Sony Rolls Out Featured-Packed PlayStation 4 System 4.00 Update
Sony's next major update for the PlayStation 4 console, version 4.00 (otherwise known as Shingen) has left the beta stage and is going out today to all PS4 owners, bringing with it a refreshed system user interface (UI), Folder organization, updates to the Quick Menu and Share Menu, improvements to Library, and several other goodies.
Starting with the Quick Menu, Sony has made it easier to access without leaving your game by having it take up a portion of your screen. It's also more customizable than before and has several new menu items, plus an enhanced Music section that was featured in the beta program. It's sort of a front-end for Spotify, allowing you to discover and play music through the streaming service without actually opening the app.
In the Music section of the Quick Menu, you can now play, pause, skip, shuffle, repeat and save songs. This is also where you can discover recommended playlists for the game you're playing as well as view your saved Spotify playlists and songs. Sony says its PlayStation Music team and Spotify have been working with game developers to create playlists designed to enhance gameplay.
After applying the update, you'll find that the What's New section sports a fresh new look that now includes more information about what your friends have been up to on their PS4s. There's a new Activity Feed in the left column with larger images and easily accessible options (comment, reshare, like), while the right column is home to Now Playing, Trending, Players You May Know, and Who to Follow.
Sony gave the content info screen a similar redesign. You can access it by pressing down on a game tile while on the home screen. Once inside, you can select from a bunch of different options to view a game's Overview, Trending media, Friends and Communities, and related PlayStation Store content.
The 4.00 update also does some housekeeping in preparation for the recently announced PlayStation 4 Pro console. Sony added several features that will support the PS4 Pro's ability to output high-resolution content, enabling (on the PS4 Pro) 1080p at 30 frames per second broadcasting on Twitch, 1080p 30/60fps live broadcasting on YouTube, 1080p streaming for Share Play, and 1080p streaming for Remote Play on PC/Mac compatible Xperia devices.
No matter which PS4 console you own, you'll also see High Dynamic Range (HDR) settings in the Video Output Settings after applying the 4.00 update. All of Sony's consoles support HDR, including the very first models sold in 2013.
If you do decide to upgrade to the PS4 Pro, you'll be able to transfer your data over a wired LAN. You still have the option of re-downloading content from the cloud, but taking advantage of a wired LAN connection will get your games, saved data, and other info transferred over much quicker.
Starting with the Quick Menu, Sony has made it easier to access without leaving your game by having it take up a portion of your screen. It's also more customizable than before and has several new menu items, plus an enhanced Music section that was featured in the beta program. It's sort of a front-end for Spotify, allowing you to discover and play music through the streaming service without actually opening the app.
In the Music section of the Quick Menu, you can now play, pause, skip, shuffle, repeat and save songs. This is also where you can discover recommended playlists for the game you're playing as well as view your saved Spotify playlists and songs. Sony says its PlayStation Music team and Spotify have been working with game developers to create playlists designed to enhance gameplay.
After applying the update, you'll find that the What's New section sports a fresh new look that now includes more information about what your friends have been up to on their PS4s. There's a new Activity Feed in the left column with larger images and easily accessible options (comment, reshare, like), while the right column is home to Now Playing, Trending, Players You May Know, and Who to Follow.
Sony gave the content info screen a similar redesign. You can access it by pressing down on a game tile while on the home screen. Once inside, you can select from a bunch of different options to view a game's Overview, Trending media, Friends and Communities, and related PlayStation Store content.
The 4.00 update also does some housekeeping in preparation for the recently announced PlayStation 4 Pro console. Sony added several features that will support the PS4 Pro's ability to output high-resolution content, enabling (on the PS4 Pro) 1080p at 30 frames per second broadcasting on Twitch, 1080p 30/60fps live broadcasting on YouTube, 1080p streaming for Share Play, and 1080p streaming for Remote Play on PC/Mac compatible Xperia devices.
No matter which PS4 console you own, you'll also see High Dynamic Range (HDR) settings in the Video Output Settings after applying the 4.00 update. All of Sony's consoles support HDR, including the very first models sold in 2013.
If you do decide to upgrade to the PS4 Pro, you'll be able to transfer your data over a wired LAN. You still have the option of re-downloading content from the cloud, but taking advantage of a wired LAN connection will get your games, saved data, and other info transferred over much quicker.
