Portable Copy – Blu-ray to PSP: how it works

[Snake-V2]

Taken from here:

BD Live was previously announced as Sony's newest web content shindig for its next-generation console lineup, but it only recently made waves at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) when one of its features - Blu-ray transfers from a Sony PlayStation 3 to a PlayStation Portable - made heads turn.

Initial info was scarce, however, so we scrounged up more details on Sony's plans for Blu-ray portability, plus some answers to some speculations brought forth by digital media "cloning". Thankfully though, we won't have to use our ridiculous doodles to show the transfer process visually because the process itself was documented from Sony's booth at CES 2008.

But first, let's try to nail the facts: a PSP-formatted Blu-ray movie will eat as much as 1 GB of memory space and will be encoded at the PSP's best quality thresholds - that's using the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC format. Transfers are currently limited via high-speed USB port transfers using a standard USB A-to-B male-male cord, but offer just 3 - 5 minutes of waiting time.

Many are hoping for WiFi support despite the obviously slower transfer speeds, however. Four-digit code authentication will be used for security purposes; this is the only notable speed-bump during the transfer demonstration, for the process is a simple select, copy, and play procedure.

Sony's given the impression that the transfer feature should be compatible with all Blu-ray movies. The general idea, they said, is that the transfers are supposed to work with all Blu-ray movies - or at least, that's the hope. The company has also mentioned that low-resolution, portable versions of Blu-ray movies will only be readily available on-disc once Blu-ray 2.0 rolls out uniformly from both Blu-ray recording plants and movie publishers.

There's an uneasy air surrounding that idea, though, because Sony has stated that the process shouldn't store the movie on the PS3 hosting the transfer. Barring the possibility of on-the-fly conversions (standard conversions would need to store the movie's data), this mean that older and current Blu-ray movies are unlikely to be candidates for Blu-ray transfers to PSPs, unless Sony comes up with some workarounds.

Digital rights management is another issue raised by speculative parties. Sony expressed that they do have plans of controlling the movie transfers, although the exact number of how many copies can be made have not been divulged. What is sure is that Sony will come up with a final DRM plan, but that's yet to come.

[aygie]

Thanks man, nice post.

[partridge]

It'll only work on the PS3 and I guess there will be an option in the "extras" section where you plug your PSP in and then the movie will download to it.

Sounds fantastic! I can't see it taking off though. How many studios other than Sony will support a feature that only one device, PS3, can make use of.

[scook]

Once this feature is available - Hello PSP

[Snake-V2]

Originally Posted by partridge

Sounds fantastic! I can't see it taking off though. How many studios other than Sony will support a feature that only one device, PS3, can make use of.

I agree - a bit like the Blu-ray ' picture icons' on the PS3 XMB - only Sony seem to support it.

[Go Blu]

Your Blu-ray movie will have to have the PSP version on the disc you buy.
You cannot just rip any movie to your PSP.

[MatrixS2000]

Originally Posted by scook

Once this feature is available - Hello PSP

+1

[Borris]

Originally Posted by scook

Once this feature is available - Hello PSP

Agreed...especially when the GPS feature comes out on PSPs that was discussed on the boards the other day.

[aygie]

Originally Posted by Borris

Agreed...especially when the GPS feature comes out on PSPs that was discussed on the boards the other day.

AND SKYPE!

[Steelmaker]

Originally Posted by partridge

It'll only work on the PS3 and I guess there will be an option in the "extras" section where you plug your PSP in and then the movie will download to it.

Sounds fantastic! I can't see it taking off though. How many studios other than Sony will support a feature that only one device, PS3, can make use of.

But if you have a PS3 with a memory card reader, you could just plug your plug your psp memory card in there right?

[Steelmaker]

Unfortunately I see a lot of double dipping opportunities here on Sony pictures blu rays. I guarantee you Spiderman 1-3 will be one of the first sets of movies that get this treatment. Open Season will probably be another one.

[WickyWoo]

They're not going to double dip just to put this on a disc

Personally I think the vast majority of people interested in this will continue to just torrent what they want to see and not buy the BLu either

Thankfully it successfully removes yet another excuse though.

[CptGreedle]

That is awesome. Makes me want to get a PSP even more now!

[ps3andlovinit]

Originally Posted by Steelmaker

But if you have a PS3 with a memory card reader, you could just plug your plug your psp memory card in there right?

I doubt it. I think it will have to be transferred via a device that has a memory card installed. That's my assumption at this point but I could be wrong.

My reasoning is related to DRM and authentication etc..

[ps3andlovinit]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

They're not going to double dip just to put this on a disc

Personally I think the vast majority of people interested in this will continue to just torrent what they want to see and not buy the BLu either

Thankfully it successfully removes yet another excuse though.

I'm interested because I don't torrent and couldn't be bothered spending the time converting our existing DVD's etc .. it's a nice convienence for us if it's there and as you say removes another excuse.

Really it's a replacement for UMD Movies that's cheaper and helps consolidate your source content if you have a PS3(s) and PSP(s).

Might be a factor if flipping a coin over certain titles.

[TheTenth]

"portable versions of Blu-ray movies will only be readily available on-disc" : what's the point of having a disc if you already have the disc?
Couldn't they use the internet? you put your movie in the PS3, connect to internet with the PSP, plug it in a TV and voila!
1 GB for a HD movie? jk?

[eva-01]

This is very promissing, and just the start of the managed copy that is part of the blu-ray spec - hopefully we get to see this feature to be compliant with more portable media devices

Since Apple is part of the BDA, i would think they would want to get in on this feature and have it available to use on the video ipods.

I think this feature of Blu ray, along with BD+ and ROM mark, is important to combat piracy and removes the 'excuses' - all in all it's a wonder that studios who are so adamantly against piracy would want to support a format without the added protection that Blu ray provides along with its other superior features.

I look forward to using this feature, got my psp ready and waiting

[Amon37]

It will happen the same way you copy a PSP game from the PS3 to the PSP.

After you click on the icon for the PSP version of the movie in the XMB it will ask you to connect the PSP to the PS3 and go choose "USB connection" on the PSP. It will then copy the movie to the PSP and put it in the movie section on the PSP XMB.

[egon_spengler]

Am I missing the point here? Blu-ray on PSP? Why?

The PSP's maximum resolution is 480x272... blu-rays are 1920x1080... if I'm paying for more pixels on the disc than a DVD I sure as hell want to see them! I do own several UMD videos... but to be honest I only watch them on holiday or travelling on a train. The new model PSP does you're watching a 480x272 image on a TV, correct me if I'm wrong but I can't see that looking very pretty.

I mean I can see them doing it... just to say they can, but really is it necessary? I'd sonner see the XMB in-game; I want to play my own music in Motorstorm and GT5; i want to be able to see what that message was my mate just sent without exiting the game.

[Amon37]

Originally Posted by egon_spengler

Am I missing the point here? Blu-ray on PSP? Why?

The PSP's maximum resolution is 480x272... blu-rays are 1920x1080... if I'm paying for more pixels on the disc than a DVD I sure as hell want to see them! I do own several UMD videos... but to be honest I only watch them on holiday or travelling on a train. The new model PSP does you're watching a 480x272 image on a TV, correct me if I'm wrong but I can't see that looking very pretty.

The main point:

A portable copy of a movie you own without having to pay for it again.

I've watched stuff on a TV from the PSP and it's about DVD quality so again it's a portable movie that you can watch on the go and hook up and watch at anyones house.

It sounds great to me.