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Sony To Use PS2 Chip In Flat-Screen TVs

Posted by simoniker on from the precursor dept.

Thanks to GameSpot for its news story reporting that Sony is intending to use the PlayStation 2's CPU chip in a flat-screen TV that will be released in Japan this fall. According to the story: "Sony plans to take advantage of the PS2 chip's CG capabilities to create a high-quality graphical user interface (GUI) for the flat-screen TV [apparently similar to the PSX's DVR menu in style], which will allow smooth and easy control in navigating the TV's menu." There's no indication of any game-like functions for the TV, but: "The release of the new flat-screen TV can also be considered as the prelude to Sony's next-generation electronic products, some of which are expected to operate using the PS3's Cell chip when they are released in 2006."

2 of 26 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Well done Sony.. by C32 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    RTFA (Read the fine article)..

    They will be using a PS2 CHIP, not an entire PS2 with drive assembly, to drive on screen menus.. IE 3d graphics buzzing around when you want to change the channel :)
    This is NOT for playing games or dvds.

    IMO a very smart move by sony; use the economies of scale for their old-tech, one-chip PS2's to differentiate their other consumer goods..
    All LCDS and plasmas are more or less identical anyway, so cabinet design and OSD quality will be key factors in TV purchasing...

  2. Re:Can we get one of these in my cable box? by raygundan · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Tivos are a mixed bag. Series 2 units are fast and responsive compared to the Series 1 units, but DirecTV tivos (which are basically Series 2 units) are so slow that it can take 30 seconds to re-order your season passes, 5 seconds for the "now playing" list to pop up, etc...

    Why you can't display or re-order a list of 30 text entries in less than a second with a 200MHz CPU baffles me. Sure, it won't play Doom III, but it really ought to respond more quickly to UI interactions. I'm not sure why the DirecTV Tivos are so awful-- it's the same hardware as the Series 2 Standalones.