PlayStation 3 first to support HDMI 1.3
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Jun 23rd 2006 at 12:25PM }
The seven HDMI founder companies have released the specifications of the latest high-definition standard, HDMI 1.3. In addition, Sony has announced that PlayStation 3 will be the first hardware to feature HDMI 1.3, which offers a variety of advantages to the properly equipped.
The new standard more than doubles HDMI's bandwidth, adds Deep Color support, and includes new audio formats. For those of you who cashed in on a high-def display too soon, don't fret, products using HDMI 1.3 will be backwards compatible with older HDMI devices.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
traxle @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:31PM
Is this included in the cheap (as if) version of the ps3? lol
C. Grant @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:32PM
While I'm not sure what that means, it sounds cool! Where's epobirs when you need him?
Jody Anthony @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:32PM
yay, another thing to either delay or increase the price of the ps3
i just want to play the damn games
JimmyHACK @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:34PM
very nice to keep up newer spec hardware...
dont fear nintedo troops, HDMI is nothing cause visually improving a game is in no way innovation towards the game .....
JimmyHACK @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:36PM
jody: it will not increase the price, you are getting more value with better hardware at same price, and ps3 was only delayed once for JAP peeps US/UK are still end of 2006 like it always was
r-deezy @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:37PM
7 Dwarves... hah!
DBX00 @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:39PM
Could double the bandwith = dual displays?
Byron @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:42PM
Technically, I think it's "Huzzah!".
JimmyHACK @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:43PM
dont mind me, bored at work, i want to be the first to say however - "Damn you Sony for forcing this HDMI 1.3 upon people, remember betamax blah blah blah..... how dare you make people pay for your arrogant beautiful high definition"
been reading comments today while bored at work and i think thats the sum of what will come of this topic :)
SuicideNinja @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:46PM
So according to Sony, HDMI 1.3 is "TRUER HD", right?
Pfff. HDMI is nice, but isn't much past the visual quality of DVI.
zencarver @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:46PM
Is Sony going to force all other hardware manufacturers to delay any product that might feature HDMI 1.3 until they've released the PS3? Do they now control what everyone else does? There's no way they can claim to be first this far out from their release date. They may be the first company to announce a product featuring the new standard - that's all.
Kevin @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:52PM
@zencarver
Hence it saying "first to support"...
JimmyHACK @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:54PM
zencarver comes in first in the race to "Not read and throw a fit" race....
they are the first company to announce.....
Seb @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:54PM
And what happens to the "cheap", non-HDMI version of the PS3?
DBX00 @ Jun 23rd 2006 12:55PM
@zencarver
Sony is also one of the seven founders of the format and if they are the major contributor to the research and development, it's safe to say that they can make the statement that the PS3 will be first to market to support HDMI 1.3.
"The seven HDMI Founder companies (Hitachi, Ltd., Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic), Philips Consumer Electronics International B.V., Silicon Image, Inc., Sony Corp., Thomson, Inc. and Toshiba Corp.)"
Donny K @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:00PM
So does this mean the crippled version of the PS3 supports HDMI 0.0?
Tucker @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:06PM
While it's nice to see new standards being adopted instead of flooding the market with incompatible products *cough*blu-ray/hd-dvd*cough*, I fail to see the need for Sony to include HDMI 1.3 in the PS3. The hardware certainly won't be pushing the limits of what the PS3 can do... HDMI 1.3 isn't going to make anything look or sound 'better', it just has more bandwidth for (presumably) future formats that push at resolutions higher than 1080p and sound formats that are higher quality than DD-EX and DTS-ES.
This is just Sony issuing a press release to get the PS3 name out there, and probably to help pad the HDMI folks' penetration numbers.
To use an analogy, it's kind of like a 100-person town trumpeting the opening of their new five-lane highway. Sure, it's nice and can handle TONS of traffic, but all it means is a really wide road that still only handles 100 cars per day.
Canadian Geese @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:06PM
I'm not quite sure what the purpose of an upgraded HDMI is. Even component cables are capable of carrying a 1080p signal (as well as DVI and the current HDMI). 1080p is the highest quality available right now. Is this really necessary? Does anyone know how this could benefit PS3 owners?
Tim @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:08PM
JimmyHACK and Kevin,
Actually, it seems zencarver read more than just the title of the post because in the post itself, it says "PlayStation 3 will be the first hardware to feature HDMI 1.3". Of course neither of these are direct quotes from Sony, so I don't know what they actually claimed.
JimmyHACK @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:10PM
you know what will be sweet...
new pirates movie and new superman in my ps3 on bluray in the end of the year
Night Elve @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:13PM
@ 7.
Lol for this rule of three i could say:
Damn you Sony for forcing me to buy your console and damn you Sony i do not want this or that feature and you are forcing me¡
Relax man if you are feeling forced do not buy a PlayStation 3.
crono141 @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:17PM
Component cables are analog signal. HDMI and DVI are pure digital. Much better picture with less noise (though the same resolution.)
A similar analogy would be that CD carry the same music as tapes, but CD's are digital and thus have much less noise on them.
DBX00 @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:19PM
Are we really going to talk about every little spec that comes out about the PS3 until it is released? This is crazy. Just be happy they are making sure the PS3 isn't obsolete before it is released.
cap-n-crunch @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:21PM
still changing specs...
still coming out in November... with like free xboxlive like online service? Worldwide launch?
Goodluckwitdat
Natiahs @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:36PM
HDMI 1.3 adds 1080p, richer color, and support for lossless audio codecs (like TrueHD audio) to the HDMI spec. Those were not present in previous HDMI versions and is why the Toshiba HD-DVD players output only 1080i 5.1 while HD-DVD disks are encoded at 1080p with several including TrueHD. Big plus for PS3 as they, once again, have features that trump anything else on the market.
N
Exo @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:37PM
another intresting thing to note is HDMI 1.3 is actually capable of plugging into the back of your skull, thus letting you jack into the matrix.
kevin @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:41PM
"Big plus for PS3 as they, once again, have features that trump anything else on the market."
Ya, it's a big plus for the consumers when it's costs $600 dollars.
I say to Sony, stop trying to make the PS3 a home theatre entertainment system that plays games. Keep it as a Game System.
If I want all this extra support for better sound quality and extra blu-ray disk support I'll buy it.
Dave Roz @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:49PM
Big plus: Warhawk in ultra-mega-hi-def.
Biggest plus of all: me saving 600 bucks.
Tucker @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:56PM
Natiahs - please try to be informed before spouting nonsense. All versions of HDMI absolutely DO support 1080p. It is up to the manufacturers of the hardware to choose whether or not their equipment will output/display 1080p content. Thanks for playing.
http://www.hdblog.net/2006/02/09/update-on-hdmi-1080p/
ResidentGamer.com @ Jun 23rd 2006 1:57PM
Natiahs has to be a Sony PR rep. with a little to much detail going on in that post. Sony can kiss my bootay when it comes to HDMI, Blu-Ray and anyother weird thing they are throwing up into that PS3. Next it will make you a toast and cheest sandwich, do your taxes, give you a handy, and walk your dog.
Anonymous Rep @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:04PM
#25 - Kevin - You said; "I say to Sony, stop trying to make the PS3 a home theatre entertainment system that plays games. Keep it as a Game System."
Following things through the link to the article to the original article, and you'll find this that PS3 is just one of the electronics items mentioned. And, once again, Ken Ridge Racer opened his mouth.
“PLAYSTATION®3 will be the most advanced computer platform for enjoying a wide range of entertainment content, including the latest games and HD movies, in the home,” said Ken Kutaragi, president and group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. “By introducing the next-generation HDMI 1.3 technology, with its high speed and deep color capabilities, PS3 will push the boundaries of audiovisual quality to the next level of more natural and smoother expression on the latest large flat panel displays.”
Aren't you glad that you're buying a computer platform to enjoy a wide range of entertainment - instead of just a game console that, well, plays games?
Of course, I love the disclaimer, too.
"These forward-looking statements include statements related to the anticipated growth, market, acceptance and consumer demand for HDMI 1.3 and high definition source and display devices, the anticipated volume of shipments of HDMI devices in 2006, and the benefits, capabilities, performance, evolution, design and implementation of HDMI 1.3, the HDMI standard, and products implementing HDMI. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those described from time to time in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings of Silicon Image, Inc., the parent corporation of HDMI Licensing, LLC, that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by these forward-looking statements. In particular, the anticipated growth, market, acceptance and consumer demand for HDMI 1.3 and high definition source and display devices, the anticipated volume of shipments of HDMI devices in 2006, and the benefits, capabilities, performance, evolution, design and implementation of HDMI 1.3, the HDMI standard, and products implementing HDMI, may differ materially from what is currently anticipated."
In other words, we're going to say lots of things here, but there's no guarantee that any of this may actually come true, and you could be wasting a lot of time and money.
http://www.hdmi.org/press/pr/pr_20060622.asp
JPRacer @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:04PM
crono141, DVI/HDMI don't have "better" picture quality over component because they're digital. In theory yes, but in practice not really. Component cable have much better shielding than DVI/HDMI cable. And since HDMI don't have any form of error correction, if there's too much noise, even if the transmission is digital, you'll see very bad artifacts on the screen. With component, if noise enter the wire, the image will be less clear but picture quality will not suffer too much compared to HDMI. The cool thing about HDMI is there's less conversion between the time the information leave the box and enter the TV. Less conversion = better picture, of course. Look at studios, they use quality component cables because they offer better shielding, but yes, they must cover great distances sometime. For a home user, noise is not a problem and HDMI should provide a tiny bit better picture quality.
And even TV set that support both component and HDMI inputs don't use the same circuitry for both. Some will offer better picture with HDMI and some with component.
But yes, HDMI is the future for home user (fuc*ing DRM), but I'm sure component will stay for studios and professionals for a while.
Levi @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:05PM
So, HDMI 1.3 is the latest standard? How soon before 1.4? How much time passed between 1.2 and 1.3? This kind of fluidity is frustrating -- especially as people buy new televisions or consider future components in their home entertainment set-ups. When will there be some sort of "freeze," where people feel safe in buying something that won't be out-moded in a matter of months? I think PC buyers have a mentality that accepts rapidly changing specs, but this just seems damaging to consumer confidence in areas like home theater tech where people want a cool set-up without feelings like they got left behind mere weeks after throwing away the styrofoam that cradled their $5K HD set.
cringer8 @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:09PM
PS3 games are going to look pretty sick. I wonder if HDMI 1.2 is what Hideo was referring to when he said the "octocam" effect couldn't be pulled off on the 360.
The New Revelation @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:12PM
@ SuicideNinja
"HDMI is nice, but isn't much past the visual quality of DVI."
All HDMI is in its most basic form is DVI video with built in optical audio.
@EVERYONE
It amazing that Sony can support something as forward thinking as HDMI 1.3 and get -criticized- for it in the Joystiq comments. If Sony doubled the RAM in the PS3 or upgraded the CPU, I'm sure you guys would find some way to shit on Sony over that too. :)
Mike @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:14PM
Ummmmm.... Who Cares? How many of you have 1080p sets? How much 1080p content is out there (ok, the Blu-Ray player came out but it costs 1,000 smackers and looks like my asshole)? Do you really think games will be distributed in 1080p in the next 2-3 years? Come on! The first blu-dvds that came out this week can't even utilize half of the capacity. This is a joke. Don't buy the PS3 because it's a Blu-ray player, buy it for the games. Better yet, buy a 360 (it's available now, and it's cheaper!!!!). If you NEED hd-dvd, just wait for the add-on.
There will be no winner anyway. By the time this is sorted out, there'll be something us (HD movies directly to your cable box which can support a HDD please???). HDMI 1.3...1.4 is on the horizon and once again PS3 will suck! j/k
Aram @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:39PM
So does this mean every hardware out there that uses HDMI ports won't be able to have the full high-def experience of the PS3??? good thing I didn't get any 1080p gear already!
fhornmikey @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:56PM
Ugh you people irritate me.
There is a strong benefit to HDMI 1.3 to those of us with nice sound systems, that being the support for additional (and more up to date audio codecs). I didn't spent $500 on my reciever to not use it to it's full capabilities.
If you don't want a PS3, fine, then don't buy one, and while I'm playing MGS4 in 1080p with 7.1 surround sound you can all just weep. And no, I'm not rich, I've worked and saved for everything I own. I will gladly pay $600 for the PS3 because I plan on using it to it's full potential and I understand that cutting edge technology costs money.
Bored @ Jun 23rd 2006 2:56PM
#24 They may have this nice HDMI interface for the color and sound but they are using mid 90's MPEG 2. So basically they are going to have to have that 50 gig disk working and soon or blu-ray is vaporware in the format battle.
polly @ Jun 23rd 2006 3:00PM
Sony should seriously consider including a coffee maker in the PS3. That way when you're explaining the specs to someone, blu-ray this and HDMI that, and that one smart ass inevitably asks, "Yeah, but can it make your coffee in the morning?" You can say, "Why yes, yes it does."
lothar @ Jun 23rd 2006 3:08PM
While its nice that they're offering HDMI 1.3 everyone needs to chill out and realize that they dont have the hardware to support this. Like Mike said who has a set that runs 1080P, the only thing affordable (around the price of the console) in that resolution is a 17" set, wow great... Its a standard that is coming out that will do absolutely nothing for 90% of the people out there. If you have deep pockets you will need to update your HD sets and your surround sound systems to get the full range of those specs.
This is a true next gen system, however its too early to tell if its media (bluray) format will be an industry standard then consider how many gamers can afford building up a top notch home theater to support the new hardware specs.
Here is some light reading on HDMI 1.3
http://www.dvdfile.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5494&Itemid=5
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htf/showthread.php?t=236990
http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-entertainment/hdmi-spec-upgraded-to-support-deep-color-180393.php
ShaleX @ Jun 23rd 2006 3:16PM
HDMI has better picture? I can't say weather this si true or not.. as noone seems to place the two side by side... EVER. But I think component has the same rep as a CRT HDTV.
HDMI is digital.. it's not that it has a drastically better picture, it has drastically better security.. that's the gist of it. But it's new-fangled. So, like LCDs and Plasma HDTVs, it's the best and only thing.. Meanwhile. a good CRT HDTV will set ya back $300-$500 bucks, can usually support 720p AND 1080i
I have on and the PQ of Xbox 360 games is.. Out of this world. Not bad for a TV I payed less than $300 on. And have you noticed that HDMI cables cost an arm and a leg too? $50 is the cheapest I remember finding them at my local CC.
Mike @ Jun 23rd 2006 3:21PM
36: You're an idiot. MG will NOT be in 1080p. They've made that pretty darn clear. So while we are all sitting back enjoying 1080i, you'll be enjoying...wait for it...1080 fricken i.
Lekko @ Jun 23rd 2006 3:25PM
Frankly, the only real important thing that I can see is that it has doubble the available bandwidth. I remember there being an issue with HDMI where you don't have enough bandwidth to display a full 1080p HD image at 60 fps. you could only do about 30-45 (I have not done the math myself, go figure it out if you're curious.). It wasn't an issue eariler because HDMI was meant for movies, which run only at about 24 fps. This new standard means that the PS3 should now be capable of 1080p @ 60fps easily. Possibly even more at lower resolutions.
Well... they figured out how to get the cable to do it, let's see if the box behind it can pump out enough to make that change worth it.
JJ @ Jun 23rd 2006 3:40PM
Well this is a nice little upgrade..but seriously is it worth bickering over? I mean really. This is just a neat little tidbit of info, nothing worth lambasting the system over.
I mean if MS came out an announced a bigger Harddrive (like say 40 or 60 gig) WOuld you guys be complaining about that too? Even though its not bad info, just something new?
While you're at it.. complain about everything else on the system why dont ya, like how the 360 doesn't support HDDVD or any high def format out of the box.. or doesn't upconvert or yada yada.
This far in the game its getting really old to complain about nothing but good info. Anything else they announce on the system with the price already set, is just a bonus really if ya think about it.
Ptaaty @ Jun 23rd 2006 3:44PM
HDMI 1.1 supports 12 bit YCrCb video at 60 fps, 1080p...along with full mulitichannel high rez audio.
HDMI 1.3's main advantages are that the player side can be made cheaper becuase the decode from the new audio formats to PCM can be passed off to a reciever. The additional color bits are useful for multistage video processing for rounding errors.
Bottom line...anyone with HDMI is missing next to nothing. DVI is 24 bit color (8-8-8 RGB, 8 bit) HDMI to this point is either 8-8-8 RGB (8 bit) or up to 12 bit YCrCb, plenty of extra for videoprocessing on consumer level.
Know a lot of people complaining about all the banding on their DVI computer monitors? didn't think so. THe 12 bit HDMI is already overkill to ensure no banding after processing.
Complaining it is there? NO. Object to terms deep color or confusion as to what this means? yep.
fhornmikey @ Jun 23rd 2006 3:54PM
Dear Mike-
Do me a favor and show me the facts then? I'm waiting for an official article from a reputable source.
For the record, Gran Turismo HD is already confirmed for 1080p, so your comment about "no games being in 1080p for a few years" is completely bunk.
AG @ Jun 23rd 2006 3:58PM
I agree, why the hell does every body have to rag on PS3!
This is a good thing, and it is all coming packaged together unlike MS Xbox 360 where you need to buy all of the components seperately...
Add up the hddvd drive among other things and it costs as much as the PS3 or even more.
Natiahs @ Jun 23rd 2006 4:20PM
#28, While it is true that any HDMI can pass 1080p or lossless audio, revision 1.3 is the only one to provide a standard for either. I'm not making this stuff up: The reason Toshiba's first HD-DVD players don't output 1080p or lossless audio is because, without a standard in place, they had no way of knowing how the equipment on the other end would interpret the signal. All HDMI 1.2 required was 1080i and 2 channel lossless audio. If you connect a HDMI 1.3 PS3 to a 1080p HDMI 1.2 TV, what will likely happen is that the TV will grab the 1080i signal and upconvert it to 1080p. Connect PS3 to a HDMI 1.3 TV and you'll have true 1080p.
It is very very likely that this is why many early reviewers of Blu-Ray don't see a difference between 1080i and 1080p on their disks - most current model 1080p sets achieve 1080p through interpolation of a 1080i signal. In essence, you're looking at the exact same stram at both resolutions currently.
N
Dave Roz @ Jun 23rd 2006 5:17PM
I'll tell you why people rag on the PS3. It is simply that Sony is has been acting like a pompous jack-ass when it comes to this product.
"People will buy it for $600 even if there are NO games at launch."
"The PS3 is a computer."
"We thought of motion sensitive controllers before Nintendo."
"The PS3 is a bargain compared to our $1000 Blu-Ray player."
Personally, I will be enjoying my 360 and my Wii while the PS3 limply launches with its first million units.