Sony PS3 gets new firmware adding BD-LIVE aka Profile 2.0

[FulciLives]

The official Sony "press release": CLICK HERE

Hi again everyone. Here’s a quick preview of the next PLAYSTATION 3 system software update coming up in the next few days. Firmware v2.20, introduces a number of features to further enhance your PLAYSTATION 3 as the hub of your entertainment center.

Most notably, the update enables the PS3 to support Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0, also known as BD-Live. You can connect now to the Internet while playing discs that support BD-Live to obtain additional content and special features. These features vary from disc to disc, and will keep your BD discs fresh with new content and in some cases exclusive content only accessible to owners of BD-Live enabled discs. On April 8th Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release The 6th Day and Walk Hard on Blu-ray; these titles will be among the first to take advantage of BD-Live. With this update, the PLAYSTATION 3 becomes the first Blu-ray player on the market with BD-Live functionality.

Here are some of the other new features/enhancements that will be included in Firmware v2.20:

* The ability to copy PS3 Music and Photo playlists to a PSP system. We introduced the ability to create Music and Photo playlists on the PS3 in firmware update v2.0. Now you can easily export your playlists to your PSP.

* You can now play DivX and WMV format files that are over 2 GB. In addition, you can now display subtitles when viewing DivX files.

* Resume Play - begin playing a DVD or BD disc from the point where you previously stopped it, even if you eject the disc and insert a different movie or game.

* Use your PSP as a remote control to play back your music files on your PS3 without turning on your TV.

* The Internet browser now displays some web pages faster. In addition [Save Target] has been added as an option under file. This option lets you save a file that is linked to a web page to your PS3 hard drive or storage media.

There are a few other tweaks and upgrades included in v2.20 - we’ll provide more specifics as the update is about to go live.

Next to BD-LIVE aka Profile 2.0 the next biggest news to video fans would be the support of subtitles for DivX files and the ability to play back DivX files that are in excess of 2.0GB in file size.

I am glad I bought a Sony PS3 this past December. What about you?

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
This was announced on March 20, 2008

[Rich86]

Very nice. Finally catching up to basic HD-DVD features.
Now we need these features in standalone blu-ray players for the non-gaming community if anyone wants blu-ray to actually have a chance at becoming a mainstream optical media home theater format. So keep up the development work - and drive the prices down to something palatable. 8)

[satviewer2000]

Can the PS3 play and/or stream Xvid-HD or DivX-HD files larger than 4GB? If so, I'll get the PS3, because XBox cannot read any file larger than 4GB, which makes 1/2 my HD files unplayable on my HDTV.

[misterbill]

You can connect now to the Internet while playing discs that support BD-Live to obtain additional content and special features. These features vary from disc to disc, and will keep your BD discs fresh with new content and in some cases exclusive content only accessible to owners of BD-Live enabled disc.

Do you think that somewhere along the line you will have to be connected to access and play any/all new disks? Might be the next generation of "fresh" protection and a way to sell you new players.

[racer-x]

Connecting to the internet to play your video collection sounds like a very bad idea to me. Someone can write a nasty virus that will quickly put an end to your fun............................

[fast eddie]

I have also heard with the upcoming 2.0 profile on Blu-Ray players you would NOT be able to play homemade BD-R and BD-RE disks. You would ONLY be able to play homemade BD-5 and BD-9 disks on a standalone Blu-Ray player profile 2.0.

BUT, with the almost completely removal of BD+ you should be able to play homemade BD-R and BD-RE on your future standalone Blu-Ray players profile 2.0

[FulciLives]

Well a lot of people seemed to be "bitching" that Profile 2.0 was missing from Blu-Ray players so the fact that Sony has now added this to the PS3 seemed like a big deal to me. Hence creating this thread.

Personally I think BD-Live is NOT that big of a deal but it is nice to know that the PS3 is now "future proof" in that it now has Profile 2.0 and this may spur PS3 purchases from those wanting the best in Blu-Ray now and for the future. In other words now that Profile 2.0 is here I hope to see the Blu-Ray market grow.

Why do I hope for that?

More Blu-Ray hardware and software purchases are good as it should drive down software prices. This to me is the important thing about the PS3 being Profile 2.0 capable.

- John "FulciLives" Coleman

P.S.
A Question for the "masses": Will you now buy a PS3 because it is Profile 2.0 capable?

[hudsonf]

Answer: No!

[mrswla]

P.S.
A Question for the "masses": Will you now buy a PS3 because it is Profile 2.0 capable?

No. Not until the price becomes less than $200.

[bbanderic]

A Question for the "masses": Will you now buy a PS3 because it is Profile 2.0 capable?

I already have a PS3, it's hands down one of the best electronics devices I've ever purchased, and I'm not a gamer, bought it purely for my Blu-ray/DVD up-conversion needs, well worth the purchase price .

[budz]

I'm waiting for that PS3 price to drop as well. I don't game but it would be nice to have a Blu-ray player on my Sony 40W3000 lcd tv. I've seen blu-ray discs playing in stores like BB & Sears. But I cannot justify paying $400.00 because for that amount I could built a computer.

[Rich86]

P.S. A Question for the "masses": Will you now buy a PS3 because it is Profile 2.0 capable?

No - I have no interest in a game system of any type. But bring out a reasonably priced profile 2 standalone blu-ray player, and it might find its way into my home theater cabinet near my hd-dvd player. 8)

[Ai Haibara]

I'd have to say "no" for now, too, anyway. Aside from the high price, I haven't really seen any games for the PS3 that I want to play... yet. (I should note that my sister does have one, and has a few of the 'must play' games.)

Wasn't there something about PS3 games not being region-locked, like the PS2 and PSX games were? I haven't looked at the PS3 selection in Japan yet, but if that's true, it'd be a bit more of an incentive.

[dmodert66]

Wasn't there something about PS3 games not being region-locked, like the PS2 and PSX games were? I haven't looked at the PS3 selection in Japan yet, but if that's true, it'd be a bit more of an incentive.

You are correct. PS3 games are not region locked, but PS2/PSX/DVD Playback is still region locked...

I have to agree with the above poster. The PS3 is an awesome machine. I own or have owned all of the current consoles. 360 = More/better games (partially due to the lead time it had). Wii = Fun in groups with games like Wii Sports. PS3 = OK games (so far, better ones coming), but this thing is an AV monster. It streams video/audio/pics better than my Verizon TV box. It can play most file formats off of DVD, CD, Flash Card, Mini SD and Memory stick. As mentioned, for BR, it is the first 2.0 BR player, and it makes a great upconverting DVD player as well (they just added a nice new filter to clean up DVD's even more with the recent update)...

I would recommend one to gamers and non gamers alike for the media options it presents, though as mentioned, it's still a bit pricey...

[nick101181]

Just a warning to anyone who upgraded to firmware v2.20, apparently it has a problem streaming hdtv mpeg2 files now. There are reports that lots of users who use mkv2vob, have a lot files not streaming correctly and are stuttering too much to view.

[Megahurts]

Can the PS3 play and/or stream Xvid-HD or DivX-HD files larger than 4GB? If so, I'll get the PS3, because XBox cannot read any file larger than 4GB, which makes 1/2 my HD files unplayable on my HDTV.

I can verify the new upgrade will play Divx/Xvid files larger than 4GB.