Written by Anthony Severino 
According to Eric Lempel on PlayStation.Blog, PS3 owners will be greeted to a new firmware update very soon.
There is no official release date, but one of our sources is telling us that it will be released January 21st…
Here is what Eric Lempel had to say about the new features:
The PS3 firmware update (v2.60) is designed primarily to enhance the system’s media capabilities. The key feature is a new Photo Gallery application, which delivers a suite of tools for sorting through and displaying your digital photo collection. Digital pictures can be organized in groups according to various criteria, including the camera used to take the photos, the event date and time, colors in the photos, as well as the number, ages, or facial expressions of the people pictured. You can also create slideshows set to music and build photo playlists with an easy-to-use interface. The Photo Gallery application will need to be installed separately from the XMB after you update your PS3’s firmware. To install the Photo Gallery application, go to the Photo section on the XMB, select Photo Gallery and press the X button.
The 2.60 update also includes:
- Guest access to PlayStation Store – This enables non-PlayStation Network members to browse through the storefront to check out the latest games, demos, videos, etc.
- DivX 3.11 support – Videos in this format can now be played on PS3.
UPDATE:
This has now been confirmed via an official SCEA Press release. Here is a snippet of the official press release:
Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced details of the next system software update (v. 2.60) for PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™), which includes several new features designed to enhance the PS3 system’s entertainment functionality. The system software update 2.60 will become available on January 21and deliver a new Photo Gallery application, enabling consumers to better organize and view their photos stored on PS3 system. Other new features include DivX 3.11 video support and PlayStation®Store guest browsing.
