New Features for PS4 Incoming?

New Firmware is being beta tested by PS4 users and they are relieving cool stuff about it.

EDIT: A more detailed list

It's been a few month since PlayStation 4's troubled 2.0 update, and while Sony hasn't made any announcements about what's coming, players have started getting invitations to beta test the next update. It looks like the PS4 is getting some cool new features, including system-level button remapping and a proper suspend mode.

Images are floating around on NeoGAF and other places depicting the unfinished firmware. The reason there hasn't been more information released is because users are apparently under NDA.

Be hype. Be very hype for this.

Glad they're beta testing this time around. I'd be pissed to finally get a proper suspend mode and then my system bricks.

FINALLY

Considering the most popular exclusives on PS4 have been Firmware update 2.01, 2.02, 2.03 and 2.04. I'm not surprised they would take that route.

I got a Beta Invite, but I'm not much into firmware betas.

I hate the idea of testing these things since I only bought them to play games.

I'd rather wait for the finalized product. Same for various 360 and Xbone betas I was invited to in the past.

Suspend mode, is that a pause button?

I would really REALLY like the suspend mode. I can't believe it has been over a year and the PS4 still doesn't have that.

So what cereal were you eating when Sony pissed in it?

Greatness awaits...and awaits.....and...

It's VERY disappointing that Sony can't put more effort into updating the PS4, I mean their competition gets updates monthly and getting a major update this year with Windows 10

Will it finally catch up to the PS3?

I'm surprised that some things that were working on PS3 aren't around for PS4 like video chats and getting notified when someone logs in. Hopefully that's part of this update too.

Can't please everybody huh...

Whenever this officially releases, hopefully it won't brick systems and such. And I hope they add more and unblock apps too like HBO Go which is also blocked from the PS3, so this time you could access it by using any provider. I'm not sure what's Comcast deal with Sony since it's still blocked from previous devices. I don't think there's a Sony Smart TV that has HBO Go but if it did I think Comcast will block it from there too. Sony is huge when it comes to entertainment so hopefully they could make a deal with Comcast for net neutrality. Same goes for Roku and Amazon Fire TV, but I rather get a PS4 than those devices.

But it seems like PlayStation systems are always last when it comes to entertainment apps compared to the other gaming system, so by the time I wrote this post, HBO Go just literally came out this week on the PS4 so it's good that they're adding more apps and features like system-level button mapping. Better late than never. These apps and some features may have nothing to do with gaming, but it's a welcome addition to the gaming system. I'm not sure why the other system with more apps gets talked down because of these non-gaming applications though. So I'm glad finally their fans are welcoming these non-gaming entertainment apps and so they could watch stuff like Powers.

edit: this was designed and was just an example how editing posts are pretty neat but at the same time could be annoying when it's constantly edited.

The button remapping sounds really good.

I really don't know what I'd use that for.

Suspend/Resume. Yes.

@Zero_epyon: "I really don't know what I'd use that for"

I've played many games with poor/limited preset button options. This would solve that for me, and then theirs remote play.

HBO Go is on PS4.

I can only hope that one day my PS4 will have the same functionality that my PS3 did years ago. The ability to play MP4 files from a thumb drive.

Still no word on custom themes, from imported files?

Another stability update no doubt.

i wish we could use the in-game snapshots we take as custom XMB wallpaper. Let me know when that happens.

Nice but hopefully with these upcoming updates Sony pays up and work with Comcast so it could actually be useable on all PS4s, and maybe even with all PS3s finally.

http://www.gamespot.com/articles/hbo-go-blocked-on-ps4-by-comcast-just-like-on-ps3/1100-6425719/

More games?

Haven't turned on the PS4 since last summer, just curious though, did they ever sort out MP3 support?

Stuff that, seems like the ps4 is a step back.

Suspend/resume is brilliant. No more splash screens!

a new haircut won't make the bitch pretty

Well, PS4 launched with more features than Xbone so they haven't had to have as many major updates. Xbox just barely got screenshots. And playstation had crossbuy since before PS4. The funny thing is, it's still missing features that were on PS3 like videochat and using wallpapers as people mentioned.

The button mapping is pretty huge though, especially with the touchpad in play. This can pretty much make those $150 scufs useless.

Lol at some of these posts. Why post at all if you're gonna be this shitty.

Personally dig suspend/resume as I've heard excellent things about it on One, and button remapping can mean a world of difference for Remote Play.

Button remapping with remote play? Sign me up ten times and call a reference on my resumé, that gets me excited. Most of the time I have to juggle a silly button combo; it'll be nice making it be what is best for me.

And suspend is pretty cool on the XB1 so it'll be sweet to have with the PS4.

Sony has been very vacant in terms of updating and evolving the PlayStation 4 as a platform, enough to the point that at times I feel like they've abandoned it. As a consumer it's discouraging to see and use a platform like this and see such little change and user feedback being implemented, especially considering the amount of money pouring into this division of Sony. That right there is why I am happier with my Xbox One, that is why Microsoft is winning, maybe not in terms of sales, but in terms of customer satisfaction, input and forward progression; they're leaving Sony in the dust.

When I use my Xbox One it always feels like something new is coming or was just added, like the landscape is ever evolving, I just don't get that on my PlayStation 4, it feels very stagnant and stuck in limbo.

the idea of button mapping is kind of interesting, though I can't think of a case right now where I'd use it

All I want is to customize the damn UI or have options, to be ale to get rid of the social media feed time line thing. And to have folders of our own pics, music, and vids. Just like the PS3. They dont have innovate nothing, just do what you did on the PS3.

The Ps3's UI >>>>>>>>>>>>>> PS4's UI (in terms of design, options, simplicity and affectiveness. Obviously performance wise, the PS4 is 50 times better than the PS3 in the UI).

Button remapping? lol wut? the **** is that for?

And the feature everyone for got about and have not mentioned is the ability to have you friends take over your controller while they are watching you play and such. Yeah we got the share play thing, but what about the share controller thing?

@gago-gago: HBO Go is on ps4.

Lots of salty Lems in here. Wow. I expected the system level button mapping to cause a stir in SW but I didn't think Lems would be that jelly.

...just like you having a gaming PC or a console to play games on.

You do realize that HBO GO is blocked for PlayStation users in essentially 60%+ of the United States right? Comcast is the largest ISP in the world and they are not allowing its usage on Sony systems.

@nyadc: You do realize that they block more than just the playstation, right?

This is a dick move by Comcast. Don't come down on Sony because Comcast are jerks.

Who else are they blocking the usage of HBO GO for?

@gago-gago: Both the ps3 and ps4 have hbo go..

Hahhahaha

Amazing updates.

Does PC even have this features?

Ah I see.

Is the case the same for Microsoft?

Comcast has been blocking devices including PS3 for a long time, that is not new. You said HBO GO wasn't on PS3 and PS4 and it is.

Regarding how you feel about one of the ISPs is your own opinion. Subscribers to AT&T, Charter, Cox, DirecTV, Dish, RCN, Suddenlink, Time Warner Cable, Verizon, and many others all can use HBO Go on their PS3/PS4/Roku (recently paid up)/Amazon Fire just fine. Sucks for Comcast users, but I wouldn't know, I've never used Comcast in my life.

Comcast is a greedy company that treat the customers terribly. http://www.theverge.com/2014/7/28/5936959/comcast-confessions-when-every-call-is-a-sales-call

Comcast deliberately block devices like Amazon, Roku, or Playstation and have been blocking the PS3 HBO Go for a long time, this isn't new.

There are other ISPs like AT&T, Charter, Cox, DirecTV, Dish, RCN, Suddenlink, Time Warner Cable, Verizon, and many others that HBO Go works fine. Sucks how horrible Comcast are, but they want to push their platform Xfinity and use their size as leverage to get companies to pay them more money.

I don't use Comcast so I shouldn't even know this but their blocking of devices were in the news. Comcast blocked Roku in the past until recently and are also blocking Amazon Fire TV.

http://arstechnica.com/business/2014/12/comcast-to-stop-blocking-hbo-go-and-showtime-on-roku-streaming-devices/

The Roku/Comcast problem illustrated how tying cable TV subscriptions to online streaming services can harm consumers. In a Roku filing in the FCC's net neutrality proceeding, the company argued that authentication systems run by Internet service providers can be used to pick and choose which hardware platforms customers may use to access streaming services. ISPs could demand payment from operators of third-party streaming platforms in exchange for not blocking content, the filing suggests.

"Rather than prioritizing platform support by customer interest or software compatibility, MVPDs [multichannel video programming distributors] can use their power of authentication to favor one streaming platform over another. A large and powerful MVPD may use this leverage in negotiations with content providers or operators of streaming platforms, ultimately favoring parties that can either afford to pay for the privilege of authentication, or have other business leverage that can be used as a counterweight to discriminatory authentication," Roku wrote. "Additionally, MVPDs with affiliated ISPs can abuse their power over authentication by choosing to authenticate only their own or affiliated offerings."

We asked Roku if it had to pay Comcast to complete this latest deal. The company responded, "Roku doesn't disclose details of our partner agreements." Roku posted a blog today saying that Comcast customers can activate HBO GO and Showtime on Roku immediately.

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http://gizmodo.com/hbo-go-is-now-available-on-amazon-fire-tv-1671387980

Amazon just added the last piece necessary to make its Fire TV set-top-box an unstoppable beast: Now it's got HBO Go. (Updated with comment from Amazon and Comcast below.)

All Amazon Fire TV owners will get access to the HBO Go app today, with the service coming to Fire TV Stick owners this spring.

There's an important exception, though. If you're a Comcast subscriber, you won't get access to HBO Go on Fire TV.

Amazon was quick to blame Comcast for the failure, and urged customers to contact the cable giant.

UPDATE: Comcast is not currently supporting HBO GO on Amazon Fire TV. We'd love to provide HBO GO for Comcast customers on Fire TV and encourage those customers to reach out to Comcast for further information on availability. To see a full list of supporting TV providers, visithttp://www.hbogo.com/activate/and choose Amazon Fire TV.

No, works fine on Xbox with Comcast.

All of those companies you listed combined with all the other ISP's in the world make up about 40% of providers, Comcast is the other 60%. HBO GO might as well not even be on the PlayStation 3 or 4 as most people are on Comcast to begin with.