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[KAGE360]

QUOTE

The $499 PS3 not only doesn't support HDMI, it too is limited to 1080i max (no 1080p support in the chipset)...confirmed by Sony. So much for the "real HD is 1080p" line. When questioned by the BBC on this issue Thursday, Phil Harrison of SCE said: "What we should be clear about is that the functionality is identical in both machines. There's no difference in what the machine does....it's just that the technical method of extracting audio and video from the devices is slightly different." Later Thursday, the story changed, and SCE confirmed no HDMI and a max 1080i output through the AV Multi-Out...also, lossy 5.1 is the "highest quality" audio option for this SKU.

The no-HDMI support for the $499 PS3 "stunned" Hollywood insiders. Said CED: "Spokespeople for the major studios declined comment on the situation Thurs., pending a statement from SCE on its rationale for leaving off the HDMI."

To take it over the top, Kuturagi pi$$ed off Sony's Blu-ray partners (and studios) by noting that the PS3 wasn't a trojan horse for getting Blu-ray into homes: "The PS3 uses the Blu-ray Disc because it can store a large amount of data. This is to enhance the power of the PS3, not to spread the Blu-ray standard." Disney and Fox were not amused.

Nor was Philips, who at CES 2006 noted that they would "only introduce a player if we can do it in a competitive way. If PS3 sells at $499 then that is because the games companies can afford to subsidize players to sell games." The sudden reality of a $499 PS3 left Philips to note that they are "still convinced that Blu-ray as a standalone product does have a future -- like DVD now, despite DVD playback by games machines" and that they will go ahead with their plans to launch Blu-ray despite Sony's pricing shock and penetration strategy.

A bit more on AVCHD for those interested. Sony and MEI developed it outside of The DVD Forum on purpose to avoid pushback from other CE companies. 650nm read laser, AVC MP (I thought I read HP support somewhere, though) with support for legacy DD and LPCM audio...20 minutes of HD at 9.0MBps, 40 minutes of SD at 4.5Mbps. Licensing is in the works.

http://www.avsforum.....&

[twistedsymphony]

who DIDN'T see the 1080i thing coming.

Is it just me or is Sony going out of their way to see how much they can trash talk all of their supporters and still come out on top?

[KAGE360]

QUOTE(twistedsymphony @ May 23 2006, 12:21 PM)

who DIDN'T see the 1080i thing coming.

Is it just me or is Sony going out of their way to see how much they can trash talk all of their supporters and still come out on top?

well i dont know about trash talking their supporters, more like "shitting in their cherios" while there not looking  

[incognegro]

or pissing in their beer mug