PS3 firmware version 1.8 (DVD and PS game upscaling)

[slade]

Latest PLAYSTATION 3 Firmware Update Provides PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and DVD Upscaling Remote Play on PSP (PlayStation Portable) via the Internet and DLNA transfer of media content also enabled London, 24 May 2007 – Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) announced today availability of the latest version of the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) firmware. Version 1.80 features upscaling of PlayStation® and PlayStation 2 games, and DVD movies up to full 1080p HD resolution when viewed on a compatible HD TV set.

The capability to upscale DVDs to HD quality is a feature normally only associated with top range DVD players, and its inclusion in the latest firmware upgrade now allows PS3 owners with an existing DVD collection to dramatically enhance the viewing pleasure of their DVD collection when viewed through a compatible HD TV set1. Not only can DVD movies be enhanced to full 1080p HD quality but so too will PlayStation 2 and PlayStation games be upscaled to provide much improved gaming pleasure.

In a comprehensive update to PS3’s already impressive capabilities, Version 1.80 also allows users to enjoy Remote Play on their PSP across the internet, allowing them to access their PS3 anywhere in the world where a broadband internet connection is available2.

Version 1.80 also allows users on a home network to seamlessly view and play rich media content such as images, music and video on their PS3, that is stored on their DLNA3 enabled devices such as PCs and laptops elsewhere in the house, reinforcing PS3’s credentials as a home entertainment hub that truly deserves pride of place in the Living Room.

A host of other enhancements include the ability to print photo images stored on PS3’s hard disk or inserted storage media to a selection of Epson printers.

PS3 owners will be able to upgrade their PS3 with the latest Version 1.80 firmware from 24th May 2007.

Some great features here. I hope I can set up my laptop and stream media from there wirelessly.

[Fivespot]

Downloaded 1.80 this morning and was pleasantly pleased to learn that I could access media on my PC and now stream it via the PS3. I've been able to do this forever using the 360 but having this option also available on the PS3 is sweet. Haven't had too much time to play with it however.

I wonder how well the PS3 will now upscale current DVDs to 1080p? I'm pleased with how well movies look on the 360 and are anxious to see if there's any difference using a PS3.

[folken001]

I'll get mine tonight.

I don't know how they can upscale PSone games to 1080p. Wouldn't it look horrible?

[slade]

Actually from the pics I've seen on Neogaf, there isn't much of a difference when you upscale PS1 and PS2 games. It's just a little softening of the aliasing and a generally blurrier look. DVD upscaling though looks fantastic. I popped in a few discs of Stargate SG1 and Atlantis and the differences from before are like night and day.

There's also two new options under display settings now. Be sure to turn Full Range HDMI from Limited to Full. It really spruces up the color on my television.

[Fivespot]

There's also two new options under display settings now. Be sure to turn Full Range HDMI from Limited to Full. It really spruces up the color on my television.

That's good to know. I'll mess with that this evening and see how it looks. I've read in the AVS forums that the PS3 may now be one of the best if not the best upscalers out there which is good news for PS fans. Probably too soon to know for sure however.

This has been one of my biggest concerns with the PS3 up to this point so I'm happy if it's resolved. I mean why claim the PS3 is one of the best Blu ray players when it couldn't even upscale current DVD's.

[slade]

The store has been updated as well. Uncharted and MLB the Show trailers along with Joust. The Folks Soul trailer is up on the Japanese store. The trailers aren't anything we haven't seen already but the Uncharted and Folks Soul ones look really good on my television.

[Cuddly Knife]

About the store. Have you guys been getting any demos? Other than the Sony exclusives, that is.

[Fivespot]

Yes, a few. I've played demos for Virtua Tennis 3, Motorstorm, NG Sigma, Genji, & GT HD 1.2 to name a few.

I've been downloading more lately after they added background downloading in the last system update.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

About the store. Have you guys been getting any demos? Other than the Sony exclusives, that is.

The only demos I downloaded have been Gran Turismo, NG Sigma and Full Auto 2. It's been a very slow process for any playable demos to show up on PSN, to the point where I would rather check the store from www.us.playstation.com for stuff than doing it from my PS3.

I expect Sony to slap some of the demos from their Gamer's Day sometime within the next month or so. If not, then what's the point of even having a demo section if you're not going to give samples of your most anticipated titles?

[slade]

About the store. Have you guys been getting any demos? Other than the Sony exclusives, that is.

There have been some third party demos like Virtua Tennis 3 and Ninja Gaiden Sigma but it's pretty sparse. Even the Area 51 demo that went up on the Live Marketplace has yet to be released to the PSN.

I think Sony is waiting for Home to be released and then they'll try to get developers on board to support that initiative. In the meantime, we're getting both Lair and Folks Soul demos next month.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

A Lair demo is much needed. Previews and reviews really can't help my decision on this game. I have to find out if the controls are good enough, and only a hands-on will do.

[Cuddly Knife]

True dat, RBH.

Slade, are you still able to go onto the Japan store to DL stuff? I read that MS was usting ass for people who did that on the 360.

Another Q. Can you play demos of games like Tekken 5, and all the other arcade style games?

[slade]

True dat, RBH.

Slade, are you still able to go onto the Japan store to DL stuff? I read that MS was usting ass for people who did that on the 360.

Another Q. Can you play demos of games like Tekken 5, and all the other arcade style games?

Yeah, I can still go to the Japanese store without incident. As far as I know Sony has no plans to try and limit gamer's access to the different stores and that's good because there is stuff exclusive to the three major regions that never sees release outside their stores. For instance, there are two DMC4 vids up on the Japanese store as well as five Genji 2 costume packs that were never released here. The latter is a big reason why I am importing Folks Soul. It's from the same folks that made Genji 2 and the costume packs on the Japanese store don't work for the N. American game.

As for demos, nope. Sony doesn't have as comprehensive a demo system set up as MS does. You don't get to try demos for any of the downloadable titles.

[Cuddly Knife]

I forgot that the PS3 was region-free! Too bad content isn't also.

Bummer about no demos. I know I dodged a couple of bullets from LA by checking out the demo first. Nintendo isn't much better, but they have a place online to "preview" their VC titles.

[slade]

I forgot that the PS3 was region-free! Too bad content isn't also.

Content is region free but paying for it isn't.

[Cuddly Knife]

So you can have the NA version of a game, and DL the Japan content to work on your NA version? Sick.

Can someone explain how upscaling works? I thought that if a DVD was made the way it is, then there wouldn't be a way to make it better because it is what it is.

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

I will say this about updating the PS3: It's annoying compared to the 360. The thing has to download, then install, then you have to plug your controller with the USB cord, and it just seems to take forever. And I may be missing a step or two.

It's not something I want to do on a weekday, so I'll finally update mine this weekend.

[Fivespot]

Can someone explain how upscaling works? I thought that if a DVD was made the way it is, then there wouldn't be a way to make it better because it is what it is.

It increases the resolution and by doing so edges become clearer, text easier to read, etc..

[Rogue Bounty Hunter]

I'm going to try out the upscaling for PS2 games on the PS3. Currently, I'm having a hard time playing my PS2 on my tv. The games just don't look right (ugh), and that's not good when I haven't played God of War II since March and TR Anniversary coming shortly.

[slade]

So you can have the NA version of a game, and DL the Japan content to work on your NA version? Sick.

I have asked around about this and the answer seems to be yes. I wasn't able to get it to work for Genji 2 but that may be because I deleted all my save progress previously trying to get it to work. Anyway, the restrictions about the accounts applies here with one extra niggle of complexity ie, you have to play the game under the profile you downloaded the content in otherwise it will not show up in the game.