PS3 firmware 2.20 bringing BD-Live interactive Blu-ray this month
By Thomas Ricker 
posted March 20th 2008 5:01AM
posted March 20th 2008 5:01AM
The Blu-ray 2.0 spec (or BD-Live) is just days from launch. Sony just announced that the next PlayStation3 firmware updated -- v2.20 -- will add the new interactive features to your PS3. As such, PS3 owners should expect downloadable video content, ringtones, interactive movie-based games, and the always intriguing "more" when the software is released in "late March." In other words, in the next 11 days. The update will also allow you to copy photos and music playlists over USB from your PS3 to your PSP. The rest of the new features after the break. -- "Resume play" will enable PS3 system to start playing a Blu-ray disc
and DVD at the point it was stopped, even if the disc had been
removed.(*1)
-- "Audio Output Device" will be a new Remote Play setting, enabling PSP
to serve as a remote control for music played through PS3.
-- PS3 system's Internet browser will be enhanced: Video files directly
linked from a Web page will be able to be streamed, and the browser's
view speed will be improved.
-- DivX and WMV format videos that are larger than 2GB will be playable.
-- "Mosquito Noise Reduction" will be added as an AV setting in the
control panel of the DVD/BD player for improved movie playback.(*2)
*1 BD-J format disc is not supported.
*2 BD discs recorded with BDMV format are not supported.
Wow, Stumbled on here, you people have got waaaaaay to much time on your hands. To each his own??
Resume play is going to be amazing. I can't for this update.
Ok...
If you are bitching about firmware updates then I fail to see your point. I'd MUCH rather take 10 minutes to add features and compatibility to my system over the internet then mail my console to a over-worked customer support who will only send me back a refurbished version of what I sent in.... just to watch it fry in 1/2 the time.
There is NO better option right now for a console then the PS3. Period. If you want to completely ignore the Wii's demographic issues and the MASSIVE hardware failures of the rushed 360 and its 9.5 gig dual-layer dvd games you still have no comparison to the PS3.
Graphically it can't be touched. People argue that some games look better on the 360. If you think this is due to some sort of "better hardware" you haven't done your homework. Developers have been working with the 360 for a whole year longer than the PS3. They have found ways to compensate for the things the 360's hardware falls short on. An example of this is the compression used on almost all 360 games to try and get the most info onto a disk without making it into a 4-disk Lost Odyssey debachle. Many cross platform titles on the PS3 are hindered due to the fact that developers try to make identical games.. and to do this they have to use the specs for the weaker system (Xbox). That being said, many games that come out for both systems are 2-3 gigs larger on average for the PS3.. and they still haven't scratched the surface of the storage of a Blu-Ray Disk. Uncharted: Drakes Fortune was almost 25 gigs. The developers stated that it would have been "a very different game" if they had gone witht the 360. In fact it would have had to be chopped up onto several disks only to discover that the hardware inherent to the 360 couldn't hanle the environmental physics, lighting, sound, and gameplay dynamics as they were all tailor-made for a system with more than DOUBLE the processing power. Let's also consider that the 360 wasn't really intended for high def graphics... don't agree? Think of the space ALONE that the graphics need to take up (hence compression). Now consider that the console didn't come with HDMI standard until late last year.
90% of the issues people have with the PS3 can be fixed via Firmware updates. So rather than bitch on Engadget you can simply email sony and give your suggestions. That is EXACTLY why the firmware updates exist. This enables the company to fix and upgrade the system continually. Xbox does the same thing.. not to the same extent, but that is how the 360 became Divx compatible in 2007. As far as Divx compatability is concerned; the PS3 is a CERTIFIED Divx player. The 360 only supports the codec. That difference means that the 360 will support almost any half-assed compression into a .avi container while the PS3 (because they paid the Divx Corp. for the rights of usage) will only accept divx videos that fit the divx standards.
If you are angry about Blu-Ray and don't like the format because you purchased an HD-DVD dongle for your 360, then stick to DVD's as they will last a while longer. Blu-Ray players at the moment are no better than the PS3 and so even as a stand-alone player its worth the time and money. I agree that is is concerning, knowing that my PS3 could be used to track my movie watching due to the fact it is online and many of the Blu-Ray Live features can be closely monitored... but here's a simple solution next time you watch a Blu-Ray disc....... UNPLUG YOUR INTERNET CONNECTION. Problem solved.
People bitch about the browser on the PS3... AT LEAST IT HAS ONE. If you don't like the speed of it (which if you read the firmware details is being upgraded) don't use it. You can still use firefox on the Linux partition of your PS3 and it will run great. There are thousands of guides on how to install the OS.
@Hunt720
You had me until:
"The 360 only supports the codec. That difference means that the 360 will support almost any half-assed compression into a .avi container while the PS3 (because they paid the Divx Corp. for the rights of usage) will only accept divx videos that fit the divx standards."
You're arguing in the 360's defense. Nobody really used DiVX because it's not open source and xvid yields the same, if not better results; All the 'content' online is in xvid. I don't want a system that's going to choke on my xvids 'half assed compression' as you coined it; screw 'divx standards'.
If you are using Xbox live for all of your Xvid content then you have a valid point. My arguement was that the PS3 was set up to play Divx files under a stable compression scheme and not just any old .avi file. The PS3 also plays Xvid as it is housed in the same container... but rather than allow just 'any ol' settings the developers contacted the Divx corporation and integrated it into the firmware, rather than just throw it into the mix in a November 2007 update on the xbox for a format that "nobody uses" yet is still deemed important enough for the update. All the compatability issues with the PS3 can be worked out with firmware updates as well, hence the rest of my posting.. I mean, if you are going to comment on a post.. at least read the whole thing.
And is the DRM encryption associated with the Xbox live downloads "open source"? ...... didn't think so.
should i buy the 40 gb for 399 know or wait on new player? thanks
Can you upgrade to BD live.. or do u have to buy a brand new ps3 with Bd Live PLEASEEEEEEEE REPLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! on my email : john_cena75@hotmail.com or on this web. pleasEEEEEEEEE
I have much better divx and xvid compatibility. all of my videos that didnt work now do. You go SONY!!!!
Hey Sony, It's it time you started making movie content available for Renting via the Playstation Store? There were hints about it over a year ago, and still nothing...I'm thinking of XBOX Live or Apple TV if there's nothing coming soon for the PS3. I'm amazed that Sony's so disinclined to take advantage of this obvious revenue stream.
I bought my PS3 60Gb for $1000 at the end of October came
with 2 controllers and a game.
My Thoughts on it are that it was worth my buying it then
as we only have the 40Gb ones out now and that they only
come with 2 usb slots instead of the 4 and the 4 slots are taken up very fast by 2usb transmitters for Guitar Hero's,
one for the eye toy and one for singstar.
also the 40bg ones arnt compatible with the ps2 games.
yes they are a little large but not as large as a entertainment unit slot so u still have no problem fitting this console into your entertainment unit.
also the 40gb one doesnt come with memory card slots like the
60bg one.
even that the 40bg console is around half the price i still
beleave that i got good value for money as i own about 20 ps2 games and if i had got the 40bg one i would not have been able to play my ps2 games on it.
Downloads for me take a little longer then some people as our
internet connection where i live is a little slower anyway.
updates are awsome and i cant wait til they bring out the little box that goes onto the ps3 so we can watch tv on it and record shows onto its hard drive then access the shows with the psp online, connected to your ps3 at home.
anyway that my thoughts on it catch ya later
I have the 60G console and I paid $359 for it. I would have sold you my wii and PS3 for $1000.
Anyway you are right being able to play ps2 is great and being able to DL for ps1 & ps2 and play is even better.
With a couple of adjustments to my laptops and tower I can play any movies, music and pictures wirelessly. Not only that with Remote Play once you have you computers hooked up you can get all those wirelessly on the PSP.
So hitting a wifi spot somewhere and playing a movie on my PSP from my computer is awesome.
I know there are a few ps3 games that can be played on psp but I am waiting for all the ps3 games to be able to play on psp.
One of the best things is to put your psp game on your ps3 and ad-hoc interface it play some one else head to head with only having 1 game. Just like game sharing. Both psp's hook into ps3 and play head to head.