PS3 FIRMWARE 2 : IMPACT ON BD MOVIES?

[Marl☆1]

Hi guys,

Quick question to PS3 owners - have you guys upgraded to the new firmware released by Sony for PS3?  If you have an Asian PS3, will there be any adverse effects in light of the 'caveat' issued in the PS website? To quote:

"This update is for customers who own PS3™ systems sold in North America. DO NOT update your PS3™ system through this Web site if you purchased your system outside North America. There is no guarantee of proper operation with other models sold outside North America."

Secondly, any visible impact on the quality of BD movies?

Thanks for your inputs. 
Marl1

[Munskie]

They are suggesting that PS3 must be updated through their regional website, that is if you use a PC (then media cards) to download the firmware.  If you use the internet through the PS3, just make sure you are using your asian based PSN ID to update the firmware.  Havent heard any user updating their PS3 not in their regional network, and havent heard anything yet on what will happen to the unit if that happens.

As far as BD movies, I have updated my firmware to 2.0, and my PS3 is asian version, but so far, no incompatibilities with BDs bought from the US.  We are region-coded with US in Blu-ray. 

[pchin]

As far as BD movies, I have updated my firmware to 2.0, and my PS3 is asian version, but so far, no incompatibilities with BDs bought from the US.  We are region-coded with US in Blu-ray. 

You mean region-free for Blu-ray?

[Munskie]

You mean region-free for Blu-ray?

im getting ahead of myself, hehehe, I think theres a region coding in place, I just dont know if its in effect na.   

this from wikipedia:

Region codes
Regions for Blu-ray standard

Blu-ray discs may be encoded with a region code intended to restrict the area of the world in which they can be played, similar to the DVD region codes. Blu-ray players sold in a certain region should only be able to play discs encoded for that region. The purpose of this system is to allow motion picture studios to control the various aspects of a release (including content, date and, in particular, price) according to the region. Discs can also be produced without region coding, so they can be played on all devices.
Region code    
A    North America, Central America, South America, Japan, Taiwan, North Korea, South Korea, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.
B    Europe, Greenland, French territories, Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
C    India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mainland China, Pakistan, Russia, Central and South Asia.

This arrangement puts the countries of the major Blu-ray manufacturers (Japan, Korea, Malaysia) in the same region as the U.S., thus ensuring early releases of U.S. content to those markets, whereas they weren't before. Reportedly early BD releases (including Casino Royale) are "ALL" region and therefore compatible in various BD players around the globe.


I think it is not mandatory......as seen in one statement.......

[pchin]

Reportedly early BD releases (including Casino Royale) are "ALL" region and therefore compatible in various BD players around the globe.

Yes, I recall reading the article. Yesterday I have checked with two sellers & some friends and confirm that there's no problem playing Blu-ray disc on any PS3 version. Fortunately BD is still ALL region (region-free is a wrong term) 

Looking forward to get a PS3 as an interim measure until they sort out all those messy BD-Java, BD-Live issues, etc 

[Marl☆1]

They are suggesting that PS3 must be updated through their regional website, that is if you use a PC (then media cards) to download the firmware.  If you use the internet through the PS3, just make sure you are using your asian based PSN ID to update the firmware.  Havent heard any user updating their PS3 not in their regional network, and havent heard anything yet on what will happen to the unit if that happens.

Right, I got it sir - thanks!  I just googled the link and I landed in the PS US page (duh), and that's where I tried to download the updater file.  Sorry about that, my bad.  I just surfed on over to the Asia site and my download is commencing now.

Can't hook up my PS yet to my wireless connection at home cause my IT installer put in a password which I can't seem to retrieve.  Thus, am obliged to just do it via a flash drive.  Anyway thanks for the immediate feedback! 

[Marl☆1]

Yes, I recall reading the article. Yesterday I have checked with two sellers & some friends and confirm that there's no problem playing Blu-ray disc on any PS3 version. Fortunately BD is still ALL region (region-free is a wrong term) 

Looking forward to get a PS3 as an interim measure until they sort out all those messy BD-Java, BD-Live issues, etc 

"ALL region"... I like.   
Good times!  Many thanks Pchin / Munskie 

[Mouldingo]

No problem when playing US-based or Local Blu Ray disc, but won't play R1 DVDs for Asian PS3 and R3 DVDs for US PS3...

[pchin]

Yup, BD is ALL region but for DVDs they can only can be playback in their respective region. i.e. the region coding is only applicable for DVD. Not sure if the PS3 region lock can be openned?

[Mouldingo]

I doubt these new HD players can be unlocked to play all region SD DVDs. Matulad iyan sa tampered iPhones na nagloko when new firmwares were introduced.

[Munskie]

PS3 regularly issues firmware updates.  Im sure the firmware updates includes region locking in DVDs.   

[SirLaw11]

I doubt these new HD players can be unlocked to play all region SD DVDs. Matulad iyan sa tampered iPhones na nagloko when new firmwares were introduced.

Yes they can be unlock also with the use of the australian firmware to make it region free for all sd dvd. Tested and tried na po sa hd dvd, so not only the hd dvd is region free, but also all region sd dvd will play with the HD DVD.

Yup, BD is ALL region but for DVDs they can only can be playback in their respective region. i.e. the region coding is only applicable for DVD. Not sure if the PS3 region lock can be openned?

BD Player is not region free at all, its just casino royale was not authored to play in specific region. Thus making it play on all region. But majority of blue-ray disk are region coded.


Here's the website for BD movies with specific region description:

http://bluray.lindsite.dk/

[pchin]

Yes they can be unlock also with the use of the australian firmware to make it region free for all sd dvd. Tested and tried na po sa hd dvd, so not only the hd dvd is region free, but also all region sd dvd will play with the HD DVD.

I see...so the PS3 can be unlock using Australia firmware but you mentioned HD DVD? I presume it's typo error & should be Blu-ray disc. It's great after the unlock, we can import/buy/play any BD movies in our PS3.

BD Player is not region free at all, its just casino royale was not authored to play in specific region. Thus making it play on all region. But majority of blue-ray disk are region coded. Here's the website for BD movies with specific region description: http://bluray.lindsite.dk/

Thanks SirLaw11 for the clarification. Most of the BD marked region B, can also play in region A player. Since we are in the same region with US, then it's a safe bet for us to import BD movies from US without any concern.

[SirLaw11]

I see...so the PS3 can be unlock using Australia firmware but you mentioned HD DVD? I presume it's typo error & should be Blu-ray disc. It's great after the unlock, we can import/buy/play any BD movies in our PS3.

The reply that i made was for HD DVD player, since the comment from Mouldingo stated that he doubted that the HD DVD is capable of having region free for the sd dvd. I guess my understanding was wrong, i thought he meant HD DVD players, whereas he was referring to the Blue-ray players. Sorry for the confusion....

[Marl☆1]

Alrightie, so I guess that's settled.  Just to recap:

First, BDs do have this coding system and unlockable at this point in time (corroborated by Wikipedia*) "Blu-ray discs may be encoded with a region code intended to restrict the area of the world in which they can be played, similar to the DVD region codes. Blu-ray players sold in a certain region should only be able to play discs encoded for that region. The purpose of this system is to allow motion picture studios to control the various aspects of a release (including content, date and, in particular, price) according to the region. Discs can also be produced without region coding, so they can be played on all devices."


Secondly, per SL11 there's an Aussi firmware which can be used to unlock HD players to play regular/ SD DVDs - tested and confirmed on HD DVD but not yet validated with regards to the PS3 as of this writing.  Bro, can you give me the site where I can download this firmware so I can test on my PS3?

Medyo OT but it was a good side-track - and we're still talking about firmwares naman    Speaking of which, I just stumbled upon a tutorial video from one of the PS guys on the new Firmware 2.0.  You can check it HERE.   

[DonKB]

Playstation 3 Turns Into Useless Brick After Firmware Update 2.01
http://www.ripten.com/2007/11/30/ps3-turns-into-useless-brick-after-firmware-update-201/

Got the link from PinoyXbox. Pero, personally, I have an Asian PS3 at updated din yung firmware sa 2.01. Napatakbo ko naman yung Blu-ray ko na TMNT, Ratatouille at Pirates of the Caribbean: BotBP. Yung unang beses ko na na-play yung Ratatouille sa PS3, nag glitch nga lang. Nung pinili ko na kasi yung 'Play Movie', nag load tapos pinakita nanaman yung background ng main menu pero wala na yung mga menus! Ni-restart ko lang yung PS3 at tumuloy din yung pelikula. Iyon nga lang bumigay yung BD drive ng PS3 ko nung Lunes ng madaling araw.  :'( Bigla na lang nag hang nung nanonood ako ng Pirates of the Caribbean. At pagkatapos noon eh hind na makakita ng Blu-ray disc yung PS3 ko kay game o movie. Almost 1 month pa lang naman yung PS3 ko kaya binilik ko muna sa SM MoA, kung saan ko binili. (Tatawag daw in two weeks) Pero mukhang special case yung sa akin kasi sa mga tindahan naman ginagawa ring demo unit yung PS3. Eh di ko rin naman pa masyado nagagamit at Blu-ray (movie) player yung PS3 ko. 

[pchin]

It's a scary experience each time we update our firmware. 

Fortunately, my PS3 has no problem with the latest firmware.

[aeris30]

It's a scary experience each time we update our firmware. 

Fortunately, my PS3 has no problem with the latest firmware.

Hi Paul,

Have you tried the BD-Java (Q&A, space invaders game) features of your chicken little bd?

[pchin]

Hi Paul, Have you tried the BD-Java (Q&A, space invaders game) features of your chicken little bd?

Hi Reddy, o nga...I fotgot about that...will give it a try today.

[pchin]

After the update, the BD-java enhanced Q&A features & Space invaders java game on the chicken little blu-ray now hangs everytime I access it. But all my other blu-rays with BD-J play with no issues.

Reddy, I just tried out both Q&A/the space invaders game. Both features seem working fine. For the game I reached until level 3. Wow...Blu-ray is indeed fun!

Anyone else having problem after the latest FW update?

[rexdc]

none so far... all BDs / in-movie interaction / games are working fine

[Marl☆1]

Negative as well on my end.  Seems like firmware 2.0 is stable todate.  Wait, are we talking about a new firmware 2.01, it was mentioned?  Haven't uploaded that to my PS.

So no adverse repercussions so far from the guys in this thread on 2.01? 

[Munskie]

Negative as well on my end.  Seems like firmware 2.0 is stable todate.  Wait, are we talking about a new firmware 2.01, it was mentioned?  Haven't uploaded that to my PS.

So no adverse repercussions so far from the guys in this thread on 2.01? 

I have 2.01, and no issues so far...

[Marl☆1]

Thanks for that - can you throw me a link safe link sir?  Appreciate it. 

[pchin]

Mine is 2.01, so far work well but I'm still testing the remaining BD discs. If anyone face any problem here, pls list them here so we can counter check.  

[Marl☆1]

Got the link for Asian PS3s.  Click HERE. 
Okay, let's monitor the developments guys and please post any findings - positive or otherwise.
TIA 

[marckd1]

mine is also running in 2.01. All my BDs and games are running fine.

[kakashi]

its best if you let your ps3 upgrade itself, its better that way kase at least its getting the update from its own link for the proper region thing.

if you do it wrong, it might brick your ps3 (not sure ha)

i've heard kase na if you upgrade a jap modified wii using an update from a us game disc, well, it will update, but upon restart you got yourself a brick wii... not sure if its the same case for ps3, pero just to be sure, just plug a lan cable to it, or better yet, use wifi =)