PS3 firmware with BD-Live support now available
The world's first 2.0-compatible Blu-ray player.
(Credit: CNET)The PlayStation 3 is the first Blu-ray player to support BD-Live functionality, thanks to a firmware update available today. Officially announced just last week, the update (version 2.20) was released right on schedule, and is now available as a free download to PS3 owners directly through the console's onscreen interface. Once installed, it allows the PS3's to access Internet-connected BD-Live content available on some discs. The list of compatible discs is currently minimal--just War and Saw IV available now, plus The Sixth Day and Walk Hard following on April 8--and the first round of BD-Live content doesn't seem to be very diverting. But as the list of supporting titles grows--and, ideally, the BD-Live content becomes more compelling--look for players that don't support Profile 2.0 compatibility to be confined to the clearance shelves. The PS3 remains the best bet for Blu-ray shoppers, even if they have no interest in using its gaming capabilities.
In addition to adding BD-Live support, the firmware upgrade includes a few other PS3 fixes and enhancements, including better DivX support and PSP integration. However, despite widespread rumors to the contrary, the update did not include the ability to copy portable versions of Blu-ray movies to the PSP. Audiophiles are also still holding out for an update that would add DTS-HD Master Audio decoding to the PS3, although Sony has not announced any plans to include that functionality.
So, what do you think, PS3 owners? Excited about the latest upgrade? Happy to be owning the best Blu-ray player out there? Or do you still want more? And for those who haven't yet taken the Blu-ray plunge: does this upgrade make the PS3 a more compelling purchase? Share your thoughts below.
John P. Falcone covers home theater and network entertainment products. He's been writing for CNET since 2002. 
what's stopping me from purchasing it now is the price. It needs to come down
at leas another $100 before I'll buy it.
movies look great. Playing games is a lot of fun. Software updates are being
released regularily... Even if I didn't play games, I would still get a PS3 as my
Blu-ray player. A PS3 is just very easy to update.
Now what about that says "best gaming" system?
Its the device that just keeps on giving!
Sony has a good product, but they've really been disappointing in the details.
I know a few PS3 owners who only use the thing for movies and don't even bother with the games. Sony should thank it's lucky stars they included Blu Ray or it would be an expensive brick.
I am waiting on the standalone players which IMO will have more advanced video decoding chip sets in them. That should provide better video quality then capable on the PS3. Until then I will wait versus buying a PS3 which would be bulky addition to my home theater wall unit.
#2, I think you're letting your 360 fanboyism keep you from the best BD player around. Have you seen the video output from the PS3? I'd like to know how you're going to get better video quality. Are you watching movies on a 200" screen? I'm guessing you have a 27" 480i.
?Few 'must have' titles?/?less exclusives then 360?: That?s because the 360 had a one-year head-start. By the end of the year, it?ll have Metal Gear Solid 4, Killzone 2, LittleBigPlanet, inFamous, SOCOM: Confrontation, Haze, Unreal Tournament 3, the new Final Fantasy, Gran Turismo 5, White Knight Chronicles, and Yakuza 3. It already has MotorStorm, Resistance, Heavenly Sword, Ratchet & Clank Future, Uncharted, and Warhawk.
?same quality graphics?: Maybe at first, but not once developers get used to the PS3. Look at the difference between early and later PS2 games?
?inferior online community?: I?d actually contend that the PS3?s online capabilities are better than the 360?s. It supports more players, has fewer noobs, and you don?t have to pay $400 for it over the life of the console. And that?s not even mentioning Home, Live?s constant outages, or the fact that the 360 doesn?t even have Wi-Fi?
?standalone [Blu Ray] players? will have more advanced video decoding chip sets in them? (sic): It?s digital? There are no quality differences between players, except when you consider extra features like BD-Live. And in that case, the PS3 is the only Blu-ray player that adds so many new features via simple firmware updates.
One other major flaw is no IR port. I want to use my Harmony 880 remote to control everything in my system. I know there are work-arounds, but come on Sony. This should not be an issue in the year 2008.
I think for now, this is encouraging, but I'm still gonna hold off on getting one until that sound issue is resolved.
As for Steeldogs comment, the ps3 has been catching and surpassing its lesser rival, the 360, for some months now. I enjoy the FREE online that Sony is providing with games such as F1 racing and cod 4 (of which about 3 million people are playing on the ps3 online alone). No it's not as well thought out as xbox live, but I'm not dropping $50 a year or more for Sony's FREE service (did I mention it's FREE M$). And with gt5, metal gear solid, haze, killzone, uncharted, jak and daxter, ratchet and clank and a host of other exclusives here or coming, as well as all the cross-platform titles the ps3 has, I think the ps3 has the legs to go the distance and beat the 360.
And by the way, I do have both, and the 360 is collecting dust with it's lack of interesting games. Sure it has a lot, but a lot is just crap.
DLC = DownLoadable Content
Most interesting line in this article: "...look for players that don't support Profile 2.0 compatibility to be confined to the clearance shelves." Oh, really? I'll make a counter-prediction that it won't happen anytime soon. Most people are waiting for bargain Blu-ray players to appear before jumping on the bandwagon. And if you give away the 1.0 machines to the masses, there will be few takers for the 2.0... especially when they find out 2.0 adds more cost than content to the Blu-ray experience.
- Just give me a 1-touch on/off button, please!
- by dfichtner March 26, 2008 6:24 AM PDT
- Sony sells this thing for several hundred dollars, and even if we pay another $25 for their bluetooth remote, there STILL in no power on/off button that I can push just once to turn it on or turn it off. Just how hard would it be to program this feature into one of the other buttons? Perhaps holding down the PS button for 3 seconds to turn on or off? And i'm sick of bumping just about any key on the PS3 remote and it turning on, then having to hunt menus and follow a list of key commands just to turn it off.
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- by PS3_salesman April 4, 2008 9:41 AM PDT
- Touching and holding the power button on the PS3 will turn it off. Hold for about three seconds and it goes into shutdown mode. Or touch it once to turn on.
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Showing 1 of 2 pages (47 Comments)Bad Sony, very bad. Obviously you've encorporated this feature to keep the things on longer. I wonder if anyone has done any energy efficiency studies into this problem.