PS3 2.60 firmware adds new photo gallery

Following closely on yesterday's version 5.03 update for the PSP, Sony made available today PlayStation 3's version 2.60 update.

Different from the PSP update, this one has some actual features worth noting. Users will find that DivX 3.11 encoded files now run on the system. Additionally, those who don't have a PlayStation Network account will now be able to log in to the PlayStation Store.

The big update, however, is the new Photo Gallery app. Once you've updated your firmware, you'll find a new "Photo Gallery" option under the Photo section of the XMB interface. Click this, and the PS3 will download and install the Photo Gallery app. This requires 110 megabytes of space

The Photo Gallery app automatically organizes your pictures based off event, using the encoded time information to determine which pictures go together. Users can also chose to organize pictures by a variety of other conditions, including number of people, facial expressions, age group, color, camera type, and game screenshots. Pictures can be selected and grouped into play lists which can be played back in a slide show.

A sample video of the Photo Gallery app in use can be seen at the official PS3 firmware update page. Sony has also posted online instructions for the product's use.