Today, September 13, 2016, marks the day PS4 users finally get folders to organize their libraries (among other things). System Software 4.00, codenamed Shingen, brings changes to several things: the user interface, a new Quick Menu and a new Share Menu, folders and library organizations, new notifications pop-ups, extra layers of security to your PSN account, and universal HDR (High Dynamic Range) across all PS4 consoles regardless of edition.
Quick Menu
The new Quick Menu allows for users to enter it without having to lose sight of their running game in the background. It takes up less of the screen and can be completely customized to show and sort based on personal prefrence of features. Jayne Murphy announced on the Official PlayStation Blog:
“We’ve added a range of shortcuts to the most commonly used settings, allowing you to do things like invite friends to a party, or check out which of your friends are currently online and see what games they’re playing – all without leaving your current play session. One new addition to the Quick Menu that wasn’t featured in the beta program is an enhanced Music section to allow you to discover, play, and control Spotify or the USB Music Player without needing to open the Spotify app so you’ll now be able to play, pause, skip, shuffle, repeat and save songs whilst still in the game.”
It includes a system that recognizes your current gaming session, and accommodates the menu as best it can. If you were broadcasting your game, it would prioritize comment viewing, audio settings. If you were playing a game, it would prioritize party chat, friends, etc.
Folders
A feature as appreciated as it is simple to use, folders now can help you organize your game library. Even if you’ve never purchased a single game, those monthly freebies add up. You can start a new folder by clicking the start button when hovering over a specific game. Doing so will bring up all the same options before but now with “Add to Folder.” From here you will be able to “add to New Folder” where you can name it anything you want as well as add other games to it with the “select” and “deselect” options (as shown above), or you can throw it into an already existing folder. A specific game only be placed into one folder, not multiple ones. Below is a how your games will look when in their folders and are viewed at the home screen.
Other Features
The Library has a new system of organization as well. You can now search for your games using one of the 6 tabs on the left: All, Folders, Games, Applications, Purchased, and TV & Video. No more sifting through them all at once in a giant mess.
Two Step Verification has been added to insure extra security for your PSN account. Find out more information here.
Communities have had a large capacity increase, bumping the total possibility to 100,000. Community participation is an even greater experience now as you can reply to wall comments as well as share screenshots for everyone to see.
You can now perform Data Transfers between two systems via a wired LAN connection. If you decide to upgrade your console to the new PS4 Pro, Slim, or the same edition just different console, you can now expedite that long process of cloud storage and even backing it all up to an external hard drive.
Televisions with High Dynamic Range options can show their true potential with the compatibility in PS4 consoles now. This is not limited to the PS4 Pro as all PS4 consoles will now be compatible with HDR technologies.
For the remaining details regarding other small included features, you can find them on the Official Playstation Blog.
