12:21 AM on 03.25.2008
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I guess the PlayStation.Blog wasn’t kidding when they said on March 20th that the next PS3 firmware update would be available “in the next few days”. The official announcement press release from Sony mentioned a “late March” release date, though there had been some speculation that the update would come as late as April 8th. That’s the release date for Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and The 6th Day on Blu-ray Disc, the first movies from Sony Picture Home Entertainment to feature BD-LIVE (a.k.a. Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0) interactivity. But Sony has made good on their word, as system software update 2.20 is now available for download through your PS3. In fact, I downloaded and installed the update myself around 11:30 PM EDT on March 24th. It’s a rather substantial one, though it’s pretty much completely aimed at improving the already robust media center capabilities of the console. Unlike some of the recent smaller updates, Sony has included a list of the major features of the v2.20 software revision, and it appears before you install the update. Because I love Destructoid more than mere words can articulate, I copied the full text off my TV; check it out after the jump, in addition to some of the less notable features that Sony has previously mentioned in their press release and on the PlayStation.Blog. We’ll bring you any official word from Sony when it comes (the PlayStation.Blog post mentioned some other features that we haven’t yet been notified of). Alright, now I’m going to go back to watching the 4.2-gigabyte 720p HD DVD rip of Serenity that I not-torrented a while back. With this update, the PS3 now recognizes the full file (instead of just the first 2 GB), and it is beautiful. System software updates make me feel like a leaf on the wind... Main Features Revised in System Software Version 2.20 (text from update) - Playlists that were created in [Music] and [Photo] can now be copied along with the content they contain to a PSP™ system. You can play the content on the PSP™ system in the order that was set on the PS3™ system.
- BD Profile 2.0 is now supported. With BDs that support BD-LIVE*, you can access Internet content for the BD.
*BD-LIVE is a trademark of the Blu-ray Disc Association. - Resume play* can now be used on a BD or DVD even if the PS3™ system has been turned off or the disc has been ejected. However, there are some discs on which resume play cannot be used.
*A feature for starting playback from the scene where the video was stopped previously. - DivX content that exceeds 2 GB can now be played. Also, subtitles can now be displayed for DivX content.
Other features previously announced by Sony - “Audio Output Device” will be a new Remote Play setting, enabling PSP to serve as a remote control for music played through 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.
- PS3 system'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.
- “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.
 MORE IN OUR Sony SECTION
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133 comments + 163700 views
Nice
is the rebus writing supposed to be up and running?
So, it's mostly stuff for the Bly-ray player. Hmph.
Remembering where the movie was after it was ejected is pretty fucking wild.
*Blu.
Wow.
I think I'm the only one excited by the internet browser update.
@thisissami: Er...no. Try again.
how did you go about getting said video file onto said ps3? call me a n00b but i couldn't figure it out.
@spacecadetjoe: I didn’t. I’m streaming it through my router :)
@spacecadetjoe
Probably by networking the PS3 with whatever computer the file was on and just copying it over. Just put everything on the same network.
@Samit
Yeah, that's what I meant, sort of.
So, what did 2.00 do?
I think I might have missed it.
So when did they say they were going to the in-game XMB update?
Scratch that, I'm an idiot. I'm running 2.17.
@liquidninja
My guess is the same time Home hits.
Still waiting for in game XMB.
PS. Rainbow Six Vegas 2 has it for the PS3.
YAY IN GAME CROSS M- oh some bluray online thing you say?
I know it probably makes me a prude but I hate how casual people are about stealing movies.
@ArrestedDeveloper:
I feel the same way. I think I'm one of the only people who doesn't download music or anything. I'd just rather actually "own" something.
Actually, the first movie to feature BD Live was released in January. Saw IV has some online features which were put on the disc despite there not even being a BD Live-capable player at the time.
;)
Someone make a video showing these newfangled live menus i hear about. I don't quite get what the big deal is? So it's menus that have animations between selections?
okay now why would people even make another Bluray player, obviously you have to stupid or crazy to buy anything else as a bluray player!!!
I don't buy Blu-rays because I don't have an HDTV + I can get them cheaper on normal DVD, but all firmware updates are welcomed, so Thanks Sony.
Unless it's going to brick my PS3. Then it can Piss off.
More time downloading, less time playing.
@MishoM: Right you are! Fixed.
@Video_Cognito: Me too. I only not-torrented Serenity because it’s not out on Blu-ray, and I wanted to see what it looked like in HD. In fact, for proof that I like to own things, see here. I also still buy CDs, unlike many people that I know.
@TheToiletDuck: No, BD-Live isn’t about animated menus (many DVDs have those); it’s about increased interactivity, especially with the internet. Check out the press release in Nick’s original post on the v2.20 update announcement for more information on what Blu-ray Profile 2.0 brings to the table.
Well, I suppose it's something. It is kind of nice that the PS3 updates more often than a spring or fall update like the 360 does.
@Samit:
Brick AND Freaks and Geeks? You sir, are awesome.
In any event, restarting DVDS/BD will be the greatest move ever. Many an electric bill were high due to keeping the PS3 on whilst napping in between episodes of Scrubs and Heroes. I like what's happening to my PS3. My soulmate. <3
Somebody wake me up when my PS3 plays .mkv-files, please?
Thanks!
"Alright, now I’m going to go back to watching the 4.2-gigabyte 720p HD DVD rip of Serenity that I not-torrented a while back."
You make Joss Whedon cry, bastard.
4.2GB HD-DVD rip = too much compression. Nice to see that Blu-Ray is finally getting some of the features of HD-DVD; shame that the PS3 is the only player you can upgrade. Also, careful that you don't get not sued.
DivX content that exceeds 2 GB can now be played. Also, subtitles can now be displayed for DivX content.
Holy f*ck... I'm almost in heaven. If only it could play unbox wmv files like the 360, then I would only have to turn on my 360 when I want to watch something I recorded on my computer (which is almost never).
Dammit...I thought you were saying that the PSN has changed into something comparable to Live...Xbox Live. I got all excited but....yeah this is cool too...once more movies come out that take advantage of the new profile.
I dunno but I have a good feeling about the PS3 this year. Heck, I haven't really touched my 360 in months thanks to the Wii actually putting games out I like and the PS3 getting enough games that are time consuming. Microsoft, when are ya gonna make Xbox Live free and quit charging me to shop?
I think you have it backwards. As soon as Sony's network is worth a damn, you can bet your ass they'll start charging for it. Microsoft isn't going to give up tens of millions of dollars in revenue per year by making Live free, and Sony isn't going to pass up a golden opportunity and not charge for something they could be.
Any talk on whether Sony will charge for their online capabilities or not in the future is just speculation at the moment. I say we just wait and see rather than making more rampant tirades against the possibilities. Similar rampant tirades against the possibilities of Blu-ray kind of fell through after all.
the feature of remembering where to pick up the playback on dvd's is a feature on some dvd players (some? don't know the number). I know my dvd player will remember the last 5 played dvd's and pick up where I left off, but know with blu ray, this is fricken sweet
@geesus
MKV files are a packed file. The PS3 has no way to discern the multiple audio and subtitle tracks in an MKV file. If it bothers you that much, grab a copy of Handbrake and re-encode the shit. I did and they work just fine.
@arrested
Don't give us guilt over downloaded movies. Studios have some retard mentality to their release schedule. I ALREADY HAVE MOVIES IN HD THAT ARE NOT ON BLU RAY. If they were more on the ball about this sort of thing, I could go legally purchase my own copy of... Star Wars or Lord of the Rings on Blu Ray. But they're not. Nope, instead they want to act like a pompous ass about the whole affair and act PUT OUT by releasing their movies onto a new format. So, fuck 'em. I'll buy 'em when they come out, but for now, I'll take what's out there.
@Harrassment Panda
Eh, it varys from encoder to encoder. I've got some stellar looking stuff that's been ripped that looks damn nice. You also have to remember that those audio tracks were taking up a GB or two of space, so realistically, the movie wasn't taking up more than 15-20 GB, and a 5X compression on a 1080p source down to a 720p source isn't even a 5X compression at that point. It's a down rezzed resampling. A 20 GB 1080p picture might end up only being 12 GB at 720p. From there a 5GB transfer isn't all that horrible, honestly. Besides, no one's paying for that at that point.
Not that anyone probably cares too much, but the upgrade also means that you can stream VOB rips over 2GB over your network.
Before if you ripped a movie to your PC hard drive and tried to stream the VOB to the PS3, it would only let you watch the first 42 minutes or so. But it works fine for me now. Just in case you hate compression.
New firmware updates are always welcome. Starting playback from where you left off on a blu-ray disk is a very welcome addition, I was always annoyed with that as my previous dvd player did it and it was like 4 years old or more.
Oh a big firmware update to do what HD-DVD could do from the box? Sony, you really rock. Not.
I'm still a little pissy at my PS3. It doesn't play every song I have in my collection, or all my divx files. It's very fussy. I'm only keeping it around for Blu-Ray [and maybe home], but if Blu-Ray dies, I think my PS3 will get the boot.
nice update for the PS3-owners :-)
Looking good
@Samit Sarkar
Have any good tips/links on where and what to do so you can stream videos off your computer?
This is a bonus as I bought the computer to hdmi cable but this method yields sound coming from my TV. Since my PS3 has sound via optical I can watch the movies with my stereo...yay.
its not to bad.there is a new option in the browser that says save target. i can't download my ninjathat site divx files anymore and it goes to a buffering screen that never plays the video. this sucks
This all sounds pretty cool, but I've never been able to network my PS3 to my computer, my 360 is linked to it, but for some reason I can't link my PS3 to it.... :(