Edit: It should have read PS3 FW 2.30 coming. New PSN Store and DTS HD MA support

Hey Everyone! We know you’re all patiently waiting for the next PS3 firmware update, ver. 2.30, which includes the revamped PLAYSTATION Store. The good news is that it’s coming soon, and you can now see how the new user interface will look in this video demo featuring Grace Chen.

I have more good news to report today – the system software update will also add DTS-HD Master Audio output for Blu-ray videos, which means the high-definition visuals of Blu-ray will now be matched with the highest quality audio for the ultimate movie-watching experience on PS3.

DTS-HD Master Audio is literally bit-for-bit identical to the studio master recording and makes movie soundtracks and sound effects truly come to life. The technology delivers audio at the incredibly high rate of 24.5 mega-bits per second (Mbps) on Blu-ray disc, which is significantly higher than standard DVDs. DTS-HD Master Audio also offers 7.1 audio channels at 96k sampling frequency/24 bit depths, so you’ll be totally immersed in the sound. The firmware update will add DTS-HD High Resolution Audio as well, which is a similar output technology that requires less disc space. You can read more about both codecs here.

A lot of you, particularly the home theatre enthusiasts and audiophiles out there, have been asking us for this capability, and we can’t wait until you have an opportunity to pop in a compatible Blu-ray video to test it out for yourself.

source: http://blog.us.playstation.com/2008/04/10/firmware-v230-details-and-store-walkthrough/

All I have to say is wow. This is probably the best update since 1.80 last june (added a DVD upscaler) Apparently others think so too based on the comments in the article

That's cool, did you see how much more fluid everything looked compared to the old 'browser' store?

I didn't have that much of a problem with the old store as a whole, but I think I'd spend some time just browsing the new store for the heck of it just to enjoy how much more they've improved it.  

The old store is more like viewing a webpage. This one is like a program that resides on the PS3 and retrieves data/pictures from online, sort of like XBL. It looks nice.

I know this is important, but I'm not sure I'll ever be able to understand all the different audio codecs used in home theatre these days. What kind of receiver do you need to support the DTS HD standards? Those aren't even listed on the receiver spec charts on any of the online stores I've visited. Are they some of the codecs that go by multiple names for some reason? Or are they not even technically codecs, and don't need to be decoded by the receiver? (I think I heard something about that from somewhere, but then I've heard a lot of contradictory things).

I want Firmware V2.40

Good news!



This really looks great. It should be much easier to find stuff on the store now.  Hopefully I can finally track down the PlayStation Network Configuration file so I can play my ps2 games online.

Sony is definitely doing a great job at making the PS3 one hell of a blu-ray player. I only wish I had an HDTV and a 7.1 system to enjoy it. ; ; I'm crossing my fingers hoping that when the revamped store rolls out that they'll add PS2 classics so maybe I can finally get my hands on ICO.

Notice the full screen movie? I guess Sony is ready to offer real time DL movies as well, if they ever need to go that direction.

They are listed, but they are usually more expensive receivers, except in the case of a specific Onkyo model (still somewhat expensive, depending on what your price range is)

There are two ways to have the 'new' audio delivered to your speakers. I don't know which one will be supported for DTS-MA (or if both will)

1) The PS3 sends a bitstream signal that it gets straight off the disc and sends it to your receiver for decoding there. Only newer HDMI 1.3 receivers can do this, and I'm not even sure if all of them support DTS-MA.

2) The PS3 decodes the signal for you, and sends it in a sort of universal format, called multichannel Linear-PCM. Older (as in a few years) HDMI-capable receivers support this method, and this is the one I will use (since my receiver is HDMI 1.2, not 1.3.)

This is the same for all "new" sound formats, including the Dolby Digital ones, which are already supported.

If you don't have a receiver that can 'do' HDMI audio (most mainstream receivers from the past decade only have coaxial and optical), you won't be able to hear the new tracks. Whether or not this actually makes a difference in sound quality is a whole other discussion on its own, however.  Keep in mind that even if there is a difference in a real listening setting, you'll probably need a nice system to take advantage of it (i.e., a home-theater-in-a-box from walmart/best buy definitely won't do)

Dang, I can't wait for this. The store's new look is so much better; I can't wait to try it out!