Sony's Grave Error: The $499 HDMI-Lacking PS3. No HDMI, no HDCP. That equals no 1080p thanks to ICS. This equation spells disaster.by Gerry Block ]May 19, 2006 - Prior to Sony's pre-E3 media conference early last week, it was more or less impossible to bring up the future of the PlayStation 3 without launching into a debate on the subject of price point. After months, if not years, of rumors suggesting the console would not ship for less than a king's ransom, no journalist or fan could say a word about the PS3 without a careful mention that if Sony wasn't willing to sell the system at huge loss, the console was doomed. Last week at their pre-E3 media-conference, Sony finally dropped the proverbial bomb, announcing two PS3 models, differentiated by $100 in price but potentially far more in capabilities. In word, Sony downplayed the disparity between the $499 and $599 PS3 versions, citing the primary difference between the consoles at the time of the announcement as the difference in built-in hard drive space, namely 20 GB for the low-end and 60 GB for the high-end. Within minutes, however, journalists homed in on a variety of factors that placed the lower-end PS3 into contention for the dreaded "tard-box" classification of crippled-console. Not only does the $499 PS3 lack built-in support for Wi-Fi broadband and SD and Compact Flash memory cards, but rather shockingly, the machine does not possess HDMI output. Rumors spread like wild fire that the $499 machine was also missing Bluetooth support for wireless controllers, spreading fury among fans and detractors alike. A week after the announcement, Sony representatives have gone on record with the press, officially clarifying that the $499 console will support Bluetooth and that Wi-Fi adapters and flash-memory reader add-ons will be made available for the console. The hard-drive will also be upgradeable, as Phil Harrison, long time SCEA heavyweight, told GI.biz, "You can upgrade to whatever size of drive you like. You can put in any drive that you like?it is a computer, after all." Calming though such statements are, what may prove truly calamitous for the budget-model PS3 is its lack of support for HDMI. On the surface, the lack of such a feature does not spell immediate disaster, as HDMI is merely a high-end video-cable that couples digital image signals with digital sound, essentially equivalent to a DVI and optical audio connection combination. The $499 PS3 model will be able to transmit games in full 1080p High-Definition via component cables without a problem, and far more surround sound receiver-amplifiers support optical-audio than HDMI. Where the pain will set in, however, is when Blu-ray movies begin making use of HDCP/AACS copy-protection and the infamous "Image-Constraint-Token" (ICP). At the demand of the major Hollywood studios, both HD-DVD and Blu-ray standards have been developed to support this next-generation copy-protection scheme that protects Hi-Def movies from piracy and illegal digital distribution. While AACS is more or less innocuous from the standpoint of a general consumer, HDCP is destined to rain frustration and disappointment upon the masses, or at least those who purchase the $499 PS3 package. The HDCP system is the means by which each piece of hardware involved in transmitting a High-Def movie signal, from player, to wire, to amplifier, to HDTV or computer monitor, checks for support and protection from hacking and piracy before passing the signal along the chain. Each device must have a specially programmed HDCP chip, and any link in the chain that lacks such protection will cause the entire system to fail, causing movies encoded in 1080p Hi-Def to down-convert to 540p, by means of what is known as the "Image Constraint Token" capability of AACS/HDCP copy-protection scheme. The crux of the $499 PlayStation 3's problem is the fact that HDCP copy-protection only supports digital connections, namely HDMI. Cutting straight to the chase, the $499 PS3 will not be able to play Blu-ray movies in 1080p High-Definition the moment Blu-ray DVDs begin implementing ICP. Though most studios have agreed to a one or two year grace period in which the Image Constraint Token will not be implemented while American consumers make the switch to next-gen DVD and purchase HDCP-ready HDTVs and PCs, barring a massive retreat on the part of the Hollywood studios, HDCP and ICP are the future of Hi-Def movies, and the $499 PS3 will not be invited to the party. Sony's thought process in crippling the $499 PS3 in this respect is positively dumbfounding. The general populace has not been educated in the intricacies of HDCP / AACS copy-protection, and a variety of electronics manufacturers are presently involved in class-action law-suits filed by consumers after the companies erroneously claimed support for the new format when their products were, in fact, incompatible (most notably ATI and NVIDIA at this point in time). Legions of buyers will purchase the $499 PS3 version, believing that it represents an excellent value as both a next-gen DVD player and game console, only to discover that its Blu-ray capabilities are stripped a year or two into its lifecycle. At the least, the decision to remove HDMI support from the $499 PS3 is a badly designed means of protecting the market for the higher-end stand-alone Blu-ray players that Sony and its partners plan to launch, beginning with the $999 Samsung BD-P1000 that will hit the streets on June 25. At worst, Sony is committing a massive breach of consumer trust if it markets both the $499 and $599 PlayStation 3 consoles as Blu-ray movie players and does not seek to educate buyers on the differences between them. Considering that, thus far, the most direct communication between manufacturers and consumers on the topic of HDCP support has been, at best, obfuscation, and at worst out-right lies, the chances that Sony aims to do the right thing in this regard are low. There's still a chance that things might be set right. The Playstation 3's architecture has thus far been somewhat amorphous, as there has been word that the motion-sensing capabilities of the PS3 controller were added only weeks before E3, which suggests the possibility that Sony could recant under pressure and add HDMI output to the $499 console. It's also possible the word has gone out among electronics manufacturers that Hollywood is backing off demands for HDCP and ICS, which might explain why Microsoft thinks it can get away with producing a USB-based HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360, a console that most certainly does not support HDCP natively (the standard wasn't finalized until the late first quarter of 2006) and presently does not even have wires capable of transmitting a digital signal (DVI or HDMI). Such a change of heart would be rather uncharacteristic of the movie industry, however, despite the fact that the algorithms that serve as the basis of HDCP-protection are fundamentally flawed and will be likely hacked and broken within a year of their implementation. Until Sony announces a $499 PS3 design change, we at IGN Gear can, in good faith, only recommend that interested buyers steer clear of the lower-priced PS3 model or make the purchase fully aware that they may in future suffer severe repercussions when it comes to Blu-ray movie playback -- one of the key features that puts the PS3's price point above competing systems. 540p, the resolution that the Image Constraint Token will down-convert 1080p movies to in non-HDCP systems, is by no stretch of the imagination Hi-Def, and will, without major changes in PS3 design or studio policy, be the future of Blu-ray playback on the $499 PS3. Sony must either make this truth clear to buyers or make a hardware alteration. Any other response should be counted as negligent and anti-consumer, grave mistakes for a company that is risking so much on the PS3 and Blu-ray's success.
I can see what wildthing will say now, " Thats not true", "ign doesnt know what there talking about". Now they want a quide button on there controller like xbox 360 then motion senson like wii Where the genius, the creativity ? Better yet wheres the HDMI ??!!! You do realize around the net there calling the $500 ps3 the retarted version ?? Right now the only difference xbox 360 and ps3 is blu ray. I really dont care about that
PWN... This is how the sales SHOULD go 1.Wii 2.360 3.PS3 ... But for some reason, Sony has brainwashed half the gaming world and this is how it will be (not to mention that most Nintendo freaks have left) anyways... 1.PS3 2.360 3.Wii
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=9642 Industry News divider June 7, 2006 Kutaragi: PS3 A 'Computer', Not A Console Kutaragi: PS3 A 'Computer', Not A Console In remarks made to Japanese website Impress Watch, and translated by consumer website Beyond3D, President and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Ken Kutaragi has commented in more detail on the concept that the PlayStation 3 is a computer, rather than a game console. Kutaragi pointedly commented of the next-gen console, which is due to launch this November at dual price points of $499 and $599 in North America: "We don't say it's a game console (*laugh*) - PlayStation 3 is clearly a computer, unlike the PlayStations [released] so far." He went on to outline a scenario where many parts of the PS3 were upgradable, much more like a PC, noting: "Since PS3 is a computer, there are no "models" but "configurations"", and continuing (though talking in the theoretical): "I think it's okay to release a [extended PS3] configuration every year". It's clear from the comments that Sony is indicating that it will be possible to upgrade hard drives and perhaps even other components easily. The Sony CEO gave another example in the interview: "As PS3 is a computer... it also wants to evolve. We'll want to upgrade the HDD size very soon - if new standards appear on the PC, we will want to support them. We may want the [Blu-ray] drive to [have a writable version upgrade]." He then tempered his comments: "Well, BD may not develop like that, though." But extensibility is what Sony is stressing that you get for the price of a PS3, nonetheless. Kutaragi's comments echo a recent Phil Harrison interview in which he commented: "We believe that the PS3 will be the place where our users play games, watch films, browse the Web, and use other computer functions. The PlayStation 3 is a computer. We do not need the PC." The combined executive comments appear to signify a change in marketing tactics for the company, who may have always had this scenario in mind, but are pushing it much more strongly following a somewhat mixed E3 showing from a PR perspective. My General Words: There are still some large misconceptions about the PS3 and certain things that a lot of people holler and yell about are false. http://www.ps3forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=21608&start=750 1. 1080p on the $500 system is possible. 1080p output is possible through the graphics adapter of the PS3(RSX), and is supported by component video cables, as well as anything a step up from it including DVI, and obviously HDMI. There is reasonable concern for 1080p protected media content if you are worried about that with the Blue-Ray functionality with the PS3. It is entirely possible that at some point in the future "true HD" content will be constrained if it isn't going through an HDMI signal. This would basically degrade a 1080p signal to 540p. Most Internet speculation suggests that a majority of the media publishing companies wouldn't utilize such a feature with their releases until closer to 2010, and it would make perfect sense given that very few consumers will have HDMI enabled TVs and players until much later. To further beat this horrendous outcry, I’m a bit baffled at the price being complained about in conjunction with the HD playback of the PS3. If you really care about the difference between 1080p and 540p, then you probably have or will be getting a 1080p TV. In which case I truly do wonder why the $100 dollar extra cost means so much to you. In fact, based on what I just said, getting a higher priced PS3 is really only a precaution against the situation if the media companies actually do restrict HD signals. And just an FYI, 1080p games are completely unaffected by the Blue-Ray/HDMI restrictions. 2. "Xbox 360 has more than 3x the general purpose power of the PS3?" "Cell processor has no branch prediction?" "Xbox360 has more memory system bandwidth?" If you have read something suggesting either of the above, it's probably from http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/617/617951p1.html that horrible article IGN posted. Disproving that myth requires some education on a number of various technical subjects. I would take the time to note that information in the article came out during E3 2004, within 1-2 days after Sony announced the general specifications of the PS3 hardware, and the information was provided by PR (public relations) employees from Microsoft. Without calling the information flat out "false" (which is damn near is) it should be accepted that it's far from thorough and thus shouldn't even claim to be comprehensive. I just wanted to put this here in general, but you should research a lot more if you want a more in depth look at the processing differences between the Xbox360 and PS3. I’m very likely to be posting in a technical discussion thread on the hardware of the two consoles in the future so I’ll leave that out here. 3. No Wi-Fi != no PSP communication. (!= means not equal) The PSP can be connected to the PS3 via it's USB cable. Although using this approach, it would require extra work being that WiFi communication is over the network which would imply programming communication using a network library, versus a USB library if it is connected through a USB port. Although to avoid this problem, a developer could count on the end user having a wireless network in their house hold in which you could simply connect your PS3 via ethernet cable to a household wireless router, and given that your PSP is on the same network wirelessly, both devices can talk to each other using "WiFi" even if it isn't direct from the PS3. Essentially that method would be the same manner as "infrastructure mode" communication between PSPs. Another thing to mention is that if you're a PSP owner, the lack of Memory Stick Duo support be compensated for if you just use the USB cable and connect it to the PS3. By doing this, the drive is read through the PSP, using the PSP's memory stick hardware. 4. PS3 copied Wii's controller? The motion sensing abilities of the Wii-mote are considerably more advanced than the PS3's simple yaw-pitch-roll sensing. And it would be pretty stupid for Sony to add a new feature to its console which is clearly *inferior* to its competitor, for the sake of competition. Motivation to add tilt to the PS3 might have been a hasty decision in light of a patent issue with its Dual Shock technology, but in no way is it a direct rip off of what Nintendo is doing, nor does it claim to offer a completely new way of gaming. It does offer degrees of control which are easily consumed by certain game genres at a very low cost to Sony and consumer (given the technology is old and cheap). It feels like Sony is definitely trying to add something to their controller though because it would be a bit disappointing of the controller returned to nothing more than buttons and the two sticks. Adding it to the base PS3 controller does give an advantage to games that which to be PS3 exclusive. They can expect the hardware to be there, and even though it wouldn’t be the primary method of control, the added dimensions can serve a significant purpose in many games. For example, a game like MGS could use the tilt functions to allow snake to peek around corners, any tactical FPS or third person shooter could use it for the same thing too. Racing games could use it for fine control steering, and many games could use it for camera control. I don’t expect it to be revolutionary, but it is a tool which can be used very effectively with more complex games. With the tilt technology, the Playstation controller still remains the most functional out of all of them for the most wide variety of games that require an extensive set of controls. 5. "Sony copied the center button design from Xbox" - So how about those second pair of triggers on that Xbox360? Honestly, if you're thinking the above, you should get a clue. The button is also completely necessary given that the PS3's interface will serve a larger purpose than what the PS2 had, and thus there should be a dedicated button to access it. They could have put the button anywhere, but why make it hard or awkward to reach? The center is pretty simple. For the record, I don't even look down on MS for adding second triggers. I think it’s great they moved to that direction especially given that they realize that games which use both analog sticks had only two buttons to work with while aiming and shooting instead of four. I honestly have problems playing Halo when I have to take my hand off the looking control analog stick to melee someone who had gotten too close, or to pick up a different weapon in the middle of a fight. Flight sims fair even worse with a limited number of buttons. I think it’s dumb that people reverse the issue with the change in the PS3 second triggers, and say that PS3 copies the taller button from XBox. Given that pressure sensitivity was added last generation, and overall the PS3 is trying to be a more "precise" controller, making the triggers stick out more for the purpose of pressure sensitivity is a natural adjustment. 6. "Sony LIED to us!!!" Yeah, get over it – is what I would say. A huge percentage of E3 press conference talk, especially from the big hardware makers, is *expletive deleted* from year to year. Also, with the console coming out a full year later, (although the delay was inevitable, so we all knew it would be more than a year's wait) it should have been obvious that there would be hardware changes made. In retrospect, a lot of the promises Sony made at E3 2005 were clearly insane. The number of communications ports that it supported, and especially the dual 1080p thing. It is nice to know the most important feature, a standard hard drive, will be on every system. Also the wireless controller is on every system (Xbox360 core has a wired controller), and the blue ray movie playback is on every system and not an add-on feature.
Unfortunately I cant take some random guys info from a ps2 forum seriously . Thats no different then listening to the people on here and there trade scenarios during the off season. Nice try
:rofl: Did you even play games? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_2 Sony made exclusivity deals with publishers in order to pre-empt its competitors. Critically acclaimed games on the machine include the Grand Theft Auto III series and the ever-popular Final Fantasy (Square Enix) series, the latest two Metal Gear Solid titles, Devil May Cry and Devil May Cry 3, the SSX series, latest three Ace Combat titles, the Square Enix/Disney collaboration Kingdom Hearts, and first-party Sony Computer Entertainment brands such as the Gran Turismo, SOCOM, Ratchet & Clank and Jak and Daxter series, ICO, Shadow of the Colossus, God of War and the Everquest spin-offs Champions of Norrath and Champions: Return to Arms. The PS2 has also been the home to many music games such as the latest DDR games, and the newer rock game Guitar Hero.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Component_video Analog component video Analog video signals (also called components) must provide red, green and blue signals to create a television image. The simplest type, RGB, consists of the three discrete red, green and blue signals sent down three coaxial cables. There are a number of schemes which vary according to how synchronization is handled. If a synchronisation signal is sent on the green channel, it is called sync-on-green. Some schemes use a separate sync channel, for instance the European SCART connection scheme in which the video signal occupies four (R,G,B + sync) of the 21 pins in the interface. SVGA, another RGB scheme, is used worldwide for computer monitors (this is sometimes known as RGBHV, as the horizontal and vertical synchronisation pulses are sent on separate lines). An alternative type of componentization does not use R,G,B components but rather a colorless component, termed luminance combined with one or more color-carrying components, termed chrominance, that give only color information. Mulitiple chrominance channels allow for more precision and speed in mapping the RGB colour space. This componentization scheme is a linear transformation of the sRGB color space. This type of signal is usually what is intended when people talk of component video today. Variants of this format include YUV, YCbCr, YPbPr and YIQ commonly used in video systems. In component video systems, additional synchronization signals may need to be sent along with the images. The synchronization signals are commonly transmitted on one or two separate wires, or embedded in the blanking period of one or all of the components. In computing, the common standard is for two extra wires to carry the horizontal and vertical components ('separate syncs'), whereas in video applications it is more usual to embed the sync signal in the Y component ('sync on luminance'). S-Video is another type of component video signal, because the luminance and chrominance signals are transmitted on separate wires. This connection type, however, cannot produce high definition (pictures with more than 480 interlaced lines of video for NTSC or more than 576 lines of interlaced video for PAL). Component video is capable of producing signals such as 480p, 720p, 1080i and 1080p, but digital connections such as DVI (video only) and HDMI (which can also include up to 8 channels of audio) give better results at the higher resolutions (up to 1080p). HDMI also includes both a video and audio signal in a single cable. Analog video standards RF connector - Composite video - S-Video - RGB - Component video Examples of international component video standards are: * RS-170 RGB (525 lines, based on NTSC timings, now EIA/TIA-343) * RS-343 RGB (525, 625 or 875 lines) * STANAG 3350 Analogue Video Standard (NATO military version of RS-343 RGB)
I am a big gamer. I dont have HD TV yet. I dont hook my systems up to the computer and I have a DVD player already so I dont need that. All I care about is which system has the better games, which system has the games that I like and which system am I most comfortable and enjoy the most. Anything else is nonsense for me. In the past it has been Sony's and it probably will be again when it comes out. I can tell you this though, the Wii isnt even on my radar.
That is the biggest BS yet..... No one even Played Halo that Much.. Rainbow6 3 was one of the Biggest ONLINE games and that is what made the XBOX superior. And that is also why wii and ps3 won't come close. XBOX's online community is huge....
