PS3 OS/Interface

[Bad_Boy]

http://www.famitsu.com/game/event/2006/05/11/264,1147311586,52937,0,0.html

Brief summary, 8 main categories. Should be familiar to those who are used to the PS2's BB Navigator (Japan).

User: Different settings for different users. So mom and dad and kid are different users with different preference settings.

Setting: Self-explanatory.

Photo: Import digital photos. Slideshow.

Music: CD and MP3.

Movie: Playback from HDD or disc. The demo staff loaded in a bluray disc as part of demonstration. (No comments on picture quality. Seems to be a functionality demo only.)

Game: Games and save data.

Network: Self-explanatory.

Friend: Register friends, messaging, etc.

^thx to wywy over at gaf
*sorry if posted in wrong place

edit:
translation via google...
http://translate.google.com/transla...firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=G

Setting ......Literally, it sets variously here. For example the [tsu] [te] reason which can do also the mouse and the adjustment etc of the keyboard here.

mouse and keyboard, nice

Network ......Because also the browser is loaded, also perusal of Internet very easily.

expected web browser

 

[Bobbler]

I rather like the seeming simplicity of the XMB on the PSP -- it doesn't feel crowded and it gets the job done.

I'm glad they went with it.

 

[patsu]

Agree. But they need personalization though. Perhaps a "My PS3" square where I can access my favorite/most used items, and an option to list all the items I'm sharing with my friends (if function exists).

 

[Bad_Boy]

I rather like the seeming simplicity of the XMB on the PSP -- it doesn't feel crowded and it gets the job done.

I'm glad they went with it.

Yep, First time I used my psp I was amazed at how simple and easy it is to use and get around. Takes 2 minutes at most to get used to. Should fit nicely in a console enviroment.

But they need personalization though. Perhaps a "My PS3" square where I can access my favorite/most used items, and an option to list all the items I'm sharing with my friends (if function exists).

Not 100% sure, but The User menu might feature somthing like that. Heres the translation

User Menu: ......For example when play station 3 is used in the family, the father and the mother, by his to the condition such as the younger brother, is achieved the fact that the respective separate setting is made, for example (the feeling that as for his own menu however the game contents have entered the large quantity, as for the father the movie, as for the mother the music contents have entered the large quantity,).

 

[rounin]

I just went through it and wanted to add that in the Friend's section, it says that an official has explained that if you have a keyboard, you can use it to chat.

Also, in the Network Part, it says a browser is included so internet browsing is very easy (I presume this is because of the keyboard support )

If theres any other interesting stuff I'll keep you posted on that as well. I basically skipped to the end and am now making my way up

EDIT : ok. I made it to the top. Nothing much but in Settings it basically says : Language and various other settings. For example, keyboard and mouse adjustments can be made here.

 

[mckmas8808]

I just went through it and wanted to add that in the Friend's section, it says that an official has explained that if you have a keyboard, you can use it to chat.

Also, in the Network Part, it says a browser is included so internet browsing is very easy (I presume this is because of the keyboard support )

If theres any other interesting stuff I'll keep you posted on that as well. I basically skipped to the end and am now making my way up

EDIT : ok. I made it to the top. Nothing much but in Settings it basically says : Language and various other settings. For example, keyboard and mouse adjustments can be made here.

Yes please explain it all. Every single bullet point. Thanks.

 

[LunchBox]

It looks like the psp interface ... in a horizontal strip...

 

[rounin]

Yes please explain it all. Every single bullet point. Thanks.

J/k

Starting from the top (as usual, things I write, or think what they mean in context is in square brackets)

The PLAYSTATION 3 menu system has been confirmed. Just as you can see, it uses the Cross Media Bar system [I believe you call this the XMB?] that is also used in the PSP and PSX. In effect, the system that game fans have become very familiar with has been included.

The PLAYSTATION 3 menu is separated into 8 large categories, "User"、"Setting"、"Photo"、"Music"、"Movie"、"Game"、"Network"、"Friend", all of which will be described below.

User: For instance, if a family consisting of Father, Mother, yourself and your little bother were to use the PLAYSTATION 3, it is possible to have different settings per user. (For example, your own menu could have a lot of game contents, you father's could have a lot of pictures, your mom's could have a lot of music contents, etc)

Setting : Language and various other settings. For example, keyboard and mouse adjustments can be made here.

Photo : This is where you can look at photos from your digital camera. You can also easily create slideshows. The PLAYSTATION 3 allows the insertion of so many different formats of memory cards, such as SD card, memory stick, compact flash, so there is a lot of support for different media types. [As a result] It is likely that there are no restrictions on what kind of digital camera is supported.

Music : Music playback is done here. CD support is obviously included. Since MP3 playback is supported, if you store music on the harddrive, you can playback music [from here...but they did not say exclusively from here]whenever you want.

Movie : Here you playback the beautiful images from your Blu-Ray discs. Although in the demonstration at E3, when you put the BluRay disc in, playback begins [automatically], the official explained that storing the movie onto the harddrive is also possible.

Game : The place for game save management.

Network : A browser is included so internet browsing is very easy [I presume this is because of the keyboard support ]

Friend : This is where you exchange [and interact] with friends. If you have registered a friend, you can check if he/she is online from here. An official has explained that if you have a keyboard, you can use it to chat....but we want details !

EDIT: Forgot to include Photos section

 

[Bad_Boy]

whoa, thanks tons rounin, much appreciated. sounds great.

 

[hey69]

playing movies from HARDDISK whoohoo!
thats something I really miss on my xbox360 . offcourse Sony can't force you to buy another windows like the MS does for using the streaming capabilities

 

[Sindre]

Great find!
Nice that they use the XMB, I love it on my PSP
Will be interesting to get some more details, maybe something on PVR and LocationFree features?

 

[slider]

Yeah, I'd like some more details too. From the little screen shot it seems nice... but obviously that's no real indication. A clip of it in use would be good!

PVR? Unlikely with 20GB... Or even 60GB. When/if we can whack in much bigger drives I would've thought the functionality wouldn't be that hard to implement - just the size of the storage holding it back.

And has there even been a sniff more of the PNP?

 

[Bad_Boy]

Anybody have that old leaked ps3 OS shot, the one that seemed cluttered with media playing in the background and a menu in the foreground. I cant seem to find it.
Just to compare ofcourse.

 

[rabidrabbit]

That looks exactly like the PSP XBM OS, except for the addition of the "user" and "Friends" icons.

That's a good thing, the PSP OS is very quick and easy to use, and should not be overly heavy on the processing, so that should leave quite a bit resources free on that one SPU that's reserved for the OS.

It's stylish and functional without being garish and overly glossy chrome monster.

It should have some customisation too in form of "wallpapers" like in PSP (I know, it's a bit lame feature)

So you can possibly copy a BD movie on the harddisk? But you can't fit many movies in there, so it'd be a bit useless as a movie jukebox. I think it'll be more for downloaded or converted videos and movies, or your home videos.

 

[hey69]

i dont think they will let you copy a full BD movie to your harddisk

but i would loooove it if you could upload or transfer from dvdr your divx files (you know your holliday movies and homemade porn stuff incase you get famous one day)

 

[Bad_Boy]

So you can possibly copy a BD movie on the harddisk? But you can't fit many movies in there, so it'd be a bit useless as a movie jukebox. I think it'll be more for downloaded or converted videos and movies, or your home videos.

Which brings up a good question. Which formats of video will the ps3 play off the HDD. I would love for some AVI/XVID support, but being the psp hasnt gotten it yet, It's probably doubtful. And obviously not wmv's.

I would LOVE for some avi/xvid support though.

Also, say you converted a movie, how would you transfer files from PC to the PS3?
-usb, maybe
-memory cards/sticks, but what about the 499 version?
-ftp like feature through the lan?

I wish sony would talk more about their OS. I guess we will have to wait for TGS.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Which brings up a good question. Which formats of video will the ps3 play off the HDD. I would love for some AVI/XVID support, but being the psp hasnt gotten it yet, It's probably doubtful. And obviously not wmv's.

Why not? It's just a matter of licensing the codec from MS. RD already has support for VC-1 so the PS3 will have the decoder for it, and PSP has MS's WMA format added now. MS might feel like limiting PS3's features set and refuse to license, but they're turning down easy money if they do, and business doesn't normally work that way.

 

[Bad_Boy]

Why not? It's just a matter of licensing the codec from MS. RD already has support for VC-1 so the PS3 will have the decoder for it, and PSP has MS's WMA format added now. MS might feel like limiting PS3's features set and refuse to license, but they're turning down easy money if they do, and business doesn't normally work that way.

Points taken.

Me personally, xvid/avi is the biggest format I would like to see supported, and not restricted to specific requirements like the PSP's encoding. I love my psp dont get me wrong, but sometimes I wish I could just drag an avi over instead of encoding the file.

Another thing, with singstar being rumored as a launch title, wouldnt that mean eyetoy would need to be avaliable at launch? I do hope they include video chatting on the friends menu.

 

[Kryton]

Why not? It's just a matter of licensing the codec from MS. RD already has support for VC-1 so the PS3 will have the decoder for it, and PSP has MS's WMA format added now. MS might feel like limiting PS3's features set and refuse to license, but they're turning down easy money if they do, and business doesn't normally work that way.

Would anti-trust laws permit them to deny a license? Using your monopoly in one area (audio/video compression) to gain another (gaming) is illegal.

Be cool if Sony put SMB support in so it polled the network and found content sources on other local devices.

 

[patsu]

Yeah MS can't refuse for the reason you mentioned.

As for what you want to do above, it's already possible with DLNA. PnP and media browsing are both specified in it. Technically speaking, all the other PSP functions (wallpaper, movie viewing, web browsing) should be possible too.

What's not clear is LocationFree (although DLNA also specifies some form of VPN support), PVR (rumors ?) and Linux OS with the 60 Gb HD version (Ken spoke about it but no follow up yet).