PS3 Firmware Update: Upscaling movies & games to 1080p

[-FX-]

The latest PS3 firmware update is now available. Update detail below is in bold


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 available.

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.


Thanks to Keenest from PS3 forums (hardware section) for the update. http://www.ps3za.co.za/

[The_Omlette]

Now this is interesting.. Just when the pricing increase turns me off a PS3 completely this announcement comes out and whets the appetite again.

DVD's upscaled to play at 1080p quality....nice

[GavinMannion]

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/20/tgs-xbox-360-to-add-1080p-support-ps3-to-lose-bullet-point/

It's a pity they are so far behind the times though......

The spring update added this to the 360, apparently. I wouldn't know it if I saw it anyway.

[derekc]

This would prob be a big selling point for the PS3. But still...R6700 is ridiculous. A very decent update this is.

[eye_suc]

it upscales it, but does it actually look better? the output resolution being 1080p, but the content?

[GavinMannion]

it upscales it, but does it actually look better? the output resolution being 1080p, but the content?

I actually posted an article about this a while ago, according to some HD guru upscaled DVD's are actually just as good as Blu-Ray or HD DVD

http://www.lazygamer.co.za/general-news/little-consumer-interest-in-blu-ray-or-hd-dvd/

Which is why none of the high end manufacturers have chosen a side or even make Blu-Ray or HD players yet...

[The_Omlette]

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/09/20/tgs-xbox-360-to-add-1080p-support-ps3-to-lose-bullet-point/

It's a pity they are so far behind the times though......

The spring update added this to the 360, apparently. I wouldn't know it if I saw it anyway.

Ermm forgive my ignorance here mate but are you saying that the current Xbox360 will upscale my DVD's to 1080p??

[Gatecrasher]

Great news!!! What I've been hoping for! Not so much the 1080p part, but the streaming of content from my home network. (I could do this via Yellowdog Linux, but not optimally) The question is whether they support divx/xvid format....?

So now PS3 is a BlueRay player, multimedia player, linux computer, and gaming console.

It's getting there....

[GavinMannion]

Ermm forgive my ignorance here mate but are you saying that the current Xbox360 will upscale my DVD's to 1080p??

According to the results of my Google search yes ;)

It was part of the spring update......

[The_Omlette]

well now.. and here i was getting all excited about bluray when the Xbox can upscale to 1080p!!

Just an arb question as well, can a device (like Xbox360) provide HD signals without an HDMI link. Will composite video be good enough to transfer data across for true HD?

[The_Omlette]

ahh nevermind it appears as though composite can achieve 1080i at best (which is still good enuff for me). I googled (duh)

[GavinMannion]

Don't forget you can use a VGA cable with the Xbox 360 as well and most high end tv's have VGA as an input.

I think VGA can do 1080p....

[Fudzy]

Rich content? Does that mean the PS3 play XVid / DivX?

[derekc]

some results of the PS3 upscaling update:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=851628

They seem quite happy from it.

[GavinMannion]

I have just completed the HQV tests on the PS3 on firmware 1.8. The good news is that the PS3 now passes ALL the tests on the DVD, cadence, interlacing, artifacting. The output is clearly superior over my Denon 3930CI DVD player. The PS3 extracts more detail from standard DVDs over anything else I have seen.

Hey that sounds good....


There are other options, such as 1080P 24Hz, white enhancing. The unit will out 1080P24Hz and lock in on the Mits HC500 and JVC RS1 with no problems. i have not tested the white enhancing yet but I assume it fixed the crushed gray scale issues.

WTF :confused: did he change language half way through the post :D

[doobiwan]

Don't forget you can use a VGA cable with the Xbox 360 as well and most high end tv's have VGA as an input.

I think VGA can do 1080p....

I believe that's correct. Consider a VGA cable can drive monitor to way above 1600x1200@120Hz, 1920x1080@60Hz would be a problem.

If you want a 360 to upscale, you need to use the VGA cable. Apparently the HD-DVD drive can do 1080p over component. Why I don't know, I'm just the messenger ;)

[WeaponX]

ahh nevermind it appears as though composite can achieve 1080i at best (which is still good enuff for me). I googled (duh)

You surely mean component not composite. VGA does output at 1080p.

[The_Omlette]

I surely do mean component and not composite WeaponX.. my bad :)

[Retro]

Which is why none of the high end manufacturers have chosen a side or even make Blu-Ray or HD players yet...

lol, you always make me laugh... ;)

Some of the current BluRay players available...

Samsung BD-P1200 Blu-ray Player
Samsung BD-P1000 Blu-ray Player
Sony BDP-S1 Blu-ray Player
Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Player
Panasonic DMP-BD10 Blu-ray Player
Pioneer BDP-HD1 Blu-ray Player
Philips BDP9000 Blu-ray Player
Sharp DV-BP1 Blu-ray Player
LG BD100 Blu-ray Player
Lite-On BDP-X1 Blu-ray Player
Mitsubishi Blu-ray Player
LG BH100 Hybrid Blu-ray/HD-DVD Player

And about the choosing side part...


The Blu-ray Disc format was developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), a group of leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers, with more than 180 member companies from all over the world. The Board of Directors currently consists of:

Apple Computer, Inc.
Dell Inc.
Hewlett Packard Company
Hitachi, Ltd.
LG Electronics Inc.
Matsu****a Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Pioneer Corporation
Royal Philips Electronics
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Sharp Corporation
Sony Corporation
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
TDK Corporation
Thomson Multimedia
Twentieth Century Fox
Walt Disney Pictures
Warner Bros. Entertainment

[useless]

I just tested RE4 and it looks blissful at last. Couldnt get a couple of PS2 games to work though so perhaps not all PS2 games are fully BC as yet?

Will test some regular movies tonight to see if the upscaling is superior to what the X360 offers via the VGA HD cable. Please note i have a 1080i capable LCD so its not only bound to 1080p.

[GavinMannion]

lol, you always make me laugh... ;)

Some of the current BluRay players available...
-----Lists a bunch of Blu-Ray Players------


As was mentioned the in the article that I posted the link to. None of the tru high end players have chosen a side.

You know people like Denon, Marantz... the guys who sell audio visual system that are over R100 000....

I don't have a side in this argument and I couldn't care less who wins, but it is an interesting fact that the high end manufacturers are still waiting....

I am sure the original author of that article would love to hear your arguments if you have any?

[useless]

I dont think Retro knows who the high end manufacturers are. He only knows the Korean makes.... :p

[Retro]

Well, in my opinion, the deciding factor will be which media the general public decides to buy. And the general public buys brands like LG, Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, Philips etc. Not something worth over R100 000.

[GavinMannion]

I fully agree with you Retro which is why neither format is winning yet.

The sales figures are terrible compared to anything mainstream and if for some reason Joe Soap decides tomorrow that HD DVD is the way to go Blu-Rays current lead will disintegrate in seconds...

However it is also possible that neither format will win and we will just have to live with dual format players which are becoming increasingly more popular, or it is still plausible that neither format will take off and we will just sit with upscaled DVD's for the next 4 years before EFDVD's* are released....

I am happy on my fence at the moment :p


*I have no idea what EFDVD's are do you think I have a crystal ball or something?

[Retro]

The dual format players also seems to me like the way to go. Then they can release whatever format they want to and everyone can watch them.

[useless]

What if dual format dvds cost almost double than a HD-DVD or a BR movie? Will you pay double the cost or simply but a regular DVD and let the PS3/X360 upscale it for you?

IMO I would only get the movies which are worth the money simply coz they are great to watch or have dedicated extra content in HD format.

[GavinMannion]

Well since I don't have a HDTV all of this is useless to me anyway...

However if I did have a HD TV I would just let the machines upscale since that seems to be just as good as HD or bluRay....

That is until I can pick up a combo player for under R1000

[doobiwan]

Retro, whether it's BR or HD-DVD right now is irrelevant to me, there is no needfor Hi-def movie players. People didn't rush out and buy new audio disks when SACD or DVD-audio came out, why? because the difference in experience doesn't warrant the expense. Thats the argument from the likes of Marantz. If you can do 90% of the job via upscaling. Why spend 300% the price of the disk and a small fortune on a player.

When the players and more importantly, the disks are the same price as DVD's, then they'll be "worth it".

[Retro]

It depends. For me it's worth getting either BluRay or HDDVD. We watched some HD movies on a 42inch LCD last weekend and then normal dvd's. The quality of the dvd's all seemed fuzzy after watching HD stuff.

But maybe for the average movie watcher it won't be a problem...

[GavinMannion]

It depends. For me it's worth getting either BluRay or HDDVD. We watched some HD movies on a 42inch LCD last weekend and then normal dvd's. The quality of the dvd's all seemed fuzzy after watching HD stuff.

But maybe for the average movie watcher it won't be a problem...

Last weekend your PS3 wasn't upscaling ;)

[Gatecrasher]

Got the 1.8 update last night. Was streaming HD content from my network (had to enable MS Media Player 11 to network stream) via HDMI to LCD HDTV.

Results were excellent. ps2 games and SD DVDs looked amazing compared to my old PS2 box.

Sadly, no native divx/xvid support. Which really sucks. No way I'm going convert files.

So might still have to pin my hopes on YLD Linux for network streaming. Its just not as convenient an option as playing back through the gameOS. Also theres no hope of streaming HD content via Linux unless YDL starts making use of the PS3's video accelleration.

Now come on, Sony, just add that mpeg4 support. Pretty please.

[derekc]

It depends. For me it's worth getting either BluRay or HDDVD. We watched some HD movies on a 42inch LCD last weekend and then normal dvd's. The quality of the dvd's all seemed fuzzy after watching HD stuff.

But maybe for the average movie watcher it won't be a problem...

it's definitely worth it but not at the pricing points at the moment. I cant imagine paying over R5000 for a BR player. Even HD-DVD players that are selling for around $300 in US is still too expensive.

[-FX-]

Some examples of the upscaling during games. Kudos to Dawid22 of the Take2 forums for taking the time to do this.

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j148/Xngears/Photos/IMG_8976.jpg

http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j148/Xngears/Photos/IMG_8978.jpg

To see them both side by side, go here:

http://www.ps3za.co.za/forum/viewthread.php?forum_id=2&thread_id=235&rowstart=20

[scotty777]

hmmm... it's possible the best part of the ps3...that way you can enjoy those awesome ps2 titles and still justify you buying a HD TV

[Gatecrasher]

I can now stream divx/xvid files stored on my network wirelessly via the ps3 in the gameOS onto my LCD HDTV using the TVersity Media Server.

The server converts them on the fly to PS3 compliant video. The software is free:

http://tversity.com/

I'm now as happy as a pig in sh..

[useless]

I still find it funny how people pluck +R6k plus into a "next-gen" console to play upscaled PS2 games. Ouch.

[-FX-]

A quick update I posted at PS3 forums.... no need to retype it methinks although it feels wierd quoting myself :D


Well I've tested this upscaling more this past weekend and all I can say is that it's wicked.

Before, I was underwhelmed.... but it turns out that the Bravia was holding back the visuals due to me re-setting to defaults - which are totally unoptimised.

In summary, after configing the Bravia properly, the scaling works beautifully. Tested the normal DVD versions of Superman Returns, SW Attack of the Clones, and around 6 episodes of Lost Season 2. Picture quality is sweeeeeeeeeeeet. I'm totally convinced now.

Haven't tested older games yet. Hopefully sometime this week.

[doobiwan]

So why exactly do you need blu-ray now? ;)

[GavinMannion]

http://www.lazygamer.co.za/ps3/ps3-game-upscaling-where/

I can't see the difference in the PS3 upscaling games... am I missing something or are the IGN screenshots just bad?

[-FX-]

@doobs: Well blu-ray still wins the competition here. Normal SD upscaled DVD's are definitely not as good as the real thing (BD), but the part that impresses me the most is that how can a piece of hardware create more from a limited SD source to such an extent? In other words, if you view an SD source on a high def TV, the quality is not that good. It's like zooming in on a jpeg to the point you get compression artifacts, but now with this whole upscaling story, they have bridged the gap here very well.

I would say that it upscales the video to the point of being about 70% better than a normal DVD. Not quite HD for sure, but it's damn good. Sure, it has it's flawwed moments, but they are generally the exception to the rule.

Last week, when I tested briefly, everything looked a little blurry and I wasn't that impressed much. This impression was confirmed by my wife as sometimes it's good to get an outside layman's view. She can only see whats in front of her without being bogged down by technical detail. She wasn't that impressed either. There was an improvement, but not much.
So I sat down to re-set the Bravia to opimal picture quality by playing around with the settings, and only now can I see what all the fuss is about. Went through a very similar situation with my PC when I first bought my LCD monitor.... was crap until I played around with the setting.

Upscaling works. It's that simple.

[Retro]

I still find it funny how people pluck +R6k plus into a "next-gen" console to play upscaled PS2 games. Ouch.

Who's doing that? As fas as I know people buy it to play PS3 games and use it for BluRay movies. The playing of the PS2 games is just a bonus on top of that.


So why exactly do you need blu-ray now?

Cause it's still better than upscaled dvd's.

[derekc]

most ppl buy it to play blu-ray movies. period.

[Retro]

most ppl buy it to play blu-ray movies. period.

lol, ok, if you say so. ;)