Latest PS3 Firmware Updates

[dvdmike]

Metal Gear Solid 3 works again WOOT !!
Are peeps using the full setting for widescreen enabled games?

[sj33]

Here's a test for people to see whether or not their display supports the new full range option or not.

First, save this image, and put it on a memory card or something so that you can view it on the PS3:

http://sr-388.net/images/patterns/Brightness.jpg

With the option set to limited, adjust the brightness control on your TV until you can see most/all of the boxes. There are 12 boxes there, but you might not be able to see them all. You should hopefully be able to see at least 9/10 of them.

Now switch it over to Full range. Can you still see all the boxes? It's very likely that you will only see a full black screen now if you're using a HDTV rather than a DVI monitor.

If you can turn up the brightness control and see the same number of boxes again, then it seems your display does support the full range. If it stays black, or you can't see as many boxes as before, your TV does not support the full range option and you should be using limited.

Most HDTVs should have it set to limited.

I assume after doing the bit in bold, that's how it supposed to be look? It's basically brightness 60 on my Bravia, which is rather high, but probably how it's meant to be.

Bravia does not appear to support Full, fyi.

[andrewfee]

Yeah, if you can't see all the boxes, you're losing some shadow detail. With some TVs you have to compromise between seeing all the detail and getting the best black though. I'd say 1/2 boxes is ok to lose if you get better blacks out of it.

The gamma options on your BRAVIA should let you have brightness lower while still being able to see detail.

[sj33]

Thanks, I've settled on 54, seems like a real good compromise. I suppose it would be easier to achieve I used the power saving mode like many recommend, but I don't like the look it results in.

[Jebus]

I got that until I turned the PS3 off then turned it back on, worked fine then.

EDIT: Yup now it works...

Plays EVERY MP3 on my HD

However, for videos it was barely worth it...pretty much only recognises MPEG, no AVI and no WMV at all

[dvdmike]

mgs looks good in 1080i fullscreen setting on smoothing off

[andrewfee]

Thanks, I've settled on 54, seems like a real good compromise. I suppose it would be easier to achieve I used the power saving mode like many recommend, but I don't like the look it results in.

The other thing is that the brighter the room is, the higher it's going to have to be to see all the details. When it was brighter earlier here, I couldn't see the last two, but now the sun has gone behind some clouds I can see them all again.

[Jebus]

I don't know anyone that's been able to get video streaming working. It comes up as "unsupported data" for everything, even videos I know the PS3 will play. (they work if I chuck them on a memory card)

Music and Pictures work fine, but it's very slow to navigate/load, especially compared to the 360.

Wierdly mine is furiously fast to navigate, quicker than the 360 by a million miles actually!

I got MPEGs working fine but every other format doesn't work. If you click on the "unsupported data" files they tell you there is an error and it goes back to the video select screen, however it does tell you what the file is called. If Sony enabled all the codecs out there to play it would be a HUGE blow to MS, if I could play AVI files on my PS3 there is no doubt it'd be my console of choice for a media hub.

Onto the upscaling...OH DEAR. God of War II looks atrocious and I've had to set it back to not upscale...it feels slower too... Though thinking about it I do have smoothing on, so I may have to try it with that off.

Mind you, I didn't buy a PS3 to play PS2 games so there we go, I don't mind that God of War II doesn't look like a next-gen game because it isn't.

[sj33]

I have various 1080i Japanese HDTV streams (which are actually 1440x1080 in 16:9), and the PS3 played back the .mpeg files fine (which are Mpeg2) (which I think are .ts sources thrown in a normal Mpeg2 container).

However, it would not even detect the .ts files I have, dispite the PS3 being able to play .ts files.

I wonder, since the streaming is done via WMP, and WMP doesn't find .ts files, could tha be the cause of the PS3 not seeing them?

[hudson]

Pro Evolution Soccer 6 looked like I was playing from behind a steamed up shower window. Looks great without this upsacle malark. We Love Katamari looks great, however.

[sj33]

Just gave KH2 a go. Not only is it mega blurry, but I have a wierd white line on the right hand side.

Upscaling disabled.

DVD upscaling looks alright though.

I do like how I can now transfer saves back and forth from my PS2 though.

[sj33]

Sorry for the double post, done a bit more testing, SC3 upscaled has none of the problems KH2 displayed, though being a 16:9 game, you have to change it to 'Full Screen' setting on the XMB.

All a bit fiddly going from one setting to another depending on the game, so maybe disabling upscaling is better, but people have the choice at least.

[mononokehime316uk]

I have updated my Japanese PS3 to version 1.80.

I am pleased to report that the emotion engine has not been disabled. All my Japanese PSX and PS2 games work Outrun 2SP, Kingdom Hearts final mix the lot. They can also be upscaled to HD using a component cable or HDMI. You need HDMI to upscale DVDs though

Outrun 2SP looks great in HD and the upscaling on PSX games is far better than I thought. I was a skeptic about this being worthwhile but I have been proven wrong.

Quick note about PS2 games with progressive scan options. If you are upscaling do not select the progressive scan option as it just knocks the game down into 480P.

[Herbalizer]

Is this update going to allow my Macbook and PS3 to talk to each other?

[tom-nook]

We Love Katamari looks great, however.

Have to agree with you there.....I prefer it with smoothing on as it looks a lot nicer to my eyes.