PlayStation Network Expanding To Involve Other Devices

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PlayStation Network Expanding To Involve Other Devices

Posted by Soulskill on Wednesday January 6, 2010 @07:44PM from the making-toasters-smarter dept.

At CES, Sony's Kaz Hirai confirmed that the company will build out its PlayStation Network for use with other devices, such as televisions, Blu-ray players, and PCs. Quoting: "... the expansion starts next month with the availability of the PSN video store on these other devices, and Hirai explained they are constructing a mechanism to create a single user ID across the entire network (if you have a PSN account, it's good to go on any other applicable Sony device, and if you create one on another device, it'll work on PSN). And finally, Hirai also announced the formation of a new Sony division — called Sony Network Entertainment, Inc. — to drive this expansion of the PSN service into a Sony-wide network."

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SNES by sexconker · 2010-01-06 19:51 · Score: 2, Funny

I for one welcomed our new SNES overlords, until I realized it stood for Sony Network Entertainment (Subsidiary).
Warning by Tei · 2010-01-06 19:53 · Score: 1

Wen microsoft extended Live to Windows, made imposible to be login on both machines. Don't do that again, please.
Also, the PC market already has everything, so simply the thing will not work, need to be the thing + some quality and as less drm has possible.

--
-Woof woof woof!
1. Re:Warning by Anonymous Coward · 2010-01-06 20:30 · Score: -1, Troll
  
  I think there must be a really big COCK in your mouth!
2. Re:Warning by Xest · 2010-01-06 20:36 · Score: 1
  
  What? I can login to Live for Windows and XBox live at the same time no problems. It doesn't log the other account out or anything, works just fine.
3. Re:Warning by Alphathon · 2010-01-06 21:04 · Score: 1
  
  Do you mean live messenger or games for windows live? AFAIK you can;'t go on GFWL and XBL at the same time, but messenger is separate service (even though it uses the same ID)
4. Re:Warning by hanabal · 2010-01-06 21:33 · Score: 1
  
  I can be logged in my PS3 and PSP at the same time now, so don't worry too much
5. Re:Warning by delinear · 2010-01-07 02:31 · Score: 1
  
  Exactly right, which is why GFWL have the kludgy in game login interface instead of the much better XBL interface which allows you to remain logged in all the time. Apparently they did this because it created issues around where they send messages if you're logged in from two machines, but this sounds like a smokescreen to cover the fact that they've tried to lock down the user profile as much as possible and in doing so made a rod for their own backs (I know from having just spent several days working out how the hell I can use my profile across two 360s and in the end having to buy a used memory unit - because nowhere seems to stock them new anymore - and ferry it around on there, which is ridiculous when both 360s are on my home LAN and have cable access).
6. Re:Warning by elrous0 · 2010-01-07 02:32 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Don't worry, Sony has a long history of avoiding DRM in their products.
  
  --
  SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
7. Re:Warning by Xest · 2010-01-07 05:39 · Score: 1
  
  I mean Games for Windows Live- just checked again to confirm it too. Playing CoD Modern Warfare 2 online via XBox live whilst signed into the same Live profile on Windows playing Where's Wally (or Where's Waldo as it's called in North America).
  Definitely works fine, let's me stay signed in on both, can send messages to people on my list of Xbox live friends and receive responses on both the PC and Xbox at the same time.
I don't quite understand... by Fribulator · 2010-01-06 20:18 · Score: 1

Why? Of what use is a network connected television? Unless I plan to stream from my PS3 over the internet to my TV, rather than using HDMI, I can't quite see the point of this.
1. Re:I don't quite understand... by X-Power · 2010-01-06 20:24 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Question asked and answered in the same post!
  (but you might want to stream over your local network instead of the internet)
2. Re:I don't quite understand... by Anonymous Coward · 2010-01-06 20:25 · Score: 0
  
  You don't need the PS3, the TV can do content. Mine already does streaming video in HD formats. Samsung 600 series.
3. Re:I don't quite understand... by Velocivus · 2010-01-06 20:29 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  If they start having Blu-ray players for the HD TVs on the market with a hard drive, you could Download movies over the psn. and if they go that route you'll see alot more content for purchase online, maybe even blu-ray quality rentals right to your ps3? Purchases are now starting to all have digital copies, so in practice, if you buy one it should work on your pc, and or psp.
  They have also been in the works for some partnership over 3D broadcasting and movies for launch in 2012. This new PSN may become more useful for them in these new intrests over the next two years.
4. Re:I don't quite understand... by Velocivus · 2010-01-06 20:31 · Score: 1
  
  also, the PS3 meets the new accepted standard for HD 3D.
5. Re:I don't quite understand... by Tukz · 2010-01-06 20:36 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  I can see a lot of uses for this, if you don't have a PS3 for example.
  Turn on TV, go to PSN, start up VidZone.. Music videos right there on your TV, with no extra devices.
  Just to name one.
  
  --
  - Don't do what I do, it's probably not healthy nor safe. -
6. Re:I don't quite understand... by nacturation · 2010-01-06 20:50 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  If they start having Blu-ray players for the HD TVs on the market with a hard drive, you could Download movies over the psn.
  Be nice if you could do that on the PS3 for countries other than the US.
  
  --
  Want to improve your Karma? Instead of "Post Anonymously", try the "Post Humously" option.
7. Re:I don't quite understand... by Xest · 2010-01-06 20:50 · Score: 0
  
  So that they can install a rootkit on your television and leave that open to the whole world to access too probably :p
8. Re:I don't quite understand... by Anonymous Coward · 2010-01-06 20:58 · Score: 0
  
  Or you could just use YouTube. Use the right device for the job. On a completely unrelated note, I'm waiting for a toaster with a 6" LCD display on the side for watching movies.
  Also, I can see the PC version being a load of useless but inexplicably popular crapware like iTunes or Steam...
9. Re:I don't quite understand... by Anonymous Coward · 2010-01-06 21:20 · Score: 0
  
  The PSN movie store has been live for 2 months now in the larger Euro countries.
10. Re:I don't quite understand... by Tukz · 2010-01-06 22:10 · Score: 1
  
  Does your TV have a browser or YouTube player?
  Mine doesn't.
  But it's a Sony with XMB and will benefit greatly from this if this can be added by a firmware update to my TV.
  I am using the right device for the job.
  Using my TV to.. watch media! *gasp*
  
  --
  - Don't do what I do, it's probably not healthy nor safe. -
11. Re:I don't quite understand... by djsmiley · 2010-01-06 23:07 · Score: 1
  
  Different tv to the one the ps3 is connected to maybe?
  Unless you've already blown all your cash on a ps3 and a sony tv of course ;D
  
  --
  - http://www.milkme.co.uk
12. Re:I don't quite understand... by PopeRatzo · 2010-01-07 00:36 · Score: 0
  
  Music videos right there on your TV, with no extra devices.
  Be still my heart. You mean, I'll be able to watch music videos on my own TV? OMG!
  Didn't MTV do this almost three decades ago?
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
13. Re:I don't quite understand... by HazMat+79 · 2010-01-07 00:43 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Music videos right there on your TV, with no extra devices.
  Be still my heart. You mean, I'll be able to watch music videos on my own TV? OMG!
  Didn't MTV do this almost three decades ago?
  Yeah but MTV doesn't do that in this decade.
14. Re:I don't quite understand... by Tukz · 2010-01-07 00:44 · Score: 1
  
  Not on demand.
  And it was just an example of use, amongst many.
  May I remind you that NetFlix is coming to PSN soon, so that's NetFlix directly on your TV as well.
  
  --
  - Don't do what I do, it's probably not healthy nor safe. -
15. Re:I don't quite understand... by IndustrialComplex · 2010-01-07 02:09 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  Why? Of what use is a network connected television? Unless I plan to stream from my PS3 over the internet to my TV, rather than using HDMI, I can't quite see the point of this.
  Fewer Set-Top Boxes. Actually that's part of the problem. With narrow TVs you might not even be able to HAVE a set-top box. Maybe a sitting on the floor next to the set boxes. So reducing the number of boxes at the TV is one advantage.
  Networks are designed to send data over longer distances than traditional technologies like HDMI. The challenge of sending video data over 100' via Cat5 is trivial. Try doing that with an HDMI cable, or even component cables.
  And consider firmware upgrades to your TV. They could implement at USB port so you could transfer the files that way... but why go to that trouble when a network port would give you the ability to transfer files AND receive video streams over distances greater than 6'.
  
  --
  Out of modpoints but really liked a post? 1BDkF6TtmmeZ3yqXbz9yhdYVqRYnwFoXDj
16. Re:I don't quite understand... by Anonymous Coward · 2010-01-07 10:21 · Score: 0
  
  Same here but the content for the TV sucks
  Youtube seriously?
  If PSN can be used as part of an Internet based DLNA server that I can access, fantastic news
  I use the network interface to place movies directly from a media server.
  Youtube looks like crap on 42 inch TV
Sony = Evil by Anonymous Coward · 2010-01-06 20:22 · Score: -1, Troll

Can you beat frustration trivia?
Pffft..... by Phurge · 2010-01-06 20:28 · Score: 1, Insightful

great, more sony lock in.

--
I'll see your hokum and raise you a boondoggle.
1. Re:Pffft..... by feepness · 2010-01-06 22:03 · Score: 1
  
  great, more sony lock in.
  Yeah! I'm going to go the other video rental services that don't require signing up for an account!
2. Re:Pffft..... by master_twig · 2010-01-06 23:35 · Score: 1
  
  "lock in" is fine, provided it does everything you could possibly want the device(s) to do.
  If, however, all devices don't work well together, sure it'll suck. If they "just work", I don't really see an issue with it.
3. Re:Pffft..... by PopeRatzo · 2010-01-07 00:39 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  I'm going to go the other video rental services that don't require signing up for an account!
  You mean TPB?
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
4. Re:Pffft..... by PopeRatzo · 2010-01-07 00:40 · Score: 1
  
  "lock in" is fine, provided it does everything you could possibly want the device(s) to do.
  Tell me honestly, have you ever heard of a "lock in" setup that "does everything you could possibly want the device(s) to do"?
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
5. Re:Pffft..... by Anonymous Coward · 2010-01-07 00:58 · Score: 0
  
  Whooooshhh
6. Re:Pffft..... by apostrophesemicolon · 2010-01-07 01:32 · Score: 1
  
  i think it's less of a lock in and more of a synergy.
  
  Lock-ins lock you to one device and for enhancement/upgrade you have to buy only from the same manufacturer. With one-account-fits-all approach, you can get similar experience and/or share information (movies/pics/data/pr0n) across different devices.
7. Re:Pffft..... by elrous0 · 2010-01-07 02:29 · Score: 1
  
  It's like my grandpa used to say when I was a boy: "Kid, the more power Sony has, the worse the world is."
  
  --
  SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
8. Re:Pffft..... by supernova_hq · 2010-01-07 08:14 · Score: 1
  
  No, I believe YOU got whooshed!
9. Re:Pffft..... by supernova_hq · 2010-01-07 08:16 · Score: 1
  
  My gameboy was pretty fun.
  
  But generally, yeah, I agree with you.
Well... by Anonymous Coward · 2010-01-06 20:31 · Score: 0

The PSN on PS3 is pretty solid (after two years on a single platform) maybe in 2018, Sony will have gotten it right for other services as well.
Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-01-06 21:41 · Score: -1, Troll

Did everyone forget what Sony has done in the past? http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/19/business/media/19online.html
I wouldn't give these people any of my information.
1. Re:Seriously? by IrquiM · 2010-01-07 00:21 · Score: 1
  
  No - we just don't care.
  And really - I'm getting tired of hearing about all those evil companies that does this and that, and might to that other thing, before this happens, and then some more, and suddenly it's the end of the world! I don't care! All companies are the same.
  
  --
  This is blinging
2. Re:Seriously? by PopeRatzo · 2010-01-07 00:46 · Score: 1
  
  And really - I'm getting tired of hearing about all those evil companies
  
  Kaz Hirai, is that you?
  
  --
  You are welcome on my lawn.
3. Re:Seriously? by Tony · 2010-01-07 02:31 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  One little murder and they're Jack the Ripper.
  Sony recalled CDs with the rootkit, and apologized. Sony has its flaws, but they after the initial fuck-up, they at least fixed the problem, and admitted they fucked up. They handled their fuck-up in an honorable way.
  That is far better than many corporations, such as Microsoft. You own an XBox? Microsoft has fucked you more than Sony ever has. And Microsoft never admits a problem, let alone apologize for creating a problem.
  So stop with the rootkit bullshit already. Start complaining about Sony's tendency to go it solo on digital formats and storage devices. (BluRay was at least created and backed by a consortium of many corporations -- so BluRay isn't one of those formats. Sony does get a cut of the profits, though.) Complain about how PSN kinda blows compared to XBox Live (though this article suggests Sony is doing something about that). Whine about how the PS3 is hard to program compared to the XBox.
  But for god's sake, get it through your thick fanboi skull that Sony fixed the rootkit problem, and even apologized.
  
  --
  Microsoft is to software what Budweiser is to beer.
4. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-01-07 03:13 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Sony recalled CDs with the rootkit, and apologized. Sony has its flaws, but they after the initial fuck-up, they at least fixed the problem, and admitted they fucked up. They handled their fuck-up in an honorable way.
  Oh sure ,they recalled the CDs alright. After denying the existance of it for close to a year first despite all the evidence people showed them and hackers started actively using it. Their "Fix" for those that already had been compromised by their rootkit actually caused more security holes too. Meaning once you had it you were pretty much stuck with having to reinstall your OS to make sure it was no longer at risk.
  It was, by my counts, FAR from an honorable way. But it was very Sony.
5. Re:Seriously? by aceboomblain · 2010-01-07 03:50 · Score: 1
  
  Sorry, but the fact that folks at Sony thought the whole CD rootkit thing was a good idea in the first place, makes them untrustworthy until that mindset and everyone involved is gone from the company. I don't believe for a second that they had (and have) any qualms about taking control of customers computers. It wasn't until defense dept computers got infected that they apologized and offered a "fix". I bet they were threatened with being banned from selling goods in the USA for national security reasons.
6. Re:Seriously? by Hatta · 2010-01-07 03:52 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Somehow, I think that if I had placed a rootkit on Sony corporate PCs I would not have gotten away with just an apology.
  
  --
  Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
7. Re:Seriously? by Dorkmaster+Flek · 2010-01-07 06:04 · Score: 1, Offtopic
  
  I know we try to maintain a civil discourse here on /. (ha), but with all due respect, are you fucking serious? They denied the existence of the issue despite all evidence to the contrary; by the time they even acknowledged it was a problem, hackers were already exploiting it; and their initial "fix" to the problem didn't fix anything, and actually cause more security issues. I know MS fucks you just as hard as Sony does, but how the hell did this ever get modded insightful? It's a bloody console fanboy rant.
  
  --
  I like to think of online DRM as something akin to a college -- you pay for lessons until you learn something.
8. Re:Seriously? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-01-07 18:10 · Score: 0
  
  Fanboy skull? Ha. I've had an Xbox, a Playstation, and a Nintendo during my life. This isn't about console wars. This is about rootkits and extremely shady business practices. I wouldn't use software from Sony just like I wouldn't use software from MS.
  They never fixed the problem, they never apologized (if that's an apology, then WOW!), and to my knowledge they never changed.
  -1 troll. Bullshit. Gotta love /. mods
Pretty obvious by watchoutbehindyou · 2010-01-06 23:23 · Score: 1

Having a single account / ID for company wide services seems pretty obvious to me. If you take Apple for example, they have always had a single account for their online shop, itunes, app store, etc.
Now, as others have said, I don't know how this could be useful on devices like TVs and such. And sony isn't exacty known to be very innovative in that domain. I have a sony TV that can connect to the internet, but it can't do anything with that connection (not event upgrade its firmware).
As always, it's wait-and-see. But it seems to me there's usually more waiting than seeing...
Facebook vs PSN by michelcultivo · 2010-01-07 00:29 · Score: 1

Now you can change your Single Sign On from Facebook to PSN. Great.

--
http://www.michel.eti.br
1. Re:Facebook vs PSN by supernova_hq · 2010-01-07 08:20 · Score: 1
  
  You can sign into facebook through the PS3 (not talking the browser, there is a dedicated app). So in essence, if you tell the PS3 to remember your credentials, you can "sort of" sign into facebook using your PSN account :P
That's great... by Anonymous Coward · 2010-01-07 00:44 · Score: -1, Troll

We can access it on whatever device, but... when can I have cross game voice chat?
More openness in consoles? by KlaymenDK · 2010-01-07 01:22 · Score: 2, Interesting

I've long thought that consoles could be much better (from a user standpoint) if they were more open.
One example of this is the recent debacle with servers arguably shutting down "too soon" compared to other game types that aren't susceptible to that issue. Another example is that some people have several different consoles in order to play their favourite games and/or with their friends; this is of course a sales strategy for the vendors but not really in the interest of the consumer.
This news, of Sony expanding their console's reach essentially to outside the domain of the console itself, is good news for consumers: it shows that the boundaries are becoming hazy -- and you can't maintain strict lockdown on blurry borders. Ultimately, this ends up providing more choice for the user.
Now sadly, "more user choice" is not equal to "more user freedom" -- especially since this news is coming from Sony, peddlers of lockdownware above and beyond the call of duty. But still, if they are doing it, the other vendors are bound to follow.

--
"Good news, everyone!"
1. Re:More openness in consoles? by Anonymous Coward · 2010-01-07 01:39 · Score: 0
  
  I've long thought that consoles could be much better (from a user standpoint) if they were more open.
  I disagree. From a user pov perhaps, not from that of a gamer. More open means more (easier) insight which is likely to result in easier online cheating. One of the things I admire about PSN is that the online cheating ratio is very low, whereas its a huge problem (IMO) on the PC platform.
  I'll take locked down anytime!
2. Re:More openness in consoles? by khchung · 2010-01-07 03:57 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  I've long thought that consoles could be much better (from a user standpoint) if they were more open.
  No way.
  I played online games since modem days (PC-to-PC), to multiplayer BBS games, to the first Warcraft (remember Kali?), Starcraft, WC3, and most recently on PS3. On all these platforms, only the online games on PS3 allow me to play with random opponents, yet still have the level of enjoyment I got when playing with my friends. That is possible mainly because the PS3 is so lock down!
  I.e., with the console locked tight, I can be reasonably certain no one is cheating. This is a big problem on PC games, from auto-aim hack in FPS games, to map hacks in RTS games. It is incredibly frustration to playing against one cheater after another.
  Go play on the PC if you want open gaming platform. I want a platform that I can be reasonable sure everyone is on the same footing.
  
  --
  Oliver.
3. Re:More openness in consoles? by Gravatron · 2010-01-07 04:01 · Score: 1
  
  Actually, the gaming division has been pretty good this generation about lock in. Take, for example, the fact that you can install PSN games on multiple ps3's. Makes it easier to justify that game purchase if I can share it with my friends.
  
  The movie store is a bit more locked down, but still allows for movement between devices.
  
  Toss in all the standardized hardware options (keyboards, mice, headsets, harddrives, etc) and I really wish the rest of the company would adopt the game divisions practices on openness.
4. Re:More openness in consoles? by psych0munky · 2010-01-07 04:06 · Score: 1
  
  his news is coming from Sony, peddlers of lockdownware above and beyond the call of duty
  Call of Duty is not a Sony game, but an Activision/Infinity Ward game, you insensitive clod!
5. Re:More openness in consoles? by KlaymenDK · 2010-01-07 04:53 · Score: 1
  
  Cheaters certainly spoil everybody else's fun and need to be booted as fast and as far as possible, no argument there. But that's not what I meant. Cheating is a misfeature of the application (the game) which it certainly needs to be secure enough to withstand.
  My point was rather that the *platform* that serves the application is becoming more open. It might even become common some day for games to function *across* vendors (analogous to how a Mac and a PC player can play Battlefield against each other).
  
  --
  "Good news, everyone!"
6. Re:More openness in consoles? by KlaymenDK · 2010-01-07 04:55 · Score: 1
  
  As I said elsewhere in this thread, cheaters certainly spoil everybody else's fun and need to be booted as fast and as far as possible, no argument there. But that's not what I meant. Cheating is a misfeature of the application (the game) which it certainly needs to be secure enough to withstand.
  My point was rather that the *platform* that serves the application is becoming more open. It might even become common some day for games to function *across* vendors (analogous to how a Mac and a PC player can play Battlefield against each other).
  By the way, if you say that "[in PSN] the online cheating ratio is very low" then evidently "locked down" does not equal "cheat proof".
  
  --
  "Good news, everyone!"
Sony can't do software by debus · 2010-01-07 02:18 · Score: 0

I installed Media Go on my PC and can't believe what a terrible piece of software it is. It tries to update itself every time I launch it and fails. I messed with it a few times and have never been able to get it to work and have since given up on it.
heh... by Kc_spot · 2010-01-07 03:02 · Score: 1

SWEET PSN on my iPhone!!!! wait a minute...

--
This needs more cowbell!!!
Hopefully they solve the ID problem by kaffekaine · 2010-01-07 05:56 · Score: 1

Hopefully, they'll think about the problem of multiple simultaneous PSN connections. Right now, I have two PS3's and any given PS3 WANTS to be connected to PSN all the time (for news, licensing, downloads, multiplayer, etc, etc) but logging one in under my master account logs the other out. This is a Supreme pain in the butt if I want to play a game in one room while my kids play one in the other. I can only imagine what a mess it'd be if the TV (and the stereo and the PSP and the toaster, etc) wanted exclusive access to the ID, too.
It's not UTTERLY broken... there is a sub account feature for PSN for child accounts and stuff but I think it's really clear that they never planned on people owning multiple PS3s or having their entire home theater logged in or it'd be architected more sensibly.
Wall-to-wall PSN store icons by Chess+Piece+Face · 2010-01-07 10:36 · Score: 1

Now instead of the 4 built in to the XMB, we can expect links to the store everywhere on every Sony device? It's bad enough on the PS3 - I don't want to turn on my TV/Walkman/toaster and be taken directly to an outlet for overpriced downloads that I never wanted.
sony at Consumer electronics show by t3chn0n3rd · 2010-01-08 08:38 · Score: 0

DId sony have a large booth at the consumer electronics show?