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Sony Issues Detailed PS4 FAQ Ahead of Launch
Sockatume writes "Sony has released a detailed FAQ for the PS4 system, which launches in coming weeks. Of particular note: although Bluetooth headsets will not be compatible, generic 3.5mm and USB audio devices will work; the console will require activation via the internet or a special disk before it will play Blu-ray or DVDs; media servers, MP3s, and audio CDs are not supported. The console's "suspend/resume" and remote assistance features are listed as unavailable for the North American launch, implying that they will be patched in before the console launches in Europe later in November."
So I was excited to buy a PS4 until they announced no media server support. Same with XBone. I guess I'm just one of those guys who will stay with his PS3 for the forseeable future...
I know why they made that choice, but it doesn't service the customers who put their media library on a server instead of on disc.
What ever?
Seems like a backward step to me. If Sony thinks that 1000s and 1000s of its devices are being used solely as media servers, they are right.
If they think that omitting that feature will mean more games sales, they are mistaken.
the console will require activation via the internet or a special disk before it will play Blu-ray or DVDs; media servers, MP3s, and audio CDs are not supported
This is why Sony needs to spin off its media division, as Dan Loeb has proposed.
As long as Sony is both a consumer electronics company and a major movie/recording studio, the consumer electronics division will always be compromised by the need to serve the overall corporate goals rather than the customer's needs.
You just know that the "no media server" and "have to activate on the Internet for DVD/Blu-ray" restrictions were added at the insistence of the suits on the studio side. These restrictions do nothing for customers, and a pure consumer electronics company would have no reason to hurt the functionality of their product by inflicting them.
What's the point of that? As someone who has terabytes dedicated to local media storage rather than counting on the cloud to reliably stream (or even carry) a particular album or movie, this trend is really ticking me off. I'm going to take a guess that XBone won't serve as a Media Center Extender as well. Was hoping for a single device to play games, watch TV, and listen to music, but it looks more and more like I need to get a separate NUC (or equivalent) for the media server access (although that was going to be necessary anyway, since XB360 won't play ripped DVDs)
Give me Linux back or fuck off!
- Not sent from an iPhone
Ironically the main reason for Linux on the PS3 (and the PS2) was the fact that Sony paid less tax on it in Europe. It is something I agreed with. Ironically this generation would make a killer desktop machine, or even homework computer for student. If you do care and are not say advocating an alternative console out of some strange fanaticism, contact your local MP or equivalent. Although at last count I see about 8 Linux consoles....I own two.
It's probably a licensing thing. Sony doesn't want to pay the per-player fee on every device they sell, just every device that is activated.
Give me Linux back or f off!
Now that alternatives have appeared, it's that much easier to tell Sony Computer Entertainment to f off. OUYA runs Android, which uses the Linux kernel. The forthcoming Steam Machine from Valve runs SteamOS, a distribution of GNU/Linux.
As I understand it, the majority of the price of a PlayStation 4 console in Brazil is import duty paid to the government of Brazil. What you need to do to get the price reduced in Brazil is elect a legislature that raises the government's operating budget other than through prohibitive import duties.
Compact Disc Digital Audio is a lossless audio format introduced in the 1980s. Each disc 120 mm in diameter (the size of the later DVD) stored up to 80 minutes of stereo audio at a sample rate and depth that an adult ear cannot distinguish from any higher sample rate or depth. After the introduction of MP3 format in the late 1990s, people would buy CDs, copy them to computers using a CD-ROM drive, and compress the result to MP3 for later listening in a noisy environment that can get away with lower fidelity. And until the late 2000s when Amazon started selling MP3 downloads, CD was the only way to buy popular music for listening on a computer or pocket device without digital restrictions management.
Who, exactly, does Sony have to pay?
Sony would have to pay other BDA members, DVD FLLC, DVD CCA, (Mac)Rovi(sion), AACSLA, MPEG-LA, and anyone else who manages licensing patents or DRM trade secrets associated with BD or DVD video.
Doesn't Sony own that licensing?
Please see replies to gstoddart's comment.
Which, if you'd read my entire post where I said I don't play games on-line, you wouldn't be suggesting.
For some of us, video games are played alone/with friends in our basement or living room, with no networking involved -- the way it was meant to be done. ;-)
For me (and I realize I'm a relatively smaller minority of gamers), on-line gaming carries absolutely zero appeal. And all of the 'social' aspects (like badges and winning coins and spending real money to get better stuff) is equally meaningless to me.
To me, when I'm in the mood and have time, I'll fire up the video game, play a while, and then turn it off. Driving games, Tiger Woods, Skyrim, the wife's dancing games for the Kinect ... none of these are the kinds of things I want to play against someone on the internet.
My video game console doesn't get connected to the network, and is completely air-gapped. And I can't say I've ever felt I was missing out on anything. In fact, the brief period I had it on-line was enough to convince me that I definitely don't want it.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
They do make automated HDMI switches, you know. You can get one for about ten bucks.
The HDMI inputs have priority levels; plug your console into a 'high' priority one and when you switch it on the TV will change from the media box to the console automagically.
You do realize they sell HDMI switches right?
They are very cheap.
But why does it support 480p?
It's probably an AACS requirement to support at least one EDTV resolution, given the Image Constraint Token.
But that last line really cinches it... "In PAL markets". WTF? Seriously Sony, what the hell does PAL-vs-NTSC have to do with it, when you only have digital outputs?
"PAL market" refers to markets that use 50 Hz alternating current and historically used PAL video: Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. These tend to have fewer people per country than North America. This increases cost of licensing works for adaptation when distributors own exclusive rights in different countries. It increases the cost of localization as UI and games must be dubbed in more languages. It increases censorship as some PAL market countries have less comprehensive protection of speech than the United States, allowing no-swastikas policies and refusal to accept neighboring countries' classification for violent, sexual, or otherwise objectionable materials. Finally, Europe tends toward stronger warranty requirements for consumer products than North America.
For that matter, does PAL-vs-NTSC even exist at all anymore?
Yes. It would be cost prohibitive for the PAL market to switch to 60 Hz AC and a single media distribution territory, and it would be politically unpopular to adopt English language, free speech, and U.S.-style minimal warranty.
Not all of us want to hear racist and homophobic slurs being yelled by children
Major video game consoles are made for the profitable majority, not the less profitable edge case. I understand your concern about racial and sexual harassment in online pickup groups of strangers, but another comment claims that most gamers happen not to share this problem.
I almost pre-ordered the PS4 but in the end I bought a PS3 instead. They're only $250 right now and there's a vast games collection with lots of great older titles at under $20. Didn't seem worth paying a premium for a PS4 given the tiny game selection at launch and the fact that I'd be forking out $60 for each game. If I want great graphics, I'll go to the study and fire up the PC. However, I find myself preferring GT5 or Little Big Planet in the living room whilst hanging out with my girlfriend and the dog. The only problem is that the dog is unsettled by video games for some weird, dog-only-knows, reason.
soylentnews.org
Licensed digital copy of movies, downloadable from iTunes-- which I was already using anyway (yeah, whatever). At that point, I can watch it on my iPod or my Apple TV -- sadly, I can't watch on my Android tablet, but can still dust off my first gen iPad to watch movies on planes. But you can usually buy the combo pack which has Blu Ray, DVD, and the Digital copy for only slightly more than just the Blu Ray.
When I discovered I could play movies from my iPod onto the TV in the hotel room when I travel on business, then suddenly business travel didn't suck nearly so bad. Room service and The Avengers is a whole lot more enjoyable than, well, room service and whatever the hell is on TV. I can watch part of a movie on the plane and finish it on the TV in the hotel room. I just usually bring a half dozen or so movies on a business trip, and I'm good to go
Honestly I assume that by now it's exceedingly annoying to try to rip those things, and the one I can download from iTunes is pretty much there and good to go in much less time. And spending too much time on it isn't exactly how I want to spend my time these days.
I tend to watch and re-watch movies quite a bit, so I've historically bought quite a lot of them. I've got some movies which are likely to get re-watched between 2 and 6 times/year.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
Honestly I assume that by now it's exceedingly annoying to try to rip those things, and the one I can download from iTunes is pretty much there and good to go in much less time. And spending too much time on it isn't exactly how I want to spend my time these days.
MakeMKV makes it trivial to do a 1:1 rip of your Bluray into an MKV container that has the primary video and audio stream. If you need any conversion after that for tablets etc... Handbrake does the job very well.
http://makemkv.com/ http://handbrake.fr/
Both are really as point can click as it gets.
Our politicians/govt should be more concerned about our individual success rather than the collective world. That's their job, to put our interests over and above any other countries' interests.
Such selfishness is a prisoner's dilemma that ultimately results in worse outcomes across the board.