- Blazepro's Wireless Keypad is now available for your PS3 typing pleasure.
- It may be ugly, but at only $11 compared to the $50 for the offical chatpad you get yourself a bargain.
- You have to use a 2.4GHz USB dongle to communicate with your PS3 rather than the built-in Bluetooth, but again, this is ~80% cheaper than Sony's.

- The PlayStation Blog has posted several How-To Tutorials to help you out.

• How to make your own PS3 Themes


• How to make your own PSP Themes


• How to create and view a photo slideshow on PS3


• How to import a music CD and create an audio playlist on PS3


• How to setup remote play between your PSP and PS3


• How to surf the internet on your PS3


• How to start a video chat on PS3


• How to use the PS3 visualizer

- Another remote and keyboard alternative, for those of you with a Blackberry anyway, has appeared from Unify4Life.
- Check out the Game|Shadow dongle and app.

- An enterprising young lad by the name of wraggster has posted some PS3 controller drivers for Windows that he has hacked together.

- Don't like Sony's chatpad? Try this third party model instead which combines a keyboard, remote control and gamepad.

- PlayStation Blog announced the release of a new patch to Home which adds VOIP functionality back in.

- Here is a recap of the big moments of Sony's Home launch over the past few days.
- Home was given its own "home"-page on PlayStation.com.
- The game client itself was finally launched, (still technically in beta,) in many regions on December 11th. The launch wasn't without issues however, with some snags and outages along the way.
- You can access home under the PlayStation Network bar of the XMB. You get all the basic services and features for free and included in the beta. Some items you would be charged for though, such as premium clothing.
- Sony believe that Home will sell PS3's.
-Here is an example of a game space in Home, the Red Bull Air Race:

- Namco release a game demo that unlocks items in Home when you play.
- Word comes in, just days after release, that Home has been hacked already:

- The above is only editing the local files for that player, but SKFU has found exploits in Home's scripts to upload, download and delete files from Sony's servers.
- Some players were still experiencing connetion problems, (error C-931,) but a patch was forthcoming
- However, patch 1.04 has also disabled VOIP in Home for now.

- Engadget have a PS3 Wireless Keypad Review up on their site.
- Spoiler: While the keypad is better than a d-pad, $50 is expensive for a tiny keyboard when you could just as easily buy a USB or wireless PC keyboard.

- That PS3 keypad addon that wraps around your controller will be available in stores during the first week of December for $50.

- PS3 Firmware v2.50 is now live.
- For a reminder of what is included, Sony has you covered:

"# Support for the PS3 Official Bluetooth Headset - we’ve told you about the upcoming Bluetooth Headset and SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation Bundle on the Blog. This latest firmware installment enables High-Quality (HQ) mode, which delivers clear and wide-band online voice chat. On top of that, an added on-screen indicator shows battery status, volume level and use of HQ mode.

# PlayStation Trophies interface enhancements - I know that many of you are busy collecting trophies and raising your PlayStation Trophy level. This update makes sharing and comparing your trophies with your friends even easier. On 1st part of the profile page you’ll see a symbol under level that represents level and the actual percentage towards the next level along with the existing level meter. The level symbol carries over to the trophy comparison screen where you will now be able to see your level, your friend’s level and the percentage towards the next level for both users along with all of the game by game comparison information you see today.

# Friend status – Offline friends on your Friends list will have information below their avatars that will indicate how long it has been since they were last online.

# Video – This update adds the Scene Search feature similar to the feature on the PSP. Activating this feature while viewing a video on the PS3 will break the video up into scenes that you can quickly access by pressing the X button. You can break the videos into one, two or five minute intervals. In addition, you can now choose to have all of the videos under the video section of the XMB play in sequence. Go to Settings then Video Settings to turn this option on.

# PlayStation Store – We’ve added a redeem codes option right on the store to make it easier to redeem your PlayStation Network Cards and promotion codes. In addition, PlayStation Network Sign Up and Account Management have been redesigned.

# Power Save Settings – You can now set your PS3 and wireless controllers to turn off automatically after set periods of inactivity. Go to Settings then Power Save Settings to turn on these features.

# Background Downloading - You now have the option to set the PS3 to turn off automatically after a background download or installation of content has completed. This option is available when you turn off the system from the button under [Users] while content is being downloaded or installed.

# In-game Screenshots - this tool will allow everyone to capture, share and in other words, immortalize their favorite gameplay moments. This will be supported on a game by game basis. Please check back to find out which games will support this feature.

# In addition to all of the features above there are some additional features and enhancements included in 2.50."

-There is also Flash 9 support added to the web browser.

- "PSP Plus" is a new tech being utilized in upcoming PSP game Resistance Retribution. Players will be able to connect their PSP to their PS3 via USB and then play the PSP title with their PS3's wireless controllers, complete with dual-analog control and rumble.
- On top of all that, if you also own a copy of Resistance 2 for the PS3 then you can enable Infection mode. After connecting your systems an option in the PS3 game's menu lets you activate Infection which will alter the PSP game by transfering the Chimeran virus. This gives your character regenerative health and the ability to breathe underwater which means you can access previously inaccessible areas of the game world and uncover extra secrets and details on the overall Resistance plot.

- AlexP is a smart guy and has written Windows drivers for the PS3's PlayStation Eye.

- From IGN:

"This Fall, PSP will gain direct access to the PlayStation Store. This long promised feature will allow for PSP users to download demos and more directly to the portable without having to go through the PS3 or PC.

In Japan, Sony will commemorate the new PS Store-friendly PSP with the release of Mainichi Issyo Portable. The PS3 version of the Japan-only title is available as a free download, with Sony charging for items and gameplay modes that are added every month.

Perhaps more significant than both these developments, Sony will be offering PSP players some new connectivity options thanks to a new service that further ties the portable with the PS3. This Fall, select PSP titles will allow players to go through the PS3 to take their ad-hoc multiplayer modes online. When playing in this fashion, the PS3 can be used for text and chat messaging and also for matching.

Currently, Sony has confirmed that Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G will be compatible with this new service. In Japan, this is big news, as that title has sold over 2.4 million units.

Other titles, as well as further details on the service, will be announced in the near future.

Both these features will be compatible with all models of the PSP, from the original up to the new PSP-3000."