PS3 2.1 update live, adds DivX, Blu-ray Profile 1.1
updated 09:00 am EST, Tue December 18, 2007
PS3 2.1 Update Live
As promised, Sony today posted the 2.1 update for its PlayStation 3 game system. The new version is the first to natively support most videos in the popular DivX format without relying on third-party transcoding software and is also the first major Blu-ray player to receive a software update to Final Standard Profile 1.1, allowing it to use advanced features in newer Blu-ray movies such as Internet use or picture-in-picture overlays. Previously, the feature has only been available preloaded with dedicated movie players such as the Panasonic DMP-BD30K.
The update also brings support for Windows Media clips encoded in the HD-focused VC-1 format, an audio bitmapping feature that is said to boost the quality of music playback, and a Voice Changer feature that can alter or deliberately disguise outgoing voice in friend chat as well as games that support microphones, such as Warhawk. All countries that offer the PS3 should find the 120MB update available as of today either as a computer download to burn to disc or a direct download through the console itself.
