PS3 1.8 Firmware provides DVD Upscaling.

[Anton]

From http://threespeech.com/ :

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 dramatically1 enhance the viewing pleasure of their DVD collection when viewed through a compatible HD TV set. Not only are DVD movies 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 includes the ability to print photo images stored on PS3’s hard disk drive or inserted storage media to a selection of Epson printers via USB connection.

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

Notes:
1. DVD-ROM (including DVD Video content) can only be upscaled with HDMI compatible TV sets.

2. Use of Remote Play requires PS3 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

[powerSURG]

Woooo! I hope this is legit~!

[jermwhl]

Is the a worldwide update or just european? This is huge! This is what alot of us have been waiting for! I love the DLNA also!!!!!

[Frode]

DVD upscaling is nice yes, but does that include proper cadence detection I have to wonder? Right now The PS3 is pretty sucky even in 480p mode.

[Filterlab]

I'm so pleased about this. Most of my DVDs play really well on the PS3, but one or two of them will definitely be improved by upscaling.

Nice.

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by Frode

DVD upscaling is nice yes, but does that include proper cadence detection I have to wonder? Right now The PS3 is pretty sucky even in 480p mode.

I remember reading a DVD playback review of the PS3. It gave it a spot-on review - IE it did it well. So maybe the DVDs you play were not correctly cadence-flagged.


fuad

[blurayistheway]

i cant wait bye bye upscaling dvd player

[Matt X]

Two Questions - what's this DLNA and if I've got a wifi router hooked to a winXP PC how might I use DLNA to view pix& such on my PS3?

- what games will the PSP be capable of playing if I'm say, in a Starbuck's? PS3? 2? 1? also, in this "Starbuck's" scenario, anyone know if 1.8 will allow streaming music or movies from PS3 to PSP? It's already technically possible, w/ Sony's LocationFree or whatever it's called.....

[NoTx]

Well, I hope it upscales even to Compnent... but not holding my breath

Now one thing they really need to do is upgrade the version of flash that they support. If they supported the current version... you could get a heck of a lot of support for newer broadcast stations sharring of episodes online. They often use a DRM version that is not compatible with the PS3's version of flash. If they could support this... it would open entirely new doors.

[Shin-Ra]

Originally Posted by Matt X

Two Questions - what's this DLNA and if I've got a wifi router hooked to a winXP PC how might I use DLNA to view pix& such on my PS3?

- what games will the PSP be capable of playing if I'm say, in a Starbuck's? PS3? 2? 1? also, in this "Starbuck's" scenario, anyone know if 1.8 will allow streaming music or movies from PS3 to PSP? It's already technically possible, w/ Sony's LocationFree or whatever it's called.....

You can stream videos that are on your PS3 harddisk (not DVD's or Blu-ray's), music and pictures already. You can even use the PS3's more powerful web browser. On your PSP you see a video stream of the PS3's Xross Media Bar minus icons that you can't launch such as games. As I explained in the news feedback, streaming PS3 games to PSP is unlikely unless the game was designed to do it, resources would need to be set aside for encoding the video that's streamed to the PSP. PS1 and PS2 games is possible but I doubt that's what they're focussing on right now.

The http://www.dlna.org website is pretty unresponsive right now (guess it's all the excited PS3 owners) so I'm having difficulty working out if you need some PC software to help Windows and your PS3 communicate.

[eleazar]

I think this is great. Sony has really kept the ball rolling with the PS3. I hate how people are still so anti-Sony that they bash even great updates such as these. Yet, if Sony was not releasing any updates they'd be saying the same things! Apparently, Sony can do no right in the eyes of the haters out there.

[Shin-Ra]

Three more huge reasons streaming games to PSP wouldn't be a good idea:

• Lower screen resolution (hard/impossible to read text in games running above 480x272 - limits you to PSone games really)
• Streamed video also isn't up to showing little details or very fast motion, imagine that combined with the above
• Control feedback would be cripplingly slow

Maybe if Sony release an updated PSP with 802.11g/a/n WiFi the streaming possibilities would be greater but latency and screen resolution will always be an issue.

[Amon37]

Originally Posted by NoTx

Well, I hope it upscales even to Compnent... but not holding my breath.

HDMI only.

[gandley]

I just want the black crush/clipping gone.

[Matt X]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

You can stream videos that are on your PS3 harddisk (not DVD's or Blu-ray's), music and pictures already. You can even use the PS3's more powerful web browser. On your PSP you see a video stream of the PS3's Xross Media Bar minus icons that you can't launch such as games. As I explained in the news feedback, streaming PS3 games to PSP is unlikely unless the game was designed to do it, resources would need to be set aside for encoding the video that's streamed to the PSP. PS1 and PS2 games is possible but I doubt that's what they're focussing on right now.

The http://www.dlna.org website is pretty unresponsive right now (guess it's all the excited PS3 owners) so I'm having difficulty working out if you need some PC software to help Windows and your PS3 communicate.

Shin, do you mean you can do that stuff under your OWN wifi network @ home, or is that stuff possible if I was in a hotspot away from home?

[Blubaru]

Originally Posted by Amon37

HDMI only.

IGN says component.

PS3 Firmware Upgrade Set to Upscale
DVD fans and gamers rejoice!
by Christopher Monfette

May 23, 2007 - Sony Computer Entertainment America announced today that the latest PS3 firmware upgrade - scheduled to hit consoles on Thursday, May 24 - will add full 1080p upscaling for standard-definition DVD's as well as games for the original Playstation and Playstation 2.

Upscaling will, of course, require that users plug in using an HDMI or component AV connection. But with Blu-ray functionality and now upscaling capability, it would appear that your PS3 may just have nominated itself as the central DVD system in your living room.

Check back from more information as it develops here at IGN DVD.

[Nismobeach]

So much for the myth about the PS3 not being able to upscale DVDs. This is great news!

[partridge]

Fantastic news, I am perfectly happy with DVD playback on my PS3, but this will make them look stunning!

Nice one Sony, keep it coming!

[nhaase]

The amount of attention Sony pays to the PS3 is a very welcome sight. The 360 had its last "major" update on May 7, and there wasn't much to it. When Sony updates the PS3 software, they usually add some very useful things (like Folding@home and background downloading). I know the 360 has background downloading, but Sony seems to be on top of improving the PS3 as time goes by.

[jermwhl]

Ok, so now that we have what we wanted, what's next? What is the next major ticket item you would like to see added to the PS3's functionality? If for one would like to see 802.11N added, but I don't think that could be done via firmware.........or could it?