So this is what I don't get. - Blu-ray Forum

Q? · 01-21-2011, 02:11 PM

Simple question really, why does the PS3 never need a firmware update to be able to play Blu-rays, and (I assume) every Blu-ray player needs a firmware update from time to time?

Just out of curiousity

Al_The_Strange · 01-21-2011, 02:32 PM

I figure it gets firmware updates automatically. Didn't the last system update include 3-D support?

threefiftyrocket · 01-21-2011, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Q!

Simple question really, why does the PS3 never need a firmware update to be able to play Blu-rays, and (I assume) every Blu-ray player needs a firmware update from time to time?

Just out of curiousity

???? I wouldn't know, I have 3 Sony Players (one being a fat PS3) and my PS3 gets system software updates ALL THE TIME whereas my 2 standalones only get firmware updates occasionally. So it would seem to me that PS3's get more firmware updates than anything.

Q? · 01-21-2011, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

I figure it gets firmware updates automatically. Didn't the last system update include 3-D support?

There are so many that have complained about Avatar not playing and they've waited for a firmware update for example. Why do players need firmware updates and not the PS3 other than for 3D?

kpkelley · 01-21-2011, 02:52 PM

First of all, the PS3 is updated very often and sometimes those updates include disc compatibility. Secondly, every studio knows that one of the most popular(if not the most popular) player is the Sony PS3, so it is included in nearly every QC for new releases. Less popular players may not be included in those qc's resulting in compatibility delays because they weren't aware of the issue until after the release.

Atreyu · 01-21-2011, 04:18 PM

If PS3s have many firmware updates why is it that when I read about blus not playing they are, 9 times out of 10, not playing in a PS3? You would think with all the updates they would be least likely to have compatability issues.
I have a 3 year old Magnavox, cost $300 at the time, the cheapest then,and the only issue I have is the load times may take an extra minute.

Clark Kent · 01-22-2011, 05:03 AM

The PS3 gets firmware updates all the time, including ones that improve stability for BD playback just like standalone players. The PS3 is the least prone to compatibility problems because it is by far the number one BD player in terms of units in the marketplace, which leads to the studios all testing their releases on it before selling to the general public. No major studio would release a Blu-ray that does not play properly on the PS3.

GunZenBomZ · 01-22-2011, 09:29 AM

Some brilliant information provided by you all. I think the ps3 stores the titles of the blurays you have played. Then I suppose you might get an added set of small updates for certain films on top of a firmware update.

Anthony P · 01-22-2011, 04:36 PM

I think
1) people are not used to FW upgrades on players, so when it happens most look at it as a chore and it happens when they sit down to watch the movie (so a bit annoying)

2) the PS3 has FW upgrades every few months, and if you use the PS3 you have to do them ( won't let you log in to PSN, can't play on line....) so you do the FW for gaming and then it is updated for the movie so you don't realise that when you upgraded to 3.55 that in it was also something for that movie that you are watching now. In the end you just don't know all the changes in a new PS3 FW

2.5) this was early on 2007 I think, but it is an example of #2, but there was a title that was waiting for the FW for the PS3 so it got delayed. Don't know if it will still hold today.

steve1971 · 01-23-2011, 02:35 PM

The PS3 gets updates all the time due to Sony wants to keep it right up there with the best and so far they have been doing the job.

richieb1971 · 03-26-2011, 09:35 PM

From my experience FW updates only contribute to extras. If the disc has to pass some script that needs a FW update then you will need that update before you can play the movie. This is a bad design imo.

Dwayne · 03-28-2011, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richieb1971

From my experience FW updates only contribute to extras. If the disc has to pass some script that needs a FW update then you will need that update before you can play the movie. This is a bad design imo.

You are so right. VERY BAD DESIGN.

Petra_Kalbrain · 03-28-2011, 08:04 PM

Of my 300+ Blu-rays, I have only ever had a problem with 1 Blu-ray disc. So, I don't see what the OP means by 9/10 titles with problems don't work on the PS3.

The PS3 is probably the best for not needing FW updates for Blu-ray discs because it has far more RAM that can be alotted to the software processes. I believe that the standalones that have trouble with specific titles requires firmware updates to reassign hardware resources to allow for proper functionality. PS3 can handle far more many algorithms at any given time than most standalones.

mywhitenoise · 03-28-2011, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Q?

Simple question really, why does the PS3 never need a firmware update to be able to play Blu-rays, and (I assume) every Blu-ray player needs a firmware update from time to time?

Just out of curiousity

Are you serious dude? PS3 gets more firmware updates than ANY network device in my house.

01-21-2011, 02:11 PM	#1
Q? Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Dec 2008 Location:Nuuk, Greenland Blu-ray collection:168	So this is what I don't get. Simple question really, why does the PS3 never need a firmware update to be able to play Blu-rays, and (I assume) every Blu-ray player needs a firmware update from time to time? Just out of curiousity

03-28-2011, 08:04 PM	#13
Petra_Kalbrain Blu-ray Archduke Top contributor Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Vancouver, BC 4K collection:5 Blu-ray collection:561 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:20	Of my 300+ Blu-rays, I have only ever had a problem with 1 Blu-ray disc. So, I don't see what the OP means by 9/10 titles with problems don't work on the PS3. The PS3 is probably the best for not needing FW updates for Blu-ray discs because it has far more RAM that can be alotted to the software processes. I believe that the standalones that have trouble with specific titles requires firmware updates to reassign hardware resources to allow for proper functionality. PS3 can handle far more many algorithms at any given time than most standalones. Last edited by Petra_Kalbrain; 03-28-2011 at 08:18 PM.

01-21-2011, 02:32 PM	#2
Al_The_Strange Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Apr 2009 Location:Out there...past them trees... Home Theater Gallery:126 4K collection:1125 Blu-ray collection:4949 DVD collection:530 Digital collection:1013 Blu-ray reviews: 132 Trading Score:32	I figure it gets firmware updates automatically. Didn't the last system update include 3-D support?

01-21-2011, 02:52 PM	#5
kpkelley Blu-ray Ninja Top contributor Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Framingham, MA 4K collection:385 Blu-ray collection:2478 Digital collection:113 Blu-ray reviews: 152	First of all, the PS3 is updated very often and sometimes those updates include disc compatibility. Secondly, every studio knows that one of the most popular(if not the most popular) player is the Sony PS3, so it is included in nearly every QC for new releases. Less popular players may not be included in those qc's resulting in compatibility delays because they weren't aware of the issue until after the release.

01-21-2011, 04:18 PM	#6
Atreyu Blu-ray Knight Member since:Dec 2008 Location:North Carolina 4K collection:370 Blu-ray collection:1876 DVD collection:619 Digital collection:1 Blu-ray reviews: 293 Trading Score:4	If PS3s have many firmware updates why is it that when I read about blus not playing they are, 9 times out of 10, not playing in a PS3? You would think with all the updates they would be least likely to have compatability issues. I have a 3 year old Magnavox, cost $300 at the time, the cheapest then,and the only issue I have is the load times may take an extra minute.

01-22-2011, 05:03 AM	#7
Clark Kent Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Metropolis Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:184	The PS3 gets firmware updates all the time, including ones that improve stability for BD playback just like standalone players. The PS3 is the least prone to compatibility problems because it is by far the number one BD player in terms of units in the marketplace, which leads to the studios all testing their releases on it before selling to the general public. No major studio would release a Blu-ray that does not play properly on the PS3.

01-22-2011, 09:29 AM	#8
GunZenBomZ Senior Member Member since:Nov 2008 Location:Warwickshire, UK Home Theater Gallery:1 Blu-ray collection:156	Some brilliant information provided by you all. I think the ps3 stores the titles of the blurays you have played. Then I suppose you might get an added set of small updates for certain films on top of a firmware update.

01-22-2011, 04:36 PM	#9
Anthony P Blu-ray Count Member since:Jul 2007 Location:Montreal, Canada	I think 1) people are not used to FW upgrades on players, so when it happens most look at it as a chore and it happens when they sit down to watch the movie (so a bit annoying) 2) the PS3 has FW upgrades every few months, and if you use the PS3 you have to do them ( won't let you log in to PSN, can't play on line....) so you do the FW for gaming and then it is updated for the movie so you don't realise that when you upgraded to 3.55 that in it was also something for that movie that you are watching now. In the end you just don't know all the changes in a new PS3 FW 2.5) this was early on 2007 I think, but it is an example of #2, but there was a title that was waiting for the FW for the PS3 so it got delayed. Don't know if it will still hold today.

01-23-2011, 02:35 PM	#10
steve1971 Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Feb 2008 Location:Saint Paul Minnesota. 4K collection:15 Blu-ray collection:352 Blu-ray reviews: 119 Trading Score:1	The PS3 gets updates all the time due to Sony wants to keep it right up there with the best and so far they have been doing the job.

03-26-2011, 09:35 PM	#11
richieb1971 Blu-ray Samurai Top contributor Member since:Aug 2007 4K collection:89 Blu-ray collection:706 Trading Score:16	From my experience FW updates only contribute to extras. If the disc has to pass some script that needs a FW update then you will need that update before you can play the movie. This is a bad design imo.

Best Blu-ray Movie Deals