Game Stooge

PS3 Firmware Update Upscales Old Games, Movies to 1080p

• Scribbled on May 23rd, 2007 by Devin Grimes
• Filed in Firmware, Patches, Sony PlayStation 3

Version 1.8 of the Playstation 3’s firmware has been announced today, and with it comes a few nice features that’ll get any videophile all hot and bothered:

• Upscaling to 1080p for DVDs, PS1, and PS2 titles: While it won’t give them that “next-gen” sheen, this’ll still make your old games and movies look a hell of a lot better, jumping to nearly four times the resolution. The catch: You’ll need an HDMI equipped TV
• PS3 to PSP Remote Play Enabled: We got a gimped version of this update in a previous firmware, but this will now (hopefully) allow users to access their PS3’s media content from anywhere around the world, permitted they have a broadband Wi-Fi connection. The catch: PSP pirates beware — you’ll need to update the PSPs firmware to 3.50.
• DLNA Media Center Integration: Sony’s answer to the connectivity between Windows Media Center PCs and the Xbox 360. It’ll let you stream images, movies, and music across your home network from DLNA3 enabled devices. The Catch: Nobody uses DLNA! Or do they?
• Epson Printer Integration: Coming through on the “it’s a PC” phrase Sony has been throwing around, you’ll now be able to print photos stored on your PS3. The catch: Well, none really.

There you have it, folks! The update will is currently scheduled for Thursday, May 24th.

PS3 Firmware Version 1.80 Announced

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 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.

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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

(Thanks PS3Fanboy)