Sony pledges Blu-ray Profile 2.0 PS3 update this month
BD Live online content links coming to console
Updated Sony has announced a PlayStation 3 firmware update that will bring support for the Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0's BD Live online interaction technology to the games console.
The update, due later this month, will take the PS3's firmware to version 2.20, Sony said. BD Live mandates an internet connection and 1GB of local storage for cached data. While some Blu-ray Disc players lack both of these, they're both ready to go on the PS3.
BD Live enables disc makers to embed links to downloadable content that can be accessed directly from within the disc's own user interface. It also makes online gaming possible, adding network awareness to the format's existing interactivity features.
The new firmware will allow certain discs to be stopped and playback resumed from that point at a later date. Sony said the feature doesn't apply to discs that use BD Java, the Blu-ray format's interactivity technology, which rules out almost all the format's major releases and upcoming titles. BD-J is used to deliver fancy "enhanced menus" and picture-in-picture playback.
BD-J is a cornerstone of Blu-ray Profile 1.1, which the PS3 has supported for a while now.
The console will get a new noise-reduction feature - "Mosquito Noise Reduction" - that will work with standard-definition content on DVDs and BDs.
Sony said the firmware update will also allow a PSP to act as a remote speaker for the games console and to act as a remote control for the bigger machine. The new software will let PS3 music and photo playlists to be transferred to a PSP.
The PS3's browsing experience will be improved with the update, particularly video viewing, Sony said, and the console will get the ability to view DivX and WMV video files larger than 2GB in size.
Update
Sony's official PlayStation blog says the update will appear "in the next few days". Thanks to reader Tony Chandler for the tip.
COMMENTS
Where have you been?
"Sometimes, just sometimes, I wonder about getting fake versions of my DVDs so I don't have to sit through stupid frickin copyright notices!"
Just rip them and burn them to blank DVD's. It's not exactly difficult to do and for many single layer movies oyu can do it both cheaply and losslessly. Hey presto movie only with nothing else to clutter it up! Coat because when you buy it you 'should' be allowed to make a backup copies legally.
Copyright warnings?
Every DVD I've seen with these is an original - the ones without are copies.
Sometimes, just sometimes, I wonder about getting fake versions of my DVDs so I don't have to sit through stupid frickin copyright notices!
@Lars Janssen
My PS3 boots and plays the movie in about 15 seconds. By far the fastest player on the market.
There is a setting that allows Autoplay on the PS3, you pop the movie in, and it plays. It's in the System Settings.
P.S Firmware 2.20 with BDLive, is now Live...
Still waiting for the killer feature...
When can we expect to get the most impressive feature of all... the ability to pop in a disc and play the movie instantly. No copyright warnings or annoying menus (press the menu button when you actually want them), just the actual thing we're buying the disc for in the first place!
I was shocked to see What Hi-fi magazing quoting Blu-Ray movie loadings times in the 2-4 minute region... what on Earth is the player doing?
bravia theatre sync?
i'm also hoping the the theatre sync feature will be made available to the ps3 soon - if not in this next update then the one after?
having a sony telly, stereo and ps3, it'd be nice to have them all fully linked and talking to each other
