Originally posted by ooZEROoo:

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Still no in game XMB!

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Because to do it properly is not a trivial task. I work as an embedded systems programmer (not gaming, unfortunatly) but have a good understanding of the monumental task InGameXMB is. It's playing with the unpinnings of the PS3's operating system. Ensuring it works without affecting games past and present is quite a complicated task.

I'm sure if Sony had the choice, they would have prefered to delay the PS3, and have it in there from the outset, rather than leaving it out and retrofitting it later, with all the compatability issues they will have to deal with. However, delaying further was not an option....

My suspicion is, update 2.17 is a test update, where lots of changes have occured under the bonnet, which greatly lowers the memory footprint, Sony are monitoring things, and once confident nothing is broken, these extra resource savings will be used for Ingame XMB. Had they done both things at once, trying to determine if problems are related to reduced mem footprint work, or integration of XMB would be diffucult. Small steps....

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PLAYSTATION(R)3 To Support New Interactive Blu-ray Movie Features (BD-LIVE) With Upcoming System Software Update
PS3(TM) Owners Will Soon Enjoy Downloadable Movie Content, Games And More With Blu-ray Disc(TM) Profile 2.0; PS3's Interoperability With PSP(R) Will Also Be Enhanced

FOSTER CITY, Calif., March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced that the next system software update for PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system, slated for release in late March, will add Blu-ray Disc(TM) (BD) Profile 2.0 or BD-LIVE, enabling PS3 owners to experience interactive features, such as downloadable video content, ringtones, games, and more. In addition to BD-LIVE, the system software update (v. 2.20) will enable photo and music playlists on PS3 to be copied to PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable) handheld entertainment system, among other new features. These updates demonstrate how PS3 continues to evolve as a home entertainment hub with the flexibility to deliver the newest technology innovations that benefit PS3
owners.

"With Blu-ray established as the high-definition optical disc standard, more consumers are ready to jump in and take advantage of everything the format offers," said Scott A. Steinberg, vice president, product marketing, SCEA. "Whether you want to download movie extras, send ringtones to your phone, or play interactive games, BD-LIVE will offer exciting new ways to enjoy a Blu-ray movie. With these regular firmware updates and future-proofed technology, SCEA is making the 10-year lifecycle of PS3 possible."

BD Profile 2.0 requires an Internet connection and at least 1GB of local storage. The following features have all been demonstrated as possibilities with BD-Live and will vary by movie title.

-- A variety of downloadable content can be offered, including bonus scenes, shorts, trailers, subtitles, ringtones that can be sent to mobile phones, images, and more.
-- Interactive movie-based games can pit players who are sitting in the same room, or are across the world and online, against each other.

In conjunction with the PS3 firmware update, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) is pleased to announce two BD-LIVE enabled titles to be released on April 8 - Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and The 6th Day. Both titles will include exclusive downloadable content that goes beyond what is available on the actual Blu-ray discs. These initial releases preview some of the exciting new developments that will soon be available from BD-LIVE on Blu- ray disc.

Beyond BD-LIVE, the new system software update enhances PS3 system's interoperability with PSP system, enabling users to take their favorite music and photo playlists with them on-the-go with their PSP. To copy a playlist, PSP and PS3 must first be connected with a USB cable, and the PSP must be in USB mode. Then, on PS3, select "Copy" in the option menu of each music or photo playlist, and choose PSP as the destination. Now the playlist order, and the songs or photos themselves, will be accessible on the PSP's Memory Stick PRO Duo anytime, anywhere. This new functionality makes it easer than ever to share media content between the two systems.

The following new features will also be included in the system software update.
-- "Resume play" will enable PS3 system to start playing a Blu-ray disc and DVD at the point it was stopped, even if the disc had been removed.(*1)
-- "Audio Output Device" will be a new Remote Play setting, enabling PSP to serve as a remote control for music played through PS3.
-- PS3 system's Internet browser will be enhanced: Video files directly linked from a Web page will be able to be streamed, and the browser's view speed will be improved.
-- DivX and WMV format videos that are larger than 2GB will be playable.
-- "Mosquito Noise Reduction" will be added as an AV setting in the control panel of the DVD/BD player for improved movie playback.(*2)


*1 BD-J format disc is not supported.
*2 BD discs recorded with BDMV format are not supported.

About PS3 and PSP System Software Updates

PS3 and PSP systems were designed to continually evolve with regular system software updates that deliver new features. There's no additional investment required from consumers, who simply update their systems and can immediately enjoy the benefits of the added functionality. This process lengthens the lifecycle of PS3 and PSP, and consumers no longer have to worry about their hardware becoming outdated or missing out on exciting new capabilities. SCEA will continue to release system software updates on an ongoing basis. For further details and instructions on how to update the PS3 and PSP system software, please visit us.playstation.com.

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Originally posted by vinny13:

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Ya well no in-game XMB doesn't cost the consumer any money. A new 2.0 Blu-Ray player because the PS3 doesn't support it does.

It will come soon enough, but this is probably more important to some...

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Originally posted by vinny13:

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Ya well no in-game XMB doesn't cost the consumer any money. A new 2.0 Blu-Ray player because the PS3 doesn't support it does.

It will come soon enough, but this is probably more important to some...

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Originally posted by ripxrush:

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THought this first few sentences where a little redundant.... it says "The new version 2.2 firmware update will add Internet features that are expected with upcoming Blu-ray movies. " well of course if it is going to be spec 2 then it must but you write it like it is above & beyond spec 2 of BR!

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...new interesting playback memory feature will let users resume Blu-ray and DVD titles from a paused point even if the movie has been ejected since the last time it was viewed.

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Originally posted by vinny13:

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Well there has to be like around 1 million people by now who bought a PS3 mainly for Blu-Ray... I could care less really but I'm pretty sure they'd be pissed just like everyone who doesn't own a compatible stand-alone

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Originally posted by kyo28:

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As far as XMB goes, I frankly couldn't care less. I don't really feel like it's something I need as a user. I play a game and when I'm done, quite the game and go back to the XMB. I also hardly play online so XMB for me is pretty much on the bottom of the priority list.

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no one brought it for blu - ray .. blu-ray was forced upon us. also HD-DVD was out . so why you they choosen blu-ray?

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Originally posted by PantherM:

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The only thing missing on the media playback side is bitstreaming DTS-HD MA. Hopefully that will come in a future update.

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Originally posted by eatsushi:

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Originally posted by PantherM:

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The only thing missing on the media playback side is bitstreaming DTS-HD MA. Hopefully that will come in a future update.

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Unfortunately the Silicon Image Si9132 HDMI 1.3 transmitter chip used in the PS3 will not allow bitstream transmission of the advanced audio codecs. You need the Si9134 chip for bitstream transmission.

All we can hope for now is for DTS-HD MA to be decoded in the player and transmitted thru HDMI. Dolby True HD decoding has already been implemented in a previous software update.

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Originally posted by eatsushi:

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Unfortunately the Silicon Image Si9132 HDMI 1.3 transmitter chip used in the PS3 will not allow bitstream transmission of the advanced audio codecs. You need the Si9134 chip for bitstream transmission.

All we can hope for now is for DTS-HD MA to be decoded in the player and transmitted thru HDMI. Dolby True HD decoding has already been implemented in a previous software update.

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Originally posted by PS3 Online Manual:

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BD / DVD Audio Output Format (HDMI)

Set the audio output format to use when playing a BD or DVD containing audio recorded in Dolby Digital or DTS format. This setting is used when an audio output device is connected to the system via an HDMI cable.

Bitstream: Set to output audio with the original digital signal prioritized.

Linear PCM: Set to output audio by converting the digital signal to Linear PCM format.

Hint:
If [Bitstream] is selected, some portions of the audio content may not be output.

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Originally posted by juankerr:

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Although BD-Live 2.0 was already expected, I'd be more amazed with DTS HD-MA decoding.

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Originally posted by bpanther:

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i hear alot of people say the PS3 is junk--cuz after a few months the games stop reading andno longer play--is this the problem for every console made from sony??? all ps3's???? what seems to be the reason for this?

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Originally posted by bpanther:

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i hear alot of people say the PS3 is junk--cuz after a few months the games stop reading andno longer play--is this the problem for every console made from sony??? all ps3's???? what seems to be the reason for this?

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