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PS3 Firmware Version 1.80 Announced

May 23, 2007 in Press Release comments 8

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.

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

Krunal
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  • -2
    Sort May 23, 07
    quote
    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.
    Good try.

    How is the PS3 capable of upscaling to full 1080p when the "top-range" DVD players the article mentions can only upscale to 'near-HD' quality? (Hint: It's not.)

    Anything that is upscaled isn't true HD, much less 1080 progressive scan. Of course the average consumer doesn't know what HD means anyway so it's not that big of a problem. LOL at all the kids thinking they will actually be playing their old PSX games in full 1080p.

    GG.
    • 1
      iLLmatic May 23, 07
      Oh no, I'll only be able to play my huge collection of PS1/2 games in NEAR HD quality. What ever will I do.
  • 0
    Redemption May 23, 07
    Well regardless of whether it is true HD, I think its pretty nice that they are going to be upscaling DVD to 1080p and that they will do some upscaling of Standard Def games.

    For DVD movies, depending on the quality of the upscale this could mean some decent improvements for ppl who own tv's supporting HDMI 1080p signals. Maybe people aren't sold on upscaling but I myself find a pretty decent subjective improvement upscaling DVD to 1080i or 720p, probably mostly due to poor deinterlacing done by most TV's.

    I think the bigger benefit might come from upscaling the PSX and PS2 games. Lots of newer HDTVs have very poor SD performance due to cheap upscaling chips. This is especially true of flat panels like LCD's and Plasma's where SD looks even worse than on 10 year old TVs. I know for sure using my PC to upscale SD content looks far superior to letting my TV do what it wants with it.

    Even "Near HD" quality is a pretty serious exaggeration, its pretty hard to make something out of nothing, so I wouldn't bank on having your PS1/2 games look anything even remotely like a PS3 or X360 title .
    • 0
      volacide May 23, 07
      Well if anyones every played an XBOX1 games on their 360 upscaled to 1080i you can see just how much more crisp the games look at their upscaled resolution. Much, much better.

      I can't wait to see PlayStation 1 games at 1080p. That's going to be crazy. I mean going one generation behind and upscaling like PS2 and XBOX games is one thing, but 2 generations, that's downright jawesome.

      I wonder why PS3 games won't be upscaled from 720p to 1080p. :\

      Anyways, I'm glad DVD upscaling is here, it'll look a bit nicer but more importantly the PS3 gui won't look so pixelated because I'm running it at 480p whenever it goes to play a DVD movie. I hate when you press the PS button to turn off hte controller or something and it just looks terrible.
      • -2
        Sort May 23, 07
        That's the thing. They won't be in 1080p. They will just be upscaled or 'up-converted'.

        They'll be vastly improved, don't get me wrong but nowhere near true HD, which is 1080 in a progressive scan.
  • 1
    volacide May 23, 07
    Why are you trying so adamantly to get your little nit picky point across? Of course it won't be true HD because the source content is in 480p and it's simply mathematically upscaling to reach the 1080p resolution. Essentially adding pixels. However, because there are so many more pixels in a 1920x1080 resolution it will essentially anti-alias the image because there are more pixels on screen and previously aliased portions of 3D models on past generation games will be much smoother. That's enough to make a significant image quality difference for older games.

    Besides, 1080p doesn't make anything look good, you could have a PS3 game at native 1080p but the textures and models are only going to look as good as the developers designed them to be.
    • 0
      Final Blade May 23, 07
      You make a good point here. I dont have a HD-TV yet but doesnt mean i will never get one. But yea i cant wait to see the older games look close to HD.
  • 0
    Sayyed May 23, 07
    Nothing that will help me, I dont own a HDTV nor a PSP.

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