Blu-ray discs to offer portable movies for PSP

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Jan 8th 2008 at 11:00AM }

As tempting as it may be to drag your PlayStation 3 and 50" HDTV along on your next road trip, Sony would like you to consider a slightly more convenient and decidedly less dangerous option for watching movies on the go. In a CES demonstration of the BD Live standard (encapsulated in the upcoming Blu-Ray Profile 2.0), supported Blu-ray discs were shown to offer portable versions of the included movies for download to a Memory Stick or PlayStation Portable. Pop the disc into your PlayStation 3, connect a PSP and watch the smaller movie on your smaller screen (sans UMD).

If you're looking to take advantage of this feature in the foreseeable future, it might be wise to start saving up for one of those fancy 16GB Memory Sticks.

[Via PSP Fanboy]

Tags: Blu-ray, CES-2008, Memory-Stick, Movies, UMD

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Shape @ Jan 8th 2008 11:06AM

Not as good as managed copy. :( Sucks that HD-DVD is dying a quick death.

FrankTheCrank @ Jan 8th 2008 11:35AM

Sayonara HD-DVD...I'm going to slide you right next to my stack of VHS, Laserdisc and DVD's.

Bluray to PSP....sweet. Time to pick up a PSP lite. $169 is a great price for that sweet looking screen.

Shape @ Jan 8th 2008 11:44AM

If they let you copy that mini-video to any device, and not just their proprietary one, I'd be more excited about this.

As it is, though, tying features on a supposedly open video distribution format to just one company's devices is incredibly lame. Tons of people have other, perfectly capable (better, in fact, than the PSP), and DRM-equipped portable video playback devices. And yet this crap only works if you buy not one, but TWO Sony devices. There's a great scam for you. And it will only work on certain movies. Sony movies, most likely.

This is why mandatory managed copy was a much better idea. If I have a PC with a Blu-Ray drive, why not let the PC re-encode the video into a DRM-equipped format that will work with any video playback device?

With the limitations that Sony is coming up with, that is basically what is going to happen, anyway, I suppose. Their DRM has already been defeated.

mr nimblewick @ Jan 8th 2008 11:47AM

It's funny how invested I was in HD-DVD winning when I don't care about HD at all.

samfish @ Jan 8th 2008 11:07AM

Hmm...given the draconian anti-copying measures Blu-Ray has taken, I can't imagine they're actually making a copy of the movie, rather than including on certain discs a smaller resolution version of the same movie.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 8th 2008 11:56AM

It is a smaller resolution version of the same movie. PSP-resolution.

This is no problem for Blu-Ray since they can hold 50GB (or maybe more later).

name123 @ Jan 8th 2008 12:59PM

@samfish

Feel free to take off your tinfoil hat and climb out of your Y2K bunker anytime.

borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Jan 8th 2008 1:47PM

Well, samfish happens to be right . It's a smaller copy of the movie included on the disc.

B1gC72 @ Jan 8th 2008 3:30PM

what else could it be except a lower res version of the Blu-ray movie you bought? itll probably be an extra file stored on the disc that would weigh in at a couple hundred MB and be super DRM'd.

Intentless @ Jan 8th 2008 11:12AM

Personally I'm stunned.. That is actually a good idea from Sony... I'm just speechless... Granted it hasn't started yet there is still plenty of chance to mess it up...

Jon @ Jan 8th 2008 11:13AM

Great news for people who has no intention of messing around with their PC trying to find the right settings to encode films. It is easy, but some people just can't be bothered.

Though I wonder how will they provide the content. Will they just include a portable copy of the film on the BD disc, or will they allow PS3 to encode the film straight from the original 1080p source?

Intentless @ Jan 8th 2008 11:18AM

From the article it sounds like there is a special "file" containing the information for the PSP transfer.

xFenixKnightx @ Jan 8th 2008 11:22AM

Guess theres people out there with alot of extra time on thier hands to watch movies on a psp. Id rather be playing games on it...you know...like what its meant for.

ill trooper @ Jan 8th 2008 11:36AM

Oh brother... What a lame comment. It's called a 'plane flight,' get a passport and look into it.

xFenixKnightx @ Jan 8th 2008 11:53AM

@ ill pooper

Ohhhhh, okay! Plane flight? Yea again...Id rather be playing it dumbass!! Pay attn!!

Mike @ Jan 8th 2008 11:59AM

I'm pretty sure that from day one Sony has said the the PSP is a multi-media device. Let me guess, you don't watch blu-ray movies on your PS3 either. Douche bag.

Carlos @ Jan 8th 2008 12:17PM

It's funny how the psp is ONLY made to play games, why the fuck does it come with video playback capabilities, music playback, internet browser, rss feed? To make it look pretty? You my friend, are an idiot!

xFenixKnightx @ Jan 8th 2008 12:16PM

Mike

Actually thats mainly what I bought it for. OK..."douche bag". Whats your PSN ID and gamertag so I can block and or avoid idiots that use your superior vocabulary.

xFenixKnightx @ Jan 8th 2008 12:35PM

I give up...you engadget guys win. Ugh, talk about over reacting to a comment.

Mystic @ Jan 8th 2008 12:58PM

I agree 100% I had a PSP and currently own a PS3. Guess what, that's all there is to do with these two paperweights is watch movies, but there sure as hell aren't any good games out for them. Sorry Sony sheep, but you guys are real losers if you have anything good to say about the PS3 and PSP.

baby sea tuna @ Jan 8th 2008 1:35PM

I sold my PSP like 2 years ago (and bought a DS) because there were no games to play on it. Flash forward to now, where there are maybe 3 or 4 games that I'm interested in, but the media functionality is still going strong. Who knows, though, I may pick one back up once GoW: Chains drops. By then, they might have even gotten this BR-compat up and running...

Marty @ Jan 8th 2008 11:24AM

For all those who hail Blue-Ray's seeming triumph over HD-DVD, I pity you. When PS4 and PSP2 come out with NEW proprietary formats attached to them, don't say I didn't warn you.

Despite the fact that I think Blue-Ray / HD-DVD will be trumped by either a different format or digital distribution in the near future, I still think this sets a dangerous precedent for Sony (and all console makers).

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 8th 2008 11:29AM

Maybe new consoles will use memory cards... maybe the memory cards will become cheaper and bigger in 10 years, so we can skip load times.

FrankTheCrank @ Jan 8th 2008 11:39AM

Current distribution methods, whether they are optical or whatever, will always be trumped by something that's 10 times better.

Don't be so sore. Bluray FTW.

Jon @ Jan 8th 2008 11:44AM

As though DVD isn't a proprietary format, or your memory cards... Almost every successful 'standard' are proprietary that requires license to use or distribute, so why is BluRay any different?

And let's not forget the most closed none-proprietary systems - the game consoles. Xbox 360 for example uses a proprietary wireless tech, proprietary memory card and proprietary harddrive interface.

FidliousWong @ Jan 8th 2008 11:54AM

I know, Fernando. Sony should be like much more unconcerned about piracy protection. That way they could do intelligent things like make really small disc standards and make sure the drive spins backwards. Oh, wait...

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 8th 2008 11:57AM

There is nothing more proprietary about BluRay than HD-DVD.

In fact, BluRay is backed by multiple hardware companies and HD-DVD is only backed by one, Toshiba.

Mike @ Jan 8th 2008 12:05PM

You're assuming that if they do come out with a new format for the PS4, btw probably 10 years from now if Sony is true to their initial statement (yeah right), that everyone will jump ship again. Considering how much storage there is on a blu-ray disk I doubt this will happen. I'm also not the type to not go with the leading format today because it may be replaced several years from now. If that were the case I'd still be using cassette tapes. I bet you don't have any tattoos because you're afraid of how they'll look when you're 60 or something.

Marty @ Jan 8th 2008 1:22PM

Or I don't want to look like I'm fresh out of prison. :D

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Jan 8th 2008 1:28PM

Mike, do yourself a favor and look up HVD. Holographic Video Disks. Hardly the stuff of "10 years from now", they should hit the market in 2009 or 2010.

Data Capacity is measured in terabytes. There is definitely going to be a next new thing in formats for the "next gen" of home consoles.

B1gC72 @ Jan 8th 2008 3:56PM

with the rate that new technologies are released, any new "standard" will more than likely be replaced in a couple years. so i dont see what the big deal is, it always happens. by the time the old format is phased out in favor of the new standard, the next format is usually on the brink of a release. its happening to DVD now. DVD succeeded VHS and not too long following DVD becoming the standard, they announce Blu-ray & HD-DVD. so yea it looks like Blu-ray is going to win this format war, but what do they win? the chance to be replaced by Holographic Video Discs. you guys need to wake up and get with the times.

@ Mike

wake up dude. do you really think that that's what Sony meant when they said 10 year plan? they meant they will support the PS3 for 10 years, not unlike the PS2 and PSOne before it. you'd be crazy to think that they wont release a PS4 halfway through that 10 years. they are just not going to stop supporting something that is still making them money (not yet on the PS3, talking about PS2 and PSOne).

Mr Khan @ Jan 8th 2008 4:01PM

@ sheppy

dude, tranquilo, Fernando wasn't even bashing the PS3, he was just making a suggestion as to the next-gen format of choice

But i don't think Optical media will be gone by then, even if we manage to have some sort of copyright breakthrough law by that point (which i severely doubt), the Broadband necessary for digital distribution still hasn't reached the kind of critical mass to where it could be safely used as a universal format

JJ @ Jan 8th 2008 11:30AM

how so Marty?

you do know sony has created more formats than just Blu-ray.

I dont get the reasoning here, its bad if sony has a successful proprietary format, but its good if others do?

Besides, unlike HDDVD where its JUST tosibha manufacture HDplayers, theres a whole slew of Bluray manufacturers.

This is almost like complaining about DVD being proprietary.

Marty @ Jan 8th 2008 11:53AM

Of course I know that... all it takes it a cursory glance at all the failed media formats over the last 20 years to see them.

Why don't you re-read what I wrote - I said it's bad for everyone, not just Sony. It's bad because it teaches console manufacturers that they might just take home a victory with new media formats if they include it in their system, so I expect more of the same in the future.

And I, for one, am not jumping at the prospect of having to re-buy every movie I own just to watch it in a higher definition every 4 years.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 8th 2008 11:59AM

And if it weren't for strategies, you would be able to watch the movie in higher resolution WITHOUT rebuying it? That's completely untrue.

You're making ridiculous assertions here. If you are happy with watching it in the resolution of DVD, keep your DVD and keep watching it. It'll work in BluRay and HD-DVD players too, just not with increased resolution.

Vidikron (FU) @ Jan 8th 2008 2:00PM

@Marty

Whose forcing you to re-buy every movie? I'm certainly not going to be re-purchasing every movie I own on DVD in HD format... maybe a few of my favorites, but not everyone. I'll mostly just be getting new movies in HD. Sorry, but technology marches on with or without you. You choose.

CW @ Jan 8th 2008 11:33AM

Yawn. I've been doing this with my XBOX360 + HDDVD + ZUNE for months.

Intentless @ Jan 8th 2008 11:35AM

You have been taking legal copies of your movies and transferring them to your Zune? Key term: LEGAL.

LuckyEMS @ Jan 8th 2008 11:43AM

as long as the movies were paid for by him then yes he was

shit as long as he didnt seed after downloading off bittorrent its legal here in the UK

plyx @ Jan 8th 2008 12:05PM

Um, actually if you have to circumvent any copy-protection software in order to convert the video then ,yes, it is illegal. It sucks, yes, but it is the truth.

Geo @ Jan 8th 2008 11:37AM

talking about movies and format`s, does anyone knows where can i get a DVD decoder *FREE for my PC, a virus cause me to delete the original decoder with an antivirus....

HELP PLEASE....

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Jan 8th 2008 12:10PM

um. No There are no "Free" DVD decoders. You could try downloading mediaportal, it comes with an MPEG2 (dvd) decoder, but it isn't very good.

Geo @ Jan 8th 2008 12:30PM

ok, thanks....

samfish @ Jan 8th 2008 1:06PM

I use HandBrake, but it's far and away superior on the Mac and good luck using it if you're running Vista.

LuckyEMS @ Jan 8th 2008 11:45AM

sweet now ill be able to watch my awesome 108p blu ray movies on my 480x272 screen

so not sarcasticly now

i dont even watch HD movies on a 1024 x 768 screen because its pointless

Jon @ Jan 8th 2008 11:51AM

The copy on the PSP won't be in 1080p, it would be downsized to smaller sized portable version (hopefully the same 720x480 resolution as UMDs and DVDs are encoded). I enjoy watching films on the big screen, but also love to rewatch favs while travelling in the train, bus, plane etc.

With TV-out, this makes bringing films on holidays less of a chore.

LuckyEMS @ Jan 8th 2008 2:18PM

i was more basing my comment around the fact is seems to be blu ray only and they wont be doing it with normal DVDs although it is a good idea doing it with blu ray where most people will need to buy a fucking huge memory stick like the $300 one

LilCo187 @ Jan 8th 2008 11:56AM

Digitally downloaded movies (and games) FTW, BluRay to die a quick death....

BluRay is classic Sony. Instead of advancing tech and thinking outside the box, they offer damn near 4 minute skip resistant Discmans while the iPod knocks them out for the count. Now, while DVD is continually dominating until digital downloads get a stronghold, they cram more and more space onto the format with slower access times and required installations on PS3 to counteract these slower access times for games lol wow...

why not the LS2LS7? @ Jan 8th 2008 12:02PM

When I watch a movie on BluRay (like Pirates of the Caribbean 2), the movie itself is 25GB of H.264 data. This means it can give a very high quality image.

Digital downloads of 25GB are not going to be feasible in the near future.

I don't mind VOD, but I don't want to give up quality, so I'm a huge fan of HD discs right now.