Interesting 2011 projects for supporting media on Game consoles:
DLNA
Better DLNA server for Xbox coming from MS via their OS platforms?
Sony to sponsor a better DLNA server for PC, other platforms like the below?
PoGo Plug (above thread) is a partial solution to MS and lack of
do it all DLNA servers. Hulu plus fills a gap left open by current hardware and software but provides more. Qriocity fills another gap left open but provides more access to music.
DLNAMagicTranscoding
Rygel is a (linux, may eventually be ported to a Network server) home media solution that allows you to easily share audio, video and pictures, and control of media player on your home network. In technical terms it is both a UPnP AV MediaServer and MediaRenderer implemented through a plug-in mechanism (Gstreamer). Interoperability with other devices in the market is achieved by conformance to very strict requirements of DLNA and on the fly conversion of media to format that client devices are capable of handling.
For a starters there is plenty of DLNA/UPnP devices already out in the market these days: Sony Playstation 3, Nokia's series60 and maemo-based phones, Microsoft XBox 360 (not even real UPnP device (by design, makes it harder for the user to configure a PS3 to use MS DLNA) but we must support it due to high demand), DLNA speakers?, Sony Bravia TV and some other DLNA TVs from Sony & Samsung. Moreoever, the number of DLNA devices in the market is expected to grow and not shrink.
And there is a standard for Cable TV boxes to support DLNA on home coax and home network. Xbox has a custom version
(by design it does not support the PS3), PS3 to follow?
Infra Red Control of Home Theater Accessories No PS3 or Xbox support built-in
Inexpensive IR kit (receive only) for Xbox available, no IR Kit for PS3
Lirc or Linux Infra Red remote control will probably be used with the Sony S1 which is supposed to have a IR transmitter and ?receiver?
http://www.lirc.org/ Sony S1 used as a universal remote controller for the home theater? S1 with remote desktop for PS3 and more control over home theater CEC via the PS3?, more control of Sony sponsored DLNA server?, D-bus fling to PS3?
HDMI CEC Supported by the PS3 ?Xbox?
PS3 slim can fully support CEC, features limited at this time. Full user configurable script coming? Doesn't need IR remote but all Home Theater must support CEC. Third party accessory to convert HDMI CEC to IR for non-CEC hardware?
Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) is a feature designed to allow the user to command and control two or more CEC-enabled boxes, that are connected through HDMI, by using only one of their remote controls. (e.g. controlling a Television set, Set-top box and DVD player using only the remote control of the TV). CEC also allow for individual CEC-enabled devices to command and control each other without user intervention.[82]
It is a one-wire bidirectional serial bus that uses the industry-standard AV.link protocol to perform remote control functions. CEC wiring is mandatory, although implementation of CEC in a product is optional.[70] It was defined in HDMI Specification 1.0 and updated in HDMI 1.2, HDMI 1.2a and HDMI 1.3a (which added timer and audio commands to the bus).[83][82][84][85]
Trade names for CEC are Anynet+ (Samsung); Aquos Link (Sharp); BRAVIA Sync (Sony); HDMI-CEC (Hitachi); Kuro Link (Pioneer); CE-Link and Regza Link (Toshiba); RIHD (Remote Interactive over HDMI) (Onkyo); SimpLink (LG); HDAVI Control, EZ-Sync, VIERA Link (Panasonic); EasyLink (Philips); and NetCommand for HDMI (Mitsubishi).[86][87][88][89][90]
HTML5
Xbox360 no browser, HTML5 support for ESPN3 shown, more support coming with Silverlight5. DRM and ultraviolet DRM available (playready)
PS3 limited support for applications via HTML5 javascript engine for UI (PS3 firmware 3.5) and Gstreamer adaptive streaming player. Full support missing (shell needed) and IPTV applications provide much of their own support (Netflix ported QT Webkit). More support coming with a full "Generic Webkit port based on Cairo". PS3 Gstreamer will allow the HTML5 <video> tag to support WebM or H.264 automatically. No open source Ultraviolet DRM but DRM aware Gstreamer plugins available. DRM is a big issue for everyone not Microsoft and Google's purchase of Widevine may have an open source ultraviolet DRM available before October. Or you use Flash and not the HTML5 <video> tag and have to support plugins which use more memory resulting in fewer resources for the web browser.
Edit: The coming PS3 webkit may not support Flash. Flash by Adobe's own statements is going to give way to HTML5.
Blu-ray player PS3 yes, Xbox 360 no
Max Video resolutions supported
All PS3 1080P, PS3 Slim 1080P with high freq noise. With software update the PS3 can display 4K res (RSX-Cell used by Sony for 4K editing)
Xbox latest hardware and software 1080P
Tos Optical audio out
PS3 yes
Xbox latest hardware yes
Lossless audio out via HDMI
PS3 yes except for blu-ray 3-D (all Sony equipment same, may be a driver issue to be corrected on PS3?)
Xbox no
3-D output formats supported
Xbox (custom by game developer all) Blu-ray 3-D none
PS3 (custom by game developer all) by Sony only HDMI 1.4 (both game and blu-ray) again may be a provider and standards issue, Gstreamer player only supports HDMI 1.4 standard. (some limits for All, some output formats not supported)
At the PS3 AV core (and most Sony CE & embedded) is Gstreamer: gstreamer features Highly modular with 200 plugins. Easy for Sony to include new features without having to rewrite a core player. Open source Plugins become available tracking the CE industry. Last one was adaptive streaming and now WebM.
gstreamer plugins
Knowing how the PS3 AV stream works we can predict what might be possible/coming. Also see Collabora projects:
http://www.collabora.co.uk/