2nd 2012. It will be priced at 4,980 yen, which is around $64 or £40. The game will be shown off later this month at the Tokyo Motor Show, and it is not thought the game will reach the US or UK before March at the earliest.

Are you bothered if Sony releases Gran Turismo 5 Spec II in your area?

The PS3 is five years old this month and Sony have sold over 55 million PS3s since it was first launched. The console has a long way to go to match the sales of its predecessors though, as the original PlayStaion has sold 102 million units so far and the PS2 153 million. It is beginning to hold its own to its nearest rival though the Xbox 360 and according to IGN will eventually outsell it as well.

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 became available one year earlier than the PS3 and has sold 57.6 million units worldwide so far according to Microsoft themselves. That means the PS3 is sitting around 2.1 million behind the Xbox 360 regarding units sold, after being available one year less. If you look at the average sales of each console for each month the numbers on in Sony’s favor.

During its life time the Xbox 360 is selling around 800,000 units per month, which compares to the 925,000 the PS3 is selling. If you use these averages and took out the year head start the Xbox 360 had you get 48 million units sold instead of the 57.6 million. But if you were to give the PS3 an extra year it would have shifted 66.6 million units.

In the US the Xbox 360 is still outselling the PS3, but in Europe it’s a totally different matter while in Japan the Xbox 360 support is almost nowhere to be seen. Taking the worldwide sales into account the PS3 will probably overtake the Xbox 360 sometime next year.

You got to remember we are not looking at what console is the best, but there a few reasons why the PS3 is quickly closing the gap on its rival. There are more PS3 exclusive titles available and the often knocked PSN service is largely free to use. You also have to take into account the high failure rate of the Xbox 360 when it first came out.

Why do you think the PS3 is selling more globally than the Xbox 360?

According to an article on IGN there is set to be GT5 DLC releases every other month, but the games creator has said work is already underway on the next installment of the franchise. Kazunori Yamauchi was talking to the site and said “of course we’re working on GT6 already.”

With the last installment of the game running years behind schedule it makes you wonder how long with have to wait for GT6. Although we don’t know how long before Sony brings out the next PlayStation console, we may not see GT6 until the PlayStation 4 is already available. There was speculation recently that the next gen consoles could come late next year, and it would be really surprising to see the next Gran Turismo title before then.

Talking about the current title Yamauchi said that after the game was released around a year ago there have been about 15 updates so far. He added that these were to get a platform for the system and now future expansions can bring content to the game. Now there will be cars and trucks added to the title and what can’t be added via a DLC will be saved for GT6.

What would you like to see in GT6?

The company recently had some planned maintenance to its PlayStation Network, and now has some more planned on November 18th that will bring with it a change to the amount of systems users can activate games too. Currently after purchasing a title users can activate the game on up to five separate systems, but after November 18th and the maintenance this will drop to only two according to a report here.

Any new game bought by gamers after this date will be restricted to two consoles, but any titles purchased previously can still be enjoyed on up to five systems. The changes look to be affecting all regions. Currently gamers can purchase a game and play it on up to five systems, which have led to many sharing a single PSN purchase across systems owned by other gamers.

The company is also making the process of deactivating games easier, as currently owners can only activate or deactivate games on the PSP or PS3. After the maintenance there will be a PlayStation Network account management website, with users getting the opportunity to manage rights there.

Sony said the changes were coming to get the balance right between consumer convenience and copyright. The timings of the PSN maintenance will be announced at a later date.

Sony looks to be getting some tasty deals ready for the holiday season, and some images have been leaked of some boxes that were taken by a worker of some new console and gaming packages. Gimme Gimme Games are reporting that there is a new Mayhem bundle that comes with Killzone 3 and Resistance 3.

Another bundle that comes with the GOTY version of Little Big Planet 2, Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One, as well as thirty days of PlayStation Plus will be available for $250. There is also another bundle that features a 320GB PS3 with Uncharted 3, and again thirty days of PlayStation Plus is likely to cost consumers $299.

The site has images of the boxes that were taken by the worker so seem legit, but it is not known if these bundles will be available worldwide. They may have regional variations in the games bundled with the console, and expect more information to become available as the busy holiday season draws closer.

If you are looking to pick up a new PS3 for yourself or for a gift for someone you may be able to get a good deal.

According to an article on MSXBoxWorld, while many Xbox 360 owners are placing orders for Modern Warfare 3, it is not the case for owners of the PlayStation 3. Figures released for preorders for the week ending August 13th, MW3 preorders from PS3 owners hit 17,099. This is compared to 66,000 for owners of the Xbox 360.

Owners of the PlayStation 3 have some great titles coming up for the console including Uncharted 3. We have said before that many gamers are being savvier and waiting to see what deals could be had on launch day. Over the coming few months there are some great games coming out for both platforms, and gamers could be waiting for early reviews before deciding which games to buy.

There is also the small matter of Battlefield 3 releasing before MW3, which may have led to some people deciding to get MW3 later than usual. One thing is for sure, the more details of the game that become available make the anticipation for MW3 even higher.

Personally I don’t see what difference it makes which platform has the most preorders for a certain game. Gamers of both platforms will have their own views, and as long as they are happy with what they are planning with the MW3 release so what?

No matter what console you own the next few months in the lead up to Christmas promises to be a great time for gamers. The game doesn’t even come out until November so there is plenty of time for anyone to place a preorder.

There is also the fact that for many people at the moment money is tight, so deciding which game to buy will be even more difficult. It will sell like hot cakes on both platforms and will give the gaming industry a great financial boost.

Have you placed your preorder for MW3 yet?

Let’s start with something which we have covered multiple times in the past, cross-game chat, it seems strange that the PS3 has been available for almost 5 years without this functionality. Microsoft’s Xbox 360 has been capable of this for years, therefore it is almost embarrassing to see that Sony has not given its flagship console such a function. To be honest with you the feature is a little over-rated but we have seen so many complaints about the lack of cross-game chat over the past few years we really can’t see the harm in adding it. Also a similar feature will be wanted when it comes to the PlayStation 4, so it would make sense for Sony to “test the water” with cross-game chat so they have experience with such a feature before the PS4 arrives.

The PlayStation 3′s web browser is a huge boasting point when comparing Sony’s console to the Xbox 360, but things could be better, previously we have spoke about Google Chrome coming to PS3 and we still think that this is a great idea. Why is it a great idea? Well, Google Chrome has a great reputation in terms of security, this is great considering the great PSN outage of 2011, but it is not just this which makes it a good idea, also Chrome has gone from strength-to-strength over the last year and is now many people’s first-choice web browser, perhaps synchronization between Chrome for PS3 and other versions of the app would be possible, we think that this would promote the feature massively. We think the web has moved on a lot since the PS3 release and its web browser is now showing its age, we need a faster more intuitive web browser with more support for today’s standards – what do you think?

In terms of the PlayStation Network we think it could do with a massive overhaul and the cap raised for the maximum number of friends, things have improved since the PSN down time, but there is still room for improvement. The entire user experience could perhaps benefit from a new take on the XMB, as for the PlayStation Store etc we are constantly seeing improvements made to many different aspects of the PlayStation Network in terms of functionality and features, therefore we think the steady improvements Sony is making are adequate.

Finally another feature which some may like to see is in-game music, this is something which the original Xbox offered, however since then we have not really seen consoles take this feature seriously. Obviously some game genres suit such functionality, whilst others don’t, we think that racing games and puzzle games would really benefit from in-game music, it would obviously not make the PS3 a great deal better, however we think that any extra features would be welcomed by most gamers.

These are the four ideas which we think could improve the PlayStation 3, however we would love to hear what you have to say on the matter, therefore feel free to get inventive in the comments section below. What new features would you like to see brought to the PS3?