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Sony's PSX Game/Media Hub Loses Features For Early Release

Posted by simoniker on from the the-doh-continuum dept.

StingRay02 writes "Sony's recently announced 'digital media hub', the PlayStation 2-based PSX, is getting a feature downgrade to facilitate getting it out of the door for the holidays in Japan, according to a GameSpot article. Apparently, the following features are being cut: HDD to DVD dubbing has been downgraded from 24x speed to 12x speed, CD-R playback will not be supported, DVD+RW playback will not be supported, MP3 file format will not be supported, TIFF and GIF file formats will not be supported, Sony's Cybershot movie format will not be supported. There will also be no antenna output, nor will it be compatible with the Playstation BB service. The original specs can be found on Sony's website." The company "plans to offer firmware updates to owners", but it's unclear as yet what features this will add.

2 of 49 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Sony's idea of firmware updates for PS2 by hawkbug · · Score: 2, Informative

    Actually... just because your Sony doesn't claim support for DVD+/-RW media doesn't mean it doesn't have it. I know for a fact that with the right brand of discs, you can get every single model of the PS2 sold in the U.S. to read them. I have used every model:

    SCPH-30001
    SCPH-30001 R
    SCPH-35001
    SCPH-39001
    SCPH-50001

    You have to usually burn the DVDs at 1x, NO FASTER! And I generally find that Verbatim discs work the best - but other brands do work, you just have to try one to know. The later models obviously do better, the SCPH-30001 is the worst out of the bunch - but it WILL read discs burned at 1x of both the -R and +R formats. If you can't get it to work, you aren't trying hard enough :)

  2. Xmas launch is very important by JazFresh · · Score: 2, Informative
    Even though they don't celebrate the birth of Christ in Japan, Xmas there is as much of a big deal to retailers as it is in the States. I've seen graphs of console sales vs month, and the number they sell in December is more than 10 times what they sell in all other months combined. So it's understandable that they'd do anything to launch for Xmas.

    And is it really so bad? All these features they're dropping are software features that can be upgraded later. Not the ideal situation, but certainly financially better for the company than delaying the launch.