BDP vs PS3

There is no difference between a BDP and a PS3.  Listed below is the comparison of features between the most common of BDP available from Sony and a PS3.  The PS3 has the upper hand due to inbuilt WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.

FEATURE	BDP-S370/PLAYSTATION-3
Video
Deep Color	Yes
Internet Video Streaming Decode	Yes
Precision Cinema HD Upscale	Yes
Video Digital-to-Analog Converter	Composite (12bit/148.5MHz) Y/C (12bit/54MHz)
Video Features
24p True Cinema™ Technology	Yes
AVC-HD	Yes (8cm/12cm)?DVD+R/RW/-R/-RW)
BD-R/RE Read Compatibility	Yes (BDMV & BDAV)
BD-ROM	Bonus View(Profile1.1); BD-Live(Profile2.0); BD-ROM (SL/DL)
CD-R/RW	Yes (CD-DA & Data)
DVD Playback	Yes
DVD+R Read Compatibility	Yes (DL) (+VR) (SACD)
DVD+RW Read Compatibility	Yes (+VR) (8cm)
DVD-R Read Compatibility	Yes (DL) (VR) (VR with CPRM) (8cm)
DVD-RW Read Compatibility	Yes (VR) (VR with CPRM) (8cm)
JPEG Playback	Yes (BD-R/REDVD+RW/+R/-RW/-R/CD-R,RW)
Noise Reduction	Yes (BNR on DVDs Only)
PhotoTV HD	Yes
x.v.Color™ Technology	Yes
Network Features
BRAVIA® Internet Video	Ready
Convenience Features
A/V Sync	Yes
BRAVIA® Sync™	Yes
Bit Rate Indicator (Video)	Yes
Child Lock	Yes
Easy Setup	Yes
Favorites	Yes
Parental Control	Yes
Quick Start Mode	Yes
Startup Screen	Yes
Wireless LAN	Ready (via USB)	In built in PS3
Function
		-
PREV/NEXT	Yes
Play / Stop / Pause	Yes
Playback Memory	Yes
REV/ FWD	Yes
Repeat (All/ 1title)	Yes (All/1title/1Chapter/1Track)
SLOW Playback	Yes (Forward)
Screen Saver	Yes
XMB	Yes
Audio
Analog-to-Digital Converter	192kHz/24bit
Audio Features
CD-DA	Yes
Dolby®	Yes & Dolby® TrueHD bitstream out over HDMI™ (V1.3)
Dolby® True HD Bitstream Output	Yes
LPCM	Yes (multi channel decoder)
MP3 Playback	Yes (BD-R/RE/DVD+RW/+R/-RW/-R/CD-R,RW)5
SA-CD	Yes
dts® HD Bitstream Output	Yes
dts® Output	Yes (dts®-HD bitstream out over HDMI™)
General
BD-Live (Profile 2.0)	Yes
Inputs and Outputs
Analog Audio Output(s)	1 (Rear)
Coaxial Audio Digital Output(s)	1 (Rear)	-
Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr) Output(s)	1 (Rear)
Composite Video Output(s)	1 (Rear)	-
Ethernet Connection(s)	1 (Rear)
HDMI™ Connection Output(s)	1 (Rear)
Optical Audio Output(s)	1 (Rear)
USB Port(s)	2 (1 Rear/ 1 Front)

HD Player

The arrival of a Bravia has changed the way we view movies. And as mentioned before, a full HD TV makes SD picture look sub-standard. So a HDTV makes a natural progression to updating the remaining components of the Home Entertainment System, more precisely the playback console… oops, did I spill out something?

Yes, if you guys guessed it right, the decision has gone into getting a PlayStation 3 (PS3) instead of a standard home BluRay player (BDP).

So why a PS3 instead of a BDP?

A PS3 is not just a gaming console but a powerful BD player too. This is due to the inclusion of BD drive on it which can perform all functions similar to a BDP. There ends the single and most simple reason why someone can choose a PS3 over a BDP.

But that’s not to it. There is more to a PS3 that’ll blow you off. Read on.

The big deal with the Playstation 3 is that it sports Sony's new Cell Processor that was jointly developed by IBM, Sony Group and Toshiba Corporation. It also features a new graphics processor (RSX) co-developed by NVIDIA Corporation and SCEI, and XDR memory developed by Rambus Inc. Also, it adopts BD-ROM (Blu-ray Disc ROM) with maximum storage capacity of 54 GB (dual layer), enabling delivery of entertainment content in full high-definition (HD) quality, under a secure environment made possible through the most advanced copyright protection technology. To match the accelerating convergence of digital consumer electronics and computer technology, PS3 announced support for high quality display in resolution of 1080p in addition to 720p/1080i.

The computational power of the system itself sports the equivalent of 2 teraflops, meaning that entirely new graphical expressions that have never been seen before will become possible. In games, not only will movement of characters and objects be far more refined and realistic, but landscapes and virtual worlds can also be rendered in real-time, thereby elevating the freedom of graphics expression to levels not experienced in the past. Gamers will literally be able to dive into the realistic world seen in large screen movies and experience the excitement in real-time. Just extend the same to movies and you are in for a larger than life experience.

The following are the features of a PS3;

• Cell Broadband Engine
• RSX Graphics Processing Unit
• 256MB XDR Main RAM + 256MB GDDR3 VRAM
• BluRay Optical Drive w/Blu-ray Disc™ Profile 2.0
• Inbuilt WiFi (802.11b/g)
• Gigabit Ethernet
• DVD Upscaling upto 1080p/1080i
• Support for DTS-HD
• Deep Color/Colour Signal
• HDMI 1.3a + Bravia Sync
• Linear PCM 7.1 Channel Audio Output
• DLNA Certified
• Internet browser
• Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
• 2xUSB 2.0 Ports
• Removable and upgradeable HDD

So now we can have the best of both worlds; Media & Gaming.

Stay tuned as we will have more analysis about the PS3, feature comparisons, etc.

Media Entertainment System

With the arrival of a Bravia, my home entertainment system defenitly needs an upgrade which has been long overdue. The Pioneer DVD HTS had done it's bit to the best possible level and was truly an amazing system. I am still in love with it except for the fact that it was great for only SD movies.

Had I not upgraded my TV, there would not have been an immediate need for upgrading the HTS. But Bravia was so much within reachable distance that it was hard to give it a miss.

HDTV's are great. They have this nice 16:9 aspect ratio which makes your living room appear like a theater. Full HDTV's are excellent in which they can support resolutions upto 1920x1080. On contrast, a SD TV can only support 640x480 pixel.

So my Pioneer gives which excellent clarity on a SD TV is strugling to show good picture on a HD TV. It does not have HDMI upscaling and cannot play BD based formats. Though the source is a full DVD, due to no upscaling, the picture appears blurred when viewing on a HDTV.

I can simply get a standalone BD player. But that would do the trick only till showing the picture. I will not be able to listen to true 5.1 surround sound. BluRay Home Theater Systems are a common in the US and elsewhere. Sony, Yamaha, Panasonic, etc. which are Japanese brands do not sell the all-in-one BluRay HTS in Japan. What a shock!

I've got to upgrade my Pioneer to a system that'll have BluRay playback as well as Surround Sound system. I am in the process of researching the best options and shall soon zero in on one.

It's a SONY

40" Bravia. Just arrived.

Specs:

Video

Video Signal : 1080/60p (HDMI™ / COMPONENT), 1080/60i, 1080/24p (HDMI™ ONLY), 720/60p, 480/60p, 480/60i

Audio Features

5.1 Channel Audio Out : Yes

5.1ch Through Out (Handycam) : Yes

Alternate Audio (Digital) : yes

Audio Out : Fixed

Auto Mute (on no signal) : Yes

Auto SAP : 20FM/10AM

Clear Voice : Yes

Dolby® : Dolby® Digital

Invisible Speaker (w/Sound Elevation) : Yes

Sound Mode : Dynamic, Standard, Clear Voice, Custom

SteadySound® Automatic Volume Control : Yes

Stereo System : MTS

Surround Effect : Cinema, Music, Live Sports, Game

Video Features

24p True Cinema™ Technology : Yes

3D Comb Filter : Yes

4:3 Default : Yes

Advanced Contrast Enhancer (ACE) : Yes

Auto Wide : Yes

CineMotion® Reverse 3:2 Pulldown Technology : Yes

Cinema Mode : Yes

Live Color™ Technology : Yes

MPEG Noise Reduction : Yes

Motionflow™ Technology : 120Hz

Picture Mode : Vivid, Standard, Cinema

Video Processing : BRAVIA Engine 2™ Technology

Wide Mode : Normal, Zoom, Wide Zoom, Full (Full1-2 for PC)

Inputs and Outputs

AC Power Input : 1 (Rear) Pigtail

Analog Audio Input(s) (Total) : 4 (1 Side / 3 Rear)

Audio Out : 1(Rear)

Component Video (Y/Pb/Pr) Input(s) : 2 (Rear) (1 fixed/1 selectable)

Composite Video Input(s) : 2 (1 Side/1 Rear)

Digital Audio Output(s) : Optical Digital Output - 1 (Rear)

HDMI™ Connection(s) (Total) : 4 (2 Side/2 Rear)

HDMI™ PC Input : Yes

PC In (D-Sub) + Audio In (Stereo Mini) : 1 (Rear)

RF Connection Input(s) : 1 (Rear)

USB 2.0 : 1(Side)

Display

Aspect Ratio : 16:9

Display Resolution : Full HD 1080(1920x1080)

Dynamic Contrast Ratio : 150,000:1

Screen Size (measured diagonally) : 40"

Viewing Angle (Right/Left) : 178(89/89)

Viewing Angle (Up/Down) : 178(89/89)