Firmware 1.80 up for downloads, our opinions also available

by Nick Doerr { May 24th 2007 at 1:15AM }

The hotly anticipated system update has gone live as of exactly midnight EST. Without a minute to spare, we downloaded the new update and test-drove the two most important features: 1080p DVD upscaling and 1080p PS2 game upscaling. What do we think?

We have to admit, we're disappointed by the DVD playback. We tested a couple of DVDs from the amazingly hilarious show Scrubs. The difference between the original 480p image and the upscaled one is minimal at best. Perhaps it was the show itself, but the only added factor by jumping the resolution up was a slight decrease in grainy faces in the foreground. No beats of sweat clearly visible, no defined facial lines beyond what the original DVDs had displayed. This may be due to the fact that the TV we used only could get 720p/1080i -- so that may have been a reason.

On the software side, we booted up a number of games: Rogue Galaxy, Phantasy Star Universe, and Dawn of Mana. Yes, we love RPGs. The difference was surprisingly substantial. In the case of Rogue Galaxy, where jaggies were minimal to begin with, the difference got rid of the remaining backwards compatibility errors. However, if the upscaling is set to "full screen" and the smoother is turned "on" then you might stare at something that's a lot more blurry than you're used to. Not jaggy -- blurry. PSU suffered horribly with jaggies and the upscaler worked well. It's not perfect, but it's acceptable. With the smoother turned on, the clothing and actions of characters just seem ... smoother. How about that? Dawn of Mana simply got a smooth boost, since it looked mostly fine anyway.

Overall, we greatly approve of the PS2 upscaling capabilities. PS One titles ... well ... there's not much to upscale anyway, but they did what they could. Nothing worth mentioning, but it's a nice touch to make the games looks less dated. Parasite Eve 2 is actually fairly good looking upscaled. Almost an early PS2 game. We have no true opinion on the DVD upscaling since we don't have a 1080p HDTV, but what we were able to view wasn't much different. How about you guys? What are your thoughts?

Tags: firmware 1.80, Firmware1.80, PlayStation 3, Playstation3, PS3, Sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

MiKE @ May 24th 2007 1:22AM

I've waited for this day for so long! PS1 upscalng!
Now to go play Chrono Cross :)

Skunk @ May 24th 2007 1:27AM

On my 1080p TV the DVD upscaling makes them look alot sharper and clearer.

Zythia @ May 24th 2007 1:28AM

According to the videophiles over on AVS, the PS3 is now the premier BD and DVD player with the 1.80 firmware.

* Excellent/Amazing 1080p upscaling of DVDs
* For those with 720p only sets it now does 720P downscaling for BD along with upscaling for DVD
* 1080p24 support (film is native 24 fps, no more 3:2 pulldown)
* Blacker-than-Black (BTB) and Whiter-than-White (WTW) support with (full range/limited) the BTB has been confirmed by DVE
* HQV DVD test and the PS3 1.80 firmware passes ALL tests!! Cadence, interlacing, artifacting, you name it, it passed!!!

Go see page 163 (and on) in the AVS " One-and-Only PS3 as Blu-Ray Player Thread" for more details.

Joshua Campbell @ May 24th 2007 1:52AM

Now we can stop bitching

Enter Colin in 4...3...2...

adam @ May 24th 2007 1:57AM

Im still waiting for the update that allows you to change your background. Hell Ill probably be happy If I were able to just change the color. something.

Breeze @ May 24th 2007 1:58AM

Sorry Nick, but you need to conduct your tests a bit better and consult the AVSForums when you need additional information or advice. The upscaling has already been proven to be better then the best DVD upscaling players out there - tests performed and all.

Stef Geiger @ May 24th 2007 2:09AM

Question here: Do I WANT to enable progressive scan in games if I'm running upscaling to 1080i? I ask because when I pop in Black or GOW and turn on progressive scan, my TV SEEMS to jump back from 1080i to 480p. It's a weird thing. My TV doesn't actually tell me what mode it's in, but I know when it's in 1080i because two funny little lines show up at the bottom of the screen (diagnostic things from tweaking with the set). When I enable progressive scan, my TV makes the sounds it usually makes when switching modes, and the little lines at the bottom vanish, indicating to me that I'm in 480p. However, the text in the menu when I hit the playstation button is still really small as though I'm in 1080i. Can anyone shed some light on this? Using the upscaling while NOT enabling progressive scan looks awful.

Stef Geiger @ May 24th 2007 2:17AM

Ok, looks like if you enable progressive scan within the game, it overrides whatever upscaling the PS3 is supposed to do. Despite this, it keeps the playstion menu font size small AS THOUGH it's still in 1080i.

Can anyone with a TV that actually indicates what mode it's in confirm this?

radpanic @ May 24th 2007 2:21AM

DVDs look much better on my 1080i Samsung. I haven't had a chance to try any games yet. The new slideshow and photo trimming feature is pretty cool also.

Darren Tilley @ May 24th 2007 2:35AM

Nick, are you seriously write "no defined facial lines beyond what the original DVDs had displayed"?

I think if you are going to write your opinion for a living, you should at least learn what Upscaling actually is. It sounds like you were expecting all you DVDs to look HD all of sudden.

Upscaling is just about the edges you can't invent information that isn't there. But you can minimize the blocky edges caused by the crappy scaling routines used in today's televisions. It's essentially the difference between resizing a photo using a quality algorithm, like Bicubic, over a quick and dirty Bilinear resample.

Patrick @ May 24th 2007 2:38AM

Upscaling, shmupscaling! What I like best about this upgrade is that I can finally read this site on my Euro-PS3!!! Okay, I'll go check the upscaling now... ;-)

Breeze @ May 24th 2007 2:43AM

Hey Stef,

How do you like that Hardware Scalar now?

Paul B. Sheerer @ May 24th 2007 2:59AM

WOW !!! I'm a dreaming ??? I've been waiting for this for a very LOOONG time !!! Wow ! I'm I playing "ICO" in 1080p full screen ??? (you HAVE to go to settings and set to full screen) !!! WOW !!! I have an XBOX 360 as well but PS3 now FUCKING RULES !!!

Stef Geiger @ May 24th 2007 3:02AM

Well, you'll have to tell me what a "hardware scalar" is for me to answer that question.

Anyway, I don't think there's any evidence indicating whether or not this scaling is done through hardware or software.

Taylor B @ May 24th 2007 3:04AM

I've set up WMP11 and can now officially stream media to my PS3. Works perfect, no stutters in any MP3s, and I was able to happily display Monorail cat in a nice resolution on my 32" High Def. I love it.

jostaurnes @ May 24th 2007 3:07AM

To #7, you will not get 1080i upscaling if you select progressive, as the i in 1080i stands for interlaced.

mamardilla69 @ May 24th 2007 3:07AM

for us the poors guys that doesnt live in 720 and stuff i think the dnla feature is the best at least for me. this plus the worlwide psp remte play feature will make us stream from any part of the world our music without choppy software like tversity now just using the windows media player 11(this is easier than the media center from the other console, ironic?)

jos @ May 24th 2007 3:09AM

#7, you will not get 1080i upscaling if you select progressive output, cause the i in 1080i stands for interlaced.

Kevin @ May 24th 2007 3:12AM

I think Dvds look much better, i have 1080p samsung, but now my blu ray movies are not working,they were working right before the update, games still work, and audio

Kramer @ May 24th 2007 3:37AM

1. Anyone else have problem with upscaling DVDs, there's 0.5 sec. pause between chapters?
This is what you have to pay for upscaling?
Looks like PS3 upscaling chapter-by-chapter and when it's next DVD chapter, it require some time to start processing.

2. How to access Shared music/videos? Is it Samba shares or something different?

Taylor B @ May 24th 2007 3:41AM

@19

Go update Windows Media Player to version 11. From there you can go to settings and turn on Media Share. If you have your PS3 on, and are updated to 1.8. You'll likely see an "unknown device" pop up on a list of devices to share media to. Compare the MAC address if you see more than one device, then you can authorize the PS3. Make sure to apply the settings. I restarted my PS3, and ta-dah. Full access to my library of music and media.

Kramer @ May 24th 2007 3:45AM

@20
Media player? I have a Mac. Is that a some standard protocol used or proprietary Media player - specific?

lorderk @ May 24th 2007 3:54AM

video of PS3 media server in action ===>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZP1gGnsSVSE

Taylor B @ May 24th 2007 3:58AM

@21

If you're using a Mac, then I would recommend TwonkyVision. You can try the trial for 30 days and see if it works. Full version is 40 USD. For reference to other users, it works for Windows XP, Mac and Linux.

http://www.twonkyvision.com/Products/TwonkyMedia/index.html

Mak @ May 24th 2007 3:58AM

Youtube video of FW 1.80 and DLNA Using Twonkyvision..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzteEgl-BSo

I have some media in formats not supported by the PS3. Can't decide if I want to rerip or use VLC to transcode it.. Either way, that's a job for later..

Hop you like the vid... Notice the ABC navigation on the audio, something WMP11 doesn't support.... The navigation structure is totally configurable on Twonkyvision, which is nice if you have lots of music...

Laurens Holst @ May 24th 2007 4:14AM

So are there any screenshots of that PS2 upscaling? I’d like to see for myself how it looks exactly, but I don’t have an HDTV.

~Grauw

why not the LS2LS7? @ May 24th 2007 4:23AM

Okay, well, it's a little odd.

First of all, you have to change the upscaling mode to full screen or normal based upon whether you're going to use widescreen mode in the game. And to do so, you must exit the game.

Second of all, I'm play GoW2, and if I set the game to 480p, the upscaling turns off (on my 1080i/720p TV) and the TV goes back to 480p from 1080i. Does this happen to people with 1080p TVs? It's not really the end of the world, since turning the 480p mode back off looks great, no noticeable interlacing artifacts.

I have to say, I think I find the smoothing mode a might blurry. I'll try with it off too.

I didn't try and DVD upscaling, since I'm so addicted to BluRay, any DVD looks like poop to me, no matter what the upscaling.

24HZ output is a great thing. Awesome.

Kudos to Sony for such a powerful update. This thing keeps getting better and better.

What the heck is "full-range" HDMI output or super-white component output?

I just turned on full-range HDMI, and didn't notice any difference.

DolphGB @ May 24th 2007 5:09AM

The most important parts of the update for me (being an SD user at present) were the media streaming (which I'll set up later today) and the remote play via internet.

Notice how it says that the PSP (which needs to be running 3.50; arrives by end of May apparently) has to be signed into the PSN with the same username.

That surely means that the PSP is going to receive full PSN access, doesn't it? Access your friends, chat etc. on the move? Surely!!??

Thomas @ May 24th 2007 5:31AM

Hands down PS3 is the new Premier center piece of my home theater!

Davixu @ May 24th 2007 6:03AM

Can I use the streaming with iTunes?? I dont want to run WMP11.

Neil @ May 24th 2007 6:10AM

Ok Guys, advice needed. ( mine is a Eu PS3 with 100% software BC which is actually very good considering )

I have a recently bought SAMSUNG 32" LCD TV, ok, its only 720p/1080i but good enough. My PS3 is connected via HDMI cable and yes, all looks rather good.

Have installed 1.80 and have via SETUP / GAME selected my Upscaling options. I notice when upscaling the comment that if the setting isn't allowed, the screen will go blank temporarily, and sadly it does when i press X. Still, once the screen returns it allows you to accept the settings.

Firing up FFXII i only notice one thing, the Screen is now FULL screen and not 85% ( or whatever) as before. Graphics look identical to before though and smoothing doesn't make a lot of difference really. So, on my LCD, it doesn't appear to work. Any advice ( apart from get a full 1080p set) I though this update would work on a uptodate 720p/1080i LCD. when pressing the PS button on my controller, the menu options are large so i guess this is being downscaled as before.

DVD upscaling, once the options were set appears to work well with noticable picture improvement when i fired up 'sean of the dead', I'm impressed and it's breathed life into my DVD's

If PS2 upscaling doesn't work on my three month old LCD i shall be were dissappointed so any ideas?

Help

Neil

riksu @ May 24th 2007 6:53AM

When I select upscale to normal the screen is too small and when I select full screen the screen is too big in PS2 games. Im using 720p and my tv only supports 720p and 1080i. What im doing wrong?

Al Sutton @ May 24th 2007 7:16AM

Your TV was probably already doing upscaling if you're feeding a 480p signal, so you won't see much of a difference. Having it on the PS3 as well lets you see if you have a better upscaler in your TV or PS3.

Upscaling doesn't add detail (like seeing beads of sweat), it will only make things look smoother by using half-tones to avoid jagged edges, so unless you have a HDTV where you can turn it's internal upscaler off you're only comparing upscalers in the two devices.

Neil @ May 24th 2007 7:23AM

Problems:

When you do select GAME upscaling, the blurb tells you that if the screen goes blank, the setting you've asked for didn't work, now, does anyone know what check is made at this point as my SAMSUNG 32" LCD (recent model, still selling in UK shops ) screen does indeed blank.

This TV is a 720p 1080i screen. I'm wondering if i have to change the TV's settings somewhere to allow this to work.

DOES anyone know?

Cheers guys
Neil

Neil @ May 24th 2007 8:00AM

@ Al Sutton,

Your explaination sounds feasible apart from the fact that I only see the LARGE menu when i press the PS button during PS2 play. My friend's menu changed to SMALL on his cheapo LCD machine. Plus of course the blanking of the screen when i selected Upscaling which signifies that there was a problem.

Cheers.

DanMacMan @ May 24th 2007 8:44AM

I dont have hi-speed at home to d/l straight to the PS3, so I always get it at work from the web. The PSN website still only has 1.7 posted for download...

gameforall @ May 24th 2007 8:46AM

Just played the original Killzone, with the game settings upscaled to full screen and smoothing, look much better than before with no noticeable problems

blindrocket @ May 24th 2007 9:10AM

DVD upscaling totally looks awesome, same with PS2 games! I'm very excited about this updated, not disappointed at all like the blogger. I tried a few DVDs, one of them that I was considered re-purchasing on Blu-ray is A Scanner Darkly. But not anymore, the DVD now looks fantastic.

Surenix @ May 24th 2007 9:46AM

I have a HDTV Samsung that supports 1080p. I will update my PS3 tonight and will pop in tekken 5 or something like that that is really colouring and I will tell you all what I think. Hopefully it will be worth it.

WhackMushroom @ May 24th 2007 10:08AM

ok .. have a mac .. did twonkymedia .. i can see the folders for my music & videos but so far i cannot see my music files themselves .. i guess it takes a while .. but pardon the ignorance .. ps3 does not do dvix or xvid right?

Popfrogs @ May 24th 2007 10:08AM

Wawaweewa, the best firmware update since the PS2 rendering bug was fixed!

Alot of you hdtv/hdmi users may try the RGB Full option. It made a huge difference for me, blacks are black now and very, very dark. Before my PS3, even the XMB itself, was very dark grey. Now it's a true black.

This update was huge. Everything works and looks better. Hell, the PSN store is even faster.

Please note that you can change the scaler options at any time. You don't have to leave your game, the scaler can handle doing things on the fly. If you're in a movie just hit triangle and go poke in the options. If you're in a PS1/PS2 game hit the PS button and tweak away.

Stef Geiger @ May 24th 2007 10:34AM

So aside from one inane answer explaining that 480p is progressive and 1080i is interlaced (NO? REALLY?), no one seems to be able to shed any light on the issue of what happens with upscaling when you turn on progressive scan. If it does indeed turn off upscaling and just outputs 480p, that seems pretty dumb because no game that I've tried looks better upscaled from 480i to 1080i than it does at 480p. Anyone want to weigh in?

John @ May 24th 2007 10:42AM

Why would you use a DVD of a TV show to test output capabilities. Get back to us when you use an actual film that went to DVD.

faffyface @ May 24th 2007 10:49AM

Got the update, dvd upscaling looks great for me. The remote play says you have to sign in on your PSP to remote from the Internet. I have fw 3.40 on my PSP, do I have to wait for 3.50 before I can use remote play over the internet?

Tru-blu @ May 24th 2007 10:50AM

I put in GoW2 after downloading the 1.8 firmware last night, and was alternating between the different options of GAME upscaling. I'd see how the game looks if I had the upscaler set to Normal, smoother On, then Normal with smoother off and so on and so on.
Honestly guys, I need to write all my thoughts on a notepad when going through my research. Sorry, it was really late, I thought I could remember all my points but I can't.
What I do know for a fact is what others have commented on pertaining to the upscaling deactiviting upon turning on the progressive scan option in GoW2. When I have upscaling on Normal or Full Screen, and turn on Progressive within GoW2, the screen does the flickering that indicates mode changes. However on my tv (50" 1080i Toshiba) when I push the PS button the menu font will be of the large wide type that is normally seen when playing PS2 games at regular 480i/p resolution.
With upscaling on Normal or Full Screen and Progressive within the game off, pushing the PS button displays the font type with the same crispness and size of the normal 1080i display.
With DVD's, I didn't notice much of a difference. But Double Scale puts the picture within a tiny frame. I tried Die Hard from the box set and Batman Begins. Die Hard, probably not that great because the picture quality is a little grainy to begin with because of the date of the film. Batman begins was a little sharper with upscaling on.

fl @ May 24th 2007 10:54AM

HELP on the streaming feature !
I got the download and the PS3 can see my PC, but as soon as I request a screening of the music folder -or pictures or videos - it gives me a message that rights/connection settings do not allow me to access files.....

I have Windows XP with WMP 11. In WMP I chose to enable media sharing and I can see my PS3 as unknown device.... I even granted folder network sharing in Windows Explorer...

Anybody got the same problem? Solution to solve it?

Nightfire @ May 24th 2007 10:59AM

After I added the update my PS3 I looked on the menu of the cross bar and my Windows computer code showed up on the menus for media and also Windows it's self showed that it found a new media hub to start streaming to that I just need to set it up.

It was quite easy to finish the set-up I just had to enter in the settings to Windows Media Player's media sharing of what I wanted to share with the PS3 (all of my media) and now I'm streaming Depeche Mode to my PS3. I also tried playing video as well and you need to have the videos in the MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 format or MP4/AVC video as well I can guess.

And all of this works on PSP's remote play as well and I even tried streaming the PS3 from my router and it works you just need to be signed in to the PSN for this. This update makes me quite happy and makes the PS3 more like a true media hub so I don't need to use my mag sticks to transfer music, movies and photos to the PS3 anymore. I can't wait until they come out with the update that I can have my own background and my own PSN picture that comes from my pictures menu on the PS3. But this is a very good start none the less for the PS3 of getting what people wanted from the system in the first place.

gameforall @ May 24th 2007 11:29AM

fl
"I have Windows XP with WMP 11. In WMP I chose to enable media sharing and I can see my PS3 as unknown device.... I even granted folder network sharing in Windows Explorer...

Anybody got the same problem? Solution to solve it"

Check your PC Firewall Settings to see if th PS3's ip address is within the "Trusted Zone"