12 ways to make the PS3 perfect

Early in 2007, I wrote a column called 10 things I hate about the PS3, which happened to be the fourth in a series of "hate" columns I wrote (with the PSP, the Xbox 360, and HD DVD suffering my earlier wrath). Blame it on Google, but at least once a month I get an e-mail from an irate reader (read: PS3 fanboy) who's stumbled across the column and demands that I correct it to reflect the fact that about half of my complaints have been addressed by Sony with continued system updates.

The Sony PlayStation 3: So close to perfection, but...

First: Sorry, guys, for insulting your beloved PS3, but the truth is we've really been impressed with the system from the get-go (we rated it higher than the Xbox 360 and the Wii) and now that the price has dropped, you can't do much better in terms of all-in-one home-entertainment device for the money.

But that doesn't mean we're completely satisfied. There are several improvements that Sony still needs to make if it really wants to achieve perfection--or something close to it, anyway. Here's our current PS3 wish-list, ordered from the more pressing must-do's to pure fantasy. Feel free to add your own gripes in the comments section.

1. Make system updates download and install faster
Downloading a system update directly to your PS3 is still a dreadfully slow process. Yes, you can speed things up by using your computer to download the update, then transfer the file to a memory card (which you then insert into the PS3's memory card slot--on a 60GB or 80GB model, anyway--to perform the system update). But most people just want to hit a button on their system and let it do its thing. We appreciated that Sony fixed it so you don't have to plug your controller back into the console in order to update your system, but it's still two to three times faster to download the update via your PC--on the same broadband Internet connection. Compared to how the Xbox 360 does its updates, the PS3's update system is truly byzantine.

2. Allow your wireless controller to recharge when the system is off
You should be able to put your system into a special low-power charging mode that allows you to connect your wireless controller to one of the PS3's USB ports and charge the controller without having the system fully turned on. (There may be some limitation to the current generation of PS3 hardware that would prevent Sony from implementing this feature, but it would be a shame if that's the case).

3. Improve the browser or scrap it altogether in favor of something else
I appreciate that the PS3 (unlike the Xbox 360) comes equipped with a Web browser, but it can be frustrating to use. The PS3's built-in browser is very similar to the one you'll find on the PSP (it's a version of the NetFront browser by Access, the Japanese company that now owns the Palm operating system). We see complaints all the time about how kludgey the browser is, how it doesn't display Web pages as well as it should, and how its Flash support is sketchy, so playback of YouTube, Hulu, or CNET TV videos is dicey.

One reader, Venom1996, comments: "I play a lot online YouTube videos and MySpace surfing through the PS3 on my TV and the system constantly displays 'Not enough system memory' [...] It gets really annoying going through all the history and cookies, etc. in hopes of fixing this problem. I usually have to reboot the system before it fixes the problem."

A lot of folks would like to see Sony move to an Opera-based browser, which runs on Linux (and the Wii uses). Whether that's the right solution or not, Sony can do better in the Web-surfing department. Heck, if the iPhone can have good Web browser, why can't the PS3 and the PSP have good ones? (Sorry, Sony, but that's how people think.)

4. For the love of God, sell us an IR dongle
Everyone who owns a universal remote continues to be irritated that Sony left IR (infrared) off the PS3. The lack of a little IR sensor on the console's front end means you can't control the PS3 with a universal remote. Since the PS3 is intended to be integrated into a home theater setup, you'd expect Sony to serve up some IR support in one form or another. A few third-party IR solutions exist from creative start-ups such as Shmartz.com, but standard operating procedure is to use the PS3's Bluetooth wireless controller or Sony's optional Bluetooth remote in conjunction with your universal remote.

5. Offer a Bluetooth headset accessory or bundle one with premium systems
Bluetooth is a finicky beast, and while the PS3 is supposed to be compatible with any Bluetooth cell-phone headsets on the market, we hear complaints that some work--and some don't. Sony should make an inexpensive Bluetooth headset for online gaming and communications that connects easily to your system and charges via a standard USB cable.

6. Support Skype
Sony recently added a Skype application to the PSP. Now it should do the same for the PS3, so you can make calls using a Bluetooth headset--perhaps even one made by Sony--from your couch.

7. Totally revamp the interface for movie watching
A few people I know like Sony's onscreen GUI (graphical user interface) for controlling Blu-ray and DVD setup and playback. However, there's a much bigger camp that doesn't think that it's at all user-friendly. I'm with them.

8. Offer backward compatibility for PS2 titles with every system
Sony's $400 entry-level 40GB PS3 doesn't offer backward compatibility for PS2 games. The original 20GB and 60GB PS3's had a separate chip for playing PS2 games, which we understand adds a significant cost to the system. However, more recent 80GB models have used a software solution, which would seem to be much more cost-effective. Game consoles are all about shaving your productions costs on the hardware and making your profits on the software. But backward compatibility shouldn't be sacrificed, especially if the cost savings are minimal. (It would appear that hardware restrictions would make it impossible to retroactively add this to the 40GB PS3s, but--since Sony's always tweaking the PS3 under the hood--we're keeping our fingers crossed that it returns to future models.)

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9. Get going with video chat already
Enable video chat with the PlayStation Eye Webcam. This is allegedly in the works, but I'm still waiting for it. Since this is probably going to happen soon, consider this is a very minor gripe.

Pure fantasy

10. Add Netflix Watch Now support
Sony has been talking about adding a music and movie service to the PS3. That's great, but in the meantime, Netflix is due to have standalone movie boxes from four hardware partners by the end of the year that will enable subscribers to view the service's growing stable of Watch Now content on their TV at no additional charge--without the need to use a PC. (The Watch Now service currently offers unlimited movie streaming to any Netflix subscription of more than $8.95 per month). Meanwhile, the Web is awash with rumors that the same functionality is coming to the PS3 and/or the Xbox 360. We say: Make the rumor a reality. Sony should strike a deal with Netflix where Netflix would kick Sony some money with every new subscriber Sony helps Netflix sign up.

11. Add Rhapsody support
This one is similar to the above concept except it involves partnering with Rhapsody, the well-regarded, all-you-can-eat streaming music service. Why would Sony do this if it was going to offer its own competing music service? We don't know, but we can only dream.

12. Add Slingbox support
Sony's version of Slingbox, LocationFree TV, just hasn't taken off (despite the fact that it supports live TV streaming to the PSP). Sony should scrap LocationFree TV and go with industry leader Slingbox instead. Adding a SlingPlayer client to the PS3 would allow you to stream live TV from a Slingbox--say, for people with a DVR in the living room and a PS3 connected to a bedroom TV. Sony could split the one-time $30 PS3 SlingPlayer fee with Sling--and everybody wins.

Odds of this happening: Pretty damn small. But it's still incrementally higher than the chances of the European PS3's PlayTV DVR module ever hitting stateside.

Fanboy chatter

Finally, what would an article about PS3 improvements be without some comments from our resident PS3 fanboy, CNET Lab Technician Joseph Kaminski. Here are some of the things he wanted to see:

--Ship it with an HDMI cable and have an instructional video on how to hook it up.
--Tweak the zoom feature in the browser and update plug-ins more frequently.
--In game, display when the controller battery level reaches 25 percent or a preset notice you can set manually.
--Add an in-game icon to confirm that headset is paired.
--A delete option that notifies you when you have purchased a game and you already have the demo installed (automatically delete demo to free up hard-disk space).
--On-demand bandwidth meter and temperature gauge.

Got any improvements you'd like to see in the PS3? Get your two cents in by clicking the TalkBack button.