PS3: It only loses another feature

According to this report from Kotaku, the upcoming K series of PS3s (apparently shipping to retailers this week) and all future models will require an HDMI connection for HD, meaning it will no longer support HD over component cables.

The reasoning? There's no official word from Sony as of yet, but the only significant difference between a component and HDMI connection is that component doesn't support the (hopelessly broken) HDCP DRM scheme, which allows for greater publisher control over how an image is used (namely, combating recording/duplication), and retailers like GameStop can't be too broken up over the opportunity to sell more $60+ HDMI cables.

The losers, naturally, are good ol' consumers who either a) don't have enough HDMI connections for all their devices or b) have an older HDTV that pre-dates HDMI. As someone who falls into the latter category, the only solution I know of (short of buying a new TV) is to pray your TV has a DVI cable that plays nice with HDMI and HDCP so you can use an HDMI-to-DVI cable/adaptor. For those in the former, well, hopefully you can do some connection shuffling without having to spend too much on new cables.

Otherwise, congrats! The console you likely bought because of all its fantastical HD features is now limited to the same resolution as the Wii! All because, well, frankly I can't think of a good reason for continuing to use HDCP, nevermind making it a requirement.

Fortunately for current owners, Sony has said they have no plans to update previous PS3 models with this requirement (although where have I heard that one before...).

UPDATE: Turns out this will affect movies only, and is the result of the movie industry's insistence on DRMing the bejeezus out of everything they can nowadays. Still a **** move on their part, but hardly something you can blame SCE for. I should've known better than to jump on a Kotaku story like that...

According to this report from Kotaku, the upcoming K series of PS3s (apparently shipping to retailers this week) and all future models will require an HDMI connection for HD, meaning it will no longer support HD over component cables.

The reasoning? There's no official word from Sony as of yet, but the only significant difference between a component and HDMI connection is that component doesn't support the (hopelessly broken) HDCP DRM scheme, which allows for greater publisher control over how an image is used (namely, combating recording/duplication), and retailers like GameStop can't be too broken up over the opportunity to sell more $60+ HDMI cables.

The losers, naturally, are good ol' consumers who either a) don't have enough HDMI connections for all their devices or b) have an older HDTV that pre-dates HDMI. As someone who falls into the latter category, the only solution I know of (short of buying a new TV) is to pray your TV has a DVI cable that plays nice with HDMI and HDCP so you can use an HDMI-to-DVI cable/adaptor. For those in the former, well, hopefully you can do some connection shuffling without having to spend too much on new cables.

Otherwise, congrats! The console you likely bought because of all its fantastical HD features is now limited to the same resolution as the Wii! All because, well, frankly I can't think of a good reason for continuing to use HDCP, nevermind making it a requirement.

Fortunately for current owners, Sony has said they have no plans to update previous PS3 models with this requirement (although where have I heard that one before...).

PBSnipes

I got an HDMI cable for like $20 at a local store, and they were well worth it. All you have to do is know where to look.

I'm a moron, help me out here.

I got an HDMI cable for like $20 at a local store, and they were well worth it. All you have to do is know where to look.

verbtex

I got an HDMI cable for like $20 at a local store, and they were well worth it. All you have to do is know where to look.

verbtex

I have plenty of HDMI slots on my tv so no problems here. Paying $60 for cables seems ridiculous unless you have a 3D TV, I got my monster cables for only $25 each.

$1.99 6 Feet HDMI Cable

http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-Cable-2M-6-Feet/dp/B0002L5R78/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310507486&sr=8-1

[QUOTE="verbtex"]

I got an HDMI cable for like $20 at a local store, and they were well worth it. All you have to do is know where to look.

cain006

Was it a terrible deal for 2009? I try not to buy too much stuff online, I'm more of an instant gratification kind of person. :/. I was just trying to point out that consumers don't need to spend 60 bucks on HDMI cables.

So? HDMI cable cost what, two dollars now? I have like five extra cables just lying around my room.

HDMI cables are like $10... :|

I have plenty of HDMI slots on my tv so no problems here. Paying $60 for cables seems ridiculous unless you have a 3D TV, I got my monster cables for only $25 each.

Bigboi500

this is no biggie to me since i have used hdmi from day one but if my 60gigger with all the bells and whistles ever broke i really don't know what i would do.

i can't imagine not having card slots, extra usb slots and bc like my 60 gig does.

i really think if it broke i would just buy a blu ray player and be done with it as opposed to gaming on the gimped versions.

[QUOTE="PBSnipes"]

According to this report from Kotaku, the upcoming K series of PS3s (apparently shipping to retailers this week) and all future models will require an HDMI connection for HD, meaning it will no longer support HD over component cables.

The reasoning? There's no official word from Sony as of yet, but the only significant difference between a component and HDMI connection is that component doesn't support the (hopelessly broken) HDCP DRM scheme, which allows for greater publisher control over how an image is used (namely, combating recording/duplication), and retailers like GameStop can't be too broken up over the opportunity to sell more $60+ HDMI cables.

The losers, naturally, are good ol' consumers who either a) don't have enough HDMI connections for all their devices or b) have an older HDTV that pre-dates HDMI. As someone who falls into the latter category, the only solution I know of (short of buying a new TV) is to pray your TV has a DVI cable that plays nice with HDMI and HDCP so you can use an HDMI-to-DVI cable/adaptor. For those in the former, well, hopefully you can do some connection shuffling without having to spend too much on new cables.

Otherwise, congrats! The console you likely bought because of all its fantastical HD features is now limited to the same resolution as the Wii! All because, well, frankly I can't think of a good reason for continuing to use HDCP, nevermind making it a requirement.

Fortunately for current owners, Sony has said they have no plans to update previous PS3 models with this requirement (although where have I heard that one before...).

verbtex

I got an HDMI cable for like $20 at a local store, and they were well worth it. All you have to do is know where to look.

[QUOTE="cain006"]

[QUOTE="verbtex"]

I got an HDMI cable for like $20 at a local store, and they were well worth it. All you have to do is know where to look.

verbtex

Was it a terrible deal for 2009? I try not to buy too much stuff online, I'm more of an instant gratification kind of person. :/. I was just trying to point out that consumers don't need to spend 60 bucks on HDMI cables.

I got an HDMI cable for like $20 at a local store, and they were well worth it. All you have to do is know where to look.

verbtex

I got one for .01c off Amazon and it has the build quality of $50 cables with the same exact features.

Meh doesn't bother me. At least the PS3 came with a damn HDMI port at launch unlike the 360, as well as other features.

[QUOTE="Bigboi500"]

I have plenty of HDMI slots on my tv so no problems here. Paying $60 for cables seems ridiculous unless you have a 3D TV, I got my monster cables for only $25 each.

cain006

Yeah they were expensive, but that's all they had in the store. I don't mind though because they're thick. Those cheap cables are thin and probably not very durable.

Bigboi500

Here is where you should buy all of your cables from now on.

Yeah they were expensive, but that's all they had in the store. I don't mind though because they're thick. Those cheap cables are thin and probably not very durable.

Bigboi500

monoprice.com

Has great prices on HIGH end hdmi cables. High end. Not these 5-20 dollar cables you get on the egg, amazon, bestbuy or wallmart.

The thing is the Monoprice cables are as good as the 100 dollar Monster cables out there. At a great price.

Not all HDMI cables are created equal.

Do research.

[QUOTE="Bigboi500"]

Yeah they were expensive, but that's all they had in the store. I don't mind though because they're thick. Those cheap cables are thin and probably not very durable.

ChubbyGuy40

Here is where you should buy all of your cables from now on.

Such a shame for the PS3. Playstation used to be a good brand but now they have fallen badly this gen and still in third place. Such a shame.

[QUOTE="ChubbyGuy40"]

[QUOTE="Bigboi500"]

Yeah they were expensive, but that's all they had in the store. I don't mind though because they're thick. Those cheap cables are thin and probably not very durable.

Bigboi500

Here is where you should buy all of your cables from now on.

They are as thick as your index finger. In most cases out perform monster cables or are equal to them ion every way. That cost up to 100-200 dollars.

Have to be honest and say I didn't even know it supported HD component cables in the first place.wraigth

This.

Sony are cutting a useless feature!? The humanity!

Wow, that's a pretty bad choice if it's indeed true. Hopefully my PS3 doesn't break down because I was thinking about getting hauppauge in the near future.MushroomWig

Edit: I assumed this was old news and the article says it also counts for HD games as well... My bad. Although i recon it's slightly exaggerated or Sony are just ripping out component HD altogether instead of leaving pieces behind.. Probably logical as well i don't want to plug in my component cable and boot up a game to get a message "You require HDMI to do this".. Would be annoying and almost pointless using component if this was the case.

Guys, the issue isn't the cost of HDMI cables, it's that there are a significant number of HDTVs out there that either don't support HDMI or don't have enough HDMI connections in the first place. At best some poor bastards are going to get screwed when they find out their shiny new PS3 only runs at 480p on their older HDTV and at worst this will be another OtherOS where the HDMI requirement is patched in to older models, all so that Sony can force users into a DRM scheme that's broken in the first place.

This is not a big deal for most people, you can buy a dirt cheap TV with a HDMI connection, or a used one. HDMI is the future, and we knew this before this gen started. And for a console that supports BluRay movies it is critical to have a HDMI to get the best picture and sound out of your movies.

You can buy a HDMI switch or a cheap receiver with HDMI switch if you don't have enough HDMI's on your TV. Even though one of the reasons HDMI was invented was the HDCP feature, the biggest is all the cables you get rid of. Sound and picture through one cable that is allmost the size of a USB.

Is this 2005? It has always been this way, you've always needed HDMI to get the full benefit of PS3EmperorSupreme

Full benefit is relative. A component cable+optical audio set-up will get you everything but lossless audio and 3D, and the vast, vast majority of consumers don't have the equipment to take advantage of those either way.

Its an industry standard, not a choice. If Sony don't corform to standards then they get a giant kick up the rump, also its only for movie playback, games and XMB are unaffected.JohnF111

There's no industry standard forcing Sony to drop HD-over-component support. If studios want to limit their movies to only HDCP connections that's their perogative, but that doesn't mean Sony has to drop HD-over-component for everything. And my understanding is if you use an HDCP-enabled connection (ie HDMI or HDMI-to-DVI/DisplayPort), everything the PS3 outputs is HDCP-protected. So even if the content itself isn't HDCP-protected, you still wouldn't be able to get HD out from a new PS3 without an HDCP-friendly connection.

This has been going on since the start of the year.... If you look at all bluray player models this year none have component support anymore. And none will have any analog support by 2013.

People should know this going in to buythe new skew.

They're not taking it away form existing consoles.

If the person still wants the component feature they will look elsewhere, or adopt a new tv or way to bypass the component block.

Until I hear an official word from Sony, I wouldn't write it off yet. However, HDMI cables aren't as as expensive as they used to be. People can just buy them >.>mrmusicman247

[QUOTE="PBSnipes"]

According to this report from Kotaku, the upcoming K series of PS3s (apparently shipping to retailers this week) and all future models will require an HDMI connection for HD, meaning it will no longer support HD over component cables.

The reasoning? There's no official word from Sony as of yet, but the only significant difference between a component and HDMI connection is that component doesn't support the (hopelessly broken) HDCP DRM scheme, which allows for greater publisher control over how an image is used (namely, combating recording/duplication), and retailers like GameStop can't be too broken up over the opportunity to sell more $60+ HDMI cables.

The losers, naturally, are good ol' consumers who either a) don't have enough HDMI connections for all their devices or b) have an older HDTV that pre-dates HDMI. As someone who falls into the latter category, the only solution I know of (short of buying a new TV) is to pray your TV has a DVI cable that plays nice with HDMI and HDCP so you can use an HDMI-to-DVI cable/adaptor. For those in the former, well, hopefully you can do some connection shuffling without having to spend too much on new cables.

Otherwise, congrats! The console you likely bought because of all its fantastical HD features is now limited to the same resolution as the Wii! All because, well, frankly I can't think of a good reason for continuing to use HDCP, nevermind making it a requirement.

Fortunately for current owners, Sony has said they have no plans to update previous PS3 models with this requirement (although where have I heard that one before...).

verbtex

I got an HDMI cable for like $20 at a local store, and they were well worth it. All you have to do is know where to look.

Wise decision from SONY to rduce cost Component is a relic right now no body uses it so why waste money on it.

umm I thought you couldn't get HD through component cables anywayKevinButlerVP

My old HDMI-less 360 Pro came with component and it ran 1080i. Unless you have superior eyes you almost cant tell the difference between a component and HDMI picture anyway, I know I cant other than the contrast ratio seems better on the latter.

Though what game actually uses full 1080p support anyway (and not an upscaled image) is very few on consoles

The 2 dollar amazon cable.

If you run your high end equipment on those.

My god man. You're doing it wrong!

monoprice.com

It's your friend.

Goto any audio video forum and learn about hdmi cables for the love of god!!

[QUOTE="cain006"]

[QUOTE="verbtex"]

I got an HDMI cable for like $20 at a local store, and they were well worth it. All you have to do is know where to look.

verbtex

Was it a terrible deal for 2009? I try not to buy too much stuff online, I'm more of an instant gratification kind of person. :/. I was just trying to point out that consumers don't need to spend 60 bucks on HDMI cables.

There's no industry standard forcing Sony to drop HD-over-component support. If studios want to limit their movies to only HDCP connections that's their perogative, but that doesn't mean Sony has to drop HD-over-component for everything. And my understanding is if you use an HDCP-enabled connection (ie HDMI or HDMI-to-DVI/DisplayPort), everything the PS3 outputs is HDCP-protected. So even if the content itself isn't HDCP-protected, you still wouldn't be able to get HD out from a new PS3 without an HDCP-friendly connection.

PBSnipes

http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/10/analog-sunset-begins-all-the-new-blu-ray-players-will-only-outp/

I think it's global... Not just Sony doing it for the sake of it. Bear in mind the article is from January.

http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/08/aacs-finalize-death-to-analog-in-2013/

This ones better actually... Specifically says all blu rays players in 2011 blah blah blah.

[QUOTE="verbtex"]

I got an HDMI cable for like $20 at a local store, and they were well worth it. All you have to do is know where to look.

cain006

this person speaks the truth, thus quoted for truth. Amazon.com has amazing deals on HDMI cables

I have so many HDMI cables, I don't know what to do with them. Since I'm a cableguy, I have boat loads of them on my truck. So I used to take 1 or 2 home every week or so for a while. There the expensive fat ones too.