Sony PS4 bombshell: No MP3, external hard drive or DLNA support

[Gunzkewl]

 

 

The PS4 will not allow gamers to play MP3 files through the console, cannot connect to external hard-drives and will not let users stream media content from a PC, Sony has revealed, much to the anger of prospective buyers. 

In an in-depth Q&A published on the PlayStation Europe blog, the company revealed the bad news, raising serious questions about the device’s merits as a versatile living room media device.

Earlier this year Sony admitted the PS4 won't support audio CDs, so the lack of MP3 support means users will not be able to play their personal collections on the console, unless they’re subscribed to Sony’s own Music Unlimited subscription service. Strangely, there’s no music visualiser built into the console either.

Streaming media content from other devices is a no-go too. Unlike the current PS3, the console also lacks DLNA and media server support, so users won’t be able to share content from their home PC. 

In an even larger bombshell, the PS4 will not support external hard drives either, so users will not be able to expand the built-in 500GB storage or plug in a second drive in order to play content. “No this feature is not supported by PS4,” wrote Sony several times in the Q&A blog.

Source: http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/sony-ps4-bombshell-no-mp3-external-hard-drives-or-dlna-support

http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2013/10/30/playstation-4-the-ultimate-faq/#sect8

 

I understand not support for audio CD's but the lack of MP3 I don't, maybe licensing fees perhaps? 

[TopWargamer]

But I thought Sony said that they would support these already...at least with external HDDs they did.

 

This is a stupid move. 

[Levent]

probably they assumed people will use their xbox ones as media players so...

[dlf]

More likely they want people to subscribe to their music service . . . . But the ONLY genre's I listen to are: Classical, Jazz, Video Game.  I can download classical and jazz music from the net . . . .

[BlackOutCrisis]

Literally everytime new info comes out about the new consoles they get worse and worse, I was honestly thinking about getting a ps4 because I have really good friends that only play consoles but I really don't see it happening anymore.

[Vitalius]

Well, I suddenly question my advocacy of getting a PS4 over an XB1. 

...

Buy a PC instead guys. 

But seriously, this is stupid. I'm getting one anyway, because I refuse to forsake the exclusives that I love, but... ugh. This is just absurd. In so many ways.

If a PS+ account gives me access to all Sony's streaming services bundled into one, that'd be great. I can only hope.

[Gunzkewl]

I'll still getting a PS4, but it's kind of dick move from Sony to wait till 15 days before the launch to drop this kind of news.

[AlexGoesHigh]

releasing games that avg 50gb each even more in the future and are getting limited by a 500gb HDD  whit no external support is plain stupid, also no mp3 and cd support feels like going back to the 90's FFS

[dlf]

IF they change this (being able to use MP3's) before the next console (if they make one) I may consider getting one but I'd rather stick to my PC (sig) and Wii U/3DS.

[Michael McAllister]

Considering that the PlayStation 3 has DLNA support and external HDD support, it almost feels like they're taking a few steps backwards with the PlayStation 4.  I probably will not buy one ever because of this now just out of principle.  There is no reason to take away support for audio CDs either.  Those have been around for years and even though I personally do not buy many audio CDs, there are many people that still prefer the highest quality audio possible.  It feels like Sony is just giving those people the shaft.

[AstroZombie1]

No DLNA is just dumb glad I have plex.

[ionbasa]

I don't see the issue with this. The PS3 had none of these at launch either, but it does now. Maybe the lack of MP3 support suggests that Sony will use Loss-less audio files, like FLAC?(or some commercial alternative).

 

Also the lack of DLNA isn't necessarily a bad thing, what if they have developed an optimized in house version?

[AstroZombie1]

I don't see the issue with this. The PS3 had none of these at launch either, but it does now. Maybe the lack of MP3 support suggests that Sony will use Loss-less audio files, like FLAC?(or some commercial alternative).

 

Also the lack of DLNA isn't necessarily a bad thing, what if they have developed an optimized in house version?

Which would be insane.

[flibberdipper]

Now I'm waiting for Sony to go down in flames for this one. Ouch. Bad move Sony.

[amas]

Oh, well that sucks. At least they aren't removing the feature from the ps3, right?

[ionbasa]

Which would be insane.

But if it would manage 4k efficiently over a network? lets not forget Sony's studios are releasing sudo 4k blu-rays: http://www.ultrahdtv.net/mastered-in-4k/

[AstroZombie1]

But if it would manage 4k efficiently over a network? lets not forget Sony's studios are releasing sudo 4k blu-rays: http://www.ultrahdtv.net/mastered-in-4k/

Where has 4K blu-rays got anything to do with DLNA?  :huh:

[Sors]

If they would let you use the mirror screen feature or even the throw feature from android, I would be ok.

 

But if they just want to force people into using their subscription services, that is really not ok.

[Xsilent(X)]

you can swap the internal hdd for a 1TB or 2TB hdd who needs a External hdd? is 500gb or 2 tb internal not enough?

[LAwLz]

MP3 needs to die anyway. I wonder if they support superior codecs like AAC, Vorbis and/or Opus though. I mean, neither Vorbis nor Opus requires any licensing fees so there isn't really any reason not to support them.

It's too bad about the external hard drive and lack of streaming support. Sony was doing so well compared to Microsoft.

 

 

But if it would manage 4k efficiently over a network? lets not forget Sony's studios are releasing sudo 4k blu-rays: http://www.ultrahdtv.net/mastered-in-4k/

That's nothing like 4K though. It is just mastered in 4K and then downscaled, compressed and put on a blu-ray disc. The movie itself is just 1080p.

[ionbasa]

Where has 4K blu-rays got anything to do with DLNA?  :huh:

Read my other comment. DLNA isn't optimized to deliver high pixel quantity over a network without some compression. I stated that Sony could have developed a custom streaming technology akin to DLNA but with lower network overhead, meaning more optimization for streaming 4k movies on connections that don't have a high bandwidth available or really high ping times and latency.

[Vitalius]

I don't see the issue with this. The PS3 had none of these at launch either, but it does now. Maybe the lack of MP3 support suggests that Sony will use Loss-less audio files, like FLAC?(or some commercial alternative).

 

Also the lack of DLNA isn't necessarily a bad thing, what if they have developed an optimized in house version?

 

 

Which would be insane.

Which... that makes sense.

The PS4 is going to essentially be a game streaming server for your house, as it will allow you to stream PS4 games to your Vita over Wifi. 

So, considering that, could it be a music/video streaming server as well? That'd be cool. 

I'll just wait for a Slim version and get that if possible. Only if it is as sexy as the fat one is.

[ionbasa]

MP3 needs to die anyway. I wonder if they support superior codecs like AAC, Vorbis and/or Opus though. I mean, neither Vorbis nor Opus requires any licensing fees so there isn't really any reason not to support them.

It's too bad about the external hard drive and lack of streaming support. Sony was doing so well compared to Microsoft.

 

 

That's nothing like 4K though. It is just mastered in 4K and then downscaled, compressed and put on a blu-ray disc. The movie itself is just 1080p.

Not completely, it scaled using a custom Sony developed algorithm, meaning it can be re-scaled to sudo 4k, although at some quality degradation. Note that the scaling is done in hardware. I relate it to zipping a file, you compress using an algorithm to save space, and then decompress to return the file to its original state.

[AstroZombie1]

Read my other comment. DLNA isn't optimized to deliver high pixel quantity over a network without some compression. I stated that Sony could have developed a custom streaming technology akin to DLNA but with lower network overhead, meaning more optimization for streaming 4k movies on connections that don't have a high bandwidth available or really high ping times and latency.

Maybe but completely omitting it is just a shitty move. 

[Xsilent(X)]

Read my other comment. DLNA isn't optimized to deliver high pixel quantity over a network without some compression. I stated that Sony could have developed a custom streaming technology akin to DLNA but with lower network overhead, meaning more optimization for streaming 4k movies on connections that don't have a high bandwidth available or really high ping times and latency.

 

so you want to pirate movies in order to stream it with dlna right? that is wat is making you fustrating abbout it blu-ray al the way baby! when 4K content is availeble, you will have to need to buy a blu-ray but 4K is not ready yet to enter this 1 or 2 years so dont worry abbout that yet.