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BD-Live hits PlayStation 3 via software update

As promised earlier, Sony has released the new firmware which updates the PlayStation 3 console to the forefront of Blu-ray Disc specification.

Version 2.20 brings with it the major addition of supporting BD Live, also known as Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0. Profile 2.0 adds the requirements for Ethernet connectivity and persistent storage, allowing for high-definition movies to access downloadable content and other extras.

"With Blu-ray established as the high-definition optical disc standard, more consumers are ready to jump in and take advantage of everything the format offers," said Scott A. Steinberg, vice president, product marketing, SCEA. "Whether you want to download movie extras, send ringtones to your phone, or play interactive games, BD-LIVE will offer exciting new ways to enjoy a Blu-ray movie. With these regular firmware updates and future-proofed technology, SCEA is making the 10-year lifecycle of PS3 possible."

The new software also enables an enhanced resume play function, allowing DVD and certain Blu-ray Disc movies to be resumed at last known spot even if the disc is ejected or the system is powered down. The added “Mosquito Noise Reduction” under the AV Settings lets the user reduce the flicker that appears on the edge of visual images while watching standard DVDs.

PSP owners will also appreciate the ability to copy playlists of music and photos from console to handheld. Despite all the movie-playback additions, not yet implemented is the Blu-ray Portable Copy feature first mentioned at CES 2008.

SCEA PR manage Al De Leon explained on the PlayStation Blog, “Also, to set the record straight, Blu-ray Portable Copy was never a part of this firmware update, and the feature isn’t related to BD-LIVE. We know a lot of you are excited about the ability to take a copy of a BD movie with you on the go on your PSP, so we’ll keep you posted on any developments with this cool feature in the future.”

Firmware update 2.20 is available now via the Network Update function or directly from Sony.

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Ahhh...
By maverick85wd on 3/25/2008 6:01:45 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
"With Blu-ray established as the high-definition optical disc standard..."


Such sweet words...




RE: Ahhh...
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 3/26/2008 8:21:53 AM , Rating: 2
What are we going to call the next generation? Super high def :P?


RE: Ahhh...
By Regs on 3/26/2008 9:14:53 AM , Rating: 2
I was thinking that too. What else could the come out with next? My guess is 3D. Lasers or optics that project the image outward. Either that or smellavision.


RE: Ahhh...
By AlphaVirus on 3/26/2008 11:32:39 AM , Rating: 2
I think of this anytime we use such lingo as High-Def, Digital, etc.
Its the same with radio stations that are "Now broadcasting in HD (digital instead of analog)". I guess they figure it will be plenty of years until a new ground shattering tech comes out, so by then we should have a new lingo to setup.

Thing is, 1080 is consumers Hi-Def, professionals are using 2060 and higher. I wonder what the next move will be for both consumers and professionals.


RE: Ahhh...
By walk2k on 3/26/2008 12:42:23 PM , Rating: 2
It's (already) called Super Hi-Vision, or Ultra High Definition Video - UHDV

It's 7,680 × 4,320

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra_High_Definition...


RE: Ahhh...
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 3/26/2008 12:57:37 PM , Rating: 2
Ah they skipped super and went straight to Ultra!

(Waiting for Spaceballs reference here)


RE: Ahhh...
By walk2k on 3/26/2008 3:30:21 PM , Rating: 2
Yep after that is LHD.

Ludicrous High-Definition!


Portable BD Copy
By feraltoad on 3/25/2008 6:48:08 PM , Rating: 2
So is the built in card reader that was dropped from newer models going to be the only way to get a portable copy?

Also, will rental discs have to be made different to avoid portable copies? Or does the copy "expire"?




RE: Portable BD Copy
By mmntech on 3/25/2008 7:57:02 PM , Rating: 2
There's almost nothing known about this. I would expect they're saving update 3.0 unless it ends up being vapourware. The real issue is getting Hollyweird to go along with it. According to them, you're stealing if you rip CDs to your iPod, and that's legal. I would definitely expect some kind of DRM scheme. If it's DRM free, that would be a huge victory for fair use because it would bring movies inline with audio CDs.

As for this update, I can't say there's anything really to get excited about. BD 2.0 seems to be the MPAA's "ringle" to me. DVDs have online content if you use your PC to play it, but how many people actually used those features?
As for the rest, the resume playback feature was a long time coming. It's been standard in PC DVD playback software and high end players for years. The audio output settings for remote play is also interesting. I haven't tried the rest yet. Nothing really earth shattering.


RE: Portable BD Copy
By afkrotch on 3/26/2008 5:00:23 AM , Rating: 2
Just BD 2.0. Hmm...can't say I'm much excited about that. In all seriousness, due to the size of the disc, could they simply not just include everything on the disc? Sure, 2 years down the road when you pop the movie in, you get to see a 2 year old trailer, but who really cares?


RE: Portable BD Copy
By walk2k on 3/25/2008 8:03:10 PM , Rating: 2
It's not included in this update, but I believe you hook up your PSP or whatever via the standard USB ports.


RE: Portable BD Copy
By cubby1223 on 3/26/2008 12:41:00 AM , Rating: 2
The portable copies are included on an extra dvd bundled in the case. For the movies so far that come with one, that is.


happy
By GlassHouse69 on 3/25/2008 10:40:49 PM , Rating: 4
Uh, people are pissed somehow about this.

what losers.

this is awesome. unless you bought hddvd only products or something.




RE: happy
By Haltech on 3/25/08, Rating: 0
RE: happy
By Regs on 3/26/2008 9:12:42 AM , Rating: 2
HD DVD is cheaper on the consumer. Now I should say was.

Sony, however IMO, made the right decision going blue-ray. Just gave the consumer one more reason to buy it over the competition though they had to sell the system at a loss.


RE: happy
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 3/26/2008 10:23:56 AM , Rating: 2
From a purely logistic perspective Sony had the advantage from the get go. Sony could build, market, push format (Sony Pictures Entertainment) and push hardware (Stand Alones and PS3). That provides significant insurance on a push if you can basically float the entire thing top to bottom on your own.


RE: happy
By SavagePotato on 3/26/2008 12:02:10 PM , Rating: 2
Which is a major part of why it is dead.

It wasn't cheaper at all, it was artificially cheaper through selling everything at a huge loss to keep it afloat. In the thick of the format war you couldn't say that without being called a fud spreading demon and attacked by angry rabid supporters.

Now it's a fact you can't argue, Toshiba threw in the towel for a good reason, they were losing money massively to keep the format alive and could no longer justify it.


Stop complaining
By electriple9 on 3/25/2008 9:19:45 PM , Rating: 3
When people baught the Bluray player they knew it was still a "beta" device and it will take a while for it to finalize and get mature. We all knew of the formats will die, so there we have it bluray won. Nobody really cares about that download content of the bluray disks, its just a nice bonus, and since the PS3 will most likely be connected to the internet, its the best way to access there features. Sony was nice enough to give us free updates for the PS3. I do agree, Sony does charge more for hardware, but you will always pay more for Sony.




What really amazes me is...
By crazyblackman on 3/25/08, Rating: 0
RE: What really amazes me is...
By michal1980 on 3/26/2008 8:17:26 AM , Rating: 1
You took a beating for support blu-ray/Sony/PS3.

lol, ya. I' was an an auto -3 run for nearly a year.

still have to put that stupid verfiy code in when I post.


RE: What really amazes me is...
By Master Kenobi (blog) on 3/26/2008 8:24:36 AM , Rating: 2
Post more often and it levels back out to 2 pretty quick. Regular posters here tend to be stuck at 2 give or take a few decimal places.

You also have to remember that "how" you state something can cause people to dislike it and mod you down. You can utterly flame something but do it in a way that doesn't seem so "negative" and get away with it. (See: Political Wordsmithing) :P