It may not exactly be the big March update we're waiting for, but it will do for now. Sony has just updated the PS3's firmware to 1.54, and is now available for the guys who've kept their consoles logged on the net.

Aside from the routine security updates, this update now allows console owners to use a compatible USB camera to go with their next video chat session. Read on for the full change list (1.5/1.51 included):

Users

• You can now select an image to use as the User icon from [Photo].
  

Settings

• [Key Tone] has been added as an option under [Sound Settings].
• [Delete Backup Data] has been added as an option under [System Settings] > [Backup Utility].
• WEP 128, WPA-PSK (TKIP) and WPA-PSK (AES) have been added as security methods that can be used with [AOSS™] under [Automatic].*
• If you have already set up for AOSS using an earlier version of the system software, you must perform AOSS setup again to use the security methods listed above.
• When [Automatic] is selected, the security method to be used is automatically set.

Game

• New for 1.51: Support for PLAYSTATION®3 format software titles has been expanded.

Friends

• New for 1.54: [Screen Mode] has been added as an option in the options menu for video chat. The image of the person you are chatting with during video chat can now be changed to match the screen size.
• New for 1.54: You can now use a compatible USB camera compliant with USB video class (UVC) for video chat.
• For information on supported models and usage instructions, contact the retailer where the cameras are sold.
• The method for saving your password / signing in automatically under PLAYSTATION®Network has been changed. There are now two separate options.

Other

• You can now enter text in Korean using the on-screen keyboard.

As said before, stay alert for firmware 1.60, which is rumored to do some strange things to your console's XMB backgrounds...

In our previous post on the Japanese release of PS3 FW1.5, Robert Kelly asked, "What good is playing PS2 and PS1 games if they look as blurry and fuzzy as news reel footage from 1945? " Well Robert, Sony took the hint, so guess what the US 1.50 firmware update has?

Word from Kotaku is the latest PS3 firmware update has finally fixed the the graphical problems present when playing backwards-compatible PS1 and PS2 games. They've noted that Okami and MGS3 are working perfectly, and with the appropriate pretty pictures too, so we're hoping the their graphically intensive games will finally get the respect they deserve.

Of course, there's still no changelog, so you'll just have to update your PS3s and then check to see if your older games work perfectly on your new-gen console. For now, we'll leave you with one question: Why does the System Update icon look like the sign for recycling?

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UPDATE:

PSP767 commented on the post with a changelog for the update. Thank you for that! Funny how it doesn't mention that graphical issue thing though, but oh well. Here's the changelog:

• User can now set an image/photo (off a mem stick etc) for their user id
• Edy support added (for payment via card reader)
• 'operation sound' added to sound settings
• 'delete backup data' added to backup utilities subsetting
• WEP128, WPA-PSK (TKIP), WPA-PSK(AES) can now utilize AOSS
• Can now remember your login password without using automatic login
• Korean keyboard setting can be used

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UPDATE #2:

Just to make sure we dotted all our i's and crossed all our t's, here is Sony's official changelog for their PS3 Update version 1.5.

• Users
• You can now select an image to use as the User icon from [Photo].
• Settings
• [Key Tone] has been added as an option under [Sound Settings].
• [Delete Backup Data] has been added as an option under [System Settings] > [Backup Utility].
• WEP 128, WPA-PSK (TKIP) and WPA-PSK (AES) have been added as security methods that can be used with [AOSS™] under [Automatic].
  

• If you have already set up for AOSS using an earlier version of the system software, you must perform AOSS setup again to use the security methods listed above.

• When [Automatic] is selected, the security method to be used is automatically set. AOSS is a trademark of Buffalo, Inc.
  

• Friends
• The method for saving your password / signing in automatically under PLAYSTATION®Network has been changed. There are now two separate options.
• Other
• You can now enter text in Korean using the on-screen keyboard.