Take it with a grain of salt.
And yes, this would be very frustrating as I believe we were led to believe that the PS3 would have "media center" capabilities.

Please, take a moment of your time, write sony at the address in my sig. This would be very frustrating as this is the main reason I (and many other people) picked up a PS3 early on in it's lifecycle.

Link (http://www.smarthouse.com.au/Media_Centres/Industry/R8W6V6L6)
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MEDIA CENTRES / INDUSTRY

Sony PS4 Not Far Away

By David Richards | Wednesday | 02/05/2007
A new Playstation 4 could be less than 18 months away according to a Sony insider. The device will include the same chipset as the current PS3 but where it will differ from the current model is in the drive bay and in the attachment area. It will also include an extensive software suite for the managing of content being streamed to a TV or Hi Fi source.

In addition Sony is working on improving the output experience so that the device can become a true home entertainment centre eliminating the need for a media centre. "We have even looked at a Sony home server based on Playstation technology. This would allow consumers to connect home automation devices to the Sony server while also delivering online gaming and access to an extensive movie and music library" said one Sony source.

Ken Kutaragi, the retiring chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment said in an interview last week that he clearly understands how the PlayStation game consoles should evolve in the next three generations, or fifteen to twenty years from now. He also said that in future it will be possible to create fully Internet-based game consoles.

"As a matter of course, I have the vision of PlayStation 4, 5 and 6, which will merge into the network," Mr. Kutaragi said. Earlier this year when Kazuo Hirai became the second president of SCEI and chief operating officer, some analysts said that Sony may not launch yet another game console and the PlayStation 3 may become the last one. On this Mr. Kutaragi, who is also known as "the father of PlayStation", says that future consoles may be network-based, which automatically reduces the cost to build such machines.

"The design concept of the Cell processor is the network processor," Mr. Kutaragi said. "When the PS3 was introduced last year, the network environment was not ready for a net-based game console. Now it has become possible, so why not enter?"

The outgoing leader has faced a lot of criticism from observers for the PlayStation 3, the latest game console by Sony Group, as the machine is expensive to manufacture despite of the fact that initial batch of games are unlikely to become bestsellers. At the same time, technical advantages of the arch-rival – Microsoft Xbox 360 – and difficulty to develop games for the Cell processor used in the PlayStation 3 have resulted in losing exclusive titles with game developers.

Kazuo Hirai, who is believed to have better relations with game developers than Ken Kutaragi may fit very well into the Internet-based game console strategy, as technical capabilities of game consoles may play much less significant role going forward.
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They actually announced this last year. It'll be the PS3 equivalent of this
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2c/Psx-5100.jpg

But why not release some of these capabilities on the existing ps3? I can accept making a dedicated media center - hell... I would even consider buying it depending on price. But with the capabilities of the existing system, why not give us more options. UPnp anyone?

A friend's friend, who supposedly works for one of Sony's offices, told him that he was working on models for a MMO game for the PS4.

I told my friend that that wasn't possible, since they just came out with a PS3. He shrugged and said "that's what he told me." I just figured he was lying, because my friend and his friend used to do that a lot in college.

Now, I'm confused.

I seriously doubt it's going to be called the PS4. More than likely it will just be a media center PS3 SKU, that might not even make it to our side of the big pond.

They actually announced this last year. It'll be the PS3 equivalent of this
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/2c/Psx-5100.jpg

Ditto, one thing, it might have analog outputs for everyone who doesn't want to upgrade their receiver.

Prediction: It will only be available in Japan, and it will cost more than the ps3 costs now.

So thats why they cripples the ps3 and trying to drive me mental. Sell me a rebagged ps3 as media center. F that

Someone let Krazy K back on the mic, which of course causes chaos and confusion

So thats why they cripples the ps3 and trying to drive me mental. Sell me a rebagged ps3 as media center. F that

Simmer, it is just a specialized high end version. Just do a google on PSX, basically a new version of that.

A PS3 evolution of the PS2-based PSX sounds most logical.

it's just a sony reaction to the xbox360 elite, the 360 "media edition"

it's just a sony reaction to the xbox360 elite, the 360 "media edition"
Except, as stated by TwinTurboJosh, it was announced over a year ago. And, it's previous incarnation was labeled the PSX, which was a PS2 media station.

Saw it in the Sony store in Tokyo back in Oct. 2004.

The media bar for the PS3 kind of reminds me of the PSX OS. Except the PSX OS had more color and better looking icons.

I think this was shortly before the PSP came out?

ah ok, missed that one.

i mean, cool idea, but it's not going to spike their sale, introducing an even higher end sku to an already high end product.

ah ok, missed that one.

i mean, cool idea, but it's not going to spike their sale, introducing an even higher end sku to an already high end product.
It wasn't all that spectacular in the PSX form. It didn't make it outside of Japan, as I heard it wasn't all that great anyways.

If, indeed, the sales were abysmal, I can't imagine why they would try again. However, since the PS3 is more of an multi-media entertainment system than the PS2, perhaps this would be more appealing.

In any case, I doubt this PSX2/PS3-MC/whatever will be marketed outside of Japan.

EDIT-
Original PSX - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSX_%28DVR%29
XMB for the PSX - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dvd_xmb_img02_pop.jpg

this would make me REALLY pissed.

I have 2 ps3's, and I was under the impression (mistaken apparently) that the current ps3 would have the capability to do this.

this would make me REALLY pissed.

I have 2 ps3's, and I was under the impression (mistaken apparently) that the current ps3 would have the capability to do this.
I am under the impression that you should'nt get angry about something you read in a public forum... :cool:

hence the use of the word 'would' ....

And I certainly have trouble believing they'd leave the current ps3 owners in the lurch like that.

But stranger things have happened...

this would make me REALLY pissed.

I have 2 ps3's, and I was under the impression (mistaken apparently) that the current ps3 would have the capability to do this.
If it's anything like the PSX, it's doubtful that it'll be in circulation outside of Japan. I wouldn't get too worked up about this.

The original PSX sold for $900+ in japan, at a time the PS2 was going for $199. It was supposed to be a Combo MCE PC/PS2 console/DVR but it shipped with about half of the promised features missing. It received weekly firmware updates to enable extra features but sales never picked up. It was discontinued with a total installed base of 8900 units.
Not as bad a disaster as the E-Villa but pretty darn close.
Shortly afterwards, Sony started shipping VAIOS with Windows MCE.
A second attempt to crack that market should be no surprise.

In other words, it has nothing to do with the console gaming business.

I'll buy one and park it next to my N64 DD :rolleyes:

You people worry waaaay too much :eek:

this might be ture but i don't think is going to be PS4
just like the first playstation -----> later they came out smaller version of it PS one
PS2---> slim PS2
PS3---> PS3 Elite( maybe)

this might be ture but i don't think is going to be PS4
just like the first playstation -----> later they came out smaller version of it PS one
PS2---> slim PS2
PS3---> PS3 Elite( maybe)
Please read the rest of the posts. It is not a downsizing of size they are talking about.

It's added functionality, like the PSX was built around a PS2. Yes, it can play games...but it was also a DVR and other stuff.

The original PS3 is supposed to do all this stuff - hence all the talk about the PS3 "being a computer." Hopefully Sony comes to their senses and actually updates the PS3 to do what it's supposed to do, instead of trying to get people to spend $1000 on some more firmware. Mmmgh...

The original PS3 is supposed to do all this stuff - hence all the talk about the PS3 "being a computer." Hopefully Sony comes to their senses and actually updates the PS3 to do what it's supposed to do, instead of trying to get people to spend $1000 on some more firmware. Mmmgh...What has Sony told you that the PS3 does that it doesn't do? Ours does everything it is advertised to do. I wouldn't buy something on the hopes that it becomes something that it is currently not.

What has Sony told you that the PS3 does that it doesn't do? Ours does everything it is advertised to do. I wouldn't buy something on the hopes that it becomes something that it is currently not.
Play the majority of H.264 video files for instance, is one thing that it doesn't do that it should do, esspecially files over 4 GB. "It's just a computer" is what they told us; funny, my PC has no problem with any H.264 file I try to play.

What is an H.264 video file? I've honestly never heard that term. Is that something they advertise the PS3 being able to do? Seems kind of obscure, but if it plays some I guess you'd expect it to play most or all.

What is an H.264 video file? I've honestly never heard that term. Is that something they advertise the PS3 being able to do? Seems kind of obscure, but if it plays some I guess you'd expect it to play most or all.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H.264

Thanks ppshooky... :)

In more laymans terms it's HD video content. Many of Sony's own HD trailers on the PS Store actually use it, as can Blu Ray. At it's core the system can play them fine, but the PS3 is extremely picky about codec headers and for reasons beyond my understanding, the vast majority of the files I transfer to the PS3 will not play. That sort of very limitted flexibility from the PS3 is precisely what I expected not to be an issue when I bought the PS3 (at launch, btw) due to Sony's own PR about what the PS3 would be capable of doing.

Thus, should Sony choose to release a new model with some new firmware that makes it more flexible just to try to get people like me to buy it, I'd be very frustrated. OTOH, I'm still hoping that over time new firmware will address issues like these with the current PS3.

Someone should chop that PSX to have Blu-ray, TrueHD, SACD logos and maybe make it piano black with chrome trim...

100% of my Mpeg-2 PS files play great on the P3 along with my HDV files.

Do you mean mpeg-2 TS?

so, are you telling me I just wasted $600 !!! :eek:

Do you mean mpeg-2 TS?


Nope. My Ps3 will not play Mpeg-2 TS files. I have to take my TS files and covert them to Mpeg-2 PS. They play flawlessly as PS.

I see. I would indeed expect so, if you take the time to transcode them to one of PS3's few supported formats. Unfortunately the transcoding requires a computer anyways (wait, isn't that a PS3? LOL) so the PS3 doesn't become a practical replacement for one's HTPC as I'd tuly hoped it would be.

I was skeptical when Sony kept talking about "potential". That is Sony's way of promising without having to fulfil the promise.
So far I am unimpressed with my PS3, but not because a lack of superb games, but rather a lack of general functionality. I understand that it will improve in time and that they used a similar plan for the PSP, but the PSP didn't cost $600.
Most people didn't pay $600 just to play games. They were expecting to get a lot more bang for the buck with this system, and so far Sony has not come through.
I don't see any good games coming out until late 2007 early 2008 which is not good. Everything seems half @$$ed with the PS3.
I see the release like this:
A browser without a bluetooth keyboard.
Online games without communication.
PS store with hardly anything to buy.
Crippled Linux support.
No rumble.
No uzbe port in rear.
sucky sixaxis game support.
lack of real remote play.
Bluray and DVD glitches galore.
HD compatability issues.
No IR support. (PSP has one that is unused, but the PS3 got the shaft?)
Too much secrecy before the launch also pissed me off.
I do understand as they do the firmware updates things changed and will change in the future, but Sony has a track record of over promising and not being able to deliver the goods. Am I wrong?

Super Rub a Dub should have been a release title (perfect to showcase Sixasxis)
Remote play should have been put on the back burner until they can make good use of it.
Nothing to say for rumble (Court)
The PS store was a last minute thing. It should have been designed and had content setup atleast a year before the PS3 went into the manufacturing stage.
Blurry and DVD glitches are not that big a deal and were expected. It was nice to see them taken care of as soon as possible.
What is up with the PS store anyway? I bought Ridge Racer on the release day and here it is 6 months later and I still don't have any additional downloads on the US store? (Half @$$ed) The game has global support, but you cripple certain regions?

They should have used 3.5 YD instead of 2.5 and made it bigger!:)

Overall I have a wait and see attitude with Sony these Days, but if they release a media center PS3 sku I will be pissed. They can do the same thing with firmware updates on the current system.

I will say that I have enjoyed the games that I have bought so far except Qbert.
So I do see some hope in the future to be blown away by Sony, but when will waiting become too much of a burden to bare.

Sony Fanmail