New PS3 firmware adds BD-Live, expands DivX support
| Date Posted | Author |
|---|---|
| 26th March 2008 | Matt Bailey |
A new PS3 firmware was unleashed upon owners of the Sony console this morning - at least for those who've booted up and tried logging on to the PSN, anyway. For your trouble, you get shiny new BluRay Disc 2.0 spec to enjoy, featuring "BD-Live" support, which is where your BDs provide you with new network features such as online games, extra scenes, new trailers, chat rooms, and even sending buying ringtones related to the film. Oh dear.
Aside from this, the update includes some new PS3 features, in particular the expanded DivX and WMV support. Both can now be played even if the file size is larger than 2GB, while DivX files with subtitles are also now supported. Those with PSPs as well gain a couple of features; firstly music and photo playlists (and the media they contain) can now be copied over from the console to the handheld, which is useful for those using their PS3 as a media storage device. Secondly, you can now get the PS3 to output the audio while you're using the Remote Play feature, allowing you to use your PSP as a remote to set up music playing through the audio setup plugged into your PS3.
Another useful addition is the Resume Play feature for DVDs and BDs, which is something that should have been there ages ago. Now when you stop watching, and even when you've previously removed the disc, you can resume watching from where you were in the film when you next start it up. There's also some improvements to video streaming in the browser, and a noise reduction setting option.
While it may not sport the in-game XMB we're all looking for (and are promised in version 2.4 coming later this year), it's not a bad update, and can be grabbed now for free via the Network Update option on the PS3's CrossMediaBar.
