PS3 goes BD-Live in upcoming firmware update
by Jem Alexander 
{ Mar 20th 2008 at 6:40AM }
- "Resume play" will enable PS3 to start playing a BD and DVD video at the point it was stopped, even if the disc had been removed. (BD-J format discs are not supported)
- "Audio Output Device" will be a new Remote Play setting, enabling PSP to serve as a remote control for music played through PS3.
- PS3's Internet browser will be enhanced: Video files directly linked from a Web page will be able to be streamed, and the browser's view speed will be improved.
- DivX and WMV format videos that are larger than 2GB will be playable.
- "Mosquito Noise Reduction" will be added as an AV setting in the control panel of the DVD/BD player for improved movie playback. (BD discs recorded with BDMV format are not supported)
[Via press release]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Nicholas Campbell @ Mar 20th 2008 6:45AM
Sounds like they are preparing you for the fact YET another firmware update is coming out with out in game XMB
Matthew M @ Mar 20th 2008 7:34AM
The In-Game XMB is coming this summer in 2.4; as Sony said.
Tim Parsons @ Mar 20th 2008 8:12AM
who cares ,. only thing I want In-Game is GAME!
adolson @ Mar 20th 2008 9:27AM
Hey, at least every firmware released brings us one step closer... 2.17 -> 2.20 -> ??? -> In-game XMB -> Profit!
Imbro @ Mar 20th 2008 10:05AM
Imho this sounds like much cooler upgrade then any in-game-xmb feature.
Jason @ Mar 20th 2008 10:28AM
Here, here Tim! Thats exactly what I've been saying form the beginning. I don't pop in a video game just to text chat with people, I wanna play.
Vcize @ Mar 20th 2008 3:16PM
Tim/Jason, you could not be missing the point more badly.
The point in xmb IS to game. It's to make it 1000x easier to get into those games with your friends, and know when they're playing them, ask them if they want to play something else, etc.
Trust me, if you have any friends at all, when it gets here you won't know how you ever lived without it.
chillski @ Mar 20th 2008 8:15AM
I like how they arent forgetting the fact that the ps3 is a multimedia device... and it'd be nice if i can accutally use the ps3 as an internet browser, for a change !!
but WHAT i'd really like to see something improve the functionality of GAMING !!! this is the reason why everyone is bitching about ingame xmb... sony has done all these firmware updates but almost none of it has anything to do with making the system more functional for gaming...
all of us people who went out and plucked down 600 bucks for a ps3 over a year ago didnt do it for bluray or multimedia purpose they plain and simple did it to have some fun on the ps3!!!
so sony give us something fun thro a firmware update.... movies and music for psn, or in game xmb, or even some more visualazations for my music would be nice (even if i had to pay for some)
thinkofmeasmra @ Mar 20th 2008 11:42AM
Hey that reminds me....you know update 2.17 we just got?? I think it added new visualizations to the music player.... theres a Lunar one now..... and everytime u come back to that visualization its new...sometimes its a lunar eclipse in space, sometimes its flying a few miles above the atmosphere of a planet....its some truely beautiful shit man...I caant wait to see it in HD
The Aggie CEO @ Mar 20th 2008 11:20AM
actually since there where few games out last year thats why I got mine, for media use, I've got 60 Blu-ray movies and like 25 games........I'd say that I'll have 300+ BD movies by the end of the year and around 50-100 games.........
sure I want in game xmb and the abilty to make custom soundtracks for games i.e. WWE Raw vs Smackdown 2008....but I know they wont release a patch for that so I'll just wait.......
I know games are coming so right now Media features are more important
Josh @ Mar 20th 2008 7:12AM
Shut the hell up Nicholas, come back when you've got a point to make that hasn't been made before. They're working on it, it'll come when it's ready, get over it.
On topic: Nice tidy little update there, it's good to see the PS3 growing. Also, on the PSBlog they mention that they still have other bits to announce for this firmware.
SSG @ Mar 20th 2008 1:44PM
i just got 5 free blu ray movies for my 60 gig ps3 that i bought in january of 2007. i am surprised they accepted the rebate
Taz @ Mar 20th 2008 7:12AM
I'll just hope that DTS HD MA gets supported as well.
Brad @ Mar 22nd 2008 12:48AM
Me too. DTS MA absolutely has to be added to the PS3 if it is going to remain a premiere Blu-Ray player.
In addition, I think that bitstream output for the HD codecs is also a must. DSD output for SACD's would be great, too (and is easily possible across even HDMI 1.2, so should be possible on PS3 even with it's supposed sub-HDMI 1.3 chip).
ChodalBerryWagon @ Mar 20th 2008 7:13AM
5 bucks says they'll release Home and in-game XMB in firmware 3.0 in, probably...... May? Or maybe even with the new store redesign in April, but that would put 3 firmware updates very close together (one last week, one soon, one in april)
Espiox @ Mar 20th 2008 7:48AM
No, it's WAY too early for 3.0 (not happening until at least xmas). They already let it slip that it's coming in 2.4 anyway.
thinkofmeasmra @ Mar 20th 2008 9:24AM
illl take that bet.....you lose....wheres my 5 dollas??
ClarkyCat @ Mar 20th 2008 7:26AM
I'm actually quite interested in the Audio Output feature for the PSP. At the moment I only have the speakers on my TV, no 5.1 surround system or anything even near to it. So having the audio on the PSP with my headphones (which do a great job of virtually recreating multiple channels) would be ideal. Seeing as Remote Play is pretty much useless for games/videos, at least for me, this seems like an ideal way to put it to work.
Dahk @ Mar 20th 2008 9:18AM
Yeah! I was gonna comment on the same thing.
That's actually pretty awesome. I just hope the streaming audio is good and right on cue lol. It'd kinda suck if you watch someone scream without noise.... AND THEN you hear it ahah.
Impressive list! I'm satisfied by these Blu-Ray options. I might actually start buying Blu-Ray Discs for online content. Since... 1080i upscaled DVDs... are no different to me on a 42" lol.
ClarkyCat @ Mar 20th 2008 9:25AM
I agree, but I don't think the audio synching will be an issue. At least, I hope not! Because over the internet, even when remote play is going painfully slow just browsing the menus it manages to stream the music I have on the PS3 or even on the PC without a stutter or stop for buffering. So I'm guessing using it locally will be just as good, if not better. I know PS3 audio isn't exactly a 128kbps MP3, but hey.
Brad @ Mar 22nd 2008 12:47AM
You've got it wrong. PSP Remote Play already has the feature you are talking about. You can already use Remote Play to listen to PS3 music through your PSP speakers or headphones.
The NEW feature is that you can now use your PSP to control the PS3, and have the audio come out of the PS3 (i.e. attached stereo system). This allows you to turn on the PS3 and start listening to music without having to turn on your TV - you use the screen on the PSP to navigate instead.
Demis @ Mar 20th 2008 7:41AM
DivX and WMV format videos that are larger than 2GB will be playable.
Finally those HD-WMV files included in some DVD sets (like Terminator) will be playable !!!!
Christian @ Mar 20th 2008 7:52AM
With the nice design of the PS3 and cheap price I do not understand why anyone would bother with a standalone Blu-Ray player. Even if I never played games I would still think the PS3 the best looking and most future proof player.
The only reason I can see for Sony not doing huge media campaigns urging a new convergent future stronger is due to fear of alienating other blu-ray manufacturers and maybe even their own CE division.
GamerGuyX @ Mar 20th 2008 10:51AM
Except for of course one major problem, the PS3 doesn't decode DTS-HD Master Audio.
Tim Parsons @ Mar 20th 2008 8:15AM
This is gonna be a sweet update
soul899er @ Mar 20th 2008 6:20PM
yup >_< especially the browser, its what i always use to comment on this site and almost everything else
wonway01 @ Mar 20th 2008 8:43AM
Very nice media update I must say.
GRT @ Mar 20th 2008 11:40AM
"With the nice design of the PS3 and cheap price I do not understand why anyone would bother with a standalone Blu-Ray player. Even if I never played games I would still think the PS3 the best looking and most future proof player."
I don't understand this either. I still see people saying they'll buy a stand-alone vs a PS3 because "they don't need a game console". So just don't play games on it! You still have a great blu-ray player and media extender. People are weird.
"all of us people who went out and plucked down 600 bucks for a ps3 over a year ago didnt do it for bluray or multimedia purpose"
Speak for yourself. I absolutely bought my PS3 to use as a Blu-Ray player first and a gaming device 3rd (with media extender as #2).
This update will help to shut up the HD DVD fanboys who are always going on about the "extra features" in HD DVD that no Blu-Ray players supported. Well now the PS3 will.
And for me and mine, the Resume Play is pretty big. We watch a lot of TV shows on disk and its a pain to have to watch the 'intro' stuff when you put the disk in to watch the 2nd, 3rd or 4th episode on that disk. Now it'll pick up where we left off.
BTW the Playstation blog say the update is due to release "in the next few days."
slickrich05 @ Mar 20th 2008 9:16AM
@ chillski
you are right man all that media stuff is cool, but i got my ps3 to play games all that other stuff is secondary, it seems that sony doesn't see the big picture COMMUNITY and I'm sorry but home does not do anything for me, OH that right they will have bubble machines I'm so excited now
emaxximus @ Mar 20th 2008 9:23AM
What does "browsers view speed will be improved" mean?
LoCuSt @ Mar 20th 2008 9:35AM
I don't know what everyone was complaining about; this is a nice update. Anytime there is a possibility for extra features in my movies, I'm down with it.
Tony @ Mar 20th 2008 9:52AM
Where is the DTS MA HD support!! I have so many Blurays with DTS MA HD 7.1...and the PS3 still extracts the DTS core at 5.1...grrr!!!
If your DVDs look the same as Blu-ray on a 42" screen, then your TV just plain sucks...
Submish @ Mar 20th 2008 10:01AM
If you guys haven't figured it out yet, whenever the blog says in a few days on firmware, it comes out the same night. The update will go live tonight peoples!!
astravian @ Mar 20th 2008 10:50AM
It's refreshing to know that for once I own a piece of technology that did not become obsolete the day after I bought it. In fact, it's just the opposite.
Slaytan @ Mar 20th 2008 11:16PM
Ya, I bought an ENTERTAINMENT system; not just a gaming console. PS3 is doing a heck of a job playing all my media, keeping me in touch with friends, and letting me play awesome games. Dunno what you're complaining about.
Vohaul79 @ Mar 20th 2008 11:55AM
Sure, great update, however you morons saying that this is better than in game text / voice have obviously not been playing online..
Using bluetooth headsets with me and my buddies cell phones has provided a better way of online communication than Sony's.
They wont get past the XBL stigma until they fix their (very) lacking online infastructure.
Feel free to call me a whiney bitch but its a glaring issue.
thinkofmeasmra @ Mar 20th 2008 1:11PM
You whiney bitch.....
lol no I know what your sayin though...I just dont think its AS big a deal as some of you make it out to be. I mean I can talk 2 my friends via my ps3 on my bluetooth headset in-game...so whats the problem? It sounds fine in everygame i tried it in too (warhawk was the only one that made people sound weird like T-Pain lol)
Aside from that, Ya its annoying that you cant respond to people in-game, but you know what? The only people you really care about playing with that much are usually your friends in real life so you can just call em. Like really, is it really that big an issue if you to msg back people you dont know in real life so you can play video games with em?? No, save that shit for when Home comes out.... till then be patient and let em flesh it out properly...we dont want them rushing to get it out and then the feature is just lacking n shit.
Anyways, point is, on the grand scheme of things, being able to voicechat/text your friends in-game is one of those things you can survive without (I mean you know its comming soon) unless your pasty cuz your skin hasnt seen daylight since the day you got your ps3.
JayD-1K @ Mar 20th 2008 1:45PM
RB6V lets you respond to messages in game!
had a buddy playing it and he responded to a few of question about the game. it wasn't until the about the third question when i noticed he never left the game! and i had to as him how he did it. he told me that the game allows it!
Vohaul79 @ Mar 20th 2008 2:29PM
Tiger Woods 08 / Army of Two are both games that had extremely poor voice chat quality. More or less unusable.
Both forced cell phone use...good thing we are both ATT customers or our phone bill would have trumped an 360 live subscription fee in 2 sittings..
Both me and the friend playing are both using Cat5 hard wired ethernet setups with 0 errors coming from the router for gaming / streaming...Both running cable 5mbps internet connections as well...
Using a cell phone for online gaming communication is BS no matter how you look at it.
Seems to be in the devs hands till sony owns up to it...Burnout paradise worked wonderfully for online and had decent voice sound quality.
Marc @ Mar 24th 2008 3:56PM
I want sequential order playback for my video files,
they put it on the PSP, why not the PS3?
sracer @ Mar 20th 2008 12:43PM
I hope that the browser update is sufficient enough to support hulu.com.
Jay @ Mar 20th 2008 12:49PM
Still no PSN update........are SCEA/SCEE too busy with the firmware stuff (i.e. is it coming today)?
whoelse @ Mar 20th 2008 1:15PM
This should sell a lot of PS3s! And keep BD-Live in the heads of the people who are choosing what console to buy for GTA IV.
dave @ Mar 20th 2008 1:25PM
Taking the news on "audio output" literally, does this then mean I can control the music I have playing from (stored and/or streaming) my PS3 through my receiver using the PSP, so I can keep my tv off? Because THAT would be lovely.
Popfrogs @ Mar 20th 2008 1:56PM
Yep, that's exactly what they said on the blog, this lets you redirect audio to the PS3 instead of broadcasting it to the PSP so you can leave your TV off.
Organic_Shadow @ Mar 20th 2008 2:50PM
My PS3 has always resumed DVD/BD/video files from where I left off, even if removed...
They must have broken it in a previous firmware and have to put it back in?
skech775 @ Mar 20th 2008 4:23PM
ddoes anyone know if you can transfer WMV files ect from PS3 to to other devices such as cell phones, memory cards ect via usb connection, once they get this firmware upgrade up and running?
rogXue @ Mar 20th 2008 4:58PM
Anyone know what movies are out now that support Blu 2.0?
Quadrant @ Mar 20th 2008 5:44PM
DSD Audio streaming please Sony!!!!!
Binaryfiend @ Mar 20th 2008 11:02PM
Sony: Here you go, a free bar of gold.
PSfanboy: Um does it come in blue?
Sony: Uh no, it's gold but if you'd like here is a diamond.
PSfanboy: Those are too heavy. Can I have some rubies, diamonds and some gold. NOW!?
Sony: Just take your damn gift already.