PS3 2.20 update to offer portable copy of Blu-ray films to PSP?
If PCWorld is correct, then it looks like Sony's pending, PS3 2.20 firmware will have at least one little surprise for movie buffs. As if the inclusion of Blu-ray's BD-Live interactivity and the removal of the 2GB DivX and WMV file-size cap wasn't enough, PCWorld says that can also expect the introduction of portable copy. With it, users will be able to copy a PSP formatted (and DRM'd) version of the film directly to their PSP -- no UMD required. Right, just like we saw demonstrated live back at CES in January.Update: There's a rumor that Sony's portable copy would transcode any Blu-ray film into a PSP version. That's not how we understand it. The firmware update would just allow the PS3 to "see" the portable copy already burned into some Blu-ray discs and then make it available for transfer to your PSP. Think Digital Copy for Sony's gear, not Apple's.
[Via QJ.net]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jove @ Mar 24th 2008 3:20AM
awesome! your gonna need a pretty big memory stick wont you? either way all these firmware upgrades are making the ps3/psp more valuable and well worth their money.
Nfinity @ Mar 24th 2008 4:51AM
I have to agree.. overall this addition will make it a breeze to pump up your PSP for travel, I'm just curious how they intend to stop putting movies from rentals onto PSP as well? So you go and rent a Blu-Ray movie and you can put it on PSP as well? With having these movies on the memory stick I"m pretty sure I will have my hard drives packed with PSP movies.
Jove @ Mar 24th 2008 4:53AM
no doubt!
Jove @ Mar 24th 2008 4:56AM
so this isnt like the apple movie download service that you only get to keep the movies for a little while right? you keep the film with you untill u choose not to. correct?
DrXym @ Mar 24th 2008 5:26AM
This would be a cool feature if it worked with any disc, but if Sony do things one way, Fox another, and other studios some other or not at all then it will be pretty useless. I thought all discs were meant to support mandatory managed copy. The concept of a portable copy is cool, but it needs to be a feature of the format, not some hit and miss proprietary add on. We'll see soon enough.
Nfinity @ Mar 24th 2008 6:15AM
What you say is on the point and another proof how horribly planned Blu-Ray as a format really is. I really can't see how or when they'll get everything cleaned up and organized. The thing is all over the place with profiles, managed copy, interactive and java compatibility and that's not to go into production and overall pricing.
That aside, I think that again, this is great for gamers. PS3 caters to that audience and in that regard this feature is welcome.
DrXym @ Mar 24th 2008 6:31AM
Nfinity, my understanding is that BD does support managed copy but it requires hardware support. I am trying to understand what bearing this firmware update may have with regard to that. If Sony are just shoving some portable copy onto their discs as Fox is doing with some of theirs, then that solution is unsatisfactory.
I don't understand why you are using this as an excuse to round on BD though. We'll see what the firmware does or does not do soon enough.
A1 @ Mar 24th 2008 7:09AM
Nfinity, being nice to the PS3?!?!?! (Just kidding) I'm guessing you'll get a code in the case for the portable copy. Places like netflix or Blockbuster will remove the code before putting it on shelves.
But i 100% think that a few people will get a few free copies when they first start releasing these BD's.
TJ @ Mar 24th 2008 8:51AM
If it works like Digital Copy, then there would presumably be a unique code included. You'd enter that into PS3, and it would make the copy once. This would prevent people from simply netflixing BD movies and getting the portable version.
Shape @ Mar 24th 2008 10:19AM
"There's a rumor that Sony's portable copy would transcode any Blu-ray film into a PSP version. That's not how we understand it. The firmware update would just allow the PS3 to "see" the portable copy already burned into some Blu-ray discs and then make it available for transfer to your PSP. Think Digital Copy for Sony's gear, not Apple's."
Correct. The reports of this working say that it took under 5 minutes to complete the copy. There is no way to transcode an HD video in under 5 minutes. Simply reading the HD movie data off the disc would take at least 45 minutes.
This kind of sucks for people with a perfectly good DRM equipped portable video player that isn't a PSP. I think this sort of thing should be open, not locked to one company's products.
DEEZNUTZ @ Mar 24th 2008 10:28AM
This would be lame if it's left up to the studios... I really hope you can actually make a portable copy from any BD movie. However, if the copy needs to already be on the disc, the BD folks should make it mandatory on studios to include it.
Possible solution to movies that have not included a portable copy would be to offer it up as a download when the movie disc is in the PS3. For all future releases, make the portable copy mandatory.
dshan @ Mar 24th 2008 11:12AM
hmmm sounds like Sony is finally admitting failure on the whole UMD thing (wow double the price for a lower quality movie I ALREADY own???? where do I sign up for that?). As for BD portability thats already out there with Slysoft and others, but who wants it? HD transfer/converted files are way too big and the quality is no better than a DVD transfer (on my small portable devices anyway). And PSP??? Does anyone carry those around anymore? Heck all my movies are on my phone now (no not a crappy IPhone) and my PSP has been gathering dust for nearly 2 years.
DEEZNUTZ @ Mar 24th 2008 11:27AM
I would MUCH rather watch a movie on a PSP than on a phone just on screen size alone.
Yes, you can do it with slysoft and others but it should be much easier doing it on the PS3. The BD portable copy wouldn't be better than if you did it from a DVD, but this is targeting folks that are buying the BD version of a movie, NOT the DVD version.
ceilingfanboy @ Mar 24th 2008 12:57PM
The thing I'm more interested in is whether or not you'll be able to copy the files to the PS3 and then use remote play to access the file. Sure, the streaming of the movie probably won't be as great, but having at least 20GB of space as opposed to for most people 1 or 2GB would be a great plus. Then I wouldn't have to pick what movie I think I'm going to be in the mood for in advance if I'm going somewhere with wi-fi.