Finally: PS3 info and about time

[evilomar]

This is from my buddy Rob Fox who is writing an article for EGM along with our good friend Shane who is an editor and reviewer at EGM . Its long, but he makes a damn good arguement:

Sony just announced that the PS3 has been delayed due to copy
protection complications. What in the world are they talking about?
Let me try to wade you through the acronym swamp. The copy protection
Sony is referring to is called AACS, otherwise known as "Advanced
Access Content System". It is similar to the copy protection method
CSS (Content Scrambling System) that is currently implemented in DVDs
(Digital Versatile Discs, okay, that's a bit much) that you can
purchase today. While CSS prevents idle copying of protected content
(like any movie you buy at your favorite media shack) by scrambling
the video stream, AACS goes a step further by encrypting streams AND
limiting the output resolution by using something called ICT (Image
Constraint Token). Hollywood is VERY protective of its properties,
and they are not going to give you a high resolution version of a
movie without some sort of copy protection in place.

But what does that actually mean to you? If you just bought a High
Definition monitor or TV, I hope you kept the receipt. Most HDTV's or
monitors since 2003 have a DVI (Digital Visual Interface) input and
analog component (the red, green and blue RCA jacks) input for hi-def
content. However, not quite as many sets support the encryption
protocol HDCP (High-Bandwidth Digital Copy Protection) over the DVI
input... which is required for AACS protection to work properly.
SO... if you plug in your PS3 into your HDTV's DVI input, and your set
does not support HDCP, and you try to watch a hi-def movie, you will
NOT get the full 720p/1080i HD resolution you would expect. Instead,
you will get the dithered, dumbed down 540p picture - which still
looks better than a DVD's 480i/p picture - but not the HD resolution
you have paid for. So what if you use your component cables instead?
Sorry, while component is a true HD interface, it is an analog source,
and AACS requires digital connections so you too will get half the
resolution that you could get.

Put away your picket signs, it's not time to boycott yet. While AACS
protection is mandated by Hollywood, it is up to the individual
studios if they want to enable ICT. If a studio does not implement
the image constraint option, then movies played back over component
and DVI interfaces without HDCP will get the full HD resolution - and
lucky for us a few studios have opposed this option such as Fox, Sony
and Warner Home Video. However Universal (NBC), Disney and Paramount
have expressed interest in ICT, but as of the time of this writing no
studio has solidified their stance quite yet other than Sony. We'll
have to play the wait and see game to see which studio is going to do
what.

Now the good news. If you buy (or have bought) an HD set this year,
chances are it will have HDCP support over DVI and it will include an
HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) input, which will always
support HDCP as well. We still don't know the final outputs that will
be on the PS3, but since HDMI is fully backward compatible with DVI,
an adaptor can be purchased (early adaptors rejoice!) to ensure
compatibility. Finally, games (that's what we really care aboot,
right?) have NOTHING to do with this - you'll be able to enjoy Metal
Gear 4 and Ribbit King (heh) in full 720p/1080i/1080p glory. Older
PSX and PS2 games should similarly have no problem being upconverted
to HD resolutions as well. Whew!

So, what should you do, fellow gamer, with all of those Gs burning a
hole in your pocket, begging to be used toward a new hi-def display?
Until Sony finalizes all details on the output interfaces that will be
on the PS3 and we get a better idea of which studios are going to use
ICT or not, you may consider holding out a bit longer so you don't end
up with brand new but out of date hardware. If you are the impatient
type that MUST part with your money, send some my way first, and then
MAKE SURE any display you get (monitor or TV) supports HDCP and has
HDMI, DVI and component inputs to boot. That way you will more likely
than not be ready for PS3 4D LIVE gaming and movie watching
experiences!

Maybe.




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