PS3 Firmware 1.8 Announced with DVD Upscaling!

[Jazar]

Thanks to Gaming-age!

http://www.gaming-age.com/news/2007/5/23-52

PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and DVD Upscaling!!!!

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

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.

Tomorrow!

[Greenmatiz2]

GREAT!

I just wish I had a Korean PS3 (they're coming out next month) so I could upscale DVDs I rent from the store. I've got a Japanese one, and the region-coding kills it for me.

[Shin-Ra]

Notes

1. DVD-ROM (including DVD Video content) can only be upscaled with HDMI compatible TV sets.
2. Use of Remote Play requires a powered up PS3 with Version 1.80 as well as PSP firmware version 3.50 which will be available at the end of May.
3. DLNA – Digital Living Network Alliance. For more info on DLNA, please see http://www.dlna.org/en/consumer/home

It's true this time!

[nhaase]

So are these leaked press releases? Both links have the story itself dated as tomorrow, while Shin's link has it posted this morning.

I'm hoping it's just a typo by the author, but this has me a little skeptical at the moment.

[Shin-Ra]

Nothing leaked about what I linked to, that's the public/open section of SCEE's press site.

This would be a good time for SCEI to announce that upscaling is only possible through software emulation but that you can still choose between hardware and software emulation on current Asian/American PS3 hardware. Eventually you know they're going to go software only like in Europe/Korea so they need to link these improvements strongly with the software emu.

[GaS]

How do you setup a PC to do DLNA?

[jermwhl]

Originally Posted by GaS

How do you setup a PC to do DLNA?

Visit the link in the article from SCEE.

[donricouga]

How many times do people have to say it ! DTS HD master lossless audio decoding !!! Alot of people want this and really need it seeing as how the PS3 can't output dts hd ma in bitstream format to an hdmi 1.3 receiver.

[Maximus]

I just had a thought, the original press statement was released on the SCEE website, could game scaling be European only as they emulation software is only available to PAL territories?

^ DTS-MA is much more difficult than they first thought, DTS made a few mistakes and now everybody is struggling to find a simple method of decoding it. So the PS3 might need a while yet to do it. The best we can hope is that Fox ditches DTS-MA in favour of Dolby TrueHD.

[Jazar]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

I just had a thought, the original press statement was released on the SCEE website, could game scaling be European only as they emulation software is only available to PAL territories?

I hope not. The way I see it is if the solution to emulate and upscale is software then why can't US and JP systems use that software to emulate & upscale as well? Use the hardware emulator for compatability and use the software emulator for upscaling! Best of both!

edit: The guy at Gaming Age confirmed with SCEE that this is a global update (PS/PS2 upscaling included) for all regions.