[RobotsAnger]

What's the average bandwidth cap in the US? I don't see many people complaining about it in this topic so I assume it's pretty high. My cap here in Canada is 90GB and this would destroy my bandwidth.

[quetz67]

if implemented the way gamers see it ( BC on PS4, PS1,2 games on Vita) this could be huge for sony.

But why stop there, this a technology to play the best looking games without the hardware. Vita can emulate PS1 games easily and probably PS2 games.

[makingmusic476]

What's the average bandwidth cap in the US? I don't see many people complaining about it in this topic so I assume it's pretty high. My cap here in Canada is 90GB and this would destroy my bandwidth.

Caps aren't all that common in the U.S., with only a few ISPs starting to do that recently. I think A&T has a 250gb cap for its fiber service.

[ZombieSupaStar]

What's the average bandwidth cap in the US? I don't see many people complaining about it in this topic so I assume it's pretty high. My cap here in Canada is 90GB and this would destroy my bandwidth.

250 here

[patsu]

Well, the cable operators can also up or remove the cap if you subscribe to their channels also, beyond just Internet connectivity. ^_^

I think they did this for their own VoD services.

EDIT: The other key benefit of this deal is Sony gain a team of savvy online services folks, both technical and business.

[-Pyromaniac-]

What's the average bandwidth cap in the US? I don't see many people complaining about it in this topic so I assume it's pretty high. My cap here in Canada is 90GB and this would destroy my bandwidth.

dude you need to leave rogers/bell immediately. Go with one of the wholesalers like Teksavvy. Cheaper, same speeds for the most part, higher cap or unlimited if you want it.

I pay for 300gb since it's more than enough, but there is an unlimited tier.

[OldJadedGamer]

What's the average bandwidth cap in the US? I don't see many people complaining about it in this topic so I assume it's pretty high. My cap here in Canada is 90GB and this would destroy my bandwidth.

Comcast one of the biggest ISP's is 250GB. AT&T is 150GB.

[djplaeskool]

250GB here with Comcast.
Evidently, though, they're about to delve into the world of bandwidth tiered pricing.

[RobotsAnger]

dude you need to leave rogers/bell immediately. Go with one of the wholesalers like Teksavvy. Cheaper, same speeds for the most part, higher cap or unlimited if you want it. I pay for 300gb since it's more than enough, but there is an unlimited tier.

I'm kinda locked in. Having Rogers wireless, cable tv, home phone and internet all on plans makes it kinda difficult to make the cut. If I cut my internet, I lose the perk of 35% off. That said, I did try to switch to teksavvy at one point and they told me in wasn't currently offered in my area.

[USC-fan]

Comcast drop the cap last month.

[-Pyromaniac-]

This is huge news. I could see PS4 being the last real console for Sony. Lets say it lasts 5-7 years, that's more than enough time for Gaikai to do all the improvements they've talked about doing and all that. Then Sony will just release an Apple TV like box on the cheap that people use to stream games. And have it in all TVs of course.

I'm kinda locked in. Having Rogers wireless, cable tv, home phone and internet all on plans makes it kinda difficult to make the cut. If I cut my internet, I lose the perk of 35% off. That said, I did try to switch to teksavvy at one point and they told me in wasn't currently offered in my area.

I don't know man, I got rogers cable and phone, but I had to switch to teksavvy, it was well worth it.

[OldJadedGamer]

Comcast drop the cap last month.

Just looked this up and they did and they didn't. The limit is now 300 GB but if you go over you are charged exta for it. So not an end all cap, you just pay more now.

[yankeehater]

Comcast drop the cap last month.

Do you have a link for that?

[Nerfgun]

Ah, need to rephrase. They use _both_ software and hardware decoding based on needs. The hardware decoder on old iPhone is weaker compared to the new ones. Their media stack also does more than what a typical hardware decoders offer.

ah. thanks. that's interesting if they have that codec flexibility without roasting the battery with high CPU.

[Majanew]

Caps aren't all that common in the U.S., with only a few ISPs starting to do that recently. I think A&T has a 250gb cap for its fiber service.

It is common. AT&T does it even with DSL customers at 150GB/month. Comcast (the biggest provider) 250GB/month, and Time Warner in certain areas.

Comcast drop the cap last month.

I heard that. That is was due to being investigated by the government.

[bender]

Do you have a link for that?

http://blog.comcast.com/2012/05/comc...pproaches.html

[Grampa Simpson]

Dat PS4 backwards compatibility.

There won't really be a PS4. The powerful rendering systems will be based in colocation facilities and will use Gaikai for streaming. They will sell several boxes with the PS4 name though. The lowest end being simply a roku type box all the way through one that has Google TV type video overlay and cable box capabilities. They'll also offer it as a free downloadable update to the PS3. It will give them an instant 60-70m userbase to tout to the publishers.

Don't forget the PC client, and the built in client in all new Sony TVs (bluetooth + network + compressed video decode is all it takes).

It really is a great strategy, and will be a very good step to creating a market disruption.

Five years down the road they'll have an upgraded version of the Colo box and a firmware update will declare all of the devices to be PS5.

[USC-fan]

Just looked this up and they did and they didn't. The limit is now 300 GB but if you go over you are charged exta for it. So not an end all cap, you just pay more now.

They are testing a new model.

[quetz67]

There won't really be a PS4. The powerful rendering systems will be based in colocation facilities and will use Gaikai for streaming. They will sell several boxes with the PS4 name though. The lowest end being simply a roku type box all the way through one that has Google TV type video overlay and cable box capabilities. They'll also offer it as a free downloadable update to the PS3. It will give them an instant 60-70m userbase to tout to the publishers. Don't forget the PC client, and the built in client in all new Sony TVs (bluetooth + network + compressed video decode is all it takes). It really is a great strategy, and will be a very good step to creating a market disruption. Five years down the road they'll have an upgraded version of the Colo box and a firmware update will declare all of the devices to be PS5.

This! ;)

[Yoshiya]

I don't think Gaikai has to be tied to H.264 though. H.265 is the next leap (More efficient and less intensive at the same quality). The Gaikai servers/encoders and many devices like PS3 and iPad can be programmed to use H.265 since there is no dedicated H.264 chip in there to begin with. It's all CPU + GPU work.

Completely incorrect. H.265 will see a ~40% decrease in file size/bandwidth for subjectively equivalent image quality. This is very promising for these types of streaming services, yes, but this comes at the cost of dramatic increase in the complexity of both decoding and encoding the video. Modern SoCs and Intel CPUs come packaged with hardware-implemented H.264 decoders, and it is this fixed-function hardware which takes the load off the general computing resources and, most importantly, the battery. The benefits of H.265 are more or less inaccessible to Gaikai until near-ubiquitous adoption of hardware H.265 decoders, which will be cutting-edge in 2014, and just as importantly the enormous resources required to encode H.265 at 60FPS in realtime can be overcome within the technology and cost limits they operate within. This will likely necessitate fixed-function H.265 encoders, something surely more distant than decoder integration in mainstream SoCs.

[FishyJoe]

There won't really be a PS4. The powerful rendering systems will be based in colocation facilities and will use Gaikai for streaming. They will sell several boxes with the PS4 name though. The lowest end being simply a roku type box all the way through one that has Google TV type video overlay and cable box capabilities. They'll also offer it as a free downloadable update to the PS3. It will give them an instant 60-70m userbase to tout to the publishers. Don't forget the PC client, and the built in client in all new Sony TVs (bluetooth + network + compressed video decode is all it takes). It really is a great strategy, and will be a very good step to creating a market disruption. Five years down the road they'll have an upgraded version of the Colo box and a firmware update will declare all of the devices to be PS5.

I'd love to live in this fantasy world where everyone has stable high speed internet access for cheap. I'd also like to end world hunger and cure cancer.

[Yoshiya]

Comcast one of the biggest ISP's is 250GB. AT&T is 150GB.

Hilarious. I might be on lowly ADSL2 (10Mbits on a good day), but my Australian internet connection is pretty affordable and gives me 200GB.

I'd love to live in this fantasy world where everyone has stable high speed internet access for cheap. I'd also like to end world hunger and cure cancer.

I'll shed a tear for the less technologically fortunate as they are denied the opportunity to blow $500 on a new console. I'd bet that the overlap between traditional console early adapters and those with decent internet connections is pretty large.

[Raistlin]

Holy shit ... WUT!?

Certainly seems that way. One has to wonder how they can afford to buy out a company considering their losses.

They've got tons of cash. Just because they've had quarters in the red doesn't mean they're massively in debt.

What makes this even easier though is the Japanese gov is giving out super low interest loans ... plus the Yen is quite high. Combine the two, and it's easy for a company as big as Sony to be shopping around.

[iceatcs]

It's $80m more than it cost New England Sports Ventures to buy Liverpool Football Club :P But it's a good $640m less than Instagram cost facebook I think it's good value. I think OnLive would now go for the same or higher.

Yes. It's good deal because they want half billion first place.

I think I have read Onlive want $1.2b.

[Jburton]

I'd love to live in this fantasy world where everyone has stable high speed internet access for cheap. I'd also like to end world hunger and cure cancer.

UK based here and get 15 down and 1 up solid connection and no limits, management or FUP of any description and including line rental and phone calls £25.

[Alextended]

So, what does it mean for the future of the PlayStation? I ask as I'm not familiar with gaming-streaming services.

Absolutely nothing until they announce they'll use it in some way affecting it.

We could speculate all sorts of things, from playing PC games on your PS3. Or PS4 games on your Vita and PS3. Or PS4 being a software app for every device they want to support with all the hardware on the Sony side alone.

But it doesn't mean any of that will make business sense or happen.

[iceatcs]

UK based here and get 15 down and 1 up solid connection and no limits, management or FUP of any description and including line rental and phone calls £25.

Yeah. UK do have really nice deal. Even Virgin offer up to 100MB fibre optic for same price. (12.75 first 6 months)

[Hoo-doo]

I'd love to live in this fantasy world where everyone has stable high speed internet access for cheap.

It's called Scandinavia, son.

i'm not from there, but their internet is insane.

[Yoshiya]

Nothing unless they announce they'll use it in some changing way for it. We could speculate all sorts of things but it doesn't mean they will happen.

No, Sony spent $380m on Gaikai despite having no intention to integrate the technology they purchased into their roadmap. Good business.

[Jburton]

Yeah. UK do have really nice deal. Even Virgin offer up to 100MB fibre optic for same price. (12.75 first 6 months)

Yeah and once Sky upgrade the exchange here to access the BT fibre network its an extra £10 for up to 80 down and 10 up (at the very best).

[quetz67]

No limit here (germany), as I watch TV over the connection with one HD stream to watch and one to record at the same time.

[FishyJoe]

UK based here and get 15 down and 1 up solid connection and no limits, management or FUP of any description and including line rental and phone calls £25.

That's great you live in the UK where this is available. All the British have to do is rebuild their empire and the whole world can be like this.

[Corto]

I'd love to live in this fantasy world where everyone has stable high speed internet access for cheap. I'd also like to end world hunger and cure cancer.

Not everyone. Just a sizeable enough audience to make the service viable. Sony could even make deals with cable companies to include PS Cloud service in their offerings of set top boxes in exchange of prioritization of its service data on the network. Though that could raise some eye brows and stir some unwanted controversy.

[FoxRomeo]

Who is Gakai and why the hell should I care?

[Alextended]

No, Sony spent $380m on Gaikai despite having no intention to integrate the technology they purchased into their roadmap. Good business.

That's totally what I said. Oh wait, it isn't and you're being silly to put it kindly.

Funny how you didn't tell us what it means for PlayStation either. Could it be because noone can really know beyond speculation that may or may not happen until and if Sony says otherwise exactly as I suggested and yet you attacked me over it? Could it?

Christ, some people...

Read the Digital Foundry article, for one

I have, it changes nothing and what I said remains valid despite your reaction.

I've done my own bits of speculation but didn't attempt to present it as anything but speculation. Keep it up though.

[Jburton]

That's great you live in the UK where this is available. All the British have to do is rebuild their empire and the whole world can be like this.

Settle down FishyJoe ....... what technological backwater do you hail from then?

[Raistlin]

The Eurogamer article was very informative, keeps the expectations in check and falls in line with the rumors we heard in the past.. Basically says not to expect any PS3 cloud games any time soon.

I somewhat disagree with the h.264 points (and therefore no new HW needed) long term.

I think for this to be successful(as in post-console world successful), they're going to need better compression due to how long it's taking to get the infrastructure out there.

h.265

[KittyKittyBangBang]

So now Microsoft buys OnLive for a cool billion...right?

[FishyJoe]

Settle down FishyJoe ....... what technological backwater do you hail from then?

Silicon Valley

[Yoshiya]

That's great you live in the UK where this is available. All the British have to do is rebuild their empire and the whole world can be like this.

That's not how population density works.

[Jburton]

Silicon Valley

Say what?

They don't have good network infrastructure in Silicon Valley?

[Grampa Simpson]

h.265

I really have no idea what the compression roadmap looks like past h.264 - which if I remember correctly is a subspecification or superset or whatever of mpeg-4.

[Reallink]

Caps aren't all that common in the U.S., with only a few ISPs starting to do that recently. I think A&T has a 250gb cap for its fiber service.

Do huh now? Most of the biggest players in the US have caps. Comcast (the largest provider IIRC) is 250GB, AT&T is 150GB with just internet, 250GB with a bundle of services. Some smaller regional carriers (e.g. Mediacom Cable) also have 250GB caps. Caps are very common in the US and probably cover a majority of subscribers--whether they realize it or not. The providers have done a very good job at minimizing awareness and PR backlash.

[Jburton]

So now Microsoft buys OnLive for a cool billion...right?

Maybe, would be a high price though.

I see this Gaikai purchase as ready made tech for streaming services for Sony music, movies and games.

The delivery system for a new ecosystem (PS store) that will launch with PS4, might also help with new online system (PSN).

It will work along side traditional retail games / download games .... not replace it.


A Games console, Cloud gaming box, Movie / TV / Music streamer, media centre and Blu ray player, browser etc.

[Grampa Simpson]

Say what? They don't have good network infrastructure in Silicon Valley?

Comcast, Uverse, Sonic.net (love them - DSL2+ shotgunned with no cap), and in some areas Astound. Problem with the Bay Area is that it's really hilly and retrofit is pretty hard. The end result is that everyone but the rich living i the hills can get good internet for fairly cheap.

[Yoshiya]

Funny how you didn't tell us what it means for PlayStation either. Could it be because noone can really know beyond speculation that may or may not happen until and if Sony says otherwise exactly as I suggested and yet you attacked me over it? Could it? Christ, some people...

Read the Digital Foundry article, for one.

Beyond that I'd guess this is meant to enable the integration of Playstation content into the wider "Sony Entertainment Network" or whatever it's called. The razor-margin television business is toxic for them; they either need to leave it or find sufficient premium differentiators to justify the return of Sony's premium margins. SEN integration of high-value gaming content could also significantly boost the fortunes of the newly consolidated phone division, though network limitations make that understandably further off.

These are predictions, of course, but it shouldn't be hard to see that this sort of technology promises to expand the potential consumer base for Sony's game content beyond console owners. ROI for next-gen will be more problematic than the bloodbath that was this one if better business models are not implemented - this is panic-mode Sony making a bold attempt at that. They're not spending $400m to stream demos and PS2 games to their next console, I promise you that.

[AranhaHunter]

I see this Gaikai purchase as ready made tech for streaming services for Sony music, movies and games.

Sony already has the streaming infrastructure for music, IIRC Sony has over 1 million active users on its Music Unlimited service and seems to be catching up to spotify. It now has the infrastructure for Gaming, but it remains to be seen the infrastructure Sony will use for Video streaming.

[Ether_Snake]

I was so right back in 2008!:)

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthre...hlight=console

[Heavy]

OnLive and Steve Perlman must be reeling right about now.

[Kasumi1970]

You could say the same about the USA.

and EU also