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PS3 firmware v2.30 walkthrough: DTS-HD MA support / new PS Store included
Oh sweet mercy, what have we here? A sneak peek (on video) of the looming PlayStation Store revamp and a confirmation of DTS-HD Master Audio output in the next PS3 firmware update, that's what. Over on the PlayStation Blog, we're casually walked through the impending v2.30 update, and just as we had heard, Blu-ray fans can shout in unison as the inclusion of their favorite audio codec (as well as DTS-HD High Resolution Audio) is just days away. Word on the street has v2.30 headed down the pipes on April 15th, and if you're eager to catch a glimpse of some more stills from the made-over PS Store, head on over to Joystiq. Read - PlayStation 3 firmware v2.30 walkthrough video Read - Revamped PlayStation Store imagesRead - DTS' own confirmation of the good news (Thanks, sTeViO!)
PS3 firmware engineers interviewed, DTS-HD MA support on the way
AV Watch scored an interview with some of the engineers behind the frequent PlayStation 3 updates -- most recently adding BD-Live in 2.20 -- and uncovered details on what's been going on under the hood so far, as well as what to expect in the future. 1080 deinterlacing and DTS-HD MA support are definitely in the works, although no date is given. A possible answer why it's not there yet, is the indication that the just implemented mosquito noise reduction on MPEG-4 AVC videos uses less processing power than the original version of BD player software, which used 100% of resources for DVD upconversion, but now only maxes out on PiP streams with BD-Java running. For best PQ, play your digital files from disc or USB stick instead of DLNA, since they are currently processed differently. Otherwise, we can expect future updates quarterly, and for those beyond the reach of the net, updates are also packed onto discs, like the Resident Evil flick with 2.10 firmware on it. Check out Beyond3D for more highlights and see if all your most burning questions have been answered.[Via PS3 Fanboy & Beyond3D, thanks Isaac]
Forthcoming BD-Live rollout gets inspected
Our favorite database of Blu-ray statistics has gone above and beyond the call of logging data and has detailed the forthcoming rollout of BD-Live titles. Granted, we already knew of -- and played with -- some BD-Live-enabled films, but this list goes beyond Saw IV and War and touches on flicks landing anywhere between next week and later this summer. Let's just hope designers come up with something a touch more riveting than Yakuza Fighter. Hit the read link and dig in!
CyberLink's PowerDVD Ultra Blu-ray Profile 1.1 update now available
Being Bonus View (or Profile 1.1 like we used to call it back in the old days) enabled has gone from theoretical to actual for users of Cyberlink's PowerDVD Ultra. Also enhancing BD-J compatibility with certain movies, the 71.8mb download brings users to build 3730 and should provide the seamless PiP quality observed at CES -- if your PC can handle it of course. No charge for supporting more of Blu-ray's features, so get to downloading.[Thanks, François]
Resident Evil: Extinction's Bonus View gets tested
Back in October, we noticed that LG's BH200 wouldn't really be able to take advantage of its snazzy Profile 1.1 features until Resident Evil: Extinction landed in 2008, but due to a little magic, Blu-ray.com managed to secure a screener copy of the flick and give us all a look at what's in store. Utilizing a recently updated PlayStation 3, we're able to see exactly how Bonus View will change the way we experience films, as various PIP displays emerged in varying corners of the screen to showcase video commentary, storyboard comparisons and behind-the-scenes footage while the movie itself rolled along behind it. It was also noted that a non-Profile 1.1 player (Panasonic's DMP-BD10, to be exact) played back the title just fine, but of course, there was simply no option to watch the PIP content. Hit the read link for a few more shots of RE:E's Bonus View in action.
Terminator 3: I'll be back, in a couple of weeks
We all have to wait a couple of weeks longer than expected to check out Terminator 3, Warner's first Blu-ray release with IME. The release date has been bumped from December 4 to December 18. It's been an interesting road to release for this title: an initial HD DVD-only release; then its announcement as a Blu-ray "catch up" disc; clarification that the PiP commentary would come from two copies of the movie on one disc rather than a single Profile 1.1 version; and now this delay. No word on what the cause for the delay is -- hopefully Warner isn't having to compromise the sound or video quality to make space for the IME version.
The BDA "clarifies" the Profile 1.1 mandate (PIP)
We don't know about anyone else, but we've been a little confused about this so-called mandatory profile 1.1 deadline of October 31st 2007. While some couldn't care less about PIP, -- or any other extras on their HD movies -- who wants to buy a player that doesn't support everything Blu-ray has to offer? The reason we're confused is because manufacturers like Sony just released a players right before the deadline and Samsung's new BD-UP5000 is 1.1 "ready". Well, at this week's Blu-ray fest, Andy Parsons clears up the confusion by saying "We won't quibble over something like the firmware upgrade. The most important thing is to deliver product that meets customer expectations." We're not sure what your expectations are, but as long as your brand new Blu-ray player can handle the first PIP title when it hits the street, we guess it doesn't matter when it became officially 1.1 compliant. Honestly, we're surprised Samsung said anything at all, after all who'd be able to say it wasn't compliant if there weren't any movies before the firmware hit the streets.
Fox to debut Blu-ray PiP on Sunshine in January
For owners with the right hardware, 2008 is when they will see what Blu-ray Java is truly capable of. Bringing the confusion come to an end, Fox announced during the Blu-ray Festival that the first movie on the format with true picture-in-picture will be the sci-fi flick Sunshine in January. VideoBusiness also learned from Fox VP Steve Feldstein that he expects more players (aside from the PS3 and BD-UP5000) to be in the market that are equipped to handle the extra features. Tomorrow is the BDA's self-imposed deadline, after which new players have to support PiP, persistent memory, and internet connections. Whether or not Warner Bros. drops HD DVD support, Walt Disney has also announced plans to include PiP on Finding Nemo and other titles later in the year.
Warner: Terminator 3 on Blu-ray to include IME, but not Profile 1.1
Terminator 3 will be Warner's first Blu-ray release with IME, but it won't be the first to support Blu-ray Profile 1.1 features. High-Def Digest confirmed that Warner is including the PiP commentary from the HD DVD release by putting two copies of the movie on the disc, one with commentary and one without. This has been done before, most notably on The Descent, and should have the benefit of being viewable even on older (or newer) Blu-ray players. The bad news is that whenever updated hardware and software exists to support more BD-Java, there may not be anything new to watch for a while (we're hoping for The Matrix Trilogy).[Thanks, domerdel]
LG's BH200 to be first profile 1.1 Blu-ray player
With October 31st looming, Blu-ray fans are wondering where all the full profile players are. According to LG's product development director Tim Alessi, LG's latest dual format player (BH200) is on schedule to be the first of it's kind. This latest requirement for stand alone Blu-ray players promises to finally bring the Blu-ray camp up to the standards that HD DVD has enjoyed since almost the very beginning, including features like PIP. At this point it seems that most of the other manufacturers are content to wait for CES to announce compliant players, but we'll be on the look out either way. The real question at this point is where's the content? At this point, the only title announced to contain 1.1 features (Resident Evil: Extinction) isn't due out till 2008.
Vyro Games' PIP wants to relieve your stress
Having trouble finding the time or place to relax? Feel constantly wound up? Looking for a way to have fun and relieve stress? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you might be alive. Additionally, you may also be interested in Vyro Games' PIP -- or Personal Input Pod. The premise of the device is simple: via Bluetooth, the teardrop-shaped biofeedback sensor relays your stress levels (measured in electrodermal activity, or sweat production) to software on a mobile phone, where it's used to control a simple game. The outcome of the game is dependent on how relaxed the user can get, and the program continuously monitors the player's stress levels and reacts accordingly, helping them develop control over the relaxation process. No word yet on price, or when the PIP will be available... but we're not going to stress out about it.[Via Impress]
Denon's first Blu-ray player stuns with features and $2k pricetag
Denon has announced its first real Blu-ray player, with an appropriate assortment of never-before-seen features and price tag to match. The DVD-3800BDCI will launch this fall as the first high definition player to include Silicon Optix's 10-bit Realta HQV video processor, recently seen in Syntax-Brillian's $10k LCD and the big brother to the Toshiba HD-XA2's Reon. The first Profile 1.1 Blu-ray player we've seen, it supports separate picture-in-picture audio and video streams. Unfortunately, $1,999 isn't enough to provide an Ethernet port, so any online content will need to be downloaded on a PC and sneakernetted to the player via SD card. Finally, internal decoding for all Blu-ray surround sound formats is included, and it's the first player with an HDMI 1.3a output, providing enough bandwidth to pass sound natively to a receiver for decoding. Announced but unfortunately unpriced for $1,199 is the DVD-2500BTCI Blu-ray Transport, dropping the advanced audio and video processing for those with their own receivers and scalers. Coming from a company that sells a $3,800 DVD player, the price isn't too surprising, but we hope there are cheaper (& network-enabled) new Blu-ray options forthcoming.Read - TWICERead - Beyond3DRead - CraveRead - Press Release
Warner's '300' to sport bonus features on HD DVD, not Blu-ray
Apparently, Warner Home Video has no problem doling out an HD DVD version of 300 that outshines the Blu-ray rendition, as that's exactly what will happen when it launches on July 31st. The $39.99 HD DVD / DVD combo disc will feature a bluescreen picture-in-picture version of the film with "pre-CGI" clips alongside the finished product, an exclusive game titled Vengeance and Valor, web-enabled downloads, and a nifty application that allows you to assemble your favorite clips and "create your own montage." These very features, however, are glaringly absent from the Blu-ray release, which sports a far thinner list of extras for a slightly lower price ($34.99). It's no secret that interactive features on high-definition flicks have been sorely missing on the whole, but giving preferential treatment to one format via on-disc extras is an interesting approach to differentiation.[Via HighDefDigest]
Mio's C317 handheld GPS watches, records DMB TV
We've seen a plethora of handheld navigation units that pull double duty by tuning into terrestrial broadcasts when not navigating your routes, but Mio's C317 ups the ante by tossing in the oh-so-coveted recording capabilities. The well-spec'd device features a 4.3-inch NEC touchscreen, Samsung's 400MHz 2440 processor, Windows CE .Net 5.0, 256MB of NAND Flash, 64MB of SDRAM, SD / MMC card support for up to 8GB, integrated speakers, USB, 3.5-millimeter headphone out, and a rechargeable battery that should last between 3.5 and 5.5 hours depending on usage. The real kicker, however, is the built-in T-DMB tuner, which allows users to view broadcasted television in PIP, and even record said content onto one of their SD / MMC cards. Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be an option for a built-in HDD, but we're already seeing the makings of a very valuable hack. No word just yet on price, nor if this bad boy will ever grace US / UK shores, but the South Korean crowd should be enjoying the niceties real soon.[Via NaviGadget]
Samsung's SCH-B710 with picture-in-picture DMB
Picture-in-picture functionality on a phone is certainly not without precedent -- on Korean handsets, anyway -- but that doesn't mean we have to understand it. Watching even a single show on screen the size of a thumb remains a tough sell in many parts of the world, let alone two shows side by side. Alas, this game plan must be working out alright for LG and Samsung since they keep pumping out handsets that rock the feature. Latest is the SCH-B710 from Samsung, a rather portly-looking pivot phone with a pair of DMB tuners and the aforementioned picture-in-picture functionality for individuals afflicted with particularly brutal forms of ADD. Thanks to Anycall branding, we know this one'll stay well within Korean borders, but we wouldn't be surprised to see the form factor head elsewhere by a different model number.
Blu-ray players get a new standard set of features this October
Blu-ray owners waiting for more Java features and highly interactive releases like the recently announced Matrix compilation on HD DVD could be due for a hardware upgrade this winter. VideoBusiness is reporting that the BDA has mandated all hardware launched after October 31 must support BD-J enabled picture-in-picture video playback, 256MB of persistent memory, and (for players with an internet connection) 1GB of memory for downloads. Currently these features aren't required and picture-in-picture support isn't in the PlayStation 3 or Sony's lower priced BDP-S300 that will debut this summer, ahead of the deadline. BD-J support has been sketchy so far, with many players needing upgrades to run titles like The Descent, which was able to do PiP by including two different versions of the movie on one 50GB disc. High profile DVD producer Van Ling (Star Wars, T2: Special Edition) is working on his first (unspecified) BD-J release, but is worried about supporting so many players with different capabilities. HD DVD mandated PiP and persistent storage support in all players since its initial launch; we'll wait to see if new Blu-ray hardware can implement new features and still continue the downward price trend.
LG crafts new DMB chip, enables PIP TV viewing on handsets
LG's no stranger to cramming DMB capabilities into its handsets, and practically everything else it has a hand in too, but the company has now announced a brand new chip that ups the ante over existing renditions. This new chip reportedly enables users to "watch real-time television programs for four straight hours," compared to the three hour "limit" currently in place, but we seriously question the toll it'd take on your retinas to stare at such a diminutive display for an entire sixth of your day. Nevertheless, the chip is supposed to enhance signals as well, giving off that TV delight to a broader area of recipients by upwards of "30 percent." Additionally, it's slated to consume a good bit less power than current implementations, and of course, will allow users to access real-time traffic data and utilize TPEG technology while on the move, and just in case all that in the palm of your hands wasn't enough to keep you occupied, you can actually enjoy attempt to view two programs simultaneously thanks to the PIP functionality that this chip delivers. Time to upgrade those specs, eh?[Via BoyGeniusReport]
Proton's 42- and 47-inch Premier LCD HDTVs get official
Proton's no stranger to taking the wraps off new products in lively Las Vegas, and this year it looks like a few 1080p gems will be showing their stuff alongside the LED-backlit versions we've been hearing about. Dubbed the first two sets in the company's "premier" lineup, the 42-inch P42D5 and 47-inch P47D5 both sport a newly designed aluminum enclosure, 176-degree viewing angle, and a "Puriti" processing engine that purportedly helps to eliminate jaggies among other color enhancements. Aside from the full blown 1080p support, built-in digital / analog tuners, PIP, and HDMI inputs on both sets, the P47D5 also features a 1200:1 contrast ratio, 500 cd/m2 brightness, 8-millisecond response time, and a pair of integrated 5-watt speakers. Both sets should be on display at next month's CES, and while the 42-incher will sell for $1,999, the flagship 47-inch model will demand $2,999.
Elgato releases new EyeTV Diversity DTT tuner
Looks like Miglia isn't the only kid on the block with a picture-in-picture TV tuner for the Mac anymore, as Elgato has released the EyeTV Diversity, offering powerful DTT reception, picture-in-picture viewing and the ability to record one channel while you watch another. DTT, for those who might be scratching their heads, stands for Digital Terrestrial Television, a new digital broadcasting standard adopted mostly by European and Asian countries, allowing for more better channels and content to be served over traditional broadcasting systems (i.e. - from what little I know about DTT from the Wikipedia entry and Elgato's product page, this product doesn't really have North Americans in its demographic, for now). Nevertheless, judging from its size and feature list, the EyeTV Diversity is packing quite a punch, and it's available now from Elgato for 149,95 Euros.Thanks Todd
Samsung's SCH-B470: DMB with picture-in-picture
Chillin' out, watching TV on your sub-three-inch phone display is all well and good, but it seems awfully inefficient, doesn't it? Here you could be snapping pics, choosing ringtones, adding contacts, or browsing the web if it weren't for that gosh durn DMB taking up the entirety of your screen. Samsung's looking to cater to those ADHD-inflicted DMB users out there, bringing their SCH-B470 to market with picture-in-picture capability. Technically, the term might be a bit misleading since we don't think you can watch two DMB channels simultaneously, but the functionality allows you to watch tee-vee on one side of the screen while going about your regular phone business on the other. The B470 rounds out the package with a 2-megapixel cam and the obligatory music player -- both of which you can utilize while enjoying that Korean sitcom.
