PS3 firmware version 2.10 coming tomorrow - includes DivX support
by Jem Alexander 
{ Dec 17th 2007 at 10:20AM }
The European Playstation website lists a new firmware update that will be released tomorrow. Version 2.10 is mostly a visual media-based update, with none of the listed features having any impact on gameplay. In other words, you can stop holding your breath - there's no in-game XMB here. Instead, we the arrival of two highly anticipated features. Blu-Ray profile 1.1 and DivX support will heavily increase the PS3's standing as a media hub. There's a smattering of other little additions, all of which we've listed after the break. There are also a couple of stipulations with regards to DivX - namely, that copyright protected files, v3.11 encoded videos and files larger than 2GB cannot be played.
[Via NeoGAF]
PS3 Firmware v2.10 features:
- Voice changer
The Voice Changer feature has been added to voice / video chat.
Using this feature, you can change the tone of a voice that is input from an audio device such as a microphone. High and low-pitched tones can each be adjusted to five preset levels. You can vary the tone when using voice / video chat under Friends.
- You can now select [Type 3] as an option under Settings > [Music Settings] > [Bitmapping]. This bitmapping process was developed specifically for the PS3TM system to enhance audio playback.
- DivX and VC-1 (WMV) have been added to the types of files that can be played.
- Blu-ray Disc Profile 1.1 is now supported. **
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
nikitas varsamas @ Jan 31st 2008 1:46PM
good job
Blade107 @ Feb 29th 2008 4:15PM
WMV HD Support?
Will the PS3 play a DL DVDR with a WMV Movie in it?
I mean some of the DL Discs that the X360 plays? Or will this apply to the limitation imposed on the Size -2GB maximum??
Thanks
Brian Spence @ Dec 17th 2007 10:37AM
Now we just need some profile 1.1 Blu-Ray discs to be made...
tristan88 @ Dec 17th 2007 10:33AM
divx support is perfect...except i dont really need it now that i have tversity working
Ithilis @ Dec 17th 2007 12:13PM
Ugh. The DivX support is kinda gimped. No media over 2gb, and 3.1 and earlier is not supported. Also, there's no Xvid support.
The 360 has no 2gb limit on their DivX support and also supports Xvid. They only support DivX 5.0 or later, though.
Having a large downloaded anime collection, I prefer the Xvid support.
Ithilis @ Dec 17th 2007 12:15PM
Meant to post this source: http://kotaku.com/gaming/ps3-firmware-update/ps3-divx-blu+ray-11-voice-changing-with-210-tomorrow-334706.php
Trev (Completely Normal Human Defense Force) @ Dec 17th 2007 1:01PM
@Ithilis
Do we actually know this doesn't support Xvid? The playstation.com official article was gone by the time I tried to check it. Was it specifically denied? It's my understanding that divx and xvid codecs are each capable of decoding both formats, though not with 100% compatibility with the opposing format. Xvid is little more than open-source divx after all.
The Aggie CEO @ Dec 18th 2007 9:28AM
I LOVE Tversity!!!!
its the Truth!!!
sure it doesnt play a FEW files but it plays around 90% of my videos........thats good enough for me!!
gumby @ Dec 17th 2007 10:36AM
i have no luck with tversity...ps3 picks up media player server fine but cant get nero home or tversity to work. i'm laughing about the voice changer...funny stuff.
Justin Campbell @ Dec 17th 2007 11:32AM
Wow, what I've always wanted.
The Xbox team tried this before the 360 even came out, and they threw it in the trash because it annoyed everyone. (Source: Major Nelson podcast from 2 or 3 months ago)
Denis Gryzlov @ Dec 17th 2007 10:43AM
You forgot to mention VC-1 playback, or WMV-HD in other words.
Popfrogs @ Dec 17th 2007 12:41PM
I thought VC-1 was already there. I was watching The Shining on BR last night and saw VC-1 listed as the codec when I hit select.
Wilson @ Dec 17th 2007 10:44AM
Can anyone explain why "in game XMB" is such a big deal? I really don't get it. I would think there'd be any number of improvements that we'd want Sony working on instead of this.
herk @ Dec 17th 2007 10:46AM
It's extremely difficult to communicate with friends and round them up in game. I play lots of Warhawk with friends and contacting them with regard to gaming when you can't get into the same room is virtually impossible, we usually resort to using our laptops and IRC to keep in touch.
JerJerBinks @ Dec 17th 2007 10:57AM
Have you ever received a message from a friend while you were in the middle of a game? Or perhaps an invitiation to play some muiltiplayer action that you missed out on because you have to end the game to check your messages?
Plain and simple. In-game XMB access allows in-game message access.
jose @ Dec 17th 2007 12:04PM
well its because with that feature you would be able to listen to music while playing a game also its one thing that the 360 has that the ps3 doesnt
sirblazealot @ Dec 17th 2007 1:17PM
Wilson Wilson Wilson-if you don't understand now I fear you just won't ever get it. People want to be able to do things while in a game-the main one being reading/answering messages - whilst others want the ability to play music and maybe even surf the net.....wouldn't it be cool if you were in some game and just couldn't figure something out, so you just start the browser and go and hit a website to get some info on a spot say from a walkthrough - I dunno, sure some games allow us to send and receive messages through an XMB styled friends list but it's never perfect....who knows, it's something tho that the people really want - I myself would like a universal game invite system somehow incorporated from maybe when you hit the PS button, over on the friends list a new option is available (obviously once you are in the game) that says Invite a Friend - specific game type invites and things like that, some games like COD and Rainbow just aren't efficient as they could be in that respect. On the topic of COD I have no problems accepting invites and such, but I have heard a lot of people complaining/talking about the trouble they have with that.
azian da bazian @ Dec 18th 2007 4:56PM
its a big deal because thats one of the things all those 360 fanboys r braggin about. they get in game dash with custom soundtrack. sony already has in game xmb, theyre just fixing the bugs. i dont know about custom soundtrack though. i just want it so i can shove it in my friends faces.
XDragon @ Dec 17th 2007 10:51AM
Profile 1.1 is all I care about!
Thanks Sony!
Byron517 @ Dec 17th 2007 10:55AM
Ok guys I have a questions for those that are computer savy!!
Firstly what's the deal with Blu-Ray 1.1?
Secondly DivX is apperently something big and people have been asking for it in the past, so I ask what does DivX do and how will it effect the PS3?
Thanks guys!!
lenny0487 @ Dec 17th 2007 11:06AM
Byron517, Blu-ray Profile 1.1 allows for PiP (Picture In Picture) viewing on BLu-ray movies, for example your watching the movie, while on the smaller screen the director is commenting on parts of the movie. HD-DVD has this already, these things close the gap on what HD-DVD has. expect profile 2.0 to arrive next year which will allow your Blu-ray movies to interact with the Internet, which will totally close the gap on HD-DVD. Divx is one of the most wanted codecs that people wanted on the PS3. if you ever downloaded a show off the internet (if you are a pirate god forbid) one of these shows were encoded into DivX. For example, I am very happy now that this is now compatible to the PS3. for more info about divx go to www.divx.com
Brian Spence @ Dec 17th 2007 11:23AM
I've done some quick searching around the net, anyone know what movies will take advantage of 1.1??
XDragon @ Dec 17th 2007 11:34AM
I don't think ant 1.1 discs are out as of today but a few are expected in the new year. I believe Independance Day and I, Robot will be 1.1 titles.
BEN @ Dec 17th 2007 11:01AM
Would love to have support for Mac hardware, come on Sony!
rothgar @ Dec 17th 2007 11:15AM
what kind of mac hardware are you looking for support for?
Does it work with the new BT keyboard from mac?
Ian @ Dec 17th 2007 11:38AM
Not entirely sure what you mean about Mac support... The aluminium Bluetooth wireless keyboard works fine for me.
If you mean Mac media-streaming support, that isn't Sony's area. PS3 supports DLNA v3 servers. It's up to Apple to add DLNA support to Mac OS X. In the meantime, you'll have to use a third party DLNA server such as EyeConnect, TwonkyMedia or the rumoured forthcoming ConnectPS3...
Trym @ Dec 17th 2007 11:41AM
I second that... Mac+PS3=Great combo.
Metoo @ Dec 17th 2007 11:07AM
I wonder if the PS3 will output DIVX files with AC3 sound. It will probably just output it in stereo. We'll see tomorrow.
rothgar @ Dec 17th 2007 11:17AM
I was still hoping for the ability to output stereo and optical sound at the same time. But I guess Divx is good. :)
TheEnd187 @ Dec 17th 2007 11:28AM
w00t DivX support finally, i pirate movies but everyone else seems to notice that the movies you dl are encoded using XviD and in a .AVI container, so i hope they also added AVI support as well or ima be pissed when i transfer all my movies to my ps3.
Ian @ Dec 17th 2007 11:35AM
DivX and Xvid are interchangeable - they are both "weird" formats; being a mish-mash of AVI containers typically holding MPEG-4 Part 2 video and MPEG-1 Layer 3 (MP3) audio, or occasionally AC-3. I'm not sure why DivX really took off with pirates really, considering they could have used pure MPEG-4/AVC coding instead of the Frankenstein format they did. Anyway, what's done is done and it's too late to change.
Therefore, if DivX-certified support is there - which it is - the the AVI files will work as intended. Xvid should work too as it's just an open-source reworking of DivX, itself a reworking of MPEG-4...
TheEnd187 @ Dec 17th 2007 12:34PM
Thanks for the info i thought all my damn Movies wouldn't work, and no one even uses ACTUAL DivX files except for n00bs with the DivX player on their desktop
Tim Parsons @ Dec 17th 2007 1:40PM
hmm good point,. now that i think of it my 2 yr old DivX DVD player has played every movie i've ever downloaded(alot) with the exception of like hmm None it's played ever single one(with the exception of messed up files that i couldn't even find codecs for my pc to run,. probably cuase they were fakes anyway)
so ya this should automatically mean any file a DivX player would play would now play on the PS3,. right? Hope so,
if so my kids just gained a extra Xmas gift my DVD player on my tv can now go to there room ,. and i make some room in my getting crowded TV UNIT
Zim @ Dec 17th 2007 11:39AM
Yes X-BOT fanboys would say that since its something they dont have, WOOT for DVIX.
Ian @ Dec 17th 2007 11:41AM
Erm, nice one Zim, except you do realise that the December update for 360 added DivX support (MPEG-4 Part 2 video)? It's been playing DivX for a week or two more than the PS3...
Admittedly MS didn't get certification from DivX, though I'm not sure exactly what certification you need from a file format that's a weird mash-up of standard formats (see previous post). Anyway I'm glad that both my 360 and PS3 will support DivX; particularly as my PS3 runs quieter - useful for those late nights.
Zim @ Dec 17th 2007 11:45AM
Ok I stand corrected, but wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft doesnt just buy Dvix, if the company behind em starts requesting money for licencing or something.
Skippy @ Dec 17th 2007 12:03PM
FYI, it's "DivX", not "Dvix"
Ciaran @ Dec 17th 2007 12:12PM
Voice changer... WTF. Honestly whats the point in this?
TheEnd187 @ Dec 20th 2007 12:48PM
possibly have some Scream esque chats, but wont really work since the other person has to accept ur invite
Popfrogs @ Dec 17th 2007 12:43PM
For hilarity during voice/cam chats?
Carlos the Jakal @ Dec 17th 2007 12:32PM
Sunshine, Danny Boyles movie will use Profile 1.1 with the Directors commentary being PIP. Great movie in the cinema should be amazing on B-Ray
heavenlysword @ Dec 17th 2007 12:51PM
To be honest I'm very dissapointed with the under 2gb limitation. What's up with that. Also what about xvid? I have tons of anime in xvid format.
2 questions:
1. Will they lift off that 2gb cap?
2. Will they add xvid support?
As much as I hate to say this in ps3fanboy site, but I think I'll stick with my 360 for my anime streaming needs.
Afsheen @ Dec 17th 2007 12:55PM
Still going on about in-game XMB? I though Sony said it was up to game developers to include it.
The Wall @ Dec 17th 2007 4:50PM
Finally Divx support!
Pirated Movies Are No Longer Hostage On My PC
BTW Divx and Xvid Are Interchanble Codecs so if it says divx it will play xvid also
Tim Parsons @ Dec 17th 2007 5:00PM
lol damn pirates!!!
oh wait,. my IPT account shows me having downloaded over 275GB worth and that's just one site so I guess I should just shut-up LMAO
themax @ Dec 17th 2007 1:04PM
Umm heavenly sword. Please tell me anime you are watching that is over 2gb in side? I doubt the DivX is 2gb in total, just 2GB max per file. Not even HD encoded anime is over 400MB at most times, not even 300MB, so yeah before you get all upset without fully understanding again.
heavenlysword @ Dec 17th 2007 1:33PM
No, I do understand, it's not the total but it's per movie. I do have some ovas that are over 2gb.
I just don't understand why they are doing this in the middle of a very tight competition.
Tim Parsons @ Dec 17th 2007 1:25PM
DivX support is Great no Xvid not so great, but I guess i'll just have to convert everything to DivX format that wont be a problem just time consuming,. should go great with the new 500GB USB HHD waiting for me at the Post Office, hopefully it'll be able to play files off the drive directly.
At least I have to full DivX convertor,.i never could find one that worked properly for the AVC format
ck @ Dec 17th 2007 1:31PM
Transcoding screws up the video quality. Just don't.
Tim Parsons @ Dec 17th 2007 1:29PM
Very True,. LAIR has it ,only when your in NETWORK but still it was there,.
its just a matter of Devs putting it in it's totally on there side,. SONY isn't mandating how it works like MS does with 360 ,. everyone that wants it wants a hit PS botton and get the option while game in background kinda thing,.
I personally still say it's pointless and useless to me so dont care