Sony Playstation 3: Say goodbye to your Tivo, your iPod, your..........Xbox 360?
No price, no release date, no playable demos = no problem. The hype machine is officially rolling
as more details leak from the latest PSM article detailing how the PS3 will change the world upon it's launch later
this year. Why should your credit card be running in fear of a pre-order? Let's run down the list:- DVR
- Online service that will surpass Xbox Live
- an iTunes Music store-style service for downloading high definition movies music and more
- Better media center functionality than the 360
- Stream DVR'd content or disc-based movies to your PSP over the Internet via LocationFree
- Fall release
Filed under: Sony
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DLP @ Feb 3rd 2006 8:58AM
When it comes to Sony, my doubts run deeper than my excitement. The PS2 never delivered as a DVD player, which, as an early adopter, was a big reason I bought it. Sony has the worst record of any company when it comes to a consumers legal uses of content (can you say root kit?). At the end of the day, the PS3 is first and foremost and game console and that will be its primary function. Ive learned to lower my expectations when it comes to thinking a game a console is going to be the next greatest thing.
Even if all these neat-o features are well executed (unlike the PS2), my fear is that the best features of the device will only be interoperable with other Sony products. Theres just no way Im going to buy into a feature set that requires me to sell my soul to Sony (selling my soul to Apple on the other hand . . . ).
For the longest time I thought I would be a Blu-Ray earlier adopter as well. But the starting price point is twice that of the HD-DVD and there are only 2 launch titles that I would buy compared to at least six HD-DVD titles. A great player that plays crap movies cant be great player. Plus I still want to punish Sony for that root kit thing. Why should we trust Sony devices with access to our home networks after that???
John @ Feb 3rd 2006 9:11AM
If that thing can be a HD PVR and play blu-ray discs, i'll buy one for the sole purpose of the PVR and blu-ray player. The games would be extra, if i even used it for that. If this stuff is true, I cant wait for it to come out and for some home brew hackers to get ahold of it and make it sing and dance too. Although, will it be able to interface with a DirecTV reciever?
Matt Gerlach @ Feb 3rd 2006 9:20AM
Throw my bias aside, I do not think they will be able to surpass the Xbox Live service on the first try...without copying MAJOR features that the service has had since day one, and going against what Sony has said all along (they said a unified system wasnt necessary).
That and better media center fucntionality? Not with Windows Media Center.
Alex Pacin @ Feb 3rd 2006 9:25AM
Someone over at Digg mentioned that while the PS3 may eventually support all of these features (pipe dream?), they may not all be available at launch. That scenario seems very likely to me, especially given the recent feature progression in the PSP. Like John said, if it all comes true, and it is even remotely affordable, the games will come second. Looks like it's time to find a second job . . .
Porchland @ Feb 3rd 2006 9:39AM
Hmmm, I'm more and more curious about whether Apple is working on a similar device.
Michael @ Feb 3rd 2006 10:17AM
I've got an Xbox 360 and I'm pretty happy with. My main reason for purchasing the Xbox 360 was for the games itself. Pure and simple. I have mine hooked up to my 60" HDTV and I love it.
I would consider purchasing a PS3, but I think I'll "wait and see" as more details are released. I currently have a HD DVR (well, TiVo) from DirecTV. So, the DVR function for the PS3 is a nice feature to have, but not a nessecity (for me). As for the PS3 online service, I'm sure it'll be great, but I don't even use my Xbox Live feature on my Xbox 360 (yet). So, again, it's not a (big) nessecity (at least in my view).
And as for it displaying 1080p.... well how many people out there currently own an HDTV??? Seriously?? Not that many (at least not yet). I'm the only person in my entire family who actually owns an HDTV. And I'm the only person in my family who owns a HD receiver. My receiver and HDTV displays up to 1080i. To me, that's just perfect. Yes, 1080p probably looks even better, but who can afford to get an HDTV---that's also is capable of displaying 1080p??? Most people who might be considering getting an HDTV soon will most likley go for the lesser expensive one that displays up to 720p and/or 1080i (just my opinion).
Looks like the PS3 will be a "hot item" (whenever it's released) and I'm sure all the features on it will be great. But, I wouldn't be surprised to see Sony release 2 different PS3 consoles (like with Xbox 360 core console and Xbox 360 premium console). Because it looks like a "deluxe PS3" console (that also has a Blu-Ray HD DVD player built into it) will probably cost around $499.99 (minimum).
I don't know what you all think, but that's a big "dent" in most people's credit cards.
Just my opinion, though.
Dave @ Feb 3rd 2006 11:06AM
A PS3 with all of the functionality that Sony has thrown out there would cost $800 or more. HD DVR? There's $100 in storage space alone (cost, not retail). blu-Ray is already a premium, mandatory device in there. Didn't they also say 4 gigabit ethernet ports? And two HDMI outputs? And support for 7 Bluetooth controllers? And wait, they're backing blu-Ray in a big way but they're also going to offer up HD movie downloads? That would offer direct competion for blu-Ray, and give people a comparison for what blu-Ray really offers. They would have to compress the hell out of the downloadable movies, making them DVD-9 size or smaller for a viable download.
Sony is just throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks for future add-ons, imo. Launch will see a PS3 with almost none of the capabilities this PSM article is hyping.
Mr_jones @ Feb 3rd 2006 11:26AM
Ok, this is just silly. An online service that exceeds Xbox Live. You have to be a fanboy drunk on Sony Koolaid to believe this one. So Sony is going to pull an online service out of its ass that is magically better than Live when Live is the most advanced online service for any hardware platform anywhere (beyond iTunes, I would say, since iTunes is simply a download service)? How is this going to happen? An online service is about software and being able to manage a large online service, something msoft might know something about given they are a software company and have a little service called MSN. I think Live is pretty elegant (if you say its not, your a blind Sony or Nintendo fanboy who hasn't tried it). And msoft is just rolling out the 360 version. You don't think they have some bullets in the chamber for when Sony launches their's? Wake up, and lighten up on the Koolaid, it's killing your common sense.
cubbiechris @ Feb 3rd 2006 12:13PM
Online service better then Live? Gimme a break! That's laughable at best. No way, no how is Sony going to compete with the 360 online. I love my 360 and PS3 is going to have to be around 600-700 dollars to do all that it wants to.
Justin @ Feb 3rd 2006 1:17PM
Question: How wil the PS3 be able to have a DVR when it will not even have an HD out of the box? Its been widely reported and Sony has publicly stated that the PS3 will not ship with an HD. At best it will be an add on.
Of course I will buy one, but there is no way that everything we are hearing is true. Someone has to be wrong, or at least leaving some details out...like you can have DVR but you have to buy something else to do it.
And yes it is going to be big bucks. I bet $550 at least if you throw in the HD.
p.s. If you need documentation on the "no HD" thing just Google: "sony PS3 no hard drive". Here is a little piece of what you will find via CNET:
"Hard drive: One of the latest details to be confirmed for the PS3 was that the console's hard drive will be an optional accessory instead of an out-of-the-box feature; Ken Kutaragi cleverly spun the omission in Sony's favor by rationalizing that "no matter how much [space] we put in it, it won't be enough." When the hard drive does arrive, it'll carry a Linux-based operating system, which we imagine will coordinate the console's nongaming capabilities."
Natiahs @ Feb 3rd 2006 2:15PM
A few points:
1. PS3 can push a single 1080p or dual 1080i signals.
2. PSP is already LocationFree TV compatible as of firmware version 2.6. You'll just be able to use PS3 instead of a PC to stream programs to it. You can buy a LocationFree TV base station on Sony's website now.
3. The iTunes-style music store is Sony Connect. Remains to be seen how quickly the service ramps up as right now its selection is fairly limited.
My point is that most of the "new" PS3 functionality has in fact already been implemented. I don't expect Sony to announce much in the way on new features until E3.
Natiahs
pete @ Feb 3rd 2006 5:02PM
Let's just take these apart shall we?
* DVR
Won't the PS3 need video in to do this? None of the specs thrown around so far have included video in, not to mention the storage they'd need...
* Online service that will surpass Xbox Live
Suuuure. Sony's just going to magically pull a HUGE online infrastructure out of it's butt overnight. riiight
* an iTunes Music store-style service for downloading high definition movies music and more
Remeber how aggressive Sony was with their DRM scheme protecting their music? Imagine what they'd do to protect their HD movies...
* Better media center functionality than the 360
Not.gonna.happen. Msoft has the media center sewn up and locked into the 360. You cannot stream Sony Connect anything from pc to anywhere.
You think you'll be able to move any Sony content around the house? See DRM entry above...
* Stream DVR'd content or disc-based movies to your PSP over the Internet via LocationFree
Fatty McChancerson. Again, the PS3 would have to have video in, and a built-in locationfree base station.
* Fall release
In Japan maybe. Actually, this is the only claim that has a chance of being true.
Hype? Sony?
Two words: Emotion Engine.
Major Ynos @ Feb 3rd 2006 8:20PM
Ok Guys, Even I don't believe this, with everything taking in account this would more look like a $1200 game rig. Sony nor Nintendo nor anybody out there will ever surpass the Xbox Live service, Xbox Live has more than 6 years of development where Sony thinks they just give it to their customers.
Just as Pete stated below, Sony can only dream of what MS has accomplished on Xbox Live and with bringing this media into our livingroom connecting to everything else we have.
Sorry Sony, but even my ass doesn't believe you can surpass Live, Media Center and the DVR/Tivo is just plain bullocks to try to convince you sick fan base.
And let us not even start about the DRM shit you 'Sony' have done, they want to control my music and my photos and what more, but guess what I will never buy a Sony product again, you lost all my trust.
Go back to making walkmans, o shit, you lost that war to, thumbs up to Apple.
A final laugh, who is gonna buy a BR for $1500+ while we can have the same with HD-DVD for $500, you must be kidding huh.
Sony, you're not gonna lose 1 war, you will lose 2
Major Ynos @ Feb 3rd 2006 8:50PM
Oh Sony and PhonyFanBoyz, you all make me laugh my ass off.
Sony will never, for sure not in the next 5 years, deliver a system that comes even close to Xbox Live, how can you fight that battle with a giant like MS.
Everything they state here as their offerings must at least cost a $1000 and then they still make a lot of loss.
Every fan boy that thinks he will get this for $400 or $500 must admit himself to a nutcase institution.
But we all know Sony, so much promises so little end results, just like the Toy Story Graphics for the PS2, the recent facts that where delivered on the fact of the in game video that was shown on the E3, we all know by now who are the biggest liars in the industry.
Please kids (sony fanboys), do some research, check the current prices of all these single components and put them in one box, take about 30% of that price for devaluation then you still get around of a pricetag of $1200
When you look around do a search directly what they want to do with your music (rootkit) and pictures with the digital cameras and DRM, they even want to control your picture you would like to shar with you family and if you give it their way you wont be able to do so.
Sony has lost another customer, never one Sony product in my house.
OrangeSun @ Feb 4th 2006 2:00PM
I am a comment spammer.
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