Blu-ray Gets Picture In Picture & PS3 Getting Firmware Update

20th Century Fox in January will release the first Blu-ray movie with picture-in-picture interactivity.

That's according to an article by Video Business.

The publication reported that Fox demonstrated the PIP feature for the sci-fi thriller Sunshine on Monday during a press briefing.

HD DVD supporters have said the PIP feature will engage movie buffs because it can offer related information while the person watches the film.

Most Blu-ray players currently do not have the capacity to display PIP, but Fox senior vice president Steve Feldstein told the publication that future models will. He added that Sony will upgrade the Play Station 3 with a PIP feature via a firmware download.

[LSDARBY]

Cool, i guess

[jiggyjay]

oh welcome to the present blu ray! HD DVD has had that feature for about 1 year now!

@ruibing.. That's what happens when you have blind Sony Fanboys believing everythng Sony tells them..

[ruibing]

It's funny how even though BD doesn't have this feature, BD is still outselling HD-DVD 2 to 1...

[MikeGdaGod]

it's probably because most people don't really care either way. i just want it to look good. even when they do add it, i doubt i'll make much use of it.

i just wanna watch the movie. i don't care what the director was thinking in every shot or what the actors motivation was. as long as i looks and sounds good, i'm happy.

don't need sony to tell me that.

[Omegasyde]

How cool would that be with multiple angles and different finishers and how they filmed the finishers.

Then go to the part where the male actors are swallowing Viagra right before a scene. Then pan the camera to the part where the female actors are putting a assorted amount of lucubration in their performing parts.

Followed by Siamese midgets jumping in the set to finish the scene.

/ Cut!!!!

Picture in picture is cool but definitely not needed. It obviously hasn't helped HDDVD. People care more about visual and sound quality, not a little screen showing the director scratching his but while a fight sequence is taping.

[Sam Fisher]

lmao lmao lmao omg that was funny but yea (i cant stop laughing) that would be "cool"

[dhammalama]

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[Sam Fisher]

wow i just love how they agree with u but u literally have nothing to agree to

[dhammalama]

is it or isn't it off topic?

ANYWAY, I like how the ps3 is getting upgrades to it's bluray functionality to keep it in line with the most recent players, and I can't wait to get the pseye tomorrow and make some videos like this.

[Hapimeses]

Yeah, I'd read about this coming. Depending upon how well it works in practice, it's a feature that I can see several uses for. Things are looking good for my PS3.

:D

[goodganja]

Future Proof.

P L A Y B 3 Y O N D

[durran3]

Wait B3yond imo

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

then it would have and HD DVD player and some decent memory and better GPU Wait! with all your games coming out in the oh so distant future, I guess it is future proof, my bad.

[mighty_douche]

thats all i can say!

[Bleucrunch]

Ahhhhh the ps3 it just only gets better cant wait.

[PStriple703]

I love that sexy machine

[sticky doja]

I didn't know blu-ray didn't have PiP.

[Bibto]

With Profile 1.0 PIP was optional, but with the new Profile 1.1, PIP is now mandatory. That's the nice thing about the PS3 though. With the Cell and firmware updates, it will always be able to support future enhancements.

If anyone asked me today to recommend a Blu-ray player, I'd be hard pressed not to recommend the PS3. It is really one of the best value, and dare I say it, future proof players on the market currently.

[hitthegspot]

but I have to ask where is the proof that this will be offered in a firmware update? I searched the entire Sony PS3 site. I have just fired off an e-mail to Sony support. I think it would be uber cool if that feature could be added as a firmware update. FYI, PIP deadline for hardware is Oct. 31st.

Thanks

<Edit>
Who gave me a disagree?
I sent an e-mail to Sony earlier today. Result - No Response.
So, I just called PS3 support. They have no idea if the new 40GB PS3 will support BR 1.1. I confirmed that they know what 1.1 is, but they can not guarantee that the 40GB PS3 will support the new features. So again I throw down the Gauntlet, Please show me some info out there where Sony is saying that my investment today is protected for the future....

Thanks

[pwnsause]

they are required to do so on every BD player(except for those that dont have the required specifications to upgrade to Firmware 2.0), that includes the PS3, its mandaded for Profile 1.1 which takes place today or tomorrow, I think, so there is a possibility we'll see Fimware 2.0 today or tomorrow.

[Real Gambler]

Your PS3 or standalone player will not explode tomorrow if it's not 1.1

I would even be ready to bet that we won't see an update for the PS3 for a while, maybe even until the "famous" 2.0 update?

[Baron79]

You mean there's another reason to turn on my PS3 besides accendently turning on when I dust it. Wooo Hooo!!!

[Makroyale]

Enjoy the lossless audio that HD-DVD doesn't allow you to enjoy?

HD-DVD only has 30GB.. How sad for it...

Bluray has 50GB YAY!!!

[mighty_douche]

dude HD-DVD can actually hold upto 51gb on quad layer.

blu-ray can actually hold 100gb on quad layer.

thing is current HD-DVD player cant support the larger discs which basically makes them worthless, where as and 'old' blu-ray player can use the new discs, all they need is a simple firmware update.

[LoydX-mas]

where do you actually get your facts?

The 51 gig HD-DVD disc is three layers, not four.

The final test results on the compatibility of the triple-layer disc won't be out till early next month. The results will be released at the DVD-Forum meeting(since HD-DVD is the only authorized successor to the DVD format)

[Kyur4ThePain]

to have PIP for some people. Me? Don't you even dare sneeze while I'm watching a movie! Let alone fiddling with PIP and cr@p.

[demolitionX]

the good thing about the PS3 cell, that it's so powerful that it can run any algorithm, that any application specific hardware (ASIC) can do.

[SacredENA]

An update to the PSP system software was made available on October 30, 2007. With this update, the system software is version 3.72. Features updated in system software update 3.72 include

Network

Support for PLAYSTATION Network titles have been expanded.
Support has been added for [Remote Start]* of the PS3 system under [Remote Play].

*To use this feature, the PS3 system software must be version 2.00 or later. For detailed information about [Remote Start], visit the PS3 Help & Support section at eu.playstation.com and select Connecting to other devices in the General Guides area.

Note:

This system software update includes all features contained in previous versions.

The new system software will preserve any settings previously made to the PSP (such as the Parental Control level).
Depending on the software title, you may not be able to play without first updating the PSP system software.

Do not perform updates using any data other than the official update data provided by Sony Computer Entertainment over a network or on disc media, and do not perform updates by methods other than those described in the product documentation or in this site. If an update is performed using data from another source, by another method, or with a PSP system that has been altered or modified in any way, the PSP system may not operate properly and may not be able to install the official update data. Any of these actions may void the PSP system warranty and affect your ability to obtain warranty services and repair services from Sony Computer Entertainment.

[pwnsause]

see as I said in my earlier post, they are required to release an update this month cause they are required to update it becuase of Blu-ray Profile 1.1, thanks for posting this SacredENA, bubbles for you

[Cynical-Gamerzus]

Definitely a great investment the PS3 I don't want to leave home anymore.LOL

[BlackCountryBob]

If this means that the £20 copy of Sunshine BluRay I bought yesterday is about to be replaced with a better specced edition I am gonna be very very f?!*#d off.

[DJ]

It's the hardware that needs to catch up, and it's a good thing that firmware updates solve everything.

[akaFullMetal]

great news, not a must have for me, but some people will orgasim over this so lets enjoy it

[robep3]

PIP is pointless when i watch a movie i want to watch the movie
not listen to some tw@t trying to sell me t-shirts,show how its made
etc its HD-DVD trying to prove its better but now BD discs can be played like this as well so its back to BD DISC'S OUTSELLING
HD-DVD 2:1 MATE!!!!!!!!!!

[Jeremy Gerard]

You people sound so stupid with all the "thanks to the cell PS3 can handle anything" crap, just stop, are you all that brainwashed?

Bluray was supposed to have this and other features at launch, in typical Sony fashion, they are late getting the features that HDDVD has had since day one. It has nothing to do with the cell, the PS3 is easily updated because it has a Ethernet port unlike most Bluray players, I should add that ALL HDDVD players have Ethernet ports and will all be upgradeable when the 51GB disks arrive. STOP listening to PR BS, Bluray has more storage space, that is it, it is better in no other way.

[Thursday]

You'd think that when it comes to storage media, the storage size of the media would be one of the more relevant points. :)

Plus, Blu-ray actually has one more advantage, which is higher bit rate. Or at least allowing for higher bit rate. Blu-ray allows for an audio + video bit rate of 48 Mbps, while HD DVD "only" offers 30,24 Mbps.

EDIT: It always cracks me up when people disagree on facts. Like it's a matter of opinion. :D

[smirx]

I'm interested to see what will be important enough to have to watch in the "picture in picture" screen while already enjoying your movie. I read in another article that it might show important key scenes that occurred earlier in the movie to help remind you of the relevance. If so, isn't that kind of "dumbing-down" the experience. Too early to say I guess. At any rate, you can't argue with another feature right? Let's just hope they don't use it for product placement/ advertisements!

[jackdoe]

The PiP update, otherwise known as BD 1.1, was confirmed a couple of weeks ago to be coming to the PS3 so it is kind of old, but it is still nice to get another confirmation from an exec.

[Mr Marbles]

I can tell you this is a great feature, you bluray owners will love it. They do not use it for ads, it is great for extra content. In 300 we were able to watch the actual movie, and watch the bluscreen version of it in the pip box, it was cool watching them do the scenes without all the effects added while watching the same scene on the bigger picture in all its finished glory. Its funny watching the actors pretending to be fighting, and swinging punches at thin air.

[jackdoe]

Picture in Picture is sweet and I am glad that WB held off on the Batman Begins release. Hopefully, they'll implement picture in picture and several of the other new blu-ray features for their release.

[Thursday]

It's great that you like it, really, but that would kind of ruin the movie for me, I think. :)

[robep3]

Like I said in previous post PIP is a pointless feature I want to concentrate on the movie and not have what is a distraction in the corner of the screen,thats what disc extras are for how its made,locations etc its a gimmick thats all. After all my Plasma has PIP how often have i used that in 2 yrs NEVER THATS HOW MANY TIMES.

[Mr Marbles]

So are you saying they should not add this feature? Because you don't like it?

[KINGDRAMA]

to play beyond

[Fux4Bux]

Don't really care but whatever only good can come of it.

[kspraydad]

1.1 is only mandated for any NEW player seeking BD certification after Oct 31.

All existing players already certified can continue to carry the BD name and logo and they DO NOT need to upgrade to 1.1.

Though it is common sense that SONY will do this for the PS3 it does NOT have to be done on Nov 1 and it does NOT have to be done at all. The 40GB is not a new machine...it was certified months ago.

[Dragonopolis]

and most people agree with me. There is not much point in seeing someone talking when they could just do it with sound only and not have a distracting PIP on the screen.

If this had been the late 80's early 90's HD-DVD would have won because the electronic giants had us consumers sold on extras. However, today most people realize they never used all that extra junk on their TVs and probably find even less compelling reasons not to use it in a player. After all not everyone watches the extras - definitely the extra watchers are in the minority.

Blu-ray sold because they follow the KISS philosophy and then slowly integrate those features into the players but remembering to build players were more thought out and compatible with upgrades.

HD-DVD seems like the threw in a whole bunch of unnecessary extras but paid little attention to build quality and future proofing their players. A lot of HD DVD owners are more likely to get screwed if they want to upgrade than Blu-ray owners. Blu-ray owners need simple firmware updates that seem to transform the machine while Firmware updates for HD-DVD seem more like maintenance releases than anything else.

If you ever had a chance to use both a HD-DVD player and Blu-ray or have gone shopping in an electronic store the Blu-ray players just feel better built than their HD-DVD equivalents.

More and more it seems there was thought to how Blu-ray would penetrate the market. HD-DVD, on the other hand, seem to be 'playing it by ear' so to speak until they hopefully get it right. Generally, in the business world the organized and the planned opponent wins - this describes Blu-ray better than HD-DVD.

[LoydX-mas]

Blu-ray is the format that is not complete.

Profile 1.0: play the movie(2006)
Profile 1.1: PIP (2007)
Profile 2.0: Web enabled features(2008)

The only player available RIGHT NOW that is Profile 1.1 is.....oh yeah it doesn't exist!
The PS3 should be upgradeable, but there are no other Blu-ray players that can. These are HARDWARE profiles.

Now HD-DVD:

plays the movie, has PIP, and has mandatory internet connectivity...

SINCE INCEPTION! Every HD-DVD player has these features. Always have.

[Thursday]

According to most consumers, those functions don't really constitute a "complete product". If you ask owners of Blu-ray players if they believe that Blu-ray is a complete format, they probably won't say no and point out that internet connectivity is lacking.

Of all the people I know who have HD DVD players (myself included), none of them have ever used PiP or internet connectivity. Fact of the matter is that I don't even know if the movies I have support this stuff.

To me, a "complete format" is a format that is working well and is future proof. HD DVD sure works well, but it is nowhere near as future proof as Blu-ray, because of the storage capacity.

[Mr Marbles]

You guys really are slow, Bluray is the format that is not future proof, in fact, when furture features arrive like HDMI 1.3, everyone with the launch Bluray players will be screwed minus PS3 owners because they have ethernet ports. You guys are so uninformed, you really should do some research, I dont know much but i know more than you Sony worshipers. There are many important features coming including this PIP thing that folks owning stand alone players will not have. HDDVD is far more future proof than BD, Sony rushed BD out and it is not finished and those who purchased older units are going to be screwed when the finish product arrives, this is why I hate Sony, they screw their customers every chance they get.

[Thursday]

Well then, you do you define "future proof"? We do seem to have different definitions...

My definition is that the format will last as long as possible, making yet another switch of formats unnecessary for as long as possible. Features like PiP etc do not make formats future proof, and neither does HDMI 1.3. I think we can all agree that since Blu-ray has much better storage capacity, it will in fact be used longer, thus making it at least more future proof than HD DVD.

I honestly don't get how HDMI 1.3 is relevant to this aspect of HD formats, but please elaborate.