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.
Samit Sarkar is a founding Destructoid editor and go-to Sports guy. Samit was the son of the Duke of Knees, rescued from a burning village in the afghan desert by a golden condor. He is an ace Backgammon player and lost both legs in a whaling tour. He lives for free in a nursery in Scotland where he teaches monks how to capture butterflies without hurting them.
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Contest:
12:21 AM on 03.25.2008
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Remembering where the movie was after it was ejected is pretty fucking wild.
Wow.
Probably by networking the PS3 with whatever computer the file was on and just copying it over. Just put everything on the same network.
Yeah, that's what I meant, sort of.
I think I might have missed it.
My guess is the same time Home hits.
PS. Rainbow Six Vegas 2 has it for the PS3.
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.
;)
Unless it's going to brick my PS3. Then it can Piss off.
@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.
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
Thanks!
You make Joss Whedon cry, bastard.
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).
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.
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.
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.
@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.