PlayStation Network Expanding To Involve Other Devices 63
At CES, Sony's Kaz Hirai confirmed that the company will build out its PlayStation Network for use with other devices, such as televisions, Blu-ray players, and PCs. Quoting:
"... the expansion starts next month with the availability of the PSN video store on these other devices, and Hirai explained they are constructing a mechanism to create a single user ID across the entire network (if you have a PSN account, it's good to go on any other applicable Sony device, and if you create one on another device, it'll work on PSN). And finally, Hirai also announced the formation of a new Sony division — called Sony Network Entertainment, Inc. — to drive this expansion of the PSN service into a Sony-wide network."
Re:I don't quite understand... (Score:2, Interesting)
If they start having Blu-ray players for the HD TVs on the market with a hard drive, you could Download movies over the psn. and if they go that route you'll see alot more content for purchase online, maybe even blu-ray quality rentals right to your ps3? Purchases are now starting to all have digital copies, so in practice, if you buy one it should work on your pc, and or psp.
They have also been in the works for some partnership over 3D broadcasting and movies for launch in 2012. This new PSN may become more useful for them in these new intrests over the next two years.
Re:I don't quite understand... (Score:2, Interesting)
I can see a lot of uses for this, if you don't have a PS3 for example.
Turn on TV, go to PSN, start up VidZone.. Music videos right there on your TV, with no extra devices.
Just to name one.
More openness in consoles? (Score:3, Interesting)
I've long thought that consoles could be much better (from a user standpoint) if they were more open.
One example of this is the recent debacle with servers arguably shutting down "too soon" compared to other game types that aren't susceptible to that issue. Another example is that some people have several different consoles in order to play their favourite games and/or with their friends; this is of course a sales strategy for the vendors but not really in the interest of the consumer.
This news, of Sony expanding their console's reach essentially to outside the domain of the console itself, is good news for consumers: it shows that the boundaries are becoming hazy -- and you can't maintain strict lockdown on blurry borders. Ultimately, this ends up providing more choice for the user.
Now sadly, "more user choice" is not equal to "more user freedom" -- especially since this news is coming from Sony, peddlers of lockdownware above and beyond the call of duty. But still, if they are doing it, the other vendors are bound to follow.
Re:I don't quite understand... (Score:3, Interesting)
Why? Of what use is a network connected television? Unless I plan to stream from my PS3 over the internet to my TV, rather than using HDMI, I can't quite see the point of this.
Fewer Set-Top Boxes. Actually that's part of the problem. With narrow TVs you might not even be able to HAVE a set-top box. Maybe a sitting on the floor next to the set boxes. So reducing the number of boxes at the TV is one advantage.
Networks are designed to send data over longer distances than traditional technologies like HDMI. The challenge of sending video data over 100' via Cat5 is trivial. Try doing that with an HDMI cable, or even component cables.
And consider firmware upgrades to your TV. They could implement at USB port so you could transfer the files that way... but why go to that trouble when a network port would give you the ability to transfer files AND receive video streams over distances greater than 6'.