OT: Playstation 3 v1.8

Malcolm D wrote on 5/26/2007, 12:36 PM
Version 1.8 firmware was released 2 days ago. Not only does it now do upscaling of SD DVD's via HDMI and other new tricks but it is now a Network Media Player. You just need Windows Media Player 11 on the PC.
For evaluating raw HDV capture footage via a network cable to an HDTV it is ideal. My HDV of Las Vegas looks stunning on my X series Bravia.
It has the advantage of being able to view footage at full resolution without wear and tear on the camera especially when you don't have a 1920x1080 plus monitor on your edit PC.

Comments

richard-courtney wrote on 5/28/2007, 7:54 AM
This may seem like a silly question....if I am at a store how do I know I have
a unit with this newer firmware?
RBartlett wrote on 5/28/2007, 9:17 AM
You can be quite sure that you won't have v1.8 for a while from a unit you pick up from the nearby store.

The firmware is remotely updatable, unlike many other consumer HD devices but quite like many shiny disc playing units to be fair:

http://www.us.playstation.com/ps3/network/updates
p@mast3rs wrote on 5/28/2007, 10:02 AM
Still refuse to bite the bullet on the PS3. $600 is way too much money for any console especially since the x360 can do everything that PS3 does except BD playback. Once PS3 hits $300 I might spring for it. Until then, it serves no purpose to me.
bigrock wrote on 5/28/2007, 10:09 AM
The truth is a lot of people have no use for the PlayStation 3. It's been a disaster for Sony. That's what happens when marketing is run by people with no sense of reality believing their own BS to be true, people are no longer that stupid, the same goes for the BetaRay. Man does The Matrix look fantastic on HD-DVD or what.
TheHappyFriar wrote on 5/28/2007, 11:25 AM
$600 is way too much money for any console especially since the x360 can do everything that PS3 does except BD playback.

But can you get a BD player for that price? That's the ONLY reason I'd use it.
p@mast3rs wrote on 5/28/2007, 12:07 PM
yes you can get cheaper BD players. Amazon had some I believe for below $400.
Malcolm D wrote on 5/28/2007, 6:37 PM
PS3 is $1200 in New Zealand which is way more than the exchange rate equivalent of $US600 but it is still a good purchase IMHO.
It plays Blue Ray, HDV .m2t files on DVD-ROM, upscales standard DVD and plays HD from a network server such as WMP 11 as well as it's music, picture and Internet Browsing capabilities.
I don't play games and if I never do I won't be sorry I bought it.
I runs rings around other Network Media Players such as Ziova/Zensonic.
Both Samsung and Panasonic Blue Ray players are $3000 here.
I have an XBOX360 with HD-DVD drive as well and while OK is not as slick as the PS3. If you upgrade it with all the add-ons to near PS3 spec it costs more than the PS3 and you have a birds nest of boxes and cables and no HDMI until the next model is released.
If I was buying only one it would definitely be PS3.
Xander wrote on 5/28/2007, 8:19 PM
This kind of explains why the PS3 is not doing as well. I saw two on the shelves at the local electronics store - Wii, where are you?

The people who are buying blu-ray now, have worked out that a PS3 is half the price of a blu-ray player, plus you get more functionality. These people, aren't going to be buying any games, which subsidises the price. For people who play games only, the price tag of the PS3 is a third higher than the Xbox 360. These people don't care about movies.

It is true, an Xbox360 with HD-DVD is that same price as a PS3 and also a less elegant, solution, but it does gives you a choice!

I own an Xbox360, but no HD-DVD drive. The only thing that temps me, is that I can use the same HD-DVD drive on the PC. However, my video card and monitor aren't HDCP compliant!

Frankly, I will let these formats battle it out - what's the rush? I stream my Vegas HD movies from the PC to the Xbox360.

This is the world of digital convergance and there are battles ahead...
bgccdx wrote on 5/29/2007, 12:53 AM
What? Game machine, media streamer, Blu-ray player, DVD upscaler, 60Gb hard drive, etc and you won't pay $600 bucks? I paid AUD2,500 for my Panasonic Blu-ray player and all it does is play Blu-rays and I still think it was a great purchase. I will buy a PS3 at the weekend even though I already have a blu-ray player. It's the best value piece of hardware I have ever seen. Talk about a difference of opinion!
bgccdx wrote on 5/29/2007, 12:58 AM
Disaster for Sony? What nonsense. It's a raging success. Maybe it hasn't sold out immediately in every market it's been introduced to, but this is one incredible piece of hardware that has extended its appeal from the spotty game obsessed adolescent to a much broader range of users. It's steadily being recognised for the awesome piece of hardware it is, and it will just keep on getting better via firmware updates. Time to wake up and understand what PS3 is. BTW, Sony share price is at a record high. Disaster? I think not.
jaydeeee wrote on 5/29/2007, 2:08 AM
>>Still refuse to bite the bullet on the PS3. $600 is way too much money for any console especially since the x360 can do everything that PS3 does except BD playback. Once PS3 hits $300 I might spring for it. Until then, it serves no purpose to me. <<

Somewhat topic related:
I just think these new video game toys are starting (starting) to get a little long in the tooth/boring for most teens these days.
Game sales are down (a good thing imo).
But with adults/adult-teens...Who the hell has time to waste sitting and playing video games...games that really, do nothing for you in the end (except kill time you could have used and eat up your pocketbook)? These days, there's more important sh*t to do...isn't there?

To add: I think the diff beteen the old retro vid games like Intellivision or (fill in here) is it had games that didn't eat up a lot of time, still were fun, but more often involved having to play with 2 or more players which made it all the more fun and valid.
TheHappyFriar wrote on 5/29/2007, 5:06 AM
Game machine, media streamer, Blu-ray player, DVD upscaler, 60Gb hard drive, etc and you won't pay $600 bucks?

Most people don't have a need for all of that, even if it is a good deal. Plus, can you tell millions of people why to buy in to HD content when they still have SD TV's?

Game sales are down (a good thing imo).

Game sales are WAY up in general, actually. PC game sales are down (the Wii & PS3 haven't been out long enough to be up or down yet). But how can you say it's a waste of time? We do VIDEO! That's JUST as important in people's daily lives as video games! There's NO reason people MUST use our services, people can just read their news (when that argument is used) & look at pictures. You're a pot calling the kettle black.
Spot|DSE wrote on 5/29/2007, 6:38 AM
But with adults/adult-teens...Who the hell has time to waste sitting and playing video games...games that really, do nothing for you in the end (except kill time you could have used and eat up your pocketbook)? These days, there's more important sh*t to do...isn't there?
Can you say this with a straight face when "American Idol" is the most watched show on television? :-)
p@mast3rs wrote on 5/29/2007, 6:55 AM
"Can you say this with a straight face when "American Idol" is the most watched show on television? :-)"

No one ever said Americans had taste :)
JJKizak wrote on 5/29/2007, 7:50 AM
They all seem to sing the same way. Tony Bennetts they are not. And one thing that makes me ill is they all hold the microphone in front of their face so you can't see them. Mr. Sinatra said this was the first thing he learned. (maybe not the first)

JJK
p@mast3rs wrote on 5/29/2007, 9:00 AM
Sadly enough, the majority of the songs they perform sucked when the original artist did them let alone 20 years later.

Clarkson has turned out to be decent and Taylor Hicks was probably the most talented who could perform and entertain.
TheHappyFriar wrote on 5/29/2007, 9:17 AM
No one ever said Americans had taste :)

Isn't there version of AI for Europe, middle east & russia/asian countries too? :)
Laurence wrote on 5/29/2007, 9:57 AM
I LOVE my Playstation 3. It is the most wonderful media center you can imagine. I can finally play my HDV projects at full resolution in the living room. It's also is a wonderful playback device for music and still photos. I've also heard you can use it for video games...
jaydeeee wrote on 5/29/2007, 12:28 PM
>>Game sales are WAY up in general<<

No, they aren't. Sorry. You don't just say this shit and hope it's true.
It's more likely a temporary fluctuation, but it's kinda nice to hear.

>>We do VIDEO!<<

Yes, and still to me this BD/HD-DVD is pretty much a wash. Designed for morons with way too much time on their hands.
Everyone I know who has dipped into these new formats feels it's reached the peak of ridiculous. The exras offered on bd/hddvd are past mundane/useless and hilariouis (I agree).
There's just no real need for any of it, DVD is and will the standard for quite some time.

>>That's JUST as important in people's daily lives as video games!<<

Alcohol is just as important to some people lives.

Hey, I'm not against Video games (not at all) and the little tykes will always be into it... I'm just relaying what more and more teens are saying these days, they're finding better use of their time (almost like - it just isn't hip to sit on their ass playing useless games ALL the time).
I'm just saying I don't think it's a bad thing is all. But relax, Video games aren't going bye-bye.
jaydeeee wrote on 5/29/2007, 12:41 PM
>>Can you say this with a straight face when "American Idol" is the most watched show on television? :-)<<

A.Idol is the most watched tv show because there is nothing but garbage on 90% of TV. i can't stand the crap but it's obvious to me how and why reality TV/reality type shows have taken over. Is it really confusing you?

I think people overall aren't watching as much TV (sorry, but another good thing IMO. Could be a reflection of the times we live in, the reality is there just isn't as much time for it these days).
Laurence wrote on 5/29/2007, 2:49 PM
>>There's just no real need for any of it, DVD is and will the standard for quite some time.

The problem is that after looking at HD, even the best SD looks a webcam. This is going to be a faster transition than you think.
zstevek wrote on 5/29/2007, 4:27 PM
Still refuse to bite the bullet on the PS3. $600 is way too much money for any console especially since the x360 can do everything that PS3 does except BD playback. Once PS3 hits $300 I might spring for it. Until then, it serves no purpose to me.

When you add up everything the PS3 has compared to the Xbox it is about $100 cheaper.

Sony PS3 price: $599
Blue Ray DVD: Included
Wi-fi: included
Hard drive: 60GB
Total cost: $599

Xbox price: $399
HD DVD add on player: $199
Wi-fi add on: $99
Hard drive size: 20GB
Total cost: $697 (with 40GB less disc space than the PS3).


Coursedesign wrote on 5/29/2007, 4:35 PM
Sony may have made a tactical mistake in overloading PS3 with non-optional features, causing the price to go stratospheric.

Laurence wrote on 5/30/2007, 7:43 AM
Just thought that I'd mention that my Playstation 3 is upconverting standard DVDs over the component connections using the v1.8 upgrade. This is especially cool since my older HD-TV does not have HDMI or DVI connections and most uprezzing players only upconvert through HDMI.

Anyway, with the latest update, my PS3 plays both Bluray and upconverted DVDs at full 1080i over component, making it an excellent solution for those of us with older component only TVs.