PlayStation 3

PlayStation 3
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment Released in JP: November 11, 2006 Released in US: November 17, 2006 Released in EU: March 23, 2007 Released in AU: March 23, 2007 This console has debugging material. This console has revisional differences.

To do: Prototype PS3 XMBs have been showcased here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFadjYHkXsmTSUop8_dnTKg. Document them on a Prototype page

The PlayStation 3 is Sony's third home console that was once thought to be unhackable...

Hidden Firmware Info

Go to Settings -> System Settings -> System Information, hold L1 + R1 + Left + Square, then release them and immediately press and hold Start.

While the branch names and the amount of lines changed throughout the revisions, starting from v4.60 a small amount of branch names were slowly reduced, and by v4.66 they were fully stripped and replaced with "@svn+ssh".

Through v4.65	v4.66 Onward

Revisional Differences

In firmware versions before v3.00, the startup screen uses an orchestral tuning sound with the words "Sony Computer Entertainment" on it. This was replaced with a different tune along with a new startup, featuring the "PS" logo and the new "PlayStation 3" logo, in firmware v3.00.

Also during game boot, originally you were greeted with a "PlayStation 3" splash screen featuring the Sam Raimi Spider-Man-style font. This was removed in firmware versions after v3.00 and instead boots directly into the game.

Before v3.00	v3.00 and newer

OtherOS

To do: Upload some images, maybe a video showing it in action?

Early PS3 consoles had the option to install other operating systems, such as Linux or FreeBSD. This feature was removed in later models, as well on the supported models running firmware 3.21, released in March 2010.

(Source: PlayStation.Blog)

PlayStation 2 Support

The very first PS3 models (CECHA or CECHB) contained a PlayStation 2 Emotion Engine and Graphics Synthesizer to ensure accurate backwards compatibility for PS2 games. Due to costs, models CECHC and CECHE remove the Emotion Engine while retaining the Graphics Synthesizer, resulting in partially-emulated backwards compatibility. This also caused compatibility issues with some games.

Ultimately, all future PS3 revisions removed PS2 support entirely, mostly replacing it with the PlayStation Classics line of re-releases.

SACD Support

Early PS3 consoles had the ability to play SACD, Sony's fancy upgraded version of the Compact Disc, adding features such as higher bitrates and surround sound. Ultimately, the format was a commercial failure, and Sony would remove SACD support on later models due to the format's unpopularity.