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OMG: PS3 Got Picture-in-Picture!
December 18, 2007

Finally, the long-expected firmware upgrade enhancing the PS3 with picture-in-picture functionality is here. Called Firmware Update v2.10, this download will make PS3 consoles meet all requirements of the Blu-ray player Profile 1.1, which represents advanced features over most available BD hardware. PS3 updated its hardware just in the nick of time, as the first picture-in-picture BD titles street on Jan. 1 - Lionsgate's War and Sony's Resident Evil: Extinction. After Oct. 31, all launched BD players must offer this same capability, where a separate video stream runs concurrently with the title film. PS3 joins a small handful of players that are Profile 1.1, including Panasonic's third-generation model, and Samsung and LG's latest dual format models (though, these latter two will require their own firmware to complete their picture-in-picture compatibility).
There is no word on PS3 and BD Live - another heavily expected advancement for the gaming system. Lionsgate's War also includes a fighting game where people play each other online, and will need such BD players that are Web-enabled. I will predict that PS3 goes BD Live shortly...as War's game seems custom-designed for the PS3 install base.

Posted by Susanne Ault on December 18, 2007 | Comments (0)