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PS3 will upscale DVDs to 1080p according to Sony (was petition to do so)

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DenogginizerOS

BenjaminBirdie's Thomas Jefferson
As some may already know from the Sony Gamer's Day thread, it has been pointed out and confirmed that the PS3 currently cannot upscale movie DVD's even if you are using HDMI. That means that if you own a DVD movie that is not available on Bluray and you want to watch it in lets say 1080i, you can't.

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/740/740601p4.html

On a down note, SCE informed us that DVD upscaling was not part of the PS3 multimedia feature set. The Xbox 360 upscales DVDs, so it's surprising to see SCE go without the feature.
Click to expand...

Some of us may already have an upscaler DVD player and may not see this as a problem. However, some of us have an upscaler DVD player already hooked up via HDMI and were counting on replacing that player with the PS3 (via HDMI). Seeing that the receivers on the market right now that allow multiple HDMI inputs are somewhat expensive, that leaves buying a rudimentary switch box, or not watching DVD's in high resolution on your PS3. Now, Sony can fix this with a software upgrade. I think we should start one of those oh-so-pointless message board petitions so we can have a thread where people come in and remind us that these petitions never work. But in all seriousness, I find this to be a pretty shocking omission and I hope Sony fixes it immediately.

How do people feel about this?
 
I could care less... maybe once I buy an HDTV I'll care?

Do non upscaled DVD's look bad on an HDTV?
 
Well it is disappointing but not a deal breaker for me.

Sony has been good with PSP firmware updates, so I'm hoping the feature is set back in a future update for PS3.
 
Reporters definitely need to take Sony to task on this.

I want to hear answers as to why this seemingly simple to include feature isn't available at launch and I want to hear that they'll include it ASAP.
 
DarienA said:
I could care less... maybe once I buy an HDTV I'll care?

Do non upscaled DVD's look bad on an HDTV?
Click to expand...

It's kinda the difference between making a JPG larger in PAINT or in photoshop. Course, depends on the scaler your TV has too (but normally, if a DVD player upscales it looks MUCH nicer).
 
DenogginizerOS said:
I think upscaled movies look better. I have a 30" Sony CRT HDTV and I did a comparison and I could tell a difference.
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Ok but could you answer the question I asked?

Does a non upscaled DVD look worse than say a Tivo show recorded a medium or low quality?

Dragona Akehi said:
It's kinda the difference between making a JPG larger in PAINT or in photoshop. Course, depends on the scaler your TV has too (but normally, if a DVD player upscales it looks MUCH nicer).
Click to expand...

Thanks Dragona, ok my original statement still stands then... don't give a shit.
 
DarienA said:
I could care less... maybe once I buy an HDTV I'll care?

Do non upscaled DVD's look bad on an HDTV?
Click to expand...

Your HDTV will scale for you, but probably not as well as a system like PS3 could. Some DVDs can look very bad on HDTVs (well, at least on my HD projector).

I agree with Denogg's post.

As part of "I <3 Linux Brigade", let's hope we've drive access to protected content..that + something like ffmpeg = awesomeness, for this kind of thing (and probably better than what Sony would provide via the XMB..certainly a lot more flexible with all those options). But I'm still cautious on the prospects for drive access like that..I guess we'll see.
 
I'm super pissed about it. My cable box, PS3, and upconverter dvd player all plug into my HDMI port. The problem, I only have one of 'em.

I'll probably buy a splitter when the PS3 comes out and just switch it and the dvd player out with each other.
 
Why would Sony invest in upscaling/artificial breathing for old DVD format, paying for Faroudja when they are betting fully on Blue-Ray adoption? I don't even think they have a case for software scaling of dvds..
 
DarienA said:
Ok but could you answer the question I asked?

Does a non upscaled DVD look worse than say a Tivo show recorded a medium or low quality?
Click to expand...

Well I don't have a TiVO, but basically everything looks a little "smoother" and less pixel-y.

Thanks Dragona, ok my original statement still stands then... don't give a shit.
Click to expand...

It's not something that would sway anyone's buying opinion, but really, there's no reason for them NOT to include this feature. If I recall, aren't most Blu-Ray players including it?
 
Kung Fu Jedi said:
How about we let them release the system before organizing a petition! :lol
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Because they have stated that they are not including it in the hardware. If enough people request it, they might have a software update queued up at launch.

And yes, DarienA, you can tell a difference.
 
Dragona Akehi said:
It's not something that would sway anyone's buying opinion, but really, there's no reason for them NOT to include this feature. If I recall, aren't most Blu-Ray players including it?
Click to expand...

Yes they all are. I guess this is good news for Samsung/Pioneer/Panasonic.
 
perplexcity said:
I'm super pissed about it. My cable box, PS3, and upconverter dvd player all plug into my HDMI port. The problem, I only have one of 'em.

I'll probably buy a splitter when the PS3 comes out and just switch it and the dvd player out with each other.
Click to expand...

Go check out monoprice.com - they have a pretty reasonably priced hdmi splitter that works well. I've got one so I know.

As for the whole upscaling fiasco - I'm sure Sony will eventually release a firmware update to enable it - it is just software after all - as they should - a blue ray player than can't upscale DVD's is pretty weaksauce.
 
DenogginizerOS said:
Because they have stated that they are not including it in the hardware. If enough people request it, they might have a software update queued up at launch.

And yes, DarienA, you can tell a difference.
Click to expand...

Yes you already said that. My question was do they look BAD, not can you notice the difference.

Dragona Akehi said:
Well I don't have a TiVO, but basically everything looks a little "smoother" and less pixel-y.
Click to expand...

Gotcha

It's not something that would sway anyone's buying opinion, but really, there's no reason for them NOT to include this feature. If I recall, aren't most Blu-Ray players including it?
Click to expand...

Good question, let me go check the specs of one:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000DZS0G8/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Yup Even Sony's own Blu Ray Player is:

Technical Details

* Full HD 1080p video output through HDMI connection
* DVD upscaling to 1080p
* Uncompressed multi channel linear PCM output
* Build quality with rigid beam construction
* BD-Java interactive capability
Click to expand...

I think we'll see this as an update.
 
so until Sony updates, how about watching DVDs in Yellow Dog Linux? Are there players available that do some good upscaling?
 
quetz67 said:
so until Sony updates, how about watching DVDs in Yellow Dog Linux? Are there players available that do some good upscaling?
Click to expand...
There are plenty.

Besides, if Sony does put in upscaling capability, it would only be enabled through HDMI port, how many people are going to bitch about that?
 
Sony will never do this.

Why would they allow for upscaled DVDs when it counters the assertion that BluRay is the HD medium of the future?

Anyone who has seen upscaled DVDs know that they look very good - even compared to (what we've seen so far of) BluRay.

Upscaled DVDs would bias people to not buy BluRay discs which would be bad for Sony.
 
RuGalz said:
Besides, if Sony does put in upscaling capability, it would only be enabled through HDMI port, how many people are going to bitch about that?
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Well that's to be expected though. All current upscaling devices (other than the 360's VGA) require an HDMI connection.
 
antoniogaud said:
Sony will never do this.

Why would they allow for upscaled DVDs when it counters the assertion that BluRay is the HD medium of the future?

Anyone who has seen upscaled DVDs know that they look very good - even compared to (what we've seen so far of) BluRay.

Upscaled DVDs would bias people to not buy BluRay discs which would be bad for Sony.
Click to expand...

Because all other Blu-Ray players including Sony's own are?

Because even when upscaled, Blu-Ray will look much better?

Because once you've already GOT a Blu-Ray player, the actual movies aren't that much more than the DVD?
 
Dragona Akehi said:
Well that's to be expected though. All current upscaling devices (other than the 360's VGA) require an HDMI connection.
Click to expand...
The point is a lot of people aren't aware of this and think it'll upscale over component...

Chû Totoro said:
Why only through VGA ?
Is it a technical limitation ?
Time to change from YUV to VGA then.
Click to expand...

Not a technical limitation, it's merely legal issue.
 
antoniogaud said:
Sony will never do this.

Why would they allow for upscaled DVDs when it counters the assertion that BluRay is the HD medium of the future?

Anyone who has seen upscaled DVDs know that they look very good - even compared to (what we've seen so far of) BluRay.

Upscaled DVDs would bias people to not buy BluRay discs which would be bad for Sony.
Click to expand...

Except that even Sony Blu Ray players upscale DVD's.
 
So it's going to switch from 480p while watching DVDs to 720p/1080i/1080p when you're watching BD or playing games, even when you use HDMI? That's pretty odd, but I guess that's what X360 does too if you're using component.
 
DarienA said:
Yes you already said that. My question was do they look BAD, not can you notice the difference.
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Yes. I think they look bad on an HDTV. I have HBO-HD and I saw Batman Begins in HD and it looked amazing. That, and Star Wars:Episode III. When I played these movies on my regular Sony DVD player, it looked pretty bad in comparison. Not unviewable, but bad. Pixely is a good word to descibe it. So, I went out and bought a Sony upscaler DVD and plugged it up via a $12 HDMI cable. I was pleasantly surprised. From the beginning, things looked much clearer.

Now, since then, I have been doing comparisons. Recently, Saving Private Ryan was on HBO-HD. I compared it to my disc played back on the upscaler DVD player and I could hardly tell a difference. So, in the end, I am pretty convinced that DVD's look bad on my HDTV if they are not upscaled.
 
DenogginizerOS said:
Because they have stated that they are not including it in the hardware. If enough people request it, they might have a software update queued up at launch.
Click to expand...

Yes, I know, but with less than a month to go until launch now, it's unlikely they'll have the resources to put towards an update that will be available when the system hits the market. On top of that, they would be distributing a system update over a network that is completely unproven at this point. That network will get enough of a stress test on day one without a system update as well.

Plus, think of the pissed off customers if that system update bricked their PS3's on day one as well. :lol I know it would most likely be a fairly rare occurence, but can you imagine the meltdowns?

I'm guessing you'll see this feature added in eventually, and probably sooner than later.
 
DenogginizerOS said:
Yes. I think they look bad on an HDTV. I have HBO-HD and I saw Batman Begins in HD and it looked amazing. That, and Star Wars:Episode III. When I played these movies on my regular Sony DVD player, it looked pretty bad in comparison. Not unviewable, but bad. Pixely is a good word to descibe it. So, I went out and bought a Sony upscaler DVD and plugged it up via a $12 HDMI cable. I was pleasantly surprised. From the beginning, things looked much clearer.

Now, since then, I have been doing comparisons. Recently, Saving Private Ryan was on HBO-HD. I compared it to my disc played back on the upscaler DVD player and I could hardly tell a difference. So, in the end, I am pretty convinced that DVD's look bad on my HDTV if they are not upscaled.
Click to expand...

THANK you... (after repeated tries to get you to answer the specific question I asked).

That wasn't so hard was it? ;)
 
Sonofabitch... I only have 1 DVI port on my TV, which is currently being used by my upscaling DVD player... the 360 HD-DVD won't upscale, and now neither will the PS3? I do plan on getting the Denon 3808 reciever next spring, which will upscale to 1080i, so I guess I'lll just have to suck it up until then, or get an HDMI switch from monoprice...
 
very weird.

oh well, my TV does a great job at upscaling so it's no big deal for me. it's part of why i bought a really expensive Sony TV set infact, so that i didn't have to worry about such things.
 
For ****'s sake people, the 360 got it during a dashboard update. Maybe the PS3 will get it from an online update as well.
 
antoniogaud said:
Anyone who has seen upscaled DVDs know that they look very good - even compared to (what we've seen so far of) BluRay.

Upscaled DVDs would bias people to not buy BluRay discs which would be bad for Sony.
Click to expand...

This is such a joke from my experience (although maybe some fixed pixel display tvs really do see a huge leap of quality with upscaling). Upscaled dvds look slightly better, but compared to real HD material they still look like low-detail VHS vs. high-detail DVD on a good HDTV.

Upscaled or not, I'm not happy with the quality of dvds anymore.
 
Dragona Akehi said:
It's kinda the difference between making a JPG larger in PAINT or in photoshop.
Click to expand...
That would make it exactly the same then, because the best filter either program supports out of the box is Bicubic.
At any rate, I disagree about there being any big difference between scalers, it's more like difference between "blurry" and "more blurry". People will usually pick a favourite, but they will also disagree on which of the two it is.
 
jett said:
For ****'s sake people, the 360 got it during a dashboard update. Maybe the PS3 will get it from an online update as well.
Click to expand...

Been said several times already, but thanks for coming in and pointing it out again.
 
ghostmind said:
SonofabitchI do plan on getting the Denon 3808 reciever next spring, which will upscale to 1080i, so I guess I'lll just have to suck it up until then, or get an HDMI switch from monoprice...
Click to expand...

Check ou tthe 2807 as well. However, just so you know, if you use a Scientific Atlanta HD-DVD box via your cable company, this receiver is currently not working with them via HDMI.

I am leaning towards the 2807 next year. I hope the cable box problem is resolved.

And DarienA, YOU'RE welcome, sweetheart! ;)
 
DarienA said:
I could care less... maybe once I buy an HDTV I'll care?

Do non upscaled DVD's look bad on an HDTV?
Click to expand...


Wait, you still don't have an HDTV, but you bought a 360? Seems a little backwards.
 
jett said:
For ****'s sake people, the 360 got it during a dashboard update. Maybe the PS3 will get it from an online update as well.
Click to expand...

I never doubted this. All I am requesting is that Sony put it higher on the list. I can't imagine that the software required for this is all that taxing to implement.
 
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