Although Sony are currently “exploring possibilities” for the PS4’s media features, including support of MP3 files and DLNA media streaming, at launch the system won’t support these, which means PlayStation fans will have to turn to their PS3s for a media centre in their living room.
The Xbox One however is built to support playback of audio CDs, with Microsoft replying to Penny Arcade and confirming that the console will be able to play these natively.
It’s not a huge win for Microsoft, but the fact that the Xbox One can and will support DLNA streaming – it’s currently in the process of being certified – perhaps is.
Since it’s a Play To receiver, content can be streamed from devices running Windows 7 or 8 – be that phone, tablet or PC, and the Xbox Music Pass will stream music directly from the console, much like Sony’s Music Unlimited service.
That’s not native support of MP3 files, so the only advantage here is audio CDs (so, not copying them then) and DLNA streaming (again, not copying anything directly to the system). It still feels as though Microsoft are true to their word with the “all in one media” promise.
Dar-Kaus
Any and every opportunity to grab a few of those PS4 preorders back, waving a CD as theythey
they try to convince us their console does everything and more than PS4.
Well maybe it will provide the motivation Sony needs for that much needed patch that
they are still considering.
OnlineAssassinOA
Everyone and the cats mother knew this announcement was coming.
Damigos
At last, ONE thing (or two actually) that the XBone is better than the PS4 :)
hazelam
but without the ability to rip your CDs to the console, or copy the mp3s over from some other source, CDs ripped with Itunes in my pc in my case, it seems like a half measure.
there is DLNA for those who use it though so that’s good, don’t use it myself though.
still, it is one step up from the PS4 at launch though.
hopefully when Sony add CD support back in they allow ripping to the console.
what use is any kind of custom soundtrack support going to be if you can only play your own music from the CD, none if you have disc games because, well, the drive will have the disc in it.
mrfodder
Don’t think they will be physically able to add CD support, only DLNA.
hazelam
i hadn’t considered the possibility of CDs not actually being readable, because Blurays do use a different colour laser don’t they?
but then the PS4 plays DVDs doesn’t it?
that’s a red laser that could play CDs i imagine.
i don’t recall ever seeing a DVD player that couldn’t play CDs.
i don’t know enough to know for certain, i hope they can, but i could understand it might be too late to add that for launch consoles if the drive can’t read CDs.
anyway, i’d at least like to see the ability to copy mp3s to the console, or play them from a USB drive.
i could look into this DLNA thing, but i don’t tend to have my PC on while i’m on my console.
Mr Maverick UK
Meh, getting both at launch for their gaming capabilities and never really thought about audio playback on either. iPod Dock / DAB CD player will always be preference for audio in this house.
A major difference in Blu Ray playback would be bigger news, but anything that brings fresh information to distract from the silly 720p vs 1080p launch title comparisons is most welcome.
lambchop
Do I smell the first Sony 180 coming?
Mr Maverick UK
The best thing about both console manufacturers so far is how they are responding to feedback. Consumers shouting about missing features or unfair policies has caused many a 180 and I hope such commitment really shapes next generation. I feared for a more restrictive experience, yet it seems it may be quite the opposite if people keep voicing concerns. Early days though I guess.
DarkLord
Not really, as it was never stated that the PS4 would never do these things, it was always on he cards for a future update, and right now there is no chance this will get added for launch day update, which is all signed off and ready to roll.
The best we are going to get is a promise that it will be added in the near future, and to be honest, that would be good enough for me to not cancel my pre-order.
Right now, a downgrade of media capabilities is not acceptable, I don’t care about CD, and I don’t really care that much about MP3 playback, but DLNA that is a HUGE problem for me, in the way I currently use my PS3.
That said, I would only be deferring my PS4 purchase, there is no way I would still ever buy and Xbox, even more so now I have seen it’s inferior hardware specs in action, it’s more like a small upgrade over 360 than a true next-gen console. The 1080p 60FPS should have been Microsoft’s target this gen, not the 720p it seems to have aimed for.
Starman
You said on an article the other day that you’d sold your preorder voucher to a friend, did you buy it back?
DarkLord
I bought two Argos pre-order £20 gift cards, one for me, one for profit. More than doubled my money on the first (sold it for £50). The Pre-orders not named, and are guaranteed a launch day PS4 at Argos instore (the store the voucher came from). The voucher is then used to get £20 off the PS4 purchase price.
As it turned out, the moment Battlefield and COD 720p Xbox One news broke, I had people ripping my own off for the vouchers. Still undecided on the other, but demand isn’t going to decrease, and if it turns out the PS4 will be getting DLNA sometime this year or early next, I can live with that, run my PS3 in parallel for a short while.
Starman
You little Del boy, ha ha.
Voolar
1. It will not be a big deal for Sony to fix this in an update.
2. When listening to a cd on the XB1, you will notice that it sounds like a cassette tape. Without Dolby.
DarkLord
The PS4 has a solid hardware spec, that’s what is important. These things can be tweaked in software. My PS3 didn’t initially have DLNA either when I got it in 2006. It arrived a few months later (Firmware 1.80 if I recall).
Hell, if it’s a cost issue, I wouldn’t have a problem buying the DLNA client as an Playststation store app, I suspect the vast majority of users would be the same too, if the cost was sub £5.
Starman
Even the first xbox allowed copying cd’s for custom soundtracks, really lame that you can’t on the x1. Would like to hear how this is supposed to be an improvement on last gen.
TheDemocrodile
This one-upmanship reminds me heavily of the scene in Hook where Rufio makes a line in the sand and the Lost Boys run from side to side based on the last thing anybody says.
It’s quite funny to watch from afar actually.
boeboe
you reminded me of the food fight scene in Hook. what. scenes.
RudeAwakening
Ha Ha! Brilliant comparison.
TSBonyman
It’s a step in the right direction but it would be much better if you could rip cds to thhe hdd and also if you weren’t limited to pc only.
Just remains to be seen what Sony will do.
ron_mcphatty
I reckon by next summer both boxes will do everything we expect. I had a laptop years ago that had a DVD writer but no drivers to play DVDs, it cost me something like £20 for some sort of license and all of a sudden Windows Media Player played films. Maybe Sony and Microsoft will stump up for these licenses but if they don’t I’d be happy to pay a reasonable sum for DLNA and CD playback, just as long as they give me USB HDD access for free with it :)