News

Folding@home for PS3 to update to Version 1.2

Folding@home™ for PLAYSTATION®3 Version 1.2 will be availiable soon.

Improvements:

> 1. Support for Remote Play for PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable)
> 2. Visibility of Donor Locations on the Globe
> 3. Support for Additional Protein Simulations
> 4. Advanced Participation Mode
> 5. Screensaver Mode
> 6. Link to Project Description

1. Support for Remote Play for PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable)

Folding@home™ can now be remotely operated through the Remote Play feature of your PS3™ system. When you use this feature, the Folding@home™ help screen will be specific to your PSP™ system’s controls. Use this screen if you need help in navigating Folding@home™ from your PSP™ system.

Note: PSP™ system software should be version 3.50 or higher. To use Remote Play for the first time, you must first register (pair) a PSP™ system with a PS3™ system. For setup details, see the “Remote Play” section of the PLAYSTATION®3 System Software User’s Guide.

2. Visibility of Donor Locations on the Globe

The markers indicating PS3™ system donor locations on the globe have been improved to differentiate between daytime and nighttime areas.

3. Support for Additional Protein Simulations

Additional computation cores are now supported. This allows Folding@home™ for PS3™ to support a wider range of protein-folding simulations.

4. Advanced Participation Mode

An advanced participation mode has been added to Folding@home™ for PS3™. This mode allows Stanford to send simulations of varying computational lengths to users of Folding@home™ for PS3™.

Because the simulations in this mode can take significantly longer, Advanced Mode is only recommended for contributors who run Folding@home™ for PS3™ for at least eight (8) hours per day.

Note: In Advanced Mode, an energy graph during the simulation will also be displayed. In this graph, the blue line represents the total energy level of the protein over time. The red line represents the average temperature level at which the current simulation is run.

5. Screensaver Mode

A screensaver mode can now be activated via the Settings menu. After no controller input has been detected for three (3) minutes, the screen will go blank except for a logo that periodically moves to avoid screen burn-in. Any controller input will exit the screensaver mode.

This feature allows your PS3™ system to consume slightly less power and to increase performance of protein-folding simulations.

6. Link to Project Description

A link has been added to the Information menu that allows you to quickly obtain additional information about the specific research project that you’re currently contributing to.
Improvement: Protein Visualization Enhancements

All visualization modes have been enhanced with improved shading, highlighting, and focus effects.

In addition, four new visualization modes have been added:

Tapioca – Displays the protein as a smooth surface with improved shading and depth. (Tapioca replaces the “ISO Surface” visualization that was available in earlier versions.)
Caviar – Displays the protein as a smooth surface with defined edges.
Licorice – Displays only the protein’s bonds.
Backbone – Emphasizes specific sections of the protein that are of the most scientific interest to researchers.

Note: The Backbone visualization is not available for all proteins.

During an update, do not turn off the PS3™ system or cause the software to quit by pressing the PS button.

Source: Official Sony Folding @ Home Website