PS4 Firmware Update 2.0 Brings Many Features

 

Firmware Update 2.0 includes Themes, music playback, improved UI, improved broadcasting, voice commands, and friends list features.

A home UI and Library redesign will be among several major improvements coming to PS4 via the upcoming 2.0 firmware update, codenamed Masamune.In addition to previously announced YouTube support and Share Play features, Sony has confirmed the system will get themes, a USB music player, much improved live broadcasting abilities, and a new way of finding friends on PS4. In the announcement on Thursday, the company offered the first screenshots of the new firmware.

Here's the list of newly announced features:

USB Music Player: PS4 owners can play their own music in the background while playing a game using USB Music Player*. After inserting a USB stick loaded with music into the PS4, a new option for USB Music Player will appear. Supported filename extensions include MP3, MP4, M4A, and 3GP.
Change colors: In addition to the ability to add a theme, PS4 owners can also change the background of the home screen from light blue to one of seven new colors: gold, blue, red, green, purple, pink, and gray.
Players You May Know: PS4 will now suggest players you may know in the 'What's New' section, recommending gamers your friends frequently play with.
Enhancements to Live Broadcasting: Masamune brings a variety of improvements to live broadcasting on PS4. In the Live From PlayStation app, PS4 owners can now select a Featured channel, which includes official broadcasts from PlayStation, broadcasts from people on a players friend list, and any game channel that the player has followed. Additionally, Live From PlayStation now has filters for searching broadcasts on a specific game, as well as support for archived broadcasts.
Content Area and Library: PS4's Content Area, which shows the latest games and apps a PS4 owner has used, has been redesigned to help make it easier to quickly find and access content. It now shows 15 of a player's most used apps or games, and additional items will be added to a player's Library. The Library on PS4 has improved filter and sort functions to help organize contented by type (game / app / TV & video), name (a - z or z - a), recently used, or install date.
Enhanced Voice Commands: The ability to control PS4 using voice has been improved. Players can now say 'PlayStation' to begin commands, and 'All Commands,' to see a list of all voice command options available. New voice commands were added for live broadcasting, including "Start broadcast," "End broadcast," and "Find face."
Add To Library: The monthly free PlayStation Plus games will have an 'Add to Library' button in the PlayStation Store. This button will add a game to a PS4 owner's library without downloading it - saving space on their hard drive.
Back Up Data: Data on PS4 can be backed up and resorted using USB storage. This will back up all data for the console, including settings, save data, screenshots, video clips, download data, and more.

Sony confirmed at Gamescom in August that the long-awaited Share Play feature will be introduced to PS4 as part of firmware update 2.0, which due for release by Autumn. Share Play allows players to pass control of their game to another PS4 owner remotely via the internet.

The anticipated feature was first announced during the PS4 unveiling in February 2013, but missed the PS4 launch and was yet to surface on the console.

The PS4 firmware 2.0 update will also add video upload support for YouTube, along with "dedicated app support". The PS4's activity board, 'What's New', will also be revised.

Sony is yet to confirm a precise release date for the firmware.