First the good news. A forthcoming PlayStation 3 firmware update (v1.6) will add background downloads - up to six files can be queued and received while playing games or browsing the Web. There will also be Bluetooth keyboard and mouse support, plus an on-screen full QWERTY keyboard for improved text entry. There's also a new option to add your PS3's distributed Cell processor to Stanford University’s Folding@home program, which can use your idle console power to maybe help find cures for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and even cancer through computer simulations. Not bad, huh? OK, so now the bad news. Based on software emulation being prepared for the European launch, backward compatibility will be available for only about 36 percent of titles - with 43 percent not supported and the balance having some issues (review the list). To maximize PS2 compatibility for supported titles, Sony actually recommends you avoid plugging in any unneeded USB devices, turn off 60Hz and network modes and skip optional video sequences that could cause the games to crash. Ouch. More good news? The Godfather: Don's Edition, released this week, features Sixaxis controller gesture-based controls similar to the Wii's Blackhand Edition. Oh, and analysts are predicting a $100 price drop on the PS3 by October - of course, part of Sony's cost savings will come from dropping that PS2 hardware chip...
