A few people talk about buying new phones every year or 2 and people are ok with it. The difference is that most people are not spending $500 up front every time they get a new phone. It is paid over time which allows people to get a device they probably couldn't afford to buy outright. There is no option for a console.
When I think about it, has there been the cornerstone exclusive system seller title on the PS4 yet? I honestly cannot think of one and really the XB1 has had a few with Halo and Forza. In the neogaf thread there's a lot of people saying "I'm in day one" and telling people "everyone is fine buying new iphones every year so why not consoles? I'm happy to get more power". They are totally missing the point of a console...GAMES! Without games the hardware is worthless and maybe it's me but I haven't seen enough good games on the PS4 yet. Games take a long time to develop and to release a new iteration so soon would definitely extend development cycles. Not to mention you're telling developers they have to target 3 different levels of console hardware with the PS4, XB1, and PS4k. They already struggle getting games running properly on 2 platforms. Adding a third and expecting things to work smoothly on the old version is naive.
UVD through UVD 6 are Xtensa processors of increasing performance with higher versions. AMD says they use the same hardware for HEVC that the XB1 uses and AMD UVDs are xtensa accelerators. The GPGPU compute are Xtensa accelerators.Based upon what I can find, these "Xtensa processors" that you're talking about are actually just AMD's TrueAudio (i.e. audio processor) that's built into the APU. Where do you get that they're capable of anything that you're talking about above?
As noted above, I highly doubt these "Xtensa accelerators" do anything that you're talking about. If anything, the compute capability of the GPGPU is being leveraged to decode HEVC, because both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are either GCN 1.0 or GCN 1.1, which means they do not have UVD 6 (available on GCN 1.2+). That's an important distinction since UVD 6 is the first version that includes support for HEVC hardware decoding.
People like that are stupid because you tend to end up paying twice as much by taking the "over time" approach with an awful 2 year contract.
4k @ 24 Hz is possible through HDMI 1.4b. The limiting factor would be HDCP 2 not the speed of the port.@jeff_rigby
Before the PS4 was released, there was talk about the PS4 having a hardware decoder for UHD content, but the released product didn't actually end up with that included. I suppose you could get things done in software, leveraging the Jaguar cores and/or GPU, but there's also the hurdle of the Panasonic HDMI port that's specced to 1.4. You really couldn't get any 4k content through that, without excessive compression...
If Microsoft isn't doing it then I don't see Sony doing it either. I'm sure because there was speculation of Microsoft doing an Xbox One.5 before there was talk about a PS4.5 that's how it all got started. It's one of those I'll believe it when I see it because it hasn't been done before with home consoles and I just don't see it being popular at all either.I read an article this morning where it stated Xbox was not going to do the 1.5 upgrade option like the ps4.
I feel kind of dumb now owning both consoles with a new ps4 coming out. Even if people keep the ps4 and they make the games for the 4k version also work with the regular console, people are going to complain similar to what happens now when a launch trailer comes out then the full game looks far from that when it's out.
Either way it would mean I need another TV and then hope there is a trade up value or something like that. It wouldn't be fair to get the same games for ps4 and have them suffer compared to the 4k version.
With phones, I buy them out right because I hate contracts. I usually buy them unlocked anyway and make sure they function on all 4 major carriers. I've mainly stuck with the nexus devices for this.
It's not an issue for me becuase I owned the nexus 6 for a year and a half then sold it for $330 and bought the 6p. Its easier to sell a phone than a console I think.
If Microsoft isn't doing it then I don't see Sony doing it either. I'm sure because there was speculation of Microsoft doing an Xbox One.5 before there was talk about a PS4.5 that's how it all got started. It's one of those I'll believe it when I see it because it hasn't been done before with home consoles and I just don't see it being popular at all either.
I need to go out and buy an external 1tb drive for my xbox one. I only have 4 games installed and I've got 173gb left. After I buy quantom break there won't be any space left on there.Kinda wish I hopped on that Xbox 1TB with Division, Halo 5, and Gears for $350 deal now..
Simple test for HDMI 2. HDMI 2 supports 2 separate video streams. Sony's VR breakout box splits them and supplies one stream to the TV and one to the Goggles. A HDMI 1.4 port can't do that. Proof is in the VR description.@jeff_rigby
I wasn't claiming the PS4 shipped with a hardware codec, I was just thinking back to chatter before the system was released, where people were making claims of 4k compatibility that never panned out.
The PS4 in it's current form doesn't have a HEVC h.265 decoder... I'm not sure if that can be resolved through a software update, but even if it could, there's hurdles with the HDMI and HDCP as well....
Maybe a peripheral can add 4k support, like that little dongle they're releasing with the VR Headset?
HDCP takes place in the Southbridge TEE which is a requirement for HDMI 2http://www.roadtovr.com/sony-playstation-vr-breakout-box-is-not-a-crutch-for-ps4-psvr-playstation-4-virtual-reality/ said:The PU also makes it possible to use the social screen in ‘Separate’ mode, which displays an entirely different video and audio feed compared to what the view going to PSVR.
The above quote seems to imply that Xtensa IVP DPUs are in the XB1 and PS4 for Video.http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/df-hardware-orbis-unmasked-what-to-expect-from-next-gen-console said:PS4 Additional hardware: GPU-like Compute module, some resources reserved by the OS
"However, there's a fair amount of "secret sauce" in Orbis and we can disclose details on one of the more interesting additions. Paired up with the eight AMD cores, we find a bespoke GPU-like "Compute" module, designed to ease the burden on certain operations. We're assured that this is bespoke hardware that is not a part of the main graphics pipeline but we remain rather mystified by its standalone inclusion, bearing in mind Compute functions could be run off the main graphics cores and that devs could have the option to utilise that power for additional graphical grunt, if they so chose." For the PS4 we know Xtensa DSPs are in the PS4 likely in the ARM Southbridge and maybe Xtensa IVPs.
Durango additional graphics hardware - "rumours have circulated for quite some time that it is some way behind Orbis, but equally there has been the suggestion that the GPU itself is supplemented by additional task-specific hardware. We could not confirm this, but an ex-Microsoft staffer with a prior relationship with the Xbox team says that two of these modules are graphics-related."
A ton of features. What is telling is that all the 4K features are based on HTML5 plus W3C extensions which include DLNA for media sharing in the home via Playready which was chosen by the DTLA organization for the DTCP-IP DLNA streaming between platforms in the home (480i to 1080i). 1080P and 4K require Playready ND which Microsoft mentions being used by a Game console for DVR and Live streaming and Sony mentions being used for UHD Blu-ray digital bridge streaming in the home.Re read some of your posts on other forums, Jeff. Hmm... I felt pretty confident the ps4 wasn't 4k capable before, but now you have me wondering what may be possible to enable through software updates.
Re read some of your posts on other forums, Jeff. Hmm... I felt pretty confident the ps4 wasn't 4k capable before, but now you have me wondering what may be possible to enable through software updates.
@poofyhairguy
Even though from some of jeff_rigby's thoughts on the matter, it seems like the PS4 might have at some point been intended to support 4k, the thing is, despite what the PS4 hardware may or may not be able to do, all it takes is one link in that chain to not meet UHD requirements. I would be surprised if the PS4 won't require a minor hardware update in order to be 4K capable....
HDCP 2 is required to support firmware updating so it's not baked in. You are mis-understanding because I think you still assume HDCP is in the HDMI chip like with HDMI 1.4 which can not be updated and is baked into the chip. HDMI 1.4 was broken (2010 I think) and there is no way to fix this. The industry learned a lesson and HDCP is now in the same TEE with AACS and Player and everything is firmware update -able (it's in your cite).I just don't see how the PS4 gets around the HDCP 2.2 limitation. HDCP 2.2 is something that has to be baked into the silicon, otherwise all those early 4K tvs/AV receivers could have just been updated to support it and it wouldn't be a very strong DRM standard. Without HDCP 2.2, AACS 2.0 will downgrade the signal to 1080p.
BD+ which required a mark made on the ROM disk was released after the PS3 launch but AACS is all software.The PS3 was able to play 3D Blu Rays (which came out way after the console was created) because there wasn't a new version of HDCP or AACS to accompany those discs. The PS3 still had limitations because of the HDMI port (it couldn't do 3D and HD audio at the same time), but because the DRM between the discs were the same software could cover the gap.
This is not true. Read the cite carefully. "Host ID is different between AACS1 and AACS2.0" even if the Host can decrypt both AACS1 and AACS2.0 content" What this means is that a HD and UHD player have different sections of code depending on the disk being read Version 1 or Version 2 and they report different Host IDs depending on HD or UHD media. Maybe it would help if you considered AACS to be like Playready DRM with Playready 3 requiring a trusted boot and TEE while Playready 2 does not.UHD disks are a different ballgame. Not only is HDCP 2.2 required, but AACS 2.0 won't work on AACS 1.0 (aka PS4 or any existing Blu Ray player) by design:
https://wikileaks.org/sony/docs/05/...chitecture elements draft 02_23_2014.pptx.pdf
A Blu-ray Drive needs a firmware update and the manufacturer is required to licence with the BDA and to provide a server for the Key for bus encryption between the drive and Player TEE. Remember that ALL drives are either eSATA (serial bus) or USB (serial bus) and easily accessible. This requires encryption for media on that bus in addition to the AACS encryption.I don't know how Sony gets around that without new silicon in the box. And doesn't even mention the fact that the Blu Ray player in the PS4 is probably not UHD compatible, as there is a difference and those players aren't even commonly available on the market yet (I tried to get one for my PC).
Sets a bad precedent IMO.Earlier this year, rumors began to fly that Sony would release an upgraded version of the PlayStation 4, a console often called the PS4.5 or the PS4K by fans and press. Today, multiple sources have confirmed for us details of the project, which is internally referred to as the NEO. No price was provided, but previous reports indicate that the NEO would sell at $399. At time of publishing, Sony has not returned our request for comment, but we will update this story if the company responds.
The NEO will feature a higher clock speed than the original PS4, an improved GPU, and higher bandwidth on the memory. The documents we've received note that the HDD in the NEO is the same as that in the original PlayStation 4, but it's not clear if that means in terms of capacity or connection speed. Starting in October, every PS4 game is required to ship with both a “Base Mode” which will run on the currently available PS4 and a “NEO Mode” for use on the new console.
Original PS4/ NEO
CPU 8 Jaguar Cores at 1.6 GHz/ 8 Jaguar Cores at 2.1 GHz
GPU AMD GCN, 18 CUs at 800 MHz/ Improved AMD GCN, 36 CUs at 911 MHz
Memory 8 GB GDDR5, 176 GB/s/ 8 GB GDDR5, 218 GB/s
Last month, we told you that Sony was working on a new, improved model of the PS4, what was basically a PS4.5. Now Giant Bomb is reporting some further details on this new console, and it all sounds...a bit weird.
Their report says Sony is referring to the upgraded hardware as NEO (something we’ve also heard), and that it will “feature a higher clock speed than the original PS4, an improved GPU, and higher bandwidth on the memory.”
Now here’s where it gets interesting. The new specs mean that there’ll be two types of PS4 games available: those that can run on any PS4, and those that take advantage of the newer console’s extra power. Rather than divide the market, the report says that from October 2016, every single PS4 game that’s released must have a “base mode”, which would work on older consoles, and a “NEO Mode” for the new machines (which would put stuff in 4K, etc). Developers wouldn’t be allowed to make “NEO-only” games, nor could they “separate NEO users from original PS4 players while playing on PSN.”
The NEO wouldn’t replace the current PS4, but “will exist alongside of it and use the same user environment”. And while there’s an October deadline for NEO-compatible releases, that doesn’t mean the new console will be out that month.
Finally, for games that have already been released, Giant Bomb’s report says older titles can also create “NEO mode” versions if they’d like, they just have to go back in and release it as a patch.