Sony Explain HDMI Requirements

TSA Staff 37 Comments

Sony have commented on the story that emerged yesterday suggesting that future PlayStation 3 models will require a HDMI cable to get high definition output.

According to Ars Technica, this only applies to movies.

“The new CECH-3000 series PS3 requires HDMI only for BD movie output in HD, in compliance with AACS standards,” said the manufacturer. “PS3 continues to support component output for HD gaming and streaming content.”

Well, that’s that one put to bed.

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37 Comments

  1. That seems fair enough. To be honest though, I didn’t realise they made TV’s with component but not hdmi.

    • They don’t anymore, it’s really just older TVs. Weirdly, I thought HDMI was already a requirement for HD BluRay movie playback, maybe that was the HD-DVD player for the 360.

  2. I’ve always used HDMI as it’s the best quality.

    • Not difference in quality. just the convenience of combining the visual & audio into one cable, but with the added disadvantage of HDCP & the very, very worrisome ‘image constraint token’ although as I use HDMI neither both me

      • I agree, with the official Sony component cables it’s very very hard to see any difference.

  3. After the frustrations of many yesterday evening, this is good news. Though if Sony clarified things up front, they could avoid a lot of ranting and raving.

    • But then they wouldn’t be Sony… :P

    • Why would they clarify something that hasn’t been announced yet? nor has it yet been released.

      The article last night only came about because Sony notified retailers that a new model would begin shipping next week. That notification was then leaked by a retailer, and so we’ve got the confusion, and Sony have cleared it up less than 24 hours later.

      Pretty snappy, really.

      • Not a day goes by for quite a while that I don’t have some sort of regret. The quicker time passes for the next few weeks, the better.

        You’re quite right and I apologise.

      • Hey, it’s easy not to understand the origins of a rumour or leak, and get in a bit of a muddle.
        Take the 360 on Windows 8 rumour. It’s started off simply because there’s, like, a single mention of XBox Live in the registry somewhere. Obviously that completely and totally means we’ll see 360 emulation on x86 PCs… HA! More likely (and plausibly) it’s just some form of data streaming hook up, but if you didn’t research it, you might think it’s got a decent grounding in fact.

        It’s always a good time to visit the rumour mill occasionally ;)

    • How would Sony have clarified a leaked memo up front? It’s hardly their fault if a GameStop employee who isn’t in full possession of the facts sends a tip to a gaming site.

      • What teflon said. :)

      • I’ve come to the conclusion over the last few months that Sony just seem to be to blame for everything. Even if they had no involvement or it wasn’t anything to do with them in any way… It’s probably still their fault /sarcasm.

      • Yeah, I beat you, sucker! :P

      • I just don’t think you can trust every underpaid GameStop assistant to not leak news of a new PS3 SKU. You know, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was just some sort of mix up resulting in the memo being sent early.

      • Given the memo’s dated 12th July and says “This week Sony will begin shipping…” it hardly constitutes an early release. :)

        Retailers probably appreciate all the notice they can get.

      • Hehe, good point…

  4. A little off topic but, Im loving this websites new layout!

  5. Yay, this is very good news! I guess the dude that wrote the GameStop memo just didn’t fully understand the situation?

    • Yes and no. It’s better that it’s hooked up via HDMI for the instance that they put in a demo BD that has a bunch of game videos on it, or something. Also, in the interests of playing to the lowest common denominator, it’s easier for store staff to say “You’ll want a HDMI cable, end of.” Otherwise people will buy a PS3, not read the instructions and totally freak the hell out when their component cable won’t let them play a BD film.

      It’s a bit like at the 360’s launch, when they’d hooked up in store demo machines with Composite, rather than Component or HDMI cables and people were saying games looked like rubbish.

      • Don’t forget that the original 360’s didn’t even have HDMI :)

  6. I thought they might be able to do this, although PS3 games are on Blu-ray discs, this requirement seems to be purely to stop illegal copying of films, not about making people buy HDMI compatible TVs or anything sinister.

    • It’s purely about the DRM on Blu-ray movies (which was cracked some time ago). It’s like securing the equine container after it has already emptied.

  7. Good news.

  8. Very good news!

  9. Good news, but what are “AACS standards”?

    • Follow the link to yesterday’s story. Then follow the “analog sunset” link from there. The page you’re then looking at will explain it all. :)

  10. Bosh

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