New PS3 model drops HD Blu-ray display over component

@ClarkyAC
People will still flip a shaite over it, misreading this news as saying "the PS3 only supports HDMI and will not support any kind of A/V component for anything".
Honestly, this isn't really that big of a deal -- HDMI cables are *really* inexpensive now, seen as low as $2 for 6'ft of cable on SlickDeals. Second, the newer model they're reporting does still support component cables, just not for use in HD viewing... which makes sense.

@ClarkyAC
This would have been a huge deal for me. Suddenly my PS3 refused to output anything via the hdmi output. Called sony support, and did all they told me, didn't work. I didn't want to send it to a repair shop because I didn't have enough money.However, I managed to snag a component cable, and it works great. My only issue is that it doesn't up scale dvds.

@foxhound
It's not the expense that matters (HDMI are ridiculously cheap in comparison to Sony's component cable), it's the fact that some people have HDTVs or receivers that don't have HDMI support.

@ClarkyAC Its not a big deal to most, but I'm sure there are plenty of PS3 fans with TVs that only have component inputs. If Microsoft were a TV manufacturer and did this same thing you know fanboy rage would pop up about how "greedy" Microsoft is. But Sony will likely get away without the $ sign in their name.

@ClarkyAC
I won't say it's a HUGE deal, but there is a problem with this, though:

A to J models of PS3 can output HD video (including 1080p) over component cables for Blu-ray movies. The K models and forward will only be able to do it over HDMI. This will not affect output of HD for PS3 games, though.
Why this matters is for those who would want to record. You can't record from HDMI, due to the signal being encrypted, but you can from component.

So, yeah, not a HUGE deal, but it could affect some people (I guess just make sure you don't pick up a K model).

@Lucky48 I'm glad Joystiq didnt take this opportunity to subtlety bash Sony unlike Kotaku and Ars. Keep it classy, Joystiq.

@mywhitenoise And are those people really watching blu-rays on their tiny SD Tv's with no HDMI input? I doubt it.

@foxhound

Actually, my TV doesn't have enough HDMI inputs if I suddenly start needing to use HDMI for all HD video playback. Plus, my TV is only 720p so why do I need to replace my cables if I suddenly need to buy a new PS3. My TV works just fine but now I'd need to upgrade the TV, cables, or both in the future?! Reeks of trying to get more money under the guise trying to stop a small number of people from pirating.

@andyjharper
Yeah, but it doesn't affect Foxhound or all the other people that agree with him so clearly it's not an issue and if it is an issue to anyone else then they are clearly whiners.

@mywhitenoise You fool, they should feel honoured to buy a new tv (sony branded of course)

HOW DARE YOU CRITICIZE SONY!

@andyjharper Couldn't you just switch cables as you need to? It's not like your cables are soldered into your HDMI ports.

@fohf
No, I'm not calling anyone who is/isn't affected by this system change a whiner. However, "buyer beware" is the usual caveat -- do the research before making purchases like this.
As always, there's ways around the solution... Purchasing an older version of PS3(there's a SLEW of them out there, and the box does have indication to see the model number), upgrading your electronic hook up, etc. After all, if you have the money to purchase a new K-model PS3, you probably could spare some for HDMI.
Of course, if you had taken a moment to read the article or related responses, you could have avoided making such a *jackassed* retort. Sheesh.

@andyjharper
As aforementioned, this only affects those purchasing recent "K-model" PS3s.
There's so many of the previous model consoles out there, you and many others should *not* have difficulty finding such. If you do opt to have a HDMI-viewed PS3 bluray experience but have limited HDMI outputs... other than the tedious "plug swapping", you do have options:

HDTVs without HDMI
...If you have a Receiver, you could do a pass through or "hub" the HDMI through it. In fact, if you're still rocking component cables, you could feed them through it, and component or HDMI out from there.
HDTVs with limited HDMI outlets(less than 3)
...You can either do a "pass through" with a Receiver as mentioned above, use a HDMI port switcher, or even pass through other devices with optical cabling.

@ClarkyAC

Once again, law abiding citizens suffer while pirates continue to use component ports to watch pirated movies.

@mywhitenoise

We have a winner.

To have your PS3's playback suddenly stop working (bet this gets put into a firmware update) with a non-HDMI TV, or you get home with your shiny, new PS3, and find out it's advertised abilities don't work with your TV, is a big deal to some.

@FriedConsole
There were a few generations of HD tvs before HDMI, they aren't rare. Also, component video is 3 wires, not 5, but you could say 4 if you wanted to include an optical or digital coax audio connection.

@FriedConsole

It's not so much TVs that wouldn't have HDMI ports as TVs that wouldn't have *enough* HDMI ports. Plenty of people have more devices than their TV has HDMI ports which means you either buy a switch or use component for some of the devices.

Still though, since just about every other device supports component most of those people should just be able to use component with something else and stick the PS3 on HDMI.

The only people this is really likely to affect are the soccer moms and dads that don't even realize they're not watching their blu-rays in HD when they're not using HDMI. In which case, they probably deserve it.

@mrmojoz

Actually FriedConsole is right component cable got five wires - YPbPr (red, blue and green) plus the audio cable (white and red). That's five. Composite on the other hand got 3 wires.

@isotrex
audio has nothing to do with component video, its 3 wires only. you have the choice to use whatever type of audio cable you want

@killploki

HDMI carries the audio. No need for separate audio wires. You need additional cables for composite/component video.

@Vcize why would enough HDMI ports on a TV be a problem for a PS3? What could be taking priority over a game console and bluray player? If I only had one HDMI port the PS3 would definitely get that port over the cable box and 360.

@FriedConsole i never said anything about hdmi

@snapekillsdumbledore

Geee . . . I don't know maybe to stream cable or satellite in 1080p like they are doing today?! I have three devices that could utilize 1080p but only 2 HDMI ports on my TV. So suddenly I can't watch BD in at least 720p anymore if I buy a new PS3. Plus, a lot of new TVs are still shipping with 2 HDMI and 2 component inputs. If you are forcing people to comply with a standard, then make sure any new equipment can handle it. These TV manufacturers assume people only have 1 or 2 HD devices these days and that simply isn't the case any more.

@FriedConsole A lot of TVs were sold that have component but not HDMI video inputs, I have one.

@andyjharper TV stations only broadcast 1080i maximum, satellite "1080p" only applies to their own content through on demand like ppv. Regardless you still have 2 hdmi inputs, 1 for satellite and 1 for ps3, what else would need hdmi more than a PS3?

@FriedConsole This is a big deal because many people (like me) have older HDTVs and Receivers/Sound Systems that use component cables instead of HDMI, and don't have the money to afford a new TV and/or Receiver.

By doing this, they're screwing their legitimate customers out of the ability to use their product how they choose. And for what? Do you think anyone that's ripping BluRay discs seriously records it over an analog connection rather than just doing it digitally on a computer in a fraction of the time?

I get it. This is supposed to help stop pirating. But it doesn't. It just creates more frustration for legitimate customers. Not cool, sony!

@FriedConsole

Why does "HDMI carries the audio. No need for separate audio wires. You need additional cables for composite/component video" deserve a downvote? He makes an excellent point!

@(Unverified) That was the first thing I thought of when I saw this article. Very misleading title. #yellowjournalism

@(Unverified)

I must be being dumb or something as I see nothing wrong with that headline. It's accurate as far as I can tell, and the details behind the move are outlined in the article. It is stupid-o'clock here and I really should be in bed, so like I say I might be missing something. Am I?

@(Unverified)

convoluted, perhaps (might need the extra word cable at the end for clarification).. But i wouldn't have said the title was misleading.

The newest model of the PS3 is loosing it's ability to play HD Blu-Ray content via component cable, which is what the title practically says..

@ClarkyAC

The key word being "over," making the reader initially think Sony is dropping HD support and switching to Component Cable only. It sounds silly, yes... but it's just another nit-pick in their overly-wordy (and often corny) article titles.

@(Unverified)

You're absolutely right. The article title is confusing and potentially misleading.

Replacing the word "over" with "via" would make it much easier to understand. Using "over" makes it seem like the PS3 is losing HD display because of some issue with component.

"New PS3 model drops HD Blu-ray display via component." Better, right?

@(Unverified) You should read the articles on Kotaku and Ars. Talk about needless speculation.

@Faceless Troll Can you really tell a difference though? Not saying there isn't one, just that if there is it's pretty miniscule.

Kinda like Coax audio versus optical.

@Burritoclock Maybe, but HDMI cables are cheap and if you have more than one HD device, why not free up the component port for something else?

@Burritoclock As someone who used regular cables before switching to HDMI I can assure you that yes, there definitely is a difference.

@Burritoclock you can tell the difference, analog signals are not pixel perfect and kind of "vibrate" while digital signals are perfectly stable and each pixel is mapped where its supposed to be making the edges a lot more crisp. You dont notice this difference until switching to HDMI though, and I dont know if the difference is as obvious on a plasma as it is on an LCD. Color also seemed richer when I switched.

Its worth the $5 for an HDMI cable.

@Faceless Troll

I don't use HDMI on my 360 because I found with HDMI that the system doesn't really turn on when I press the button until I switch my TV input over to the 360. Sounds minor, but I do like to sometimes turn on my 360 while I'm still watching TV to let it get through the boot cycle before switching the input over.

@343 Guilty Fart I have the same issue, but it's just not a big deal for me.

@Mustang Fanboy

OI, component cables aren't SD cables.

@Vcize actually the AACS and HDMI people are dead set on making them into SD cables

@Mr Hett and is uneffected... sheesh

@Burritoclock

It will only be in qHD (960*540p)