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SONY Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) today announced that
system software update v.2.20, for PLAYSTATION3, planned for release
in late March, will add Blu-ray Disc Profile
2.0 (known as BD-LIVE). With the ability to take full advantage of
interactive features, such as downloadable video content, ringtones,
games, and more, BD-LIVE promises to offer PLAYSTATION3 users the
ultimate interactive film experience.
In addition to BD-LIVE, the system software update will enable
photo and music playlists on a PLAYSTATION3 to be copied to a
PlayStation Portable, as well as other new features. To access Blu-ray
Profile 2.0, users require an Internet connection and at least 1GB
of local storage. Movies with BD-LIVE are scheduled for release next
month. The following features have been demonstrated to be possible
with BD-LIVE and will vary depending on the title:
· A variety of downloadable content, including bonus scenes, shorts,
trailers, subtitles, ringtones that can be sent to mobile phones,
images, and more.
· Interactive movie-based games can pit players who are sitting in
the same room, or are across the world and online, against each
other.
In addition to BD-LIVE, system software update v.2.20 enhances
PLAYSTATION3’s relationship with PSP, enabling users to copy their
favourite music and photo playlists to their PSP and experience them
on-the-go. This new functionality makes it easer than ever to share
media content between the two systems.
The following new features will also be included in the system
software update:
· “Resume play” will enable PLAYSTATION3 to start playing a BD and
DVD video at the point it was stopped, even if the disc had been
removed.
· “Audio Output Device” will be a new Remote Play setting, enabling
PSP to serve as a remote control for music played through
PLAYSTATION3.
· PLAYSTATION3’s Internet browser will be enhanced: Video files
directly linked from a Web page will be able to be streamed, and the
browser’s view speed will be improved.
· DivX and WMV format videos that are larger than 2GB will be
playable.
· “Mosquito Noise Reduction” will be added as an AV setting in the
control panel of the DVD/BD player for improved movie playback.
These new features enhance the multimedia aspect of the PLAYSTATION3
significantly, as well as the cross-platform performance that SONY
has been touting for some time. While it would be impossible to deny
that these features are welcome, and that they certainly give SONY
the current edge in the race to have their system become a “home
entertainment system” as opposed to a videogames console; herein
lies the issue itself – where are the games? |
