Engadget: Some interesting facts about the PS3

[deathkiller]

Why would anyone want to use a VGA output in a LCD monitor if you can use DVI-D?

If you don't have a DVI-D compatible monitor you can use something like this http://www.hartsunlimited.com/prvgabox.html like I am using for the PS2.

 

[Bad_Boy]

HDMI > DVI adaptors are cheap [20-40$].
Im more interested in fact that you can send only text messages to other users... Well, firmware updates will fix most of innitial problems.

You can still do video chat "live" and text chat "live", but for now only messages will be in text. But yeah as you said, I'm pretty sure they plan on updating the firmware to support other messages (mark @ SCE mentioned it in the engadget video).

As I said earlier I'm still interested in the "send picture" & "Send avatar" lines in the chat settings menu. If thats not picture messaging, I wonder what it could be.

 

[Arwin]

You can still do video chat "live" and text chat "live", but for now only messages will be in text. But yeah as you said, I'm pretty sure they plan on updating the firmware to support other messages (mark @ SCE mentioned it in the engadget video).

As I said earlier I'm still interested in the "send picture" & "Send avatar" lines in the chat settings menu. If thats not picture messaging, I wonder what it could be.

Yeah, I'm actually convinced I picked up somewhere that you could send text messages with attachments. I was expecting something like a chat option where you can also upload/download files to each other, stuff like that. Something like how a messenger app works today, with additional live audio and video coming soon.

 

[Graham]

* The system will not support more than seven controllers.

what, they wanted more?

I have a bad feeling this may mean 'seven in one room'. Which means bye bye console lan partys. IIRC I read somewhere that microsoft did tests with 24 controllers in one room, but don't quote me on that

 

[Bad_Boy]

I have a bad feeling this may mean 'seven in one room'. Which means bye bye console lan partys. IIRC I read somewhere that microsoft did tests with 24 controllers in one room, but don't quote me on that

I think it always has been 7 controllers in one room but that doesnt mean good bye lan parties. Only games I can think of using 7 controllers on one screen would be party games and sports games. Dunno about you, but playing a FPS with 7 different boxes on the screen doesnt sound like fun.

Im not 100% sure but IIRC the only confirmed game in the launch window that supports a full 7 controllers is NBA 2k7.

 

[Arwin]

Not supporting VGA is piss-poor. If I interpret this correctly... if you want 1080p, you need a HDMI set now?

I'm another one in the shafted basket. I have a 24" LCD which supports VGA, DVI and component input. I have a 78cm CRT HDTV set which supports 1080i over VGA and component. I was planning on having it go through a VGA splitter to both, with me sitting on the couch for 1080i games and below, and 1080p games on my new monitor.

Now I have people on forums being condescending because I should be able to afford ANOTHER 1080i/p device, this time with HDMI input? Spare me.

Both of them have component, I see ... ? Isn't that the solution? I mean, even if both screens had HDMI, that wouldn't have solved anything.

Either get a component splitter (if they exist) or a component switchbox, I'd say.

 

[PARANOiA]

Both of them have component, I see ... ? Isn't that the solution? I mean, even if both screens had HDMI, that wouldn't have solved anything.

Either get a component splitter (if they exist) or a component switchbox, I'd say.

I didn't think component had sufficient bandwidth for 1080p - at least that's the feedback from friends with a 360 who bought the component cabling for 1080i, then have to now go and but the VGA output to use 1080p after the fall update.

 

[London Geezer]

I didn't think component had sufficient bandwidth for 1080p - at least that's the feedback from friends with a 360 who bought the component cabling for 1080i, then have to now go and but the VGA output to use 1080p after the fall update.

IF your TV can take 1080p and PS3 will allow 1080p through component, then the component cable itself is more than enough to carry the signal.
But i wouldn't be surprised if Sony will only allow 1080p through HDMI, like they do with their TVs.
Does your TV take 1080p through component?

 

[Titanio]

I didn't think component had sufficient bandwidth for 1080p - at least that's the feedback from friends with a 360 who bought the component cabling for 1080i, then have to now go and but the VGA output to use 1080p after the fall update.

You'll need VGA for upscaling of DVDs to 1080p, but that's not for technical reasons AFAIK. Game output at 1080p should be possible over component. Ditto on PS3, you'll need HDMI for 1080p movies AFAIK, but game content etc. should be doable over component at 1080p as I understand it.

The other option on a computer monitor, by the way, is DVI. HDMI-to-DVI is a very easy conversion, although what resolutions DVI will support I am not sure. Something you might want to look into though.

 

[London Geezer]

And again i will add, seeing the great job Sony are doing with PSP firmware updates, i have no doubt that if enough people bitch about it, VGA output (or even 1080p through component) will be enabled with a future update.

 

[pipo]

... VGA output (or even 1080p through component) will be enabled with a future update.

It might not be as simple as a firmware update though. It could be a more technical issue.

 

[London Geezer]

It might not be as simple as a firmware update though. It could be a more technical issue.

Darling, if MS updated the 360's firmware to magically make it output 1080p, then Sony will have no problem doing it, if they want to do it.

 

[pipo]

Darling, if MS updated the 360's firmware to magically make it output 1080p, then Sony will have no problem doing it, if they want to do it.

Love, all I was trying to say is if there's no VGA signal anywhere in the PS3 consumer machine (maybe they've been saving pennies on the encoder?), there's no way firmware could make it happen right?

Upgrading the (360's) output resolution is somewhat easier than adding a new output format IMHO because the actual hardware has to be in place.

We don't know what's inside the box. At least, I don't know.

 

[Bad_Boy]

Can AV multi out not carry a VGA signal? It's the same connector for the PS2, which had a VGA cable later in it's life cycle for linux.

 

[pipo]

Can AV multi out not carry a VGA signal? It's the same connector for the PS2, which had a VGA cable later in it's life cycle for linux.

I'm not saying it's impossible, but at the very least Sony must have been planning it in advance then...

 

[Bad_Boy]

I'm not saying it's impossible, but at the very least Sony must have been planning it in advance then...

I know.

I was just commenting on your 'hardware may not be in place' statement, when infact it should be when it's using the same connector as the PS2. As london-boy suggested, the only thing now would to be to enable it in the firmware for ps3 and maybe provide some sony branded cables (but third party should work I suppose).

Sounds easier said than done of course, but I'm guessing if enough people cry out to them, they will do so.

 

[Rolf N]

VGA is just free-style progressive RGB, which is a format you'd want to somehow support anyway, for SDTV sets (in Europe at least). I'm not 100% on this, but I believe the differences are synch timings at worst, and those should still be programmable.

 

[pipo]

Oh well, we'll see. I'm perfectly happy with the component output anyways.

 

[London Geezer]

Love, all I was trying to say is if there's no VGA signal anywhere in the PS3 consumer machine (maybe they've been saving pennies on the encoder?), there's no way firmware could make it happen right?

Upgrading the (360's) output resolution is somewhat easier than adding a new output format IMHO because the actual hardware has to be in place.

We don't know what's inside the box. At least, I don't know.

There was none on PS2. The VGA output came out of the multi-AV port, along with everything else. And there is no dedicated VGA port on 360, it all just comes out of the multi-AV port.

 

[PiNkY]

Most people I know hook the xboxes up via vga because the box allows pixel perfect scaling for most 32"-40" displays that way. This tends to look significantly better on entry level sets (especially the samsung ones). It sure will be missed for the ps3, but I'd bet they'll add it eventually.