Sony Shows Off PS3 Dashboard Interface

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Sony Shows Off PS3 Dashboard Interface

Posted by ryuzaki0 on Saturday September 23, 2006 @07:26AM from the it's-all-shiny-i-am-surprised dept.

Gamespot has a rundown on Sony's demo of the PS3 dashboard, looking at the media use options (including music and photos), and the game download elements. From the article: "Harrison selected a slideshow option that arranged his photos as if they were set down on a flat white surface. As he cycled through them, dates were displayed in a handwritten font. Harrison stated that this was an example of one of many slideshow functions that will let people display their photographs in unique ways. The ornate interactivity comes courtesy of the PS3's RSX processor, which allows photos to be moved around like 3D objects." To see it firsthand, 1up has video of the interface demo.

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Sigh... by Eightyford · 2006-09-23 07:32 · Score: 4, Funny

The ornate interactivity comes courtesy of the PS3's RSX processor, which allows photos to be moved around like 3D objects.
So the processor allows this, eh? Not the code? This seems like a step down from the awesome supercomputer processor of the PS2 that allowed for EMOTIONS!

--
Religion for nerds. Stuff that really matters
1. Re:Sigh... by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-23 08:05 · Score: 0
  
  Leave it to Sony to show off something like this, "OMG You can put your pictures in a slideshow!".
  
  Yes, it's all very pretty; but why the hell show this off? Why not give us some, oh I don't know, substance? Is this their response to the big N showing off their channels; cause if it is, it's a sad, sad response.
  
  ---
  Here! Buy this car!
  
  Why should I buy this car?
  
  Because it's got a fancy cupholder.
Uh... by Ash-Fox · 2006-09-23 07:33 · Score: 4, Interesting

Harrison selected a slideshow option that arranged his photos as if they were set down on a flat white surface. As he cycled through them, dates were displayed in a handwritten font. Harrison stated that this was an example of one of many slideshow functions that will let people display their photographs in unique ways. The ornate interactivity comes courtesy of the PS3's RSX processor, which allows photos to be moved around like 3D objects.
I could do this on my Amiga 1200 at 1024x768 without a RSX processor. This is supposed to impress me?

--
Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
1. Re:Uh... by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-23 07:37 · Score: 1, Funny
  
  I can do this with a bunch of photos printed on pieces of paper without a RSX processor! Ha!
2. Re:Uh... by Threni · 2006-09-23 07:37 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  > I could do this on my Amiga 1200 at 1024x768 without a RSX processor. This is supposed to impress me?
  
  Fear the 7mhz Amiga's awesome 3d power! Let's not forget that the Amiga wasn't even powerful enough to playback MP3s...
3. Re:Uh... by UbuntuDupe · 2006-09-23 07:38 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Well ... okay, I see your point. I think a better example of something only the Cell processor can allow is real-time weapon change.
  
  --
  Apology to Ubuntu forum.
4. Re:Uh... by cxreg · 2006-09-23 07:41 · Score: 1
  
  I could do this on my Amiga 1200 at 1024x768 without a RSX processor. This is supposed to impress me?
  
  No. That demo is not for you.
  
  --
  
  God Fucking Damnit
5. Re:Uh... by _xeno_ · 2006-09-23 08:48 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Literally - no: it's not supposed to be that impressive.
  
  It's a set of "bonus features" you get with the PS3 as part of its "media center" thingy. Just like the original PlayStation could play CDs with colorful blobby visualization and the PS2 could play DVDs, the PS3 has a bunch of extra features related to digital media.
  
  This is just them showing the extra features to some journalists to give them an idea of the UI and what extra features are going to be available.
  
  So, no, they're not supposed to be incredibly impressive. It's a useless "bonus feature" that I doubt many people will ever use. The main features remain giant crabs and real-time weapon change. Or whatever they are.
  
  Seriously, there are plenty of legitimate reasons to laugh at Sony. This isn't one of them.
  
  --
  You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
6. Re:Uh... by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-23 09:33 · Score: 1, Informative
  
  Did you even read the Slashdot blurb? Here, just the important part:
  
  The ornate interactivity comes courtesy of the PS3's RSX processor, which allows photos to be moved around like 3D objects.
  
  See that? That's in the Slashdot blurb. You didn't even need to go through the trouble of reading the linked story. Sony is claiming that due to the awesome power of the PS3, they can show pictures. Amazing, huh? Showing pictures on a computer. I think I've been doing that ever since, oh, you know, I owned a PC.
  
  But wait, there's more. They can move pictures around like 3D objects. This definitely needs the power of the RSX and isn't something any intro to computer graphics course would teach someone to do in software.
  
  Read the article. I know this is Slashdot and no one does it, but give it a try.
  
  The next section on the media bar was the photo option, which will feature enhanced functionality thanks to the PS3's graphics processor and the cell.
  
  Wow, enhanced functionality due to the RSX and the cell! To display pictures on a TV at that!
  
  The next tab was the music section, which featured a 3D visualizer that used the RSX to create images in time with the music being played.
  
  3D visualizations! Amazing! We haven't had those since Winamp was released or anything!
  
  The last section of the PS3 media bar was the Web browser, which Harrison showed was capable of displaying multiple windows.
  
  Multiple windows! How impressive! A web browser that has multiple windows!
  
  Sony was suggesting that all these amazing features are only possible because of the RSX and the Cell. So, yes, they think they're amazingly impressive that they can do things that people have been doing for the past 15 years at least.
  
  Get your head out of Sony's ass and admit that they just shot themselves in the foot yet a-freaking-gain.
7. Re:Uh... by chris_eineke · 2006-09-23 10:07 · Score: 1
  
  You wouldn't want to listen the crap from that era anyways. :)
  
  --
  "All you have to do is be fragile and grateful. So stay the underdog." Chuck Palahniuk, Choke
8. Re:Uh... by Rallion · 2006-09-23 10:16 · Score: 1
  
  While you failed to address the ridiculous Sony-brand spin they put on it, I do realize the truth of your words. However, they raise a question in my mind.
  
  Why do they bother to put this stuff in? I seriously doubt that it will net them any additional sales. At all. Nobody's thinking "It can display PICTURES?! Here's $600!"
  
  It just seems like a waste of effort, from a business standpoint. It's the kind of thing that I would mess around with, but never pay for.
9. Re:Uh... by ozmanjusri · 2006-09-23 15:20 · Score: 1
  
  Fear the 7mhz Amiga's awesome 3d power! Let's not forget that the Amiga wasn't even powerful enough to playback MP3s.
  The GP referred to an Amiga 1200 - sold as stock with a 14MHz 680EC20 cpu. Even so, 7MHz A5/600s can play MP3s, and have been used in kiosk and mobile projects http://home.tu-clausthal.de/~utaba/A600/A600-e.htm l.
  
  --
  "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
10. Re:Uh... by Neoncow · 2006-09-23 17:57 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Well ... okay, I see your point. I think a better example of something only the Cell processor can allow is real-time weapon change.
  
  No, you've missed the point. The PS3's unique internetworking hardware components allow it to connect to a distributed network of other PS3's playing the same game and then dynamically change the price of the weapon for every weapon change. No other platform can match the sense of immersion the PS3 creates. That's where the true power of the Cell becomes apparent.
11. Re:Uh... by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-23 20:01 · Score: 0
  
  You're full of shit. The AGA chipset on the A1200 doesn't support 1280x768. The highest resolution you can get is super hires interlaced, which is 1280x512i on PAL machines, If you enable all 8 bitplanes or turn on HAM the graphics chips will eat all the chipmem bandwidth alive efectively killing the CPUs access to it.
  
  Next time you post make sure you know what you're talking about.
  
  Glass
12. Re:Uh... by Threni · 2006-09-23 20:14 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  > Even so, 7MHz A5/600s can play MP3s, and have been used in kiosk and mobile projects
  > http://home.tu-clausthal.de/~utaba/A600/A600-e.htm l.
  
  You're wrong. Look at the details again. The Amiga is not actually playing the MP3s.
13. Re:Uh... by Ash-Fox · 2006-09-23 23:59 · Score: 1
  
  The highest resolution you can get is super hires interlaced, which is 1280x512i on PAL machines, If you enable all 8 bitplanes or turn on HAM the graphics chips will eat all the chipmem bandwidth alive efectively killing the CPUs access to it.
  Try using the VGAOnly monitor driver while using one of the many custom monitor files off aminet. Then enable overscan to achieve 1024x768.
  
  --
  Change is certain; progress is not obligatory.
14. Re:Uh... by cluke · 2006-09-25 00:46 · Score: 1
  
  He didn't say it was a stock 1200. Maybe he had a Blizzard PPC with Blizzardvision graphics card?
I'm glad they're finally putting in a dashboard by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-23 07:34 · Score: 2, Funny

Because a PS3 is already going to cost as much as a cheap used car
1. Re:I'm glad they're finally putting in a dashboard by Jinky+Williams · 2006-09-23 12:47 · Score: 1
  
  That got a snicker out of me. +1
What?! by Squapper · 2006-09-23 07:36 · Score: 1

No giant enemy crabs?
Dashboard? by r_jensen11 · 2006-09-23 07:39 · Score: 1

Well, I can guess where they're going to put 3 of these in every car they do on Pimp My Ride
Nice by Yahweh+Doesn't+Exist · 2006-09-23 07:41 · Score: 1

I hate many of Sony's policies but that interface looks very nice. has absolutely nothing to do with console games of course, but reminds me of Apple in terms of slickness. it's like a combination of quartz + front row + expose and is good enough that I will be very happy if iTV had a little last-minute "inspiration" from it.
Is the photo change... by miscz · 2006-09-23 07:44 · Score: 2, Funny

real time?
1. Re:Is the photo change... by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-23 08:04 · Score: 0
  
  yeah, time really does go by as you look at all your pictures
Multiple web windows by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-23 07:51 · Score: 0

Wow, now if they just added some tabs to switch between them...
PS3 O'Clock? Nah... by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-23 08:02 · Score: 0

I was going to suggest that we consolidate the endless breaking PS3 'news stories' into a once-every-12-hours critical update, Patch Tuesday style. But then I realised that the flamers and fanboys would be able to time their attacks for maximum potency... http://it.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/09/22/133 9230 A boy can dream.
Rootkit by Sandmann · 2006-09-23 08:11 · Score: 4, Funny

So, does it explode before or after the rootkit kicks in?
youtube here, pretty lame by llZENll · 2006-09-23 09:15 · Score: 1

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7vdcjsgG2bU
Sony == Apple?... by DaitanGio · 2006-09-23 09:28 · Score: 1

Demo is not so impressive. Interface is very similar to Aqua Apple GUI, at least on the ideas behind.
And Aqua is born in 2000.
So is not so impressive to my eyes... but a little old stylish :)

--
-- Giovanni Daitan Giorgi http://gioorgi.com http://www.siforge.org
1. Re:Sony == Apple?... by ClamIAm · 2006-09-23 11:04 · Score: 1
  
  Interface is very similar to Aqua Apple GUI, at least on the ideas behind. ... And Aqua is born in 2000.
  
  Um, the ideas behind Aqua come from the Macintosh and Nextstep. And these systems are like 20 years old.
  
  Also, I should note that I'm not supporting your assertion that the PS3 interface is a "ripoff" of Aqua.
This is sad... by NexFlamma · 2006-09-23 10:10 · Score: 1

As much as Sony doesn't want to play the "My system is a games machine for playing fun games" game, they have really gone overboard with trying to sell it based on alternate features. It's not like the PS3 is going to replace a home computer for photo manipulation or viewing. Until Adobe decides to release Photoshop for PS3 (along with keyboards and tablets and trackball mice), this feature is simply a glorified picture frame.

This is a good reason why the PS3 won't do well. Sony doesn't seem to realize that we already have electronics that will do the extraneous functions of the PS3 better than the PS3 will. I have DVD players for playing movies, a computer for photo work, a printer attached to that computer to print them out (and, for that matter, with a Wii, I'd also have a machine to play games), so does that leave the PS3 out in the cold?

I, honestly, think it might.
1. Re:This is sad... by johnsmith_12345 · 2006-09-23 10:32 · Score: 1
  
  Seriously, the other day I saw a GPS Addon for the PS3. GP-FUCKING-S
  On a console....
  Why?
2. Re:This is sad... by NotthatFrankie · 2006-09-23 13:02 · Score: 1
  
  I think that is precisely the problem. I mean, how inconvenient or how limited can photo editing with an analog stick be? A mouse (or maybe the Wiimote) would be much more precise and faster. Although, I have to contest your DVD example. IIRC, the PS2 played DVDs (albeit with some slight problems, apparently) at a time where DVD players were relatively expensive. I hear many people bought it because it was an inexpensive DVD player. The only reason I would begin to consider a PS3 is for Blu-Ray, but since I don't have sufficiently big funds nor the strong desire to have an HD player, that "advantage" sort of falls flat.
3. Re:This is sad... by DrXym · 2006-09-23 21:55 · Score: 1
  
  This is a pretty strawman argument. Not everyone wants or needs Adobe Photoshop. Some people just want to show their family snaps and a PS3 (or XBox 360 or Wii) and an HDTV is a perfect way to do it. If you're moaning about the ability to show photos, your criticism should be aimed at every console not just the PS3. After all, the Wii has a picture viewer and makes great stock of it too (which isn't surprising considering the dearth of other features).
  As for DVD players etc., why shouldn't it offer playback? It reads DVDs, it has the CPU horsepower, and a TV-out. It's just dumb *not* to play DVDs. Sony might save themselves a lousy few dollars if it didn't but also deprive the system of a major feature which is easy to implement. Some people appreciate having DVD (and BD) playback, music, video content, games, browsing and other features from a single device rather than having to buy and configure multiple devices for the same functionality.
  Clearly Sony are not alone in this thinking. One only has to look at what Apple and Microsoft are doing to see they have similar plans.
4. Re:This is sad... by NexFlamma · 2006-09-24 15:17 · Score: 1
  
  Sure, it would be dumb to not include them, but it's even more dumb to market what should be a videogame system as something else.
5. Re:This is sad... by DrXym · 2006-09-24 20:56 · Score: 1
  
  So far most of the attention has been squarely on the video game aspects of the device. Aside from a few side shows the TGS was all about showing off the games it played. I haven't seen much coverage of other aspects of the device (e.g. music & video features) and there certainly hasn't been much technical meat to hang an opinion on.
6. Re:This is sad... by steveo777 · 2006-09-25 01:20 · Score: 1
  
  so does that leave the PS3 out in the cold?
  Well, if the power brick is anything like the 360's, then leaving the PS3 on in a cold room would proably be rather practicle during the winter. You can probably include that in the list of featurs. Right next to real time weapon change and giant crabs. Personaly, I'd rather not have any giant crabs as I imagine the normal kind are trouble enough...
  
  --
  This sig isn't original enough, it's time to come up with something witty...
I don;t know... by Rallion · 2006-09-23 10:12 · Score: 1

I think it looks pretty cool.

I mean, I don't actually care about any of it in the slightest, but it's pretty.

"Dashboard"-type things are always like that. I saw this story, and decided to take a look. I knew that nothing I saw would actually matter to me. I know there's nobody who's actually thinking, "Well, MAYBE I'll get a PS3, but I'll wait and see how good the console's built-in software is."

I just looked out of sheer curiosity. Which, really, is all these things ever are -- curiosities.
Now that's innovation! by 1053r · 2006-09-23 10:29 · Score: 1

Multiple browser windows, why didn't somebody else think of that before? These people are geniuses, I tell you!
</sarcasm>

If I want to browse web pages, I'll use my computer. If I want to play DVDs, I'll use my DVD player. If I want to play games, I'll use my Wii. Why sony doesn't just focus on games is beyond me.
1. Re:Now that's innovation! by pembo13 · 2006-09-23 11:50 · Score: 1
  
  To be fair. Sony isn't a gaming company. They are an electronics company (mostly at least) who happen to also make a video console. The only big game company that comes to mind in Nintendo, and well EA.
  
  --
  "Thanks for all the money you paid to us. We've used it to buy off ISO among other things" -Microsoft
2. Re:Now that's innovation! by DrXym · 2006-09-23 21:25 · Score: 1
  
  That is pretty bizarre thinking. The PS3 has the horsepower, and capacity to offer a browser, music and video playback and many other features in addition to games. So why shouldn't it offer them? Do you think that there is absolutely no benefit at all to having a single device by your TV which can do all of those things?
  Nintendo will also be crushed to learn you don't want a browser because they're making one for the Wii (and DS).
3. Re:Now that's innovation! by Anonymous Coward · 2006-09-24 19:36 · Score: 0
  
  Ok, Imagine I have a PS3 hooked up via HDMI to a 1920x1080 40" LCD display, it's online via 802.g to my home router. If I just want to check IMDB to see who the actor is in the movie I am watching, or want to check a game FAQ for a tricky bit in a game, why would I want to get up & go off to my study to use a PC? Sure I could have a PC in my living room as well (using another HDMI port, connection to the amp, spinning another harddrive & fans etc) but why?
  
  Once you have worked out that the PS3 can do the basics of webbrowsing (that had gaming & digital photo's about 90% of home computer use from what I see of friends & family use) probably good enough to not need the home computer in the living room, you start to see why MS regard consoles as a Threat .
And here's the giant dashboard interface by IntergalacticWalrus · 2006-09-23 10:59 · Score: 2, Funny

Glad they finally reproduced them nifty dashboard interfaces from those historic Japanese battles.
Like Lowfat? by Tony · 2006-09-24 02:27 · Score: 1

Stupid fucking flash video players. That is a trend I wish would DIE! DIE! DIE!

I can't watch the video, but from the comments, it sounds like the photo viewer is a half-hearted attempt at Macslow's Lowfat document browser.

That's how it seems from the comments, anyway.

--
Microsoft is to software what Budweiser is to beer.
Corrected link by Tony · 2006-09-24 02:30 · Score: 1

Sorry, I mangled the link and didn't preview. Bad combination.

I mean, Macslow's Lowfat

--
Microsoft is to software what Budweiser is to beer.
Oooh photos and music by kinglink · 2006-09-25 03:42 · Score: 1

I'm sure we'll have to rip our own music again, and figure out ways to download photos again.

PS3: Look at me I can play music and photos.
Xbox 360: So...

I love the fact they are trying to sell the PS3 as a entertainment center, yet the 360 has already done this a year ago. I'm sure it will be just as annoying the second time i have to load up my console with all the music that is already on the 360. However I'm wondering if they will give the player something as useful as the guide button. That alone is why the 360 is such a favorite in my gaming library.

Now let me make this clear, I was a Sony fan and a Nintendo Fan, I laughed at the xbox like everyone else. But the 360 just is so far ahead of the "current gen" systems that it was worth the purchase. The guide that slides in a mini view so you could play your music, create a chat session, read a message, is just genius for the gamer who doesn't want to constantly leave his game.

Sony can have the same thing with the PS3 but the 360 was there first. I never heard about Sony's microtransactions until after the Xbox Live took off. I never heard about Sony's motions controller til after the Nintendo's version took off. Sony is playing catch up with this console rather than just bringing a superior product to the market, and it's all going to sink them because while the 360 is a great system, I don't see the need to get a 360 with a 200 dollar blu-ray player which has video discs that cost more.

The 360 is just the right level of "next gen" for everyone, optional HDDVD support, high quality video (sure it might not look perfect in 4-5 years when everyone does 1080p (I probably still won't I'm not dropping 3k on a tv) but at that point the next Xbox will be ready and everyone will enjoy it. The only flaw with Microsoft is I wish developers supported SDTV a little more, but they don't make it necessary to have an HDTV. It's good for everyone except those who want the absolute most expensive/best stuff. And that's what you'll get with the PS3, the most expensive and what Sony will tell you is the best.