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'District 9' Blu-ray Includes 'God of War III' Demo for the PS3
Fri Oct 30, 2009 at 11:00 AM ETTags: Disc Announcements, Sony, PlayStation 3 (all tags)
As previously reported, Neill Blomkamp's 'District 9' will hit stores on December 29, and the release will reportedly include a playable demo for 'God of War III.'
According to the folks at Game Informer, the Blu-ray will include the PlayStation 3 demo on the disc.
After completing the demo players will have access to a behind-the-scenes featurette on the making of the game.
Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.95.
You can find the latest specs for 'District 9' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under December 29.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- District 9 (Blu-ray)
Sony Adds Netflix Streaming To PlayStation 3
Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 02:00 PM ETTags: PlayStation 3, Netflix, Streaming Content (all tags)
Sony has announced that PS3 users will soon have access to the popular Netflix streaming service through the use of BD-Live.
Fans of the PlayStation 3 just got another bragging point, as Sony has announced that Netflix will be available as soon as next month. There’s a bit of a catch though. Rather than being able to access the service through the systems menu thanks to a system update like the rival Xbox 360, PlayStation owners will need to access the service through BD-Live.
Netflix will provide Blu-ray discs free to subscribers who can reserve the discs now at Netflix.com/PS3. Streaming will be available at the standard $8.99 price. Netflix is hoping to echo the surge in memberships seen after the addition of the service to the Xbox, but with a few extra dollars tacked on to each one for Blu-ray rentals.
Sony’s press release states “Initially, watching movies instantly streamed from Netflix via the PS3 system will be enabled by a free, instant streaming Blu-ray disc that is being made available to all Netflix members.” This wording may indicate that a firmware update or installation disc may be in the works and that the BD Live streaming may only be a temporary solution.
Source: Press ReleaseSee what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
Sony Adds Netflix Streaming To PlayStation 3
Tue Oct 27, 2009 at 02:00 PM ETTags: PlayStation 3, Netflix, Streaming Content (all tags)
Sony has announced that PS3 users will soon have access to the popular Netflix streaming service through the use of BD-Live.
Fans of the PlayStation 3 just got another bragging point, as Sony has announced that Netflix will be available as soon as next month. There’s a bit of a catch though. Rather than being able to access the service through the systems menu thanks to a system update like the rival Xbox 360, PlayStation owners will need to access the service through BD-Live.
Netflix will provide Blu-ray discs free to subscribers who can reserve the discs now at Netflix.com/PS3. Streaming will be available at the standard $8.99 price. Netflix is hoping to echo the surge in memberships seen after the addition of the service to the Xbox, but with a few extra dollars tacked on to each one for Blu-ray rentals.
Sony’s press release states “Initially, watching movies instantly streamed from Netflix via the PS3 system will be enabled by a free, instant streaming Blu-ray disc that is being made available to all Netflix members.” This wording may indicate that a firmware update or installation disc may be in the works and that the BD Live streaming may only be a temporary solution.
Source: Press ReleaseSee what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
Class Action Lawsuit Filed Over PS3 Failures
Tue Oct 06, 2009 at 03:15 PM ETTags: Sony, PlayStation 3 (all tags)
Sony is now facing a class action lawsuit based on the allegation that a recent patch to the Playstation 3 has created hardware failures.
We reported last week that a not insignificant number of PS3 systems have experienced optical drive failure after installation of a recent patch. Today it was reported that a PS3 owner named John Kennedy has filed a class action suit against Sony for the failures. Among the accusations are complaints for breach of warranty, negligence, and negligent misrepresentation.
The 3.0 firmware update for the PS3 was a mandatory upgrade, and is viewed as responsible for causing systems to freeze while playing games, and even stopping the system from recognizing the optical drive. Sony confirmed that the 3.0 firmware affected systems on its blog shortly after the update, though no specifics were given, stating “SCEA is aware of reports that PS3 owners are experiencing isolated issues with their PS3 system since installing the most recent system software update.”
A further firmware update is alleged to have caused even more problems. What prompted the suit though was Sony’s statement that the plaintiff in this case would need to pay $150 to have his system fixed.
Sony has not yet released an official statement regarding the suit.
Source: Courthouse News
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$299 PlayStation 3 Slim Officially Announced and Detailed
Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 04:45 PM ETTags: Sony, PlayStation 3, Product Announcements, Industry Trends (all tags)
Smaller, lighter , and less power hungry, the new PS3 has finally been announced.
Available in the US in the first week of September, Sony has officially announced the PS3 Slim. It’s smaller, it’s lighter, and it’s cheaper, at an MSRP of only $299. Kaz Harai, who announced the price cut, says the PS3 Slim won't have capabilities that the normal PS3 doesn’t have.
The price cut, which will affect standard PS3s starting tomorrow, may be a big announcement, but perhaps more important for home theater buffs is the power consumption, which has been cut by 34%. Less power consumption means less heat, and less heat means a quieter fan, which makes the PS3 slim preferable to it’s bigger brother for Blu-ray watching.
The PS3 slim does not have the ability to install an OS like Linux, something expected by many. There also does not appear to be a simple way to remove the hard drive, meaning that an upgrade from the on board 120GB drive will be difficult at best.
More images and full specs are available at video game site Destructiod.
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87 Percent of PS3 Owners Watch Blu-ray Movies
Thu Jul 09, 2009 at 11:00 AM ETTags: Sony, PlayStation 3, Industry Trends (all tags)
Unlike Spider-Man 3, this is an example of a symbiotic relationship at its best.
Some might say Sony’s gamble has paid off. Suffering some slower game system sales in order to cement their place in the high definition disc wars has had a tremendous benefit. While as recently as last year NPD polls showed that 60% of PS3 owners didn’t know about its Blu-ray capabilities, the Entertainment Merchants Association revealed recently that the Playstation 3 is the driving force behind Blu-ray sales.
According to the report, 87% of PS3 owners play Blu-ray movies on their console. While the EMA does expect much lower priced standalone players to outpace the PS3 this year, this is certainly a strong showing for Sony. It’s clear that quite a few PS3s have been sold based on Blu-ray alone, so we have to wonder how many people actually use it for playing games!
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Trade-in 4 PS2 Games at Amazon, Save $50 on a PS3
Mon Apr 13, 2009 at 02:30 PM ETTags: Amazon, Sony, PlayStation 3 (all tags)
In addition to the regular trade-in offer on PS2 games, Amazon is offering an additional $50 worth of savings towards the purchase of a PlayStation 3.
Between now and April 19, trade in four PS2 games using Amazon’s trade-in service and in addition to the gift card, Amazon will also knock $50 off the purchase of an 80GB PlayStation 3.
Complete details on this offer can be found by clicking here.
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PS3 BD-Live Update Now Available
Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 11:19 AM ETTags: PlayStation 3, Firmware Upgrades, Sony, Hardware (all tags)
Sony launched Firmware Update v2.20 for the Playstation 3 Monday night, officially upgrading the game console to a BD-Live (aka Profile 2.0) Blu-ray player.
As we've previously reported, this latest PS3 update was announced by Sony last week, and earns the PS3 the distinction of being the first Blu-ray player in North America to include BD-Live, enabling users to experience interactive features via specially-encoded Blu-ray discs, including downloadable video content, ringtones, live "interactive movie-based" multi-player online gaming and more.
The full list of Firmware Update 2.20's announced features are as follows:
- BD-Live (Profile v2.0) Upgrade
- "Resume play" will enable PS3 system to start playing a Blu-ray disc and DVD at the point it was stopped, even if the disc had been removed (BD-J format not supported)
- "Audio Output Device" will be a new Remote Play setting, enabling PSP to serve as a remote control for music played through PS3
- PS3 system's Internet browser will be enhanced: Video files directly linked from a Web page will be able to be streamed, and the browser's view speed will be improved
- DivX and WMV format videos larger than 2GB will be playable
- "Mosquito Noise Reduction" will be added as an AV setting in the control panel of the DVD/BD player for improved movie playback (BDMV format not supported)
Sony's press release for the PlayStation 3 Firmware Upgrade Version 2.20 can be read in full here.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- PlayStation 3 to Support BD-Live [Press Release]
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- PS3 BD-Live Firmware and Blu-ray Discs Due This Month (Mar 20, 2008)
- High-Def FAQ: Blu-ray Profiles Explained (Nov 23, 2007)
PS3 BD-Live Firmware and Blu-ray Discs Due This Month
Thu Mar 20, 2008 at 03:00 PM ETTags: Firmware Upgrades, Hardware, PlayStation 3, Sony (all tags)
Sony Computer Entertainment today announced a late-March launch for the latest firmware upgrade for the PlayStation 3, which will bring BD-Live and a host of additional interactive capabilities to the console.
Dubbed Firmware Upgrade Version 2.20, it will bring BD-Live (aka Profile 2.0) to the PS3, enabling users to experience interactive features such as downloadable video content, ringtones, live "interactive movie-based" multi-player online gaming and more.
Though Sony has not set an exact availability date for v2.20, it is due in "late March," which will make the PS3 the first Blu-ray player in North America to include BD-Live. (Panasonic previewed a stand-alone BD-Live Blu-ray player, the DMP-BD50, earlier this year at CES, with the unit expected to hit stores this May.)
"With Blu-ray established as the high-definition optical disc standard, more consumers are ready to jump in and take advantage of everything the format offers," said Scott A. Steinberg, vice president, product marketing, SCEA, via press release.
"Whether you want to download movie extras, send ringtones to your phone, or play interactive games, BD-LIVE will offer exciting new ways to enjoy a Blu-ray movie. With these regular firmware updates and future-proofed technology, SCEA is making the 10-year lifecycle of PS3 possible."
To inaugurate the release of the PS3's BD-Live upgrade, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has also announced the addition of exclusive BD-Live content to the upcoming Blu-ray releases of 'Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story' and 'The 6th Day.' Exact details on the additional BD-Live features have not yet been specified, but we'll keep you posted. (Note that these two titles are not the first BD-Live-enabled Blu-rays to be released, however, with Lionsgate's 'War' and 'Saw IV' having hit stores earlier this year with BD-Live features already on the discs.)
The full list of Firmware Update 2.20's announced features are as follows:
- BD-Live (Profile v2.0) Upgrade
- "Resume play" will enable PS3 system to start playing a Blu-ray disc and DVD at the point it was stopped, even if the disc had been removed (BD-J format not supported)
- "Audio Output Device" will be a new Remote Play setting, enabling PSP to serve as a remote control for music played through PS3
- PS3 system's Internet browser will be enhanced: Video files directly linked from a Web page will be able to be streamed, and the browser's view speed will be improved
- DivX and WMV format videos larger than 2GB will be playable
- "Mosquito Noise Reduction" will be added as an AV setting in the control panel of the DVD/BD player for improved movie playback (BDMV format not supported)
Sony's press release for the PlayStation 3 Firmware Upgrade Version 2.20 can be read in full here.
See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.
- Related links:
- PlayStation 3 to Support BD-Live (Press Release) [High-Def Digest]
- Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
- Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (Blu-ray)
- The 6th Day (Blu-ray)
- Saw IV (Blu-ray)
- War (Blu-ray)
- Earlier on High-Def Digest:
- CES: Panasonic Intros First BD-Live Blu-ray Player (Jan 06, 2008)
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