PS3 to go 3D in 2010, says Sony

Incredible

I saw a demo of WipeoutHD on a PS3, running 3D, on a 3D Bravia (without the need for crappy 3D specs), and the effect was IMMENSE. VERY impressive,

I can't wait for this tech... However it does mean a new TV :-(

What kind of 3D ?

Will we be expected to wear those stupid glasses?

Where's the LINUX love?

This is a message to any Sony people who can make a difference:

_TLDR_: Please, please, please bring linux back in the newer models to come and please make the environment it is to run in a little better. Quite likely this will be profitable to you. Some ideas we have outlined below may work. Take a look.

We applaud your recently announced academic dev PS3 but have a few concerns...

*** 1. We would like better ongoing linux support in all new models. ***

We are glad you haven't written off the hypervisor allowing us to run linux on older models, but this new development about not supporting linux in newer models is worrying. Think of who buys PS3s. Quite a few are nerdy. Some of us didn't buy the PS3 to play games and that's a fact.

*** 2. Hypervisor ***

We know the hypervisor is needed to abstract the underlying PS3 hardware to allow linux to run without less drastic alteration. We also know it is there to prevent access to more of its internals. It would be nice to expose more of the multimedia ie graphics subsystem though. We realize you have issues about copy protection. Surely there can exist a happy balance.

If you sell it on a DVD as an add-on, most of us who were mad enough to install linux on it will likely BUY it if it allowed _better_ performance than the one that exists now. This may be a good way to recuperate costs of mantaining the OS hypervisor. Just sell it. We would buy it.

*** 3. RAM or lack thereof ***

We thank you for REALLY making us work at slimming down our linux installs, but seriously, these days, 256 gigs of RAM is a bit small don't you think? We grant you it was generous at the time of introduction but really, we need more today. Half a gig is not unreasonable, we think.

If cost is really such an important matter, we would suggest introducing a new model with some sort of optional expansion chassis. Something that would add on more RAM, perhaps. Maybe even allow more exposure to the internals, ie GFX, or perhaps add on another cell. We would buy it if it is priced fairly. This could be in addition, or perhaps instead of the academic dev PS3 recently announced.

*** What's in it for SONY ***

Maybe more people will buy PS3s and cells if you support it better. More nerds would buy PS3s for sure. And surely you haven't forgotten the academic boffins who have used PS3's in small pocket supercomputer clusters. We believe better linux support will result in MORE profit for you, Sony, NOT less. Your recent gesture (the academic dev PS3) is a welcome one, but we really would like a better PS3 for linux.

Also, better support for linux on PS3s indirectly advance the powerpc architecture, we believe. And we know you possibly have been contemplating a cell based PS4. You will encourage more developers, expand the market for PPC's... indirectly good will come back to you.

Also, think about the actual good you could be doing for the mainstream IT desktop ecosystem. We are dominated by x86... We believe we need a choice, an alternative. Powerpc's were once perhaps the only thing close to competing, but thanks to the way events have unfolded, powerpc's are now no longer :(

We don't think having just x86's on our desktops is a good thing. You have a chance to do something about this.

What do you stand to lose? What do you stand to gain? Do the right thing.

We have given you ideas on how this could be done. Please .. have a think.

@Adam 60 & Arram

"lost most of their vision in one eye"...

"im blind in one eye"...

Bloody pirates! Shouldn't you be using modded xboxes anyway? :)

IF ANY PS3 employee reads this (REQUEST)

Please for the love of god or sushi or what ever you worship please make

these 3D gogles or glasses more durable!

WE ARE TIRED OF FLIMSY COLOR FILM IN GLASSES!

I would like to see also stores like LensCrafters who sell pescription 3D glasses.

Or even colored or grey scaled contacts.

PLEASE!!!!!!!! make our hardware last longer!

@ RegisterFail

Always a Microsoft fan boy in the bunch... but never one armed with facts.

FACT: In February 2008 Toshiba abandoned the HD DVDformat, announcing it would no longer develop or manufacture HD DVD players or drives.

FACT: The HD DVD Promotion Group was dissolved on March 28, 2008.

FACT: Microsoft is going BluRay.

FACT: HD DVD lost because it was the inferior spec.

@sT0rNG b4R3 duRiD

Linux was dropped, because all the community did was bitch and moan about wanting everything, now they have nothing. The community needs to put in brain in gear before opening it's mouth in the future...

Surely I'm not the only one

Surely I'm not the only one who doesn't give a toss about 3D? I've seen some 3D films in theme parks and exhibitions and things, and while the effect is superficially quite entertaining, that's where they belong. You can't watch more than about 15-20 minutes of it before your brain tries to fight it's way out of what it knows is an illusion and gives you a splitting headache or makes you feel sick, and being a glasses wearer makes the additional 3D glasses awkward and uncomfortable anyway.

The big push to 3D in cinemas seems to me to be mainly an anti-piracy thing for the studios' benefit, because you can't record a 3D showing with a camcorder (well you can, but it's unwatchable), plus they think they can charge you more to see the same film. And as for the idea of watching everything at home in 3D... in our house it's enough of a nightmare trying to find a misplaced remote one of the kids has wandered off with. The prospect of attempting to locate 5 pairs of 3D glasses every time I want to turn the telly on doesn't bare thinking about.

Cool!

I was making a kebab on tuesday evening and discovered I had no lettuce, so went down to Sainsburys to get some. But I saw they had PS3s on offer, so picked one up, hitting them with £3 off and double points vouchers at the same time. Now I hear 3D is coming, which proves it was a wise investment rather than a rash impulse buy!

They are clever chaps and chapesses at Sony - I expect they will find a way to coax some sort of 3d out of the Playtv hardware too. Its a pity the UK is going for the DVB-T2 standard for Freeview HD, otherwise that little box would truely revolutionise my lounge.

Re: sT0rNG b4R3 duRiD

>We are glad you haven't written off the hypervisor allowing us to run linux on older models, but this new development about not supporting linux in newer models is worrying. Think of who buys PS3s. Quite a few are nerdy. Some of us didn't buy the PS3 to play games and that's a fact.

As mentioned above the whole reason Sony pulled the hypervisor is to keep from losing their shirt on scientists and corporations from running farms of PS3s subsidized by Sony with no chance of recovering profit from the games or their online service (DLC and such). With the new price drop and Sony bleeding cash lately they had to do it. Though my fatty still burns 205 watts, having the hypervisor and emotion engine makes it worth it for me (Manhunt series ftw). Still paying $600 for it at the time (two weeks after release) for a measley 20 gig hd was a bit brutal but at least no RROD or ban threat so in it for long run baby.

@adam 60 and arran

Woah, yes, lets all hold back the march of technology 'cos some people are blind in one eye. While we're out it we should bin those mobile phones 'cos of deaf people, or people with no hands who can't jab the buttons....

2 words:

3D porn. Come on, somebody had to say it, right?

Paris cause her next movie hopefully will be in 3D.

M

@sT0rNG b4R3 duRiD

"*** What's in it for SONY ***

Maybe more people will buy PS3s and cells if you support it better. More nerds would buy PS3s for sure. And surely you haven't forgotten the academic boffins who have used PS3's in small pocket supercomputer clusters. We believe better linux support will result in MORE profit for you, Sony, NOT less. "

You don't get it, do you? Sony loses money on every single PS3 sale. ALL OF THEM. The only way Sony makes their money back is through selling peripherals and games. If you buy PS3s for academia, clusters, linux or whatever else you deviants want to do with it you're not going to be buying games - are you? Sony actually loses money because of this. It's fair business sense for them to stop supporting it.

Now backwards compatibility... that's a shame, that one :(

@Mr Ian

do your research... they used (<--notice the past tense) to make a lose on every PS3, but as soon as they perfected the manufacturing techniques they started making profits.

3D @ Boethius

From what I read in various tech articles is that your monitor must be able to

meet 18Mhz refresh or better.

The average LCD is still just 60Mhz and Mine just meets the 1800Mhz bare

minimum so I might assume that 180Mhz will lag a wee bit on graphic intense games.