PS3 update adds 1080p upscaling, remote PSP streaming
updated 12:35 pm EDT, Wed May 23, 2007
PS3 1.80 Update
Sony today revealed the imminent release of the 1.80 PlayStation 3 update, a firmware patch the console maker says will add several key features to the 7-month-old system. Highlighted in the announcements is HD upscaling of standard-definition content, according to the company. When using HDMI, owners will have the option of upsampling DVDs -- as well as PS1 and PS2 games -- to as high as the full 1080p resolution of some HDTV sets. The feature can improve the image quality of older sources and help them match the native size of most HDTV sets.
A second major feature will also enable remote streaming for the PSP, Sony adds. While the PSP has already had access to nearby PS3s for content, the 1.80 fix adds a new version of Remote Play, giving the ability to reach the user's active PS3 anywhere they can find a high-speed Wi-Fi Internet connection, giving access to music and other content while away from home.
Other changes are said to include support for playing media from networked or attached devices that fit the DLNA (Digital Living Network Allliance) standard, and support for printing photos directly to a handful of Epson printer models. Sony hopes to post the new PS3 update tomorrow and will release a corresponding PSP update for Remote Play before the end of May.
