Blu-ray discs to include PSP movies

If you're a fan of the Blu-ray format and you own a PSP, Sony is about to make your movie-watching experience even better.

Blu-ray discs to include PSP movies

Here's your first Blu-ray/PSP movie. At least Matthew Broderick was good in it..

Want to watch Blu-ray flicks on your Sony PlayStation Portable? Okay, you can't watch them natively on the handheld--the system tops out at 480x272 lines of resolution, after all. But according to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment America, now you can pull the PSP versions straight from the Blu-ray disc itself.

When is one thing better than two? When two features get folded into one, which is what Sony's done by integrating its Digital Copy movie files with its high-definition video Blu-ray format. Until now, Digital Copy files shipped on a separate DVD-ROM bundled with the Blu-ray movie disc. Now you'll be able to pull the Digital Copy file from the Blu-ray disc straightaway, eliminating the need for multiple media. The feature launches on November 10th with the Blu-ray release of the US version of Godzilla. (Though, gotta say, not an auspicious choice of movies there, Sony.)

Cue the usual back-patting from Sony execs, with shelf-syntax like "latest enhancement," "demonstrates the versatility," "deliver a multi-platform experience," "unique advantage," "forefront of innovation," "taking innovation one step further," etc.

What I'm wondering: Why'd it take this long to go single format? After all, Sony demoed the process back in January 2008.

And more importantly, will anyone care? You can grab movies direct from Sony's PlayStation Network. Sure, who can beat "two for the price of one," but if you're a Blu-ray videophile, do you really care about the handheld version?

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THE VERDICT by Dave Rudden Dave Rudden's Avatar

Now I'm really glad that I haven't purchased a UMD since 2006. Seriously, though, having a nice and easy option to put movies on PSP is icing on the cake of a Blu-ray disc (my preferred format) once they decide to apply this to good movies.

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monkbaine

This is big! I ove my Blu-Ray movies,and since I never have,nor do I ever plan,to buy a UMD,this option will go great with all the other features between the two systems. Great job Sony!

TRUPREDATOR

this is a pretty awesome idea i have to say.which probably explains one of the reasons they went ahead with the psp go being download only. so now im sure sony will have say over which copies get distributed to retail and which ones (psp less copies) are rental for use at video stores.im sure it would be all to easy to download them after renting them.see my point? sony dont wanna lose money.so the only way you will be able to get them free is from a friend.good idea though i aplauad you sony.now keep em comin,since the psp go doesnt sound as much like a bonehead move as before.though physical copies are still the best way to go.

KILLPEOPLE


cool, but Godzilla as the first feature? WTF is that?! I like the idea, but why so long to finally have the ability to do this? I'll be looking forward to renting more blurays

SilentGhosteye

I can careless, watching a movie and a handheld or portable device is a waste of time and not as entertaining as watching it on a TV.

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