LA Times: PS3 video service 'to embrace open standards,' PSP supported

by Christopher Grant on Apr 21st 2008 4:46PM

Despite a hard-won victory for its Blu-ray optical format, Sony can't simply ignore online video distribution forever (though it's been doing a pretty impressive job thus far). While the company has been referring to plans for an online video service for awhile (remember this?), last week Peter Dille – Senior Vice President for PlayStation Network – more or less promised a service was in the works. So, while the LA Times revelation "Sony to launch online video service for PlayStation 3" isn't much of a shocker, their timetable is noteworthy: "as early as this summer, studio executives familiar with the plan say."

Of course, "summer" is industry code for "wait until E3" but there are a couple of other details these studio executives apparently let slip. Apparently, in a decidedly un-Sony way, the company "plans to embrace open standards that would make its offering compatible with a range of computers and hand-held devices" including, unsurprisingly, its very own PSP handheld. Dille did promise that Sony would offer a service that's different "from others you've seen or used"; however, with the balkanization of file formats and DRM schemes present in today's online marketplaces, we're skeptical of any widespread support outside of Sony's ecosystem. Sounds like we'll find out more "this summer." Wink.

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

Source

Tags: PS3, Sony

Reader Comments (41)

In before ze PS3 bashers.

The PS3 will probably stay in 3rd place the rest of this gen, but this year will still be fantastic for PS3 owners, lots of stuff coming on the pipeline. Waiting for that in-game XMB.

I know, I know the wonderful Xbox has had many features the PS3 will get already but I don't care.

Enough with the "In before..." comments!

in after complaint

That was my first "in before" comment. : D

I dunno why you guys voted down my second comment though. First one I understand, second, not as much.

"In before ze PS3 bashers"

Ninjakamster, great phrase. You were talking about yourself right?

You know, I could say that the 360 is ONLY successful in the US and that the Wii's dominance will end after this year but whats the point? W/ faulty hardware STILL out there for 1 console and the other console's "innovation" ending with a $90 surf-board, its pretty much in the bag. People can make themselves believe that the PS3 wont be better than what it is right now, but there are just kidding themselves.

I find it ironic that a phrase used to by regular posters to anger trolls is now angering those same posters.

When you say something stupid. The quick side-tracking post tends to seem douchebaggerish.

2008 Year of the PS3...

When exactly? It's been almost 5 months...

That's not true. According to the placemat at the Chinese restaurant last night, 2008 is the year of the rat. Oh wait...

Only 1 man DARE give me the rasberry!!!

lol im a PS3 guy and i gotta give Lone Starr a +1 for that one. bravo sir, i seriously laughed out loud on that one.

@ vidikron:

Sweet, thanks for explaining the process. I had given up on the whole re-encoding mkv thing as too much hassle but now I'll give it another shot.

This COULD be stunningly good news, made more amazing since it's coming from Sony, if they means they're supporting and standardizing open formats like .MP4 and .AVI.
But it's worthless and really kind of common sense if instead it means they're going to make their privatized formats able to play on any computer.

I'm all for more formats... but at least with the PS3 it's extremely easy to convert MKVs to a compatible format. My PS3 gets a lot more use as a media extender than my 360 for that reason alone.

The PS3 is the most open console ever made. Standards out the wazoo (USB, HDMI, most memory cards, no proprietary bullshit connectors, use your own hard drive, UPNP, install linux, the list goes on. Sony, while behaving like a stupid content owner in the past, has really done a 180 with the PS3...

Wait... why is it easy to convert mkv to a compatible format for the PS3 but not the 360?

hey, at the very least this will make Microsoft step it up a gear with their service.

Being a 360 owner this isn't a bad thing.

@eugene

"Wait... why is it easy to convert mkv to a compatible format for the PS3 but not the 360?"

Because you have to freaking re-encode everything and half time, after you spend 12 hours encoding, the final encode doesn't work right. I've wasted so many hours trying to convert MKV files for the 360. There's a huge thread over at Xbox-Scene about how to do it. PITA.

And then I discovers a prgram called MKV2VOB for use with converting MKVs for the PS3. All it does it take the audio, video, and and and subtitles streams and remux them into a format the PS3 can play. I'd say 80% of the time no re-encoding is necessary. It can take a full 1080p MKV and remux it in like 3 or 4 minutes. If the video does have to be re-encoded it will take maybe 3 hours or so depending on the speed of your PC. It's basically a 1-click program that produces flawless results nearly every time. Soooo much easier.

Damn... not sure how I ended up with three "and"s in a row up there. It should simply read "and any".

If they leave it as open as they have done thier console and thier abilities for games, then I see this as a good thing. If it is just for 'all things sony' then they can take a hike ¬_¬

If this means that PS3ers will be able to watch Tim & Eric Awesome show thru online distribution, then all the better!

Great job!

Actually, I want to see Balls of Steel :)

I sit down when I pee!

That's ok, though. Your Man Bear Pig.

I hear Sony owns Sony Pictures, is this true?

If so, Hooray for me Bender!

Don't ask....lol

testing

If this is true, then this is amazing news. Maybe Microsoft could follow suit?

Although I'm not getting my hopes up, for either.

So, I guess you already bought like 10 360's.

Fernando, he had to buy 10 just to make sure he had one to play while the other 9 got RR'ed

*cricketschirping.wav"

way to go guys.

name123, you could frame your arguments in a more constructive manner.

Do not sink to the troll level, it makes it easy for them to dismiss you even if you are right.

When I was a PS3 owner, I saw a big need for Blu-ray Disc. Perhaps the Sony marketing schpiel getting to my head? Either way, now that I've sold my PS3 and PSP, I don't see that want for Blu-ray Disc. I can watch downloaded HD content on my HDTV and on my computer. Oh, don't forget that ever-cheap DVD. :) Yes please!

bu-bu-bu... the big cumfy couch!!!!

This service has a lot of appeal to me personally, as long as its a helluva lot cheaper than a blu-ray disc

Oh, the appeal is always going to be there but I can't help but think Sony are concentrating too much on the media functionality of their PlayStation products, which isn't bad, but it's really detracting the system from being a gaming system. No one can tell me that load-times on a hand-held system to the degree that UMD throws at you is NOT a pain.

Hmm... maybe this year then? For realz?

When this movie service and PlayTV have both been released the PS3 will be 102 percent of multi-media-perfection.

Oh and I don't post here very often,
but to all you MS fanboys and girls (I just added girls to be politicly correct, I know Fernando is the only girl) please stop saying that the games suck for the PS3. If you're gonna bash it then at least stick to facts.

DID YOU HEAR ME OR WAS YOUR 360 FAN ON AND TOO LOUD? WROWROWROOM :P

I love how you can edit your own comments (not).

Anyway, I really don't think these multimedia functions take away from the gaming experience of the machine.

I'm a happy user of every new feature, besides it's not like Sony has the same people working on games and these features, so the gaming department would hardly be affected by the addition of new features like this.

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LA Times: PS3 video service 'to embrace open standards,' PSP supported

Reader Comments (41)

Posted: Apr 21st 2008 4:54PM RKN said

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