New PS3 firmware to add Blu-ray Profile 2.0 support

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Mar 20th 2008 at 8:00AM }

Sony has announced that an upcoming PlayStation 3 firmware update will enhance the system's Blu-ray playback capabilities. Tucked into firmware update 2.20 will be support for Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0, otherwise labeled as BD-Live. The feature enables certain Blu-ray movies to connect to the internet and enable download additional interactive content -- movie DLC, if you will. Sony notes that the update will make the PlayStation 3 the first BD-Live Blu-ray player on the market. Oh, sorry, the PLAYSTATION 3.

Other enhancements included in firmware 2.20:

Music and photo playlists can be exported from the PS3 to the PSP.
DivX and WMV files larger than 2GB can be played.
DVDs and Blu-rays will resume playback from the moment you last stopped them.
The PSP can be used as a remote control to play music on the PS3.
The web browser will feature faster page loading times and the ability to save linked files and stream linked videos.
"Mosquito Noise Reduction" will be added to the AV control panel for Blu-rays and DVDs.

The update will make its way onto the PlayStation Network "in the next few days."

Tags: BD-Live, Blu-ray, BreakingNews, PS3-Firmware, PS3firmware, PSN

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Farseer (GDI) @ Mar 20th 2008 8:05AM

The PS3 may have BR 2.0, but it still has a proprietary BT remote. Because of that, it is unacceptable as a media player to me - I refuse to have more than one remote. I'll wait until Sony released a stand-alone player to the BR 2.0 spec this fall.

Farseer (GDI) @ Mar 20th 2008 8:06AM

*releases

baby sea tuna @ Mar 20th 2008 8:08AM

I do agree that that sucks, especially since it's the only thing in my rack that doesn't communicate with my Harmony.

Nate @ Mar 20th 2008 8:16AM

There's several IR remotes that use a USB receiver to control the PS3, buy any one of those and you'll be set.

Kevin @ Mar 20th 2008 8:25AM

The ps3 uses bluetooth. You will probably begin to see more universal remotes that are compatible with the ps3 when other devices start using bluetooth instead of IR.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 20th 2008 8:44AM

Why would other devices start using bluetooth instead of IR. Bluetooth is power hungry, complicated, and inefficient for a remote control application, especially when a little diode has been serving us well for 30+ years and is cheap as dirt.

shivr - ssbb- 0817-3501-0190 @ Mar 20th 2008 9:16AM

Crono: not new and exciting enough

Evan @ Mar 20th 2008 9:16AM

Because BlueTooth works really well! I was very skeptial at first too, and dreading having to buy the remote, but BlueTooth works without line-of-site which doesn't seem important but it makes a difference. Now I wish all my equipment used BlueTooth (or at least RF) remotes.

And Harmony remotes suck! They are the iPod of remotes - all show and no quality. I have one and I regret buying it. It just doesn't have enough buttons to be useful... I had to map "subtitles" and "audio" to "A" and "B" because it doesn't have buttons for them, and I mapped other functions to the screen but half the time I'd press a screen button it would do the wrong thing because the remote control is not in the mode I expect. Plus, it eats batteries far quicker than the the PS3's BlueTooth remote (I'm still on my original). But the worst is the lag: if I hit volume-down a few times, it queues up the commands and sends them so slowly that I often overshoot the volume I want and I have to hit up but it still sends out queued volume down commands. I know someone will blame it on stupid-user, but there's no excuse for lag on a remote control!

I can't imagine trying to control Blu-Ray with my Harmony remote... Perhaps I'd map "top menu" to "menu" and "display" to "info", but what button on the Harmony would I use for "pop up menu"? I could use "A" and "B" for "subtitles" and "audio" like I did before, but that's as clear as mud. For a remote control that's supposed to simplify things, it sure gets complicated. Sorry, it just doesn't work.

baby sea tuna @ Mar 20th 2008 9:27AM

Wow, dude, it sounds like your Harmony is a piece of shit knockoff or something. I've never had any of those problems at all. Ever. But then again, what the hell do I know. I love my iPod too...

Boostjunkie @ Mar 20th 2008 9:31AM

I have a PS3 and the crap remote, and I agree with your sentiments. I don't terribly mind a second remote, I also have a harmony. But why did Sony make such a terrible remote! It has a million, hard to find buttons. And on top of that, no backlight. Do you know in a darkened home theater how hard it is to locate some of the tiny control buttons on that remote. I don't even know what more than about 8 of the buttons are even used for.

JJ Rooster @ Mar 20th 2008 9:35AM

Hi Evan, do you have a Harmony 880? I do, and you can adjust the input delay to compensate for your lag. Of course, you with the customizable LCD screen you can map as many buttons as you want. This thing is magical!

Farseer (GDI) @ Mar 20th 2008 9:36AM

Harmony remotes suck? I challenge you to find a better universal remote with the same level of device support and usability by all levels of technical proficiency at the same price point.

I've spend a lot of money over the years on universal remotes, and Logitech by far makes the very best inexpensive HT universal remote. Period.

grapejoos @ Mar 20th 2008 9:51AM

My Harmony 880 is absolutely indispensible, and if there are people on here that don't like theirs, they probably haven't bothered to set it up properly (or have especially weird devices). The lack of an IR port on the PS3 is by far its biggest technical shortcoming.

Evan @ Mar 20th 2008 9:51AM

I have a 550. And yes, I've customized the commands that are displayed on LCD screen. So, on the Harmony I have to...
1. press "glow".
2. look at the LCD screen to see what mode and page of commands the remote is in.
3. press left or right to get to the command I want.
4. press the button beside the command.
I don't see how that is supposed to be more convenient than picking up one of three separate remotes and just pressing a button by feel?

Farseer (GDI) @ Mar 20th 2008 9:58AM

Because a button on a remote cannot get lost, but a separate remote sure can. Plus, try teaching a non-techie how to comprehend and use multiple remotes. It's much, much easier to tell someone: "If you want to watch TV, press 'Watch TV.' If you want to watch a DVD, press 'Watch DVD.'"

umm....hello??? @ Mar 20th 2008 10:30AM

heh...don't come over to my house then--I have 6 remotes, and I know exactly what each one of them does and how to setup whatever I want. 'course, it'd be a lot easier sometimes if they released a y-splitter/combiner for multiple optical cables to be plugged into one port...

umm....hello??? @ Mar 20th 2008 10:32AM

but I agree, it IS a lot easier to just press "watch movie" or "play video game" etc....

Vidikron (FU) @ Mar 20th 2008 10:39AM

http://www.schmartz.com/main.sc

Farseer (GDI) @ Mar 20th 2008 10:46AM

Nate,

You are right about add-on IR adapters. My main concerns are that the IR adapter and remote you have to buy are for the PS2 (DVD remote kit), and the PS2 remote will not do anything but the most basic player commands. Also, it will not power the PS3 on or off. In addition, there will then be a ugly looking IR dongle sticking out of the PS3. Plus, you have to buy an additional adapter and a PS2 remote.

I'll just wait until fall for a stand-alone player that comes with an IR remote.

Farseer (GDI) @ Mar 20th 2008 10:54AM

Thanks for the link Vidikron. That actually looks like something that may work well...

NATO_Duke @ Mar 20th 2008 1:21PM

I was so excited to get a Harmony remote - now I hate it. Its just too complicated a lot of the time. My GF can never get anything to work right, and it sometimes just forgets that its set on watch a movie or something and goes to its intro menu state. Very weird.

I have yet to use a universal remote that I thought I couldn't do without.

As far as the PS3 remote, it needs back-lighting and some larger buttons. I am not big on the idea of blue tooth though, as it seems regular IR remotes do the job just fine.

I love the idea of the PSP as a remote - just would like it to be fully functional as opposed to just doing music.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 20th 2008 1:57PM

All you harmony haters: check for firmware updates and software updates.

Nato, if your GF can't figure out how to use it, then you've set it up wrong, as the harmony remote is the easiest thing in the world for non-techies to use once its programmed properly.

*hugs his harmony remote*

mike @ Mar 20th 2008 2:01PM

I have a harmony 880 and I love it. I dont use the activiteis features as sometimes I find it misses a step like turning on x device, or setting x device to the appropriate input, in which case the whol proccess is messed up.

I do use the "devices" button which simply allows me to select a device and control it. When I select a device its like im selecting that devices remote, simply allowing me to use the 880 instead of 6 different remotes.

The built in tilt sensor which activates the backlight means I can always see the buttons, and dont have to push some retarded "glow" or osmething like that. I was even able to get a few commands out of the 880 that my original remote did not have, like FM tunning for my reciever. Built in recharageable battery so Battery never dies, and it lasts for a week or 2 off the base anyway.

Ditch the harmony 550 or whatever you have and go buy a harmoney one (updated version of the 880). You wont regret it. The only thing this remote is missing is a "page" button on the charging base, like cordless phones have. But Im gonna try tearing up my old cordless phone and attaching its page feature to my remote :p

Yishai08 @ Mar 25th 2008 8:24PM

or you could just use the controller. It works fine as a media controller.

Yishai08 @ Mar 25th 2008 6:04PM

or you could just use the controller. It works fine as a media controller.

baby sea tuna @ Mar 20th 2008 8:06AM

"DVDs and Blu-rays will resume playback from the moment you last stopped them."

Oh thank Christ. If I had to sit through one more of those unskippable WARNING...INTERPOL...screens at the beginning of Lost, I think I'd probably lose it.

Neptune @ Mar 20th 2008 8:20AM

I so agree.

Pretty much the only thing I'd need now is a region free DVD hack.

Evan @ Mar 20th 2008 9:19AM

Yes they are annoying. Sometimes I start playback on the second chapter, and hit back to start at the beginning without the warnings.

umm....hello??? @ Mar 20th 2008 10:28AM

amen.

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 20th 2008 8:08AM

"Sony notes that the update will make the PlayStation 3 the first BD-Live Blu-ray player on the market. Oh, sorry, the PLAYSTATION 3."

Ohhh, BURN!!

Good one Kietz +1

SKI @ Mar 20th 2008 8:19AM

I don't get it

Nate @ Mar 20th 2008 8:20AM

Me either

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 20th 2008 8:21AM

You'll have to excuse my friend, he's a little slow...

-Lloyd Christmas

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 20th 2008 8:25AM

You know what, never mind guys. My bad. Damnit its too early!! lol Now Im a sad Panda =(

http://www.sheffy.org/humor/random/sad_panda.gif

deaftly (Brawl - 1075-0467-4222) @ Mar 20th 2008 9:34AM

Its ok man , I got the joke.

Jtenma @ Mar 20th 2008 9:36AM

(behind Fenix's back)

Your such a nice person Deaftly :}.

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 20th 2008 9:51AM

tear

Jtenma @ Mar 20th 2008 9:53AM

PhillyVu @ Mar 20th 2008 8:15AM

PSP Remote? That's pretty cool.
And I agree about the Harmony connecting. The PS3 is the only machine in my HOUSE that is not connected to my Harmony remote. Sucks.

Nate @ Mar 20th 2008 8:19AM

http://www.amazon.com/PlayStation-3-Blu-Wave-Remote/dp/B000R5H7KE/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1206015435&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.com/PlayStation-3-Darklite-DVD-Remote/dp/B000VPUR4I/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=videogames&qid=1206015435&sr=8-3

Really, it's not that hard to work around.

But I agree, the PSP as a remote to play music is very cool.

Kspraydad @ Mar 20th 2008 8:27AM

About time you spelled PLAYSTATION 3 right...

dantebk @ Mar 20th 2008 9:00AM

Wow, Mosquito Noise Reduction sounds really ominous. First the Wii's are too dusty to play Smash Bros and now PS3 are getting mosquito infestations??? Next generation I'm puting all my consoles in plastic bubbles.

-Dante
http://www.gamestache.com/

Phranctoast @ Mar 20th 2008 9:06AM

"Next generation I'm puting all my consoles in plastic bubbles."

Is that how you got the RROD. so it wasn't MS's fault after all!!!!

Geoffrey Sperl @ Mar 20th 2008 9:07AM

"DVDs and Blu-rays will resume playback from the moment you last stopped them."

FINALLY! That drives me nuts if I stop a movie to go, let's say, feed the dogs and cook dinner and then, when I come back, I have to fast forward to the point I left it. Drives me crazy.

And, for all of you looking for an IR solution:

Nyko Bluwave. Toss the Nyko remote, plug in the IR dongle to the PS3. Go to Harmony's config tool and search for the Nyko in game consoles and then, boom!, it's done. Works great for me (you might need to tweak the speeds the remote sends the IR signal, though).

Of course, the time could come that Harmony creates an IR & BT remote. That would mean the ability to control the Wii, too.

Superstar90 @ Mar 20th 2008 9:18AM

MORE LIKE DELAYSTATION 3 AMIRITE?
MORE LIKE BLU-SHIT AMIRITE?
MORE LIKE POS3 AMIRITE?
MORE LIKE NO INGAME XMB AND HOME IS A SECOND LIFE RIPOFF AMIRITE?

there... it's a ps3 thread, someone had to say it

Jtenma @ Mar 20th 2008 9:34AM

YOU GODDAMN TROLL YOU...

DID U GET LOST FROM YOUR BRIDGE OR SOMETHING? HERE, LET ME HELP YOU GET UR ASS BACK UNDER THAT SHIT!(curb stomps his ass in there)

Someone had to say it rite? (c 2 can play that game)

LOL

Superstar90 @ Mar 20th 2008 9:20AM

I like how you can control the music from your PSP. I don't know if I'll ever use it, but it's just more of that oh so sweet PSP-PS3 connectivity that we all crave.

Dnice @ Mar 20th 2008 9:33AM

HOW ABOUT FLASH 9.0 PLUGIN SONY!!!
Thats the real Browser update we all want for our PS3. What the hell!!! So many great sites like www.hulu.com needs that plugin to work. The extended use of the PS3 as a true multimedia hub will be great achieved with that needed plugin. GET IT DONE SONY!!!!

Boostjunkie @ Mar 20th 2008 9:36AM

Oh, and to the guy with the Harmony. You don't have your remote set up properly, the lag is not the harmony, it's the settings. You've got to reduce the time it waits between button presses on the device having the problem. There are advance settings that will fix any issues your are having, and what kind of Harmony do you have anyway, mine has a screen, what are you talking about A and B buttons.