PS3 2.20 update is out, get your BD-Live while it's fresh

Nothing beats that straight-from-the-oven firmware smell, and Sony just hit the internet with its PS3 2.20 firmware update goodness. The big win here is BD-Live interactive Blu-ray compatibility (Blu-ray 2.0), but there are some other minor tweaks as well, mostly multimedia and web browsing related. Unfortunately, portable copy didn't make the cut, but there's always 2.30, right?

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Elisha Adeagbo @ Mar 24th 2008 10:47PM]

WtF?

[Chuckles McGee @ Mar 24th 2008 11:13PM]

Hooray for updates!

[prateeko @ Mar 24th 2008 11:18PM]

What's there to be confused about? Sony's dropping a new firmware for the PS3 just like Engadget said they would (albeit a little early).

I take it you haven't been paying very close attention these last few days, have you? Unless you're WTeffing at the lack of portable copy, but I thought Sony said that'd be out in April...

[Elisha Adeagbo @ Mar 24th 2008 11:19PM]

Yes! :)

[Elisha Adeagbo @ Mar 24th 2008 11:22PM]

i know prateeko but when i was done updatin it to 2.17 it said i had to update again to 2.20(this was before Engadget mentioned it) and "wTf" was wat i said. It came out of nowhere to me

[prateeko @ Mar 24th 2008 11:25PM]

Ahh, I see. It seems you updated to 2.17 just before they put out 2.20


Maybe you should have stuck with 2.17 - Vintage firmwares are all the rage (at least that's what the cheeky bastards with PSPs tell me)

Oh wait, nevermind, you're not a pirate :p

[Elisha Adeagbo @ Mar 24th 2008 11:28PM]

lol yea

[Josh @ Mar 24th 2008 10:48PM]

I wish Sony would do their updates the way Microsoft does it with the 360. Either a huge update with new features or nothing at all. And we know to expect two a year. Spring and Fall. I hate not knowing when to expect an update for my PS3 and/or whether it is even worth downloading. =\

[Mr. Gremlin @ Mar 24th 2008 10:55PM]

meh... Sony has been great with firmware updates. Many of the updates have added decent functionality - first streaming, then divx, now bd live, soon rumble, home, portable copy, and ::prays for playtv:: ... I mean, I'm definitely disappointed by this update, but its because PCWorld got my hopes up, not because BD Live isn't worthwhile of a firmware update.

I'd much prefer more frequent updates where they deliver the newest features sooner rather than waiting months to receive the new updates...

[Josh @ Mar 24th 2008 11:00PM]

*shrugs* I've always preferred my 360 updates vs. my PS3 updates. The PS3 updates never seem to work for me, either. Specifically the DivX one. Only way I can stream videos from my PC to my PS3 is by transcoding using Nero. It's very simple with my Mac but a pain in the ass on my PC

[prateeko @ Mar 24th 2008 11:20PM]

I like constant updates (but with they'd frickin' do custom soundtracks already! We get it, this is a Blu-ray player, but how about making it a video game console also?!).

As for your Mac streaming problems I doubt the 360 is any smoother unless you're using 360 connect (which I am, and love). In which case you can also get Media Link from nullriver and enjoy the same Mac-PS3 goodness that you do with a 360.

[Josh @ Mar 24th 2008 11:24PM]

I have no problems streaming to either 360 nor PS3 with my Mac. I have problems streaming to my PS3 using my PC, however. PC to 360 is fine too. Just PC to PS3 that I have problems with. (And yes, Connect360 and MediaLink are awesome apps)

[Sam Winter @ Mar 24th 2008 11:29PM]

@Josh

Not saying your are lying, but I've never had any problems whatsoever with a PS3 update, nor have I really heard of anyone else having many problems either. The Divx/Xvid update was great and is working fine for me. I love the wifi video streaming and USB memory stick support. H264/MPEG4/Divx/Xvid/WMV work great for me. Only annoying thing is no Matroska support.

Anyways, If you've already tried to troubleshoot the Divx problem, just ignore this, but otherwise here are some ideas:

1) Make sure the Divx movie is not a Divx encoder version 3.11. For some reason, the PS3 can't play files encoded with this version of Divx software.

2) I'm not sure if update 2.20 corrects this now, but Divx (and WMV) files have to be under 2GB in size.

3) If the Divx file extension is AVI, change it to .divx and try again. (note: you usually don't need to do this)

4) If the file isn't found, make sure press triangle and select "show/reveal all files"

[Aguiluz @ Mar 24th 2008 11:29PM]

I still have a PS2 and I don't need to give a quack about "updates" at all!

[Josh @ Mar 24th 2008 11:32PM]

@Sam Winter

I've done 1, 2, and 4. Shall try 3 tomorrow, hopefully. I've pretty much stopped using the PC, though. Only reason I would want to use it now is because of it having a much larger HD (about 300 GB more. lol)

[gabe @ Mar 24th 2008 11:35PM]

no ps3 fanboys were hurt during the making of this comment.

[Vidikron (FU) @ Mar 25th 2008 2:17AM]

"2) I'm not sure if update 2.20 corrects this now, but Divx (and WMV) files have to be under 2GB in size."

This update fixes that.

[badqat @ Mar 25th 2008 9:44AM]

What? It's nothing to get a new game, or an original Xbox game and be required to run an update for the 360...to claim that 360 updates are twice a year things packing huge features is not only inaccurate, but flat out wrong.

[MasterCKO @ Mar 25th 2008 1:43PM]

yeah, I sure wish Sony updated their system and added new functionality LESS often.

Actually, no, that's kinda silly. I guess I see where you're coming from, but I think it's fine the way it is.

[Andrew @ Mar 25th 2008 2:55PM]

Josh is right in that Xbox360 supports many more Xvid/DVix files than PS3. It's simply the truth. In my own case only about 25-30% of files work on PS3, while Xbox percentage is about 80. I am hoping this improves with 2.20, will see tonight.

[Flashpoint @ Mar 24th 2008 10:50PM]

I'm happy to see all these updates making the PS3 media's capabilities better.

HOPEFULLY people will stop saying
"I hope PS3 gets better games" because right now, PS3 has most of the TOP PLAYED ONLINE GAMES such as Call of Duty 4, Rainbow 6 Vegas (1 and 2), and a bunch of RPG's I'm not interested in.

SOON AND VERY SOON, MGS4 and GTA4 will be released and that will help the PS3 even more to shake the image of not enough games - or original content.

The only thing hurting PS3 right now is the lack of the Dual Shock 3 controller - WHICH IS COMING VERY SOON.

The PS3, thanks to its upgradable Blu Ray specs is the perfect Blu Ray player. I think I know what alot of people will be spending their BUSH TAX REBATE on in May.

[Zeus.:God @ Mar 25th 2008 10:00AM]

*Top played meaning top played on Xbox 360 and PC.

Sorry, but as of right now, if you don't care much about Blu-Ray, then there is no real reason to choose the PS3 over an Xbox. Yeah, it will have some pretty kick ass exclusives down the line, but not as many as the 360 so far.

However, if Blu-Ray is a big deal, then the PS3 is an option.

I'm not denying the fact that the PS3 is a good console, its just Sony made it a Blu-Ray player first, game console second.

[Flashpoint @ Mar 25th 2008 1:58PM]

PS3 has enough games right now to carry it until MGS4 and GTA 4 are released.

Some people would perfer to use the PS3 controller to play games than the 360 controller (I personally perfer the 360's controller) therefore, PS3 has plenty of use.

The Blu Ray feature is the icing on the cake and I'm suprised that PS3 hasn't been sold even harder as an UPDATE-ABLE, BLU RAY PLAYER because unlike every other player on the market that stands alone, the PS3 is truly expandable.

[Kiwi616 @ Mar 24th 2008 10:51PM]

@ Josh

WTF? why wait, it only takes 20 minutes to update and adds reliability instead of 2 updates a year and having to wait for the RROD to fix itself.

I am all for constant updating, makes me feel warm and tingly.

[Flashpoint @ Mar 24th 2008 10:54PM]

The PS3 is going to get more updates ultimately than the 360 because it gets game updates as well as more firmware updates for the Blu Ray player, its built in Wifi connection and the disgarded features of the older models like the backward compatibility (emotion engine) on chip.

Don't forget, in the past, backups have BRICKED 360 consoles. There is a large portion of launch buyers with 360's that haven't failed - yet...and can be bricked by an update conflict.

[RammerJammerYellowHammer @ Mar 24th 2008 10:58PM]

@josh... are you kidding me, why don't you think about what you say next time before you say it. more updates frequently please, not less.

[nikos @ Mar 24th 2008 11:10PM]

Done the update.
Along with blu ray live support it suppose to give you the ability to display subtitles with divx movies.

I can't display the subtitles... Anyone succeeded?

[Steven Jones @ Mar 24th 2008 11:20PM]

Mr. Gremlin, I don't think any update is going to put rumble in your controllers. That you are gonna have to buy for like 40-50 more dollars!!!

[Demo @ Mar 25th 2008 10:23AM]

No luck here either :-(

[The Angry Intern @ Mar 24th 2008 11:36PM]

Yay! Now I can watch all those Profile 2.0 Blu-Ray discs I have....oh wait, nevermind.

[Mr. Fusion @ Mar 25th 2008 12:16AM]

Are there currently any discs out there sporting BD-Live content, or should I sit tight and wait a few more months?

[Jake E. @ Mar 25th 2008 12:36AM]

@Mr. Fusion

Way to miss the joke.

[Mr. Gremlin @ Mar 25th 2008 12:50AM]

Just to be clear... Yes, Profile 2.0 Blu-ray Discs are currently available. Two such examples of 2.0 discs that support BD-Live are Saw IV and War. Sony is also coming out with a bunch of 2.0 discs in the next few weeks.

[Michael Box @ Mar 24th 2008 11:39PM]

prateeko, take it easy on the modding!

[jonathan @ Mar 24th 2008 11:53PM]

@the angry intern


My thoughts exactly!!

[ieko @ Mar 25th 2008 12:01AM]

@Josh Try Tversity for PS3 PC streaming needs.

[Mark @ Mar 25th 2008 12:05AM]

@Sam Winter- Just wanted to correct a couple of things

1) Make sure the Divx movie is not a Divx encoder version 3.11. For some reason, the PS3 can't play files encoded with this version of Divx software.

-Version 3.11 is an illegal version of Divx. So you can kinda understand if Sony doesn't support it.

2) I'm not sure if update 2.20 corrects this now, but Divx (and WMV) files have to be under 2GB in size.

-Firmware 2.2 removes the 2gb restriction.

As for some complaining about frequent updates, it is akin to complaining about eating every couple of hours. The updates provide security fixes, bc updates, game patches, PLUS other cool little neat features for the users to enjoy. If the update is ready, then release it! I don't understand the logic of people complaining about a new feature for them or for fixes and performance tweaks to the system. It is always a lose lose situation. People want features, Sony updates monthly. People want less updates, Sony says it will start to update less, people demand features and fixes now! I enjoy Christmas monthly!

[madgamer @ Mar 25th 2008 12:24AM]

There are currently a (smaller) number of titles that support the BD-Live content and have since even before any players did, with more are coming soon. stuff like crank and war have the interactive picture in picture stuff like 300 on hd-dvd did.

[madgamer @ Mar 25th 2008 12:25AM]

That was directed at mr.fusion, but the reply system seemed to want to put it here instead...

[Allen @ Mar 25th 2008 12:27AM]

Yay, I got a 2.0 player. Sucks to be the suckers with the sucky stand alone players.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Mar 25th 2008 1:06AM]

you can now use your psp as a remote control for the ps3, The screen shows p on the psp but the sound comes from whatever way you have the ps3 audio set up ie home theater or tv. That is a nice ahem" Easter Egg" from them fine folks at Sony. takes a few seconds to totally sync up but movies and music with the sound from the theater speakers; nice and sweet. Does your 360 do that? Didn't think so...

[cmdwedge @ Mar 25th 2008 1:52AM]

I'm all for the remote play fun, but why on Earth would you want to watch something on your PSP - but listen to it on your fancy 7.1 home theatre setup? Isn't your home theatre setup, well, set-up around your TV set? Which is in all likelihood larger than your PSP screen?

[JET @ Mar 25th 2008 8:37AM]

The point of this feature is to browse your music collection and play music files through your stereo without having to turn on your TV. I always thought it irritating to burn my bulb just to listen to a SACD or some MP3s.

It is an even better feature for those with secondary speakers located far away from their AV rig (ie, on a deck or at poolside). Now you can change your music without having to return to the PS3.

JET

[The Sound @ Mar 25th 2008 1:13AM]

Turn on my PS3 tonight and get this unexpected update. Nice surprise.

I love getting updates. It really makes me feel like my money was well spent (it was, but it only reinforces it =D) Shows Sony is dedicated to making this thing better and better.

[Mike @ Mar 25th 2008 1:58AM]

I hear ya; every time I see that there's an update, I get this little mini-Christmas Morning feel, and I think "Ooh, what new feature do I get today?" :D

[Mike @ Mar 25th 2008 1:57AM]

Does anybody know if Portable Copy will work for the PS3 itself, or will I be forced to use a PSP to watch the movie? Because it might be nice to be able to store an SD version of the movie on my PS3. I would consider it a huge selling point that, along with my movie purchase, I can keep an SD version of the movie on the PS3 at all time. If I ever felt like the full thing with HD, I can just pop in the BD.

[Jeremy W @ Mar 25th 2008 2:28AM]

Are you really so lazy that you'd watch an SD version of a movie that you already own in HD, on your HD player which is hooked up to your HDTV, all so that you don't have to get your lazy ass off the couch? Wow.

[Ayrkain @ Mar 25th 2008 4:20AM]

I've done this so that my kids don't end up scratching my DVDs/Blurays. Of course, I do it by ripping my DVDs then transferring them, but it'd be nice to not have to do that.

[spaceb @ Mar 25th 2008 2:03AM]

I hope sony will finally add more cowbell with 2.30... *fingers crossed*

[Patriks7 @ Mar 25th 2008 4:08AM]

and i thought that 2.0 will need new hardware :s