PlayStation 3 doesn't play nice with your iPod [update 1]

by Kevin Kelly { Nov 10th 2006 at 8:55PM }

IGN decided to hook up an iPod to their shiny new PS3 today, only to find out that Sony hasn't let the two be playmates just yet. The PS3 will mount the iPod, but none of the audio, video, or photo files on the iPod will show up. They could transfer music to a new directory that they created on the iPod, but that's just using it like any other USB storage device.

It's no secret that Sony isn't fond of the success of Apple's little mp3 player, even going as far as calling podcasts "RSS channels" just so they don't have to use the word "pod" in press materials. Even Microsoft released a free download for the Xbox 360 that let you hook up your iPod and stream music, will Sony follow suit? The PlayStation Portable they hooked up worked just fine, so it's time to spread the love to some other usb devices. If you have a ton of music on your iPod that you want to transfer to your PS3, and if you're lucky enough to get one, you'll have to either wait for an update or start burning a lot of files.

Come on Sony, let's play nice with the other kids on the block.

IGN has updated the story with the following: NOTE: In our initial play-test of the PS3, we reported that the multimedia playback feature was hampered by directory structure limitations. However, we have since been informed of a full browsing function for all storage devices -- indeed, you CAN browse media that's not native to the PS3's normal directory structure. Please check this updated news article for the latest update on the multimedia features.

According to their own updated article, "It's a hidden option that some may not notice at first, and sorting through folders isn't exactly easy." So, it'll work in a pinch, but where's the full-featured device browsing? We want our $600 console to do things like this out of the box, not with a workaround or an update that isn't out yet.

[Thanks, jjrooster]

Tags: iPod, mp3, music, PlayStation 3, PS3, USB, Xbox 360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Dustin @ Nov 10th 2006 9:12PM

I read the IGN article and I quote: "The iPod will mount, but no video, audio or photo tracks can be found on the standard XMB menu. Jump into "Display All", however, and it's a totally different story -- you can see the Calendar and music directories, and can browse as deep as you need to in order to find the files. As we mentioned, finding music on an iPod is difficult sometimes because iTunes makes a number of Apple-needed files (images and encryption notes and things like that) in the folder, and also avoids common folder names. However, it works fine in a pinch, and it may be possible that Sony could add iPod folder browsing to the PS3's abilities in a later update." So you can find the media, you just have to press the triangle button.

Daniel D @ Nov 10th 2006 9:14PM

I think I speak for alot of people when I say: "sony are teh gayzorz".

bile @ Nov 10th 2006 9:15PM

It's because iPod's do not store there data in plan file form as do most other mass storage based devices. Blame Apple for using a fancy filesystem to keep you from manually adding and removing media.

Gonzord @ Nov 10th 2006 9:17PM

Great stuff Dustin, seriously you'd think a joystiq writer would check his facts, before posting up lies.

CP @ Nov 10th 2006 9:17PM

Sony has touted this ps3 as a computer, I for one wait to see if it's true. "anybody try downloading itunes?"

dsub @ Nov 10th 2006 9:20PM

bile-

No. I blame Sony. If my $250 Samsung HTIB and my $120 JVC Car Stereo have USB ports on the front that read my iPod and play all my songs just fine, then why can't the $600 uber media-do-it-all PS3?

MetaHuman @ Nov 10th 2006 9:20PM

It's because iPod no longer exists. PSP killed it, remember?

LOL

Eric Von Shpeel @ Nov 10th 2006 9:25PM

Kevin Kelly fails at the internets. I guess all those years of backstage interviews on WWF Raw and Smackdown didnt prepare you for the difficulty of proof reading IGN articles before your mouth formed a huge smile and you took glee with each keystroke as you told the world a load of bollocks.

fanboyslasher @ Nov 10th 2006 9:34PM

hey a$$hole kevin kelly, read the ign update. it does work. retract the article and issue an apology.

9mmPreacher @ Nov 10th 2006 9:35PM

well no crap! Most Sony TVs reject the 360's HD. It's a war people

http://reviewsblog.sonsofgodclan.net/2006/11/10/sony-gives-japan-the-shaft.aspx

Keloran @ Nov 10th 2006 9:42PM

if it really does run YellowDog someoen just needs to figure out how to do this http://gentoo-wiki.com/HARDWARE_iPod but for YellowDog instead of Gentoo

playclever @ Nov 10th 2006 9:43PM

Apple's iPods don't play nice with *anything* without a lot of effort by the other party. Apple are not about to help the iPod connect to another media device, especially one which supports music downloads, like the PS3 will.

This is an interesting article on the hoops Microsoft had to jump through to get iPods to work with X360:

http://news.com.com/2100-1041_3-5931847.html

Of course, if you make a real effort, you can get things to work. So odds are, PS3 will support iPods at some point. I think Sony had a few more things to worry about with their new baby than prioritising this though ;)

fanboyslasher @ Nov 10th 2006 9:45PM

After that, we plugged in a standard 20GB full-size Video iPod. The PS3 recognized the iPod just fine, even displaying on the screen that the unit was in fact an iPod. However, the directory structure Apple chose for iPod is not something that PS3 recognizes (or at least does not recognize in the latest update, v1.10.) The iPod will mount, but no video, audio or photo tracks can be found on the standard XMB menu. Jump into "Display All", however, and it's a totally different story -- you can see the Calendar and music directories, and can browse as deep as you need to in order to find the files. As we mentioned, finding music on an iPod is difficult sometimes because iTunes makes a number of Apple-needed files (images and encryption notes and things like that) in the folder, and also avoids common folder names. However, it works fine in a pinch, and it may be possible that Sony could add iPod folder browsing to the PS3's abilities in a later update.

Ak @ Nov 10th 2006 10:01PM

Joystiq, IGN updated the article -- they didn't realize that there's a 'Display All' option:

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/745/745359p1.html

"
UPDATE: Hurray, the PS3 can play virtually anything!

In our first look at the PlayStation 3's media playback features, we initially the system to be limited by its directory structure design -- unless media was stored in the proper folder, it would not be read by the PS3. But surprise! With a tap of the Triangle button, the PS3 becomes a fully-formed directory searcher, and can indeed find and play music, photos, videos or playlists from anywhere on most any media device.
"