The runaway popularity of the Blu-ray-equipped PlayStation 3 videogame console has played a significant role in leading Sony to victory in its protracted battle with Toshiba and its (now obsolete) HD DVD format rival.
Upcoming PS3 system upgrade will make Sony\'s videogame console the first Blu-ray player to offer BD-Live online content. Credit: Blu-ray.
That value-for-money popularity is now set to be boosted yet further following confirmation that the console’s next system update will see Sony’s entertainment powerhouse bestowed with a wealth of new features, including Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0 -- or BD-Live as it is also known.
Notably, the PlayStation 3 will become the very first Blu-ray player to offer BD-Live, thereby enabling its users to access the Web through their consoles in order to download extra Blu-ray content and widen their HD experiences even further.
The scope of downloadable media aiming to enhance the HD experience will include content such as bonus movie scenes not included within the confines of the actual physical disc, to trailers for upcoming movie releases and even interactive movie-based games too.
A handy technical addition related to playback is the ‘resume play’ feature, which will see the PlayStation 3’s Blu-ray player capable of remembering where in any given movie the user was watching prior to the disc being stopped -- or even removed.
The new system update (which is free) is expected to be available before the close of this month, reports the Associated Press.
Other system additions to be introduced through the PS3’s soon-to-be-released system update include the ability to copy photos and music playlists from the home console down to a separate handheld PlayStation Portable device. Also, the PSP will double up as a remote control unit for music playback on the PlayStation 3 along with streamed Web videos.
Of course, embittered owners of defunct HD DVD players will likely be shaking their collective heads in further frustration at this news, not least because the HD DVD format already had online functionality but was no match for the Blu-ray platform strength provided by the PlayStation 3’s user base of more than 10 million.
Prospective Blu-ray owners not drawn to the ‘entertainment hub’ ethos of Sony’s next-generation games machine will be pleased to learn that Panasonic is also planning to introduce a BD-Live player before the summer. More manufacturers are expected to follow later in the year.
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