News - New PS3 SKU requires cable add-on for HD movies

[HEXUS]

DRM mandate prompts Sony to tinker around with the PS3. New SKU to require HDMI cable.

Read more.

[Badbonji]

I don't see this as a big issue really, I have yet to meet someone who doesn't use HDMI cables with their PS3...

[miniyazz]

The principle, however, is something else. I hate that some nameless corporation is now dictating what cable I may or may not use to watch the Blu-ray that I purchased on the PS3 that I purchased.
Not to mention those that may be wishing to watch their Blu-ray films on an older, yet hi-def, projector - they presumably won't play over VGA?

[ClashRocker]

This is only news because it's fashionable to hate Sony right now (Microsoft spin doctors have a hand to play in that methinks)..

The fact is, this ALSO applies to ever other Blu-Ray player you will be buying from 2012 onwards, it would also apply to the Xbox, had it not been such a last-gen pile of **** and actually included a Blu-Ray player.

[finlay666]

The principle, however, is something else. I hate that some nameless corporation is now dictating what cable I may or may not use to watch the Blu-ray that I purchased on the PS3 that I purchased.
Not to mention those that may be wishing to watch their Blu-ray films on an older, yet hi-def, projector - they presumably won't play over VGA?

Well Blu ray/HD DVD state the content should be displayed using HDCP so you are technically limited to either HDMI, DVI (possibly displayport) so are actually following the spec

It's possibly a partial kickback from the fuss about HDMI/displayport adapters being unlicensed due to the HDMI spec only supporting HDMI-HDMI cables and no adapters (mini/full either end)

[miniyazz]

Yup. Damned copy protection everywhere - going back to my earlier example, the only way I can watch that Blu-ray on my projector would be to pirate the film. Nuts.

[finlay666]

Only if you buy a new PS3 sku as mentioned

Alternative is a lot of the Blu Ray players will still work over component

[Blackmage]

This is only news because it's fashionable to hate Sony right now (Microsoft spin doctors have a hand to play in that methinks)..

The fact is, this ALSO applies to ever other Blu-Ray player you will be buying from 2012 onwards, it would also apply to the Xbox, had it not been such a last-gen pile of **** and actually included a Blu-Ray player.

wow... You really dislike microsoft

[miniyazz]

Only if you buy a new PS3 sku as mentioned

Alternative is a lot of the Blu Ray players will still work over component

Or - from the sounds of it - a new Blu Ray player.

Which would leave me with three choices - buy a shiny new Blu-Ray drive only to discover that I can't watch HD films on my projector with it; buy a nice second hand one that'll do what I'd need it to; or pirate the film.

Buying a second hand drive doesn't do anyone any favours (except me, since it's cheaper ) but certainly doesn't benefit the manufacturers who have to incorporate these restrictions into their devices - and sooner or later, the supply of second hand drives that would work will run out.

Maybe the person in my hypothetical example should buy the blu-ray but then also download an illegal copy so they can watch the thing, and just leave the unopened disk on the shelf. That way the studios are happy (maybe), and you get the added bonus of not having to buy a blu-ray drive which means more dosh for other things

[Blademrk]

Which would leave me with three choices... -buy a nice second hand one that'll do what I'd need it to;

That's assuming the discs will work in an older player, a lot of the players will probably need the firmware updated to play the latest releases which means the firmware could restrict the output on these older players to HDMI only too

We all knew this was coming eventually. It was a big part of HDCP to begin with, it just got sidelined for a while because there were so many HD TV sets sold without the required chips. Guess they feel by 2014 most of those first gen HD sets would have been replaced.